Asse interim storage facility: BfS presents concept for a "fictitious site comparison" with respect to direct radiation

In a joint decision, the Asse Steering Group, consisting of representatives of the Federal Environment Ministry, the Asse 2 Accompanying Group and the BfS, agreed at the beginning of March 2014 to compare the direct radiation from an interim storage facility in normal operation for two fictitious sites at different distances from residential areas. It is assumed that all other criteria determined according to the BfS criteria report are assessed in a similar manner. The BfS has developed a concept (in German only) as to what a "fictitious site comparison" could comprise. The BMUB has agreed to this concept. The BfS sent it to the Asse 2 Accompanying Group for consultation.

What does "fictitious site comparison" mean?

In this context, "fictitious" means that the comparison is not based on concrete locations depicted on a map. Rather, what characterises these "fictitious interim storage facility sites" and what is the difference between them, is their distance from the next residential area. The objective of the comparison is to show in a comprehensible manner, e.g. with the help of diagrams, how far the radiation from an interim storage facility for Asse waste reaches and what levels can be expected in dependence of the distance from the interim storage facility. Thus, the comparison is to answer questions such as: How high or low is the level of radiation exposure if the next residential building is located at a distance of 500 metres? How high is the level at a distance of 1,000 metres or further away?

What levels are there in comparison? What is to be calculated?

This distance-dependent estimation is based on the direct radiation. Radiation protection officials determine what radioactive substances are relevant for the radiation and, on the other hand, what dose rate at the waste packages should be expected on average. Besides they take into account the shielding effect of the interim storage facility building.

In order for citizens to be better able to classify the calculated radiation levels, each of the three site diagrams will give three comparative figures:

• The average, nation-wide, natural radiation exposure,
• the legal limit value for interim storage facilities, and
• the previously measured mean values in the vicinity of the Asse mine.

For the sites requiring transportation to the interim storage facility, the diagrams also show the radiation exposure to be expected to the staff who would have to load the waste additionally. It is also planned to show the exposure level to residents living along the transport route.

In the past, citizens asked what was more important in the radiation exposure balance: An interim storage facility in the direct vicinity to the Asse mine and thus to Remlingen or an interim storage facility located further away from residential areas? One option would accept the radiation exposure to residents, the other option would accept an additional exposure to the staff who would have to additionally load the waste in the case of transportation. The calculations will now produce numbers and help clarify these questions.

What will happen to this concept?

The BfS sent the concept explained above to the Asse 2 Accompanying Group. Questions on the procedure can thus be clarified with the experts of the consulting body, the AGO, and the BfS. The BfS will present the calculations for the fictitious site comparison shortly.