Committee on Final Disposal (EL)

The “Committee on Final Disposal” (EL) carries out consultations on scientific and technical issues in connection with the disposal of low- and medium-level as well as high-level radioactive waste.

As a follow-up to the publication of the safety requirements governing the final disposal of heat-generating radioactive waste of 30.09.2010 by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Committee deals, inter alia, with issues and questions related to these safety requirements. These include the development of guidelines specifying the requirements and dealing with the underlying model assumptions, e.g. for the containment-providing rock zone and the long-term radiological statement.

The Committee regularly gathers information about the progress made with regard to repository projects in Germany (construction of the Konrad mine repository, closure of the Morsleben Repository for Radioactive Waste (ERAM), Asse II mine, repository for high- level radioactive waste, Site Selection Act) and discusses new issues that arise. The consultation programme also includes issues related to main areas of research and promotion concepts in Germany.

If required, topics related to issues of radiation protection are dealt with in close consultation with the Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) and their committees.

Current Topics of Consultations

• Systematic survey and evaluation of incidents in connection with disposal
• Need for updating the selection and weighing criteria developed by the former Committee on a Selection Procedure for Repository Site (AkEnd)
• Extended storage of spent fuel and heat-generating radioactive waste
• Guideline for the safe operation of a storage facility for and heat generating radioactive waste (in consultation with Committee AZ)
• Evaluation of the ESK Workshops of 20 and 21 January 2015: State of knowledge and knowledge gaps regarding the potential disposal facility host rock types salt, clay and crystalline
• Asse II mine, Morsleben disposal facility for radioactive waste (ERAM) and Konrad disposal facility

>> To the agendas of the committee on Final Disposal (EL)

Members