Reprocessing - is it a duty imposed by law?

The author concludes that nuclear waste disposal without reprocessing all in all is the more rational option of nuclear waste management, particularly with regard to section 9a of the Atomic Energy Act. On the other hand, however, an analysis of the nuclear waste management problem concentrating on section 9a Atomic Energy Act alone does not yield a final, cogent argument in favour of an obligation to apply direct ultimate waste storage instead of reprocessing. There is the duty to also examine the legal effects on the licensability of interim storage facilities, on the 'precautionary waste management clause' in licences for nuclear installations, and the licensability of the Wackersdorf reprocessing plant. The conclusion to be drawn from such examination is that according to the existing law, the Wackersdorf plant cannot get a permit. (orig./HSCH)