Findings about final storage resulting from processing the doubts raised by the Federal Government. Consequences arising to the Gorleben site

Effective November 4, 2005, the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (B/S) presented a synthesis report on ''Conceptual and safety-related Technical Questions Associated with the Final Storage of Radioactive Waste. A Comparison of Types of Host Rock.'' The report is the evaluation, by BfS, of the findings resulting from work on the twelve questions expressed by the federal government in the agreement with the power utilities, which were meant to raise doubt about the suitability of the Gorleben salt dome and which could not be elucidated any further by continued exploration. On the bases of this reasoning, exploration of the Gorleben salt dome was interrupted for at least three years and not more than ten years pending clarification of the conceptual and safety-related technical questions. The BfS synthesis report marks a conclusion of work on the doubts raised which makes it appear worthwhile to draw attention to the conclusions to be drawn from the report with respect to further procedures in the final storage of radioactive waste. The findings relevant to the doubts expressed are singled out, evaluated, and the conclusions drawn by BfS are examined. The outcome is that, in principle, salt is a suitable host rock. No doubt about the suitability of the Gorleben salt dome can be derived from the reports. There are no remaining questions which could serve as a reason for continuing the moratorium. (orig.)