Am 25. April 2017 sind die Betreiberaufgaben für die Schachtanlage Asse, das Endlager Konrad und Morsleben auf die Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (BGE) übertragen worden. Diese Seite des Bundesamtes für Strahlenschutz (BfS) wird daher nicht mehr aktualisiert und zeigt den Stand vom 24. April 2017. Aktuelle Informationen erhalten Sie bei der BGE: www.bge.de

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Necessary stabilisation and safeguards measures approved

The Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und Geologie (LBEG) approved the necessary measures to stabilise and safeguard the Asse mine on the 750-m level that were announced some months ago. Accordingly, galleries and cavities in the vicinity of the emplacement galleries are to be backfilled with special concrete. Following a comprehensive, professional examination, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) presented a study supporting the planned procedure in May 2016.

View into the second, southern driftway on the 750-m level Level measurementView into the second, southern driftway on the 750-m level

Among others, the stabilisation and safeguards measures are a prerequisite for retrieval. They reduce crack formation in the rock and thus the risk of the mine drowning. Stable rock areas are necessary for the construction of safeguards systems and access roads for retrieval. The works are also part of the legally demanded emergency measures. In the event of an emergency, this process limits the dispersion of radioactive substances.

For several years, the mine has been stabilised by various measures. On the 725-m level and on the 750-m level, this has been done since 2013. As a result of the mine having been kept open, partially over 100 years, the rock on these levels is particularly strained and has become fragile.

The planned measures were discussed with the Asse Monitoring Group in 2012. Continuing to keep the mine areas in the vicinity of the emplacement chambers open – as demanded by the Asse Monitoring Group – is incompatible with the safety goals. This is the result of an analysis in which experts highlighted and balanced all benefits and disadvantages of the planned security measures Besides, experts of various institutions agreed upon the necessity of emergency planning on the occasion of a professional workshop organised by the BfS in 2012.

With the licence granted by the LBEG and the nuclear licence, the legal prerequisites for the planned works are now available. Some preparatory work is still to be carried out before the actual stabilisation measures may begin.

More on the topic

Application letter and attachments (in German)

Correspondence with repository surveillance (in German)

Letter of approval (in German)

Information on the debate about stabilisation measures and drainage concepts

State of 2016.08.24

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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