Archive of the news-messages
BGR Interim Report on Compilation of objectives for surface exploration as specified in Section 16 of the Site Selection Act (StandAG), March 10, 2022
The BGR interim report, now available in English, summarises the exploration objectives for surface exploration as specified in Section 16 of the Site Selection Act (StandAG). On behalf of the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH, BGE), the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, BGR) is developing the current state of the art on the geoscientific and geophysical investigation methods that can be used for surface and borehole exploration. This is done in the two work packages GeoMePS and ZuBeMErk, based on an evaluation of literature and empirical evidence from site exploration programmes. For a targeted selection of the methods to be used, this is preceded by a compilation of exploration objectives. In this process, so-called direct exploration objectives are derived entirely from the criteria and requirements defined in the StandAG (exclusion criteria (Section 22), minimum requirements (Section 23) and geoscientific weighing criteria (Section 24)). Furthermore, so-called supplementary exploration objectives were deduced based on empirical evidence gained in geoscientific exploration programmes within the scope of repository projects and from foreseeable requirements to be met by the resentative preliminary safety assessments corresponding to the StandAG. |
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Assignment by BGE on the impact of future glacigenic erosion on the minimum depth of a radioactive waste repository, September 15, 2021
The Site Selection Act (StandAG) requires a minimum depth of the upper boundary of the isolation-rock zone of 300 m below the ground surface for a radioactive waste repository. However, depending on the location a depth 300 metres may be insufficient to safeguard the isolation-rock zone against damage due to future geological processes. Glacigenic erosion, such as tunnel-valley formation, has a major impact on the required minimum depth of an isolation-rock zone (cf., § 24 Abs. 3 S.3 StandAG). The aim of this new project is to recommend a minimum depth of the upper boundary of the isolation-rock zone (300 m or deeper), considering potential future subglacial erosion, especially tunnel-valley formation. The project was assigned by the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) after successful application of the Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) on a public announcement. |
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Registration for the workshop on „tunnel valleys” is now open, July 5, 2021
A workshop on “Tunnel valleys and their relevance for the long-term safety of a repository for radioactive waste” will be organised by the Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) from December 9th to 10th 2021, in Hannover (Germany). We would like to cordially invite you to this workshop. Registration is now open via our workshop homepage. The deadline for the submission of talks and posters is August 31st, 2021. Please note that the workshop language will be German. However, presentations in English will be possible. Due to the Corona pandemic, it is not yet decided if the workshop will be held in on-site or virtually. An on-site event is preferred. A decision will be made in late summer 2021. Further, up-to-date information can be found at www.rinnen-workshop.de. We are happy to answer further question at Subglaziale-Rinnen@bgr.de or dialog@bge.de. |
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"Save the Date" – 9-10 December 2021: Workshop "Tunnel valleys and their relevance for the long-term safety of a repository for radioactive waste", April 14, 2021
A workshop on "tunnel valleys" will be organised by the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) from December 9th to 10th, 2021 in Hannover (Germany) The formation of tunnel valleys is among the deepest reaching erosional processes. It is expected that potential future ice ages will again lead to tunnel-valley formation. Deep erosion during the formation of tunnel valley has the potential of seriously affecting the integrity of the geological barrier of a repository for radioactive waste. The prediction of a future tunnel-valley formation requires detailed knowledge of the formation and development of the Pleistocene tunnel valleys. This workshop addresses scientists from competent authorities, universities and other institutions. A participation of the general public is also highly welcome. Please note that the workshop language will be German. However, presentations in English will be possible. Due to the Corona pandemic, it has not yet been decided whether the workshop will be held as a face-to-face or online event. The aim is to hold a face-to-face event. The decision on this is planned for summer 2021. |
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BGE uses the expertise of the BGR in site selection procedure, September 28, 2020
On September 28 2020 the sub-area report was published by the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE). According to §13 of the Site Selection Act (StandAG) the report includes those areas where favourable geological conditions for the safe disposal of radioactive waste can be expected. The Site selection Act regulates which exclusion criteria and which geoscientific weighing criteria have to be applied. The Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) in the function of an implementor is responsible for the application of the criteria and the determination of the sub-areas. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) was not involved in the drafting of the sub-area report, but has carried out various tasks, which are directly related on behalf of the BGE. Since the start of the site selection procedure in 2017 the BGR has worked on various geoscientific issues for the BGE based on a cooperation agreement between BGE and BGR:
The BGR reports, which are prepared for BGE within the scope for the site selection procedure, are published under the tab „Standortauswahl“ (link in German). The BGR continues working for the BGE on issues concerning the site selection procedure. In the GeoMePS and ZuBeMErk projects (link in German) a catalog of suitable methods for surface geoscientific and geophysical exploration in accordance with § 16 of the Site Selection Act is compiled. A first report on the explorations targets is already available. |
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Abstract-Volume of the "ICG 2020 Hannover" is online, March 9, 2020
