Nuclear safety in Germany. Licensing and waste management aspects

The Atomic Energy Act of 1959 established the prerequisites for the peaceful use of nuclear energy and thus the construction and operation of nuclear installations in Germany. The paper presents the structures of the licensing procedures according to the Atomic Energy Act, and the distribution of responsibilities between the Federal Government and the 16 Federal States, the applicant, the experts involved and the general public. For all aspects of nuclear safety, radiation protection and radioactive waste management in Germany, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Conservation of Nature and Nuclear Safety (Bundesministerium fuer Umwelt, Naturschutz and Reaktorsicherheit, BMU) is the competent authority. According to the Atomic Energy Act, the Federal Government has to establish installations for the final disposal of radioactive waste. On 1 November 1989, this responsibility was assigned to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz) - a federal authority subordinated to the BMU. (author). 2 figs