Information on the Asse inventory
BfS does not expect effects on radioactive waste retrieval
The information given by the Lower Saxon Environment Ministry (NMU) in a letter to the 21st parliamentary committee of inquiry of the Lower Saxon Landtag relating to the Asse inventory does not correspond with the current state of knowledge The information had been taken from an interim report of the TÜV Süd. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) had already pointed out to the Asse committee of inquiry that the information was of a preliminary nature. More recent results of the TÜV Süd show that they need to be revised downwards.
After having sighted all documents, the TÜV Süd had recommended to the bfS to increase the amount of the plutonium inventory by 0.757 kg and of the uranium-235 inventory by 1.352 kg. That would be about 2.7 per cent or, respectively, 4.7 per cent more than it has been expected so far. These slightly higher amounts have no effect on the preparation of waste retrieval retrieval operation, a BfS spokesperson said. Furthermore, the information consisted of conservatively estimated maximum values.
The employees of the Asse-GmbH are trained for the handling of the radioactive materials. The BfS guarantees the safety when the waste emplacement chambers are drilled into.
The NMU had quoted from the old interim report of the TÜV Süd, according to which 3.24 kg of plutonium and 2.274 kg of uranium could be stored in the Asse II mine, on top of what has been assumed so far.