A 25-years review of radioactive waste storage at the Morsleben final waste repository

In 1970, the Bartensleben mine was selected from ten salt mines for further use as a repository for radioactive waste. The first radioactive waste was put into storage on 7th December 1971 in the mine, based on a prelimary appropriateness, authorization for the site was given in 1972, and in 1974 a license for the construction of the repository was granted. In 1978 commissioning started with the actual test operation. In 1981, the first license for permanent operation was granted. This was been limited to five years. On 22. April 1986 the former GDR national Ministry for Atomic Security and Radiation Protection gave the then operator (Kombinat Nuclear Power Station 'Bruno Leuschner') a permanent operators licence to take effect immediately. On 1 July 1990 the Federal Republic's Atomic Energy Law in conjunction with the Umbrella Environment Act came into force in the former GDR territory. Subsequently, with accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990 the Unification Treaty stipulated that the GDR permanent license (Dauerbetriebsgenehmigung) for the Morsleben repository continue to be valid until 30 December 2000 in the form of an Federal Republic of Germany plan approval (Planfeststellungsbeschluss). A lecture meeting was organized on 11th Dezember 1996, in Morsleben to celebrate the 25th anniversary of radioactive waste storage in the Morsleben repository. All lectures are compiled in this report. (orig.)