IAEA-CN-178/05-03
Licensing procedures for interim storage
of spent fuel in Germany
J. Palmes, R. Wähning
Federal Office for Radiation Protection
- Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz –
International Conference on
Management of Spent Fuel from
Nuclear Power Reactors
Vienna, 31 May – 4 June 2010
Interim storage facilities
for spent nuclear fuel in
the Federal Republic of
Germany
Brunsbüttel (BWR)
Brokdorf (PWR)
Krümmel (BWR)
ZLN
Unterweser (PWR)
Emsland (PWR)
TBL Gorleben
Grohnde (PWR)
TBL Ahaus
AVR- Behälterlager Jülich
On-Site Interim Storage Facility in operation
Grafenrheinfeld (PWR)
On-Site Interim Storage Facility applied for
Central Interim Storage Facility
Biblis (PWR)
Philippsburg (PWR/BWR)
Isar (PWR/BWR)
Obrigheim
(former PWR)
Neckarwestheim (PWR)
Gundremmingen (BWR)
Concept of dry interim storage of spent nuclear fuel
Subcriticality
Dissipation of
decay heat
Radiation
shielding
Safe enclosure of
radioactive
material
Legal basis for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel
Atomic Energy Act (AtG), art. 6:
The storage of nuclear fuel requires a license.
As well, any significant modification of the licensed storage requires a license.
The license must be granted if the licensing requirements are met:
– reliability and technical qualification of the applicant and the persons
responsible for leading and managing the storage,
– precaution against harm and damages caused by the storage according to
the state of the art of science and technology,
– sufficient financial security to cover the liability for damages caused by the
storage
and
– protection against disruptive actions or other third-party intervention.
Legal Framework
Atomic Energy Act
(AtG), art. 6
Environmental Impact
Assessment Act
Radiation Protection
Ordinance
Ordinance on
Financial Liability
Ordinance on
Reliability of
responsible
persons
Safety Guidelines for Dry Interim Storage of
Irradiated Fuel Assemblies in Casks
Nuclear
Licensing
Procedure
Ordinance
Roles and Responsibilities
Competent licensing authority for
interim storage of spent fuel:
Competent licensing authority for a
building permission
Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)
- Art. 23 Atomic Energy Act
local authorities pursuant to the legislation of
the Federal State in which the facility is located
External experts
Competent supervisory authority:
Assigned by the licensing or the
supervisory authority
- Art. 20 Atomic Energy Act
Authorities of the Federal State in which the
facility is located
- Art. 24 Atomic Energy Act
Formalized licensing procedure
Application
Building authority
of the federal state
Federal Office for Radiation Protection
Licensing authority according to the Atomic Energy Act
Public
participation
Verification of
compliance
with the
licensing
requirements
for a building
permission
Verification of compliance with the
licensing requirements according to
Art. 6 para. 2 Atomic Energy Act
Environmental Impact Assessment
Statement on constructive aspects
license draft
Decision about the applied storage
Building Permission
Participation of
concerned
authorities
Hearing of
the applicant
License for Storage of Spent Fuel
Public Participation
Announcement of the application in the Federal Bulletin and local daily papers:
basic informations on the project,
period and location of the disclosure of the basic application documents
disclosure of the basic project documents for public inspection for two months
at a public location near the site of the applied facility and at BfS:
application, safety report and short description of the project,
environmental impact study, further decisive documents
Opportunity to raise objections against the project within the presentation period,
exclusion of further objections after the expiry of the term
Hearing of the objectors and discussion of the objections
at a location near the site of the applied facility,
precise documentation in a transcript of the hearing
Announcement of the final decision and disclosure of the notice of approval,
which contains a justification of the decision including an evaluation of the objections
and of the environmental impacts
Non-formalized licensing procedure
Application (Modification of licensed storage)
Federal Office for Radiation Protection
Licensing authority according to the Atomic Energy Act
Case-by-case Examination of possible environmental impacts:
decision about environmental impact assessment
Necessity to coduct EIA:
formalized procedure
EIA is not necessary:
announcement to public,
non-formalized procedure
Verification of compliance with the licensing requirements
according to Art. 6 para. 2 Atomic Energy Act
Participation of
concerned authorities
license draft
Decision about the applied storage
Amending License
Hearing of
the applicant
Current licensing procedures
Basic Licenses
- Interim storage facility at the site of the NPP Obrigheim
Supplementary
Licenses
- Further types of fuel elements
- Fuel elements with missing fuel rods
- Fuel elements with defect fuel rods
- Neutron sources/absorber elements
- Fuel elements with control rods
- further types of transport- and storage casks
(continuation of the
basic licensing procedure)
Amending Licenses
- New or modified types of transport- and storage
casks
- Modified inventory and loading of transport- and
storage casks
Storage Facility in Obrigheim: Involvement of the Public
Public presentation of the basic application documents:
8th May until 7th July 2008
in the Town Hall of Obrigheim and the Federal Office for Radiation
Protection, Salzgitter
Number of objectors: 897
Different objections: 20
Hearing of the objectors: 8th until 10th October 2008
Participants:
- about 25 objectors
- applicants
- BfS as licensing authority
- assigned independent experts
- building authority, supervisory authority
Photo: BfS
Transport and storage
casks in the interim storage
facility of Gorleben
Photo: GNS