The 23 papers presented at the international conference on issues related to the final disposal of radioactive waste held at BGR from 27-28 February 2020 are now available as an abstract volume. More than 150 experts from 10 countries, including Russia, Switzerland and the USA, exchanged their latest research results at the "International Conference on Geological Barrier Systems, Host Rock Characterization, and Site Selection relevant to Underground Repositories - ICG 2020 Hannover". The discussion at the event focused on geological and geotechnical barrier systems, host rock characterisation, and site selection relevant to underground repositories in deep geological formations. The event was organised by BGR with the support of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) and the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA). |
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Conference 27-28 February 2020
In February 27-28 2020, a scientific conference will be held at the BGR on the topic „International Conference on Geological Barrier Systems, Host Rock Characterization and Site Selection relevant to Underground Repositories“. It will be organized by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and is kindly supported by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA). The program provides 20 lectures by invited speakers from different countries, scientific and regulatory institutions. The number of participants is limited, so please register as soon as possible! |
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The BGR has published the results of the 9th US/German workshop on repository research in salt formations, July 24, 2019
The 314-page proceedings of the 9th US/German Workshop on Salt Repository Research, Design, and Operation can be downloaded from the BGR website. It includes current research contributions by the more than 60 experts from the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland and Austria who took part in the international event. The main topics of the 9th US/German Workshop in September 2018 were, among others, the research of subhorizontally-bedded salt layers, the results of laboratory and in-situ investigations of geotechnical barriers, the comparison of salt geology and rock mechanics of subhorizontally-bedded salt layers, salt pillows and salt domes as well as the development of concepts for the retrievability of radioactive waste in different disposal strategies. The event took place in September 2018 at the BGR and was organised by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). |
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New: English versions of “Gorleben Site Description, Parts 1 to 4” are now available, June 19, 2011 The reports now available in English contain data compilations and descriptions of the technical evaluations of the geoscientific exploration results from the surface and underground geological and geotechnical investigation of the Gorleben salt dome conducted until 2000. The investigation work at the Gorleben site was suspended (moratorium) as a consequence of the agreement reached on 14 June 2000 between the German government and the power supply industry. BGR published the results “Description of the Gorleben site” in three parts in German in the Geologische Jahrbuch (Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung) as follows: Standortbeschreibung Gorleben 2007: Teil 1: Die Hydrogeologie des Deckgebirges des Salzstocks Gorleben The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety instigated in March 2010 that the investigations should be restarted. The aim is to investigate whether the Gorleben salt dome is suitable for the construction of a geologic repository for heat-generating radioactive waste. In another step in the evaluation process, the existing exploration and research findings are to be used as the basis for a preliminary safety analysis and a subsequent international peer-review procedure (in which the scientific work that has been carried out is inspected and assessed by an independent expert) to determine whether a geologic repository can be constructed in the Gorleben salt dome. The English translations of the findings, in addition to the documentation, should also help to bring more objectivity into the controversially discussed public and political debate concerning the Gorleben site, and to open up the debate to international involvement: The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), as the German government’s central authority on geoscientific issues, works on the geoscientific aspects of the investigation of the Gorleben site as part of the geologic repository measures of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). All of the investigation findings resulting from the surface and underground geological exploration activities are evaluated and published by BGR. |
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Final disposal of radioactive wastes in deep geological formations of Germany. Investigation and evaluation of argillaceous rock formations, June 30, 2009 This study identifies and evaluates argillaceous rocks as potential nuclear repository host rocks in partial areas in Germany and was published in 2007. Because of the great demand BGR now releases the english print version of the so called "Clay study". Due to the different nuclear repository concepts investigated internationally, a range of different host rocks have also been studied to assess their suitability for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Argillaceous rocks play an important role in different countries due to the respective national geology. This was why the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) was engaged in 2003 by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) to elaborate a study investigating and evaluating argillaceous rock formations suitable for the final disposal of heat-generating, high-level radioactive waste in Germany. The investigation of argillaceous rocks which complements the previous studies was based on host-rock-independent exclusion criteria and minimum requirements elaborated in 2002 by the Committee on a Site Selection Procedure for Repository Sites (AkEnd). This was supplemented by internationally recognised host-rock dependent selection criteria for argillaceous rocks. Other criteria considered essential from a geo-scientific point of view for the regional selection of argillaceous rock formations in Germany were also incorporated in the evaluation. The study is based on the available and utilisable data from maps, archive material and approx. 25,000 wells. No additional field or laboratory investigations were conducted.The study did not result in the determination of nuclear repository sites. BGR used its many years of experience to publish catalogues in 1994 on the salt and crystalline rock formations in Germany. These findings are still largely up to date and valid:
Download "Clay Study" (PDF, 29 MB)
Another report summarizes the BGR investigation and evaluation of regions with potentially suitable host rock formations for a geologic nuclear repository in Germany: Download (PDF, 800 KB). |
