The public hearing

The public hearing on the decommissioning of the Morsleben repository was carried out by the licensing authority, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt (MLU) from 13 to 25 October 2011. It was held over altogether nine days in Oschersleben (Saxony-Anhalt).

Objective of the public hearing

In the scope of a plan-approval (licensing) procedure citizens are entitled to raise objections against the plan.

For this purpose, objections, notes, indications and questions will be discussed that were raised during the public review of the plan documents required for public participation. This will be no court hearing and no decision will be taken. Rather, all parties involved will discuss the objections.

The plan documents submitted in the scope of public participation and further information can be found on the BfS homepage.

Contents of the public hearing

The MLU licensing authority in its function of head of proceedings set an agenda to serve as orientation for dealing with the topics. The objections were allocated to the following four topics:

• Site,
• Decommissioning,
• Consequences and
• Safety analyses.

Once the head of proceedings deemed that all objections had been discussed in sufficient detail, the public hearing concluded. Objectors may order copy of the shorthand minutes at the MLU.

Parties participating in the public hearing

Stakeholders of the public hearing were:

• The licensing authority (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt, MLU),
• The applicant (Federal Office for Radiation Protection, BfS) and
• Objectors (private persons, initiatives, etc.).

They had the following functions:

• The licensing authority is responsible for conducting proceedings. It appoints the head of proceedings, the representatives and other necessary players such as the recorder of the minutes. The head of proceedings must ensure the proper functioning of the public hearing.
• The applicant is given the opportunity to make a statement.
• The objectors are given the opportunity to submit their objections verbally and explain them in depth. They have the right to technical or legal assistance.