Germans can comment on location search in Switzerland

Source: Schweizer Bundesamt für Energie

As part of the search for a repository site for radioactive waste in Switzerland, the German public can also comment on the possible areas. From 23 November 2017 to 9 March 2018, German citizens have the opportunity to participate in the public consultation procedure on the current results.

Any objections will be taken into account by the Swiss Federal Council when a decision must be made with respect to the locations of the future deep geological repositories. The German Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BfE) coordinates the interests of the population and authorities on the German side, initiates the participation of authorities and the public in Germany and will raise objections itself, if necessary. The BfE will also hold an information event on the hearing procedure in Waldshut on 30 January 2018.

Apart from the citizens, the Federal Republic of Germany, individual federal states and municipalities are also entitled to submit objections to all documents prepared within stage 2 of the Swiss site search. In Germany, the essential documents are available in the libraries of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Construction and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) in Berlin and Bonn. The documents can also be consulted at the district administration offices of the districts directly adjacent to the possible siting areas, namely Waldshut, Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis and Konstanz, as well as at the responsible office in the city of Blumberg. They are also available online on the website of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. Comments can only be submitted in writing or online; the recipient is also the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The optional templates provided for this purpose are available on the website of the Swiss Federal Coucil.

Since 2008, Switzerland is searching for two repositories, one for low-level and intermediate level waste and one for high-level radioactive waste. There are currently six possible sites for a deep geological repository for low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste: Jura-Südfuss, Südranden, Wellenberg, Jura Ost, North of Lägern and Zürich Nordost. The three latter sites might also be suitable for the storage of high-level radioactive waste and will be examined in more detail in stage 3, according to current plans.