On 25 April 2017, the operator responsibilities for the Asse II mine as well as the Konrad and Morsleben repositories were transferred to the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH, BGE). This website of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) will therefore no longer be updated and displays the status as on 24 April 2017. You will find current information at the BGE: www.bge.de

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What happens in Asse?

Works for safe decommissioning

The decontaminable floor covering in front of emplacement chamber 7 has been laid - the measurement containers have been set up

Asse-GmbH staff lay decontaminable floor tiles to prepare driling works in front of emplacement chamber 7 Asse-GmbH staff lay decontaminable floor tiles to prepare driling works in front of emplacement chamber 7Asse-GmbH staff lay decontaminable floor tiles to prepare driling works in front of emplacement chamber 7

The decontaminable floor covering in front of emplacement chamber 7 on the 750-m level has been laid. The floor covering consists of plastic tiles whose joints are welded. This creates a smooth, easy-to-clean work surface. Thus it is ensured that possibly released radioactive substances cannot get into the ground. Once the Landesamt für Bergbau und Geologie (LBEG) and the Repository Surveillance unit had officially approved the floor covering, the setting-up work in front of chamber 7 immediately continued. Furthermore the exhaust air hoses were laid over which the filtered air is extracted from the work area.

With an own radiation protection area the drilling site or work area is to be separated from the residual mine. During the drilling process the air is continuously being extracted and filtered from this radiation protection area. It is ensured that no contaminated gases or dusts from the work area can get into the residual mine, even if a borehole is not completely tight. The reason for this is that, by extracting the air, low pressure is generated in the radiation protection area sealed with tarpaulins. Fresh air from outside is led into the work area through an opening in the tarpaulin. This replaces the extracted air.

Set-up measurement containers and setting-up of tarpaulins to separate the work area Set-up measurement containers and setting-up of tarpaulins to separate the work areaSet-up measurement containers and setting-up of tarpaulins to separate the work area

The lock areas are also located in the radiation protection areas through which it will later on be possible to enter or leave the work area. Before a person leaves the work area they need to undergo a contamination control with a so-called Hand Foot Clothing monitor.

In both measurement containers the electrical equipment has been installed. The measurement containers, for example, are equipped with air conditioners in order for the sensitive measuring devices to work safely. Also the measurement containers were provided with an additionally decontaminable floor covering. Only after this floor covering has been examined and approved, can the first measuring devices be set up.

State of 2011.10.25

Transfer of operator responsibilities

On 25 April 2017, the operator responsibilities for the Asse II mine as well as the Konrad and Morsleben repositories were transferred to the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH, BGE). Previously, the responsibility for the projects was with the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). The foundations for the change of operatorship are laid down in the "Act on the Realignment of the Organisational Structures in the Field of Radioactive Waste Disposal", which became effective on 30 July 2016. The BfS focusses on the federal tasks of radiation protection, for example in the field of defence against nuclear hazards, medical research, mobile communication, UV protection or the measuring networks for environmental radioactivity.

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