Licensing authority concludes public hearing

External view of the tent in Oschersleben where the event took place

After nine days in October 2011, the public hearing for the plan-approval procedure for the decommissioning of the Morsleben repository, was concluded by the licensing authority, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Saxony-Anhalt (MLU).

The atmosphere of the event, where objectors could voice and explain their concerns about the plans of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), was considered "rational", a BfS spokesperson emphasised. "The debate about the central issues was tough but fair".

Central questions voiced by the objectors were e.g. the demand to retrieve waste that has only been stored intermediately so far. The objectors were well informed. This was due to the BfS having published numerous documents on the internet, irrespective of the times the documents had to be disclosed in public that are prescribed by the formal procedure. The BfS representatives made statements on all questions asked.

Entrance area at the public hearing

The BfS gave written statements on the objections submitted in the run-up to the public hearing. The BfS statement has also been published on the BfS homepage.

The verbatim report on the public hearing is available at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt (MLU). Objectors may order copy of the minutes at the MLU.