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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The repository

Licence and legal bases

It was a long way from the idea to use Konrad as a repository for waste with negligible heat generation until the start of implementation. It took already about 20 years to just have the licence granted, the so-called plan-approval decision.

The plan-approval procedure for Konrad was a nuclear licensing procedure providing for both an environmental impact assessment and a comprehensive public participation. Objections raised in time by affected citizens and the statements of public-interest bodies were jointly discussed in a hearing. The purpose of public participation is to enable the licensing authority to assess the objections properly in due time. Vital difference compared with earlier repository projects: Before the first waste could be emplaced the operator had to prove in the nuclear licensing procedure that the repository would not pose a risk for man and environment, not even in the future.

1982: Start of plan-approval procedure

After these investigations had concluded, the Federal Institute of Science and Metrology (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB) the authority which was responsible for disposal at that time, filed an application for the initiation of a plan-approval (licensing) procedure. Following a comprehensive site-investigation programme, the draft plan was then submitted to 70 authorities and nature conservation organisations for an opinion. The Konrad project was accompanied by intensive public relations work. In May 1983, an “Information Centre for Nuclear Waste Management” opened in Salzgitter for this explicit purpose.

1989: Plan submitted

In early 1989, the PTB submitted the plan to the competent Lower Saxon Environment Ministry (NMU). The NMU confirmed that the plan was suitable to being disclosed to public inspection and prepared the public dissemination.

1991: Disclosure to public inspection – 290,000 objectors take part

For two months the application documents were disclosed to public inspection. Around 290,000 objectors take part in this procedure and submit their claims to the licensing authority.

1992: The hearing in 75 lasted days 1992: The hearing in 75 lasted days1992: The hearing in 75 lasted days

1992: Hearing

The hearing started on 25 September 1992 in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt and concluded on 6 March 1993 after altogether 75 days.

2002: Granting of the plan-approval decision

The federal state of Lower Saxony granted the plan-approval decision for Konrad in on 22 May 2002.

2007: Confirmation by court

Eight actions were initiated against the decision by communities, rural districts, churches and private individuals. The churches and rural districts withdrew their actions later on. On 8 March 2006, the Lüneburg Higher Administrative Court dismissed the actions and did not admit a revision. This was confirmed by the Federal Administrative Court on 26 March 2007. Thus, the decisions of the Higher Administrative Court in Lüneburg are legally binding, the plan-approval decision is effective and enforceable.

State of 2017.03.30

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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