Actors and tasks

BASE – Supervisory authority responsible for implementing public participation

With regard to the repository site selection procedure, the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management has two legally defined tasks: Firstly, BASE is the supervisory authority in the search for a repository site. It evaluates the proposals and exploration results of BGE mbH and submits the reviewed proposal together with its recommendations to the BMUV. It accompanies the search process from a scientific point of view, and monitors compliance with the law throughout the site selection procedure.

BASE is also responsible for involving the public. It provides comprehensive information on the site selection procedure, and makes relevant information permanently available to all parties involved in the procedure on the repository search information platform at an early stage. It organises participatory conferences and committees as stipulated by law. It also creates opportunities for participation and dialogue, and evaluates the instruments and procedures of public participation.

The BGE mbH - project implementer

The implementer (Section 3 StandAG) carries out the site selection procedure. In accordance with the Act on the Reorganisation of the Organisational Structure in the Field of Radiation Protection and Disposal, the Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (BGE) is responsible for the operational business of the procedure. In particular, the company develops proposals for the selection of siting regions and sites to be explored, as well as site-related exploration programmes and test criteria. It will carry out the surface and underground explorations for the sites yet to be identified, and prepare the respective preliminary safety studies. Finally, at the end of each phase of the procedure, BGE mbH will propose areas for further exploration to BASE. Following the evaluation of these proposals by BASE, the German Bundestag will decide which sites are to be further explored at the end of each phase, and ultimately also make a decision on the final repository site.

The NBG - independent monitoring

The National Citizens’ Oversight Committee (Nationales Begleitgremium (NBG)) is composed of recognised public figures and citizens who were elected in a specific procedure. The members must not belong to a federal or state legislative body or to a federal or state government. The task of this group is to monitor the site selection procedure as an independent mediator, "...with the aim of thus creating trust in the implementation of the procedure." The role and task of the National Citizens’ Oversight Committee are defined in Section 8 of the StandAG. The committee met for the first time in December 2016.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment

BASE is subject to the functional and legal control of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. The Ministry verifies that the site selection procedure is carried out in accordance with the requirements and criteria of the Site Selection Act.

The BMUV bears overall political and administrative responsibility in the field of final disposal.

The German Bundestag

The site selection procedure takes place in several phases. At the end of each phase, the federal government will submit a bill to parliament for a vote. According to the law, the Bundestag will deliberate on

• The siting regions to be explored above ground (Section 15 StandAG)
• the sites to be explored underground (Section 17 StandAG)
• the site proposal (Section 20 StandAG)