ILK statement about the potential suitability of the Gorleben site as a geologic repository for radioactive waste

The International Nuclear Technology Committee (ILK) presents a statement outlining the criteria and positions relative to the final storage of radioactive waste and the potential suitability for this purpose of the Gorleben. Two sets of questions are dealt with: (1) Site selection, including the site selection procedure. Reference is made to a number of criteria on which the past site selection had been based, and to aspects of general importance. The important fact is that the selected site of Gorleben stood, and continues to stand, a good chance of being a suitable site. (2) The required safety level: The comprehensive site exploration program for Gorleben is considered an important basis. The fact is criticized that, in the absence of the moratorium decided upon by the federal government, a complete database would be available for a properly qualified scientific and technical evaluation. No new aspects are seen in the list produced by the federal government with scientific and technical doubts about the suitability of the Gorleben site. Moreover, even if there were such aspects, they would not rule out the installation of a safe geologic repository in salt in general or at Gorleben in particular. The ILK arrives at the conclusion that it us up to a societal or political decision to write off investments into a potentially suitable site. Subjects in need of further clarification accordingly should be treated and advanced by the appropriate scientific and technical methods. (orig.)