Waste-specific secondary regulations and secondary regulations under water law relating to Konrad
The plan-approval decision for the Konrad repository contains the qualified permission issued under water law (GWE), which is laid down in Annex 4. It limits the volume of non-radioactive, damaging substances contained in the radioactive waste to be disposed of.
The safe operation of the repository also demands proof that the provisions of the qualified permission issued under water law will be complied with and that the groundwater near the surface will not be affected. This proof must be furnished by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS).
Limitation of storage of groundwater-relevant substances
In the qualified permission issued under water law, the volume to be disposed of is limited for 94 groundwater-relevant substances (elements, compositions) in the radioactive waste. This serves to protect the groundwater near the surface from substances that are damaging to man and environment due to their chemical characteristics. Thus it can be ruled out that, for instance, agricultural produce from the region will not be contaminated with harmful substances during emplacement operations or after the Konrad repository will have been sealed.
15 March 2011: Competent authority approves BfS approach
On 15 March 2011 the Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN) approved of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection's approach to the concrete implementation of the provisions contained in the specific approval of the water authorities for the Konrad repository. In the scope of developing this approach, the BfS has revised the Konrad waste acceptance requirements from the water law point of view, has derived waste package quality control measures in terms of material and chemistry and has submitted further documents.
Further works
Upon request of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) these documents were forwarded to the waste producers. The BfS is currently evaluating the explanatory notes and statements it has received. It is intended to include resulting suggestions in the revision of the BfS reports that are currently underway and in a revision of the waste acceptance requirements and waste package quality control measures for the Konrad repository.
State of 2016.04.01