The Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BfE) has launched two new research projects to prepare for its coming tasks in the search for a disposal site. Both the projects deal with assessment and measurement methods for above-ground exploration programmes and will be used in a later phase of the site selection procedure.

The research projects support the BfE in its task of soundly assessing the systems and methods in the exploratory programmes suggested by Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) mbH, (the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal). The BGE is the operator searching for a disposal site; it will draw up programmes for the above-ground exploration of suitable site regions in the further course of the site selection procedure and submit them to the BfE for approval.

Subject matter for the research projects

The first project is entitled “An investigation into above-ground exploration programmes for hydrological, hydro-geological and hydro-chemical issues in the site selection procedure (übErStand)”. The project measures the relevant features of sites in terms of their surface and ground water. The project aims to determine and assess possible exploration methods as the basis for investigating these features.

The second project deals with “Measurement methods for above-ground exploration programmes according to the Site Selection Act (MessEr)”. The project aims to identify methods that are currently available, describe them in comparative terms and evaluate them as the basis for mapping and characterising the geological structures underground.

Goal of the projects

The goal of the research projects is, firstly, to draw up scientific principles to prepare for future tasks and make them transparent. Secondly, the aim is to work out the suitability, but also the restrictions and uncertainties of the individual measurement methods and uncover any remaining methodical gaps. Both projects are designed to identify the need for any further research, if necessary. The projects are scheduled to last one year.