Licensing procedures for interim storage of spent fuel in Germany

J. Palmes, R. WähningFederal Office for Radiation Protection

- Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz –

International Conference on Management of Spent Fuel from

Nuclear Power Reactors

Vienna, 31 May – 4 June 2010

IAEA-CN-178/05-03

Krümmel (BWR)Brokdorf (PWR)

Brunsbüttel (BWR)

Unterweser (PWR)

Emsland (PWR)

Philippsburg (PWR/BWR)

Obrigheim (former PWR) Neckarwestheim (PWR)

Gundremmingen (BWR)

Isar (PWR/BWR)

Grafenrheinfeld (PWR)

Grohnde (PWR)

ZLN

Biblis (PWR)

TBL Ahaus

Central Interim Storage Facility

TBL Gorleben

On-Site Interim Storage Facility applied for

On-Site Interim Storage Facility in operation

Interim storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel in the Federal Republic of

Germany

AVR- Behälterlager Jülich

Dissipation of decay heat

Radiation shielding

Safe enclosure of radioactive

material

Subcriticality

Concept of dry interim storage of spent nuclear fuel

Atomic Energy Act (AtG), art. 6:

The storage of nuclear fuel requires a license. As well, any significant modification of the licensed storage requires a license.

The license must be granted if the licensing requirements are met:

– reliability and technical qualification of the applicant and the persons responsible for leading and managing the storage,

– precaution against harm and damages caused by the storage according to the state of the art of science and technology,

– sufficient financial security to cover the liability for damages caused by the storage and

– protection against disruptive actions or other third-party intervention.

Legal basis for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel

Environmental Impact Assessment Act

Legal Framework

Atomic Energy Act (AtG), art. 6

Radiation Protection Ordinance

Ordinance on Reliability of responsible

persons

Ordinance on Financial Liability

Nuclear Licensing Procedure Ordinance

Licensing procedureLi

cens

ing

requ

irem

ents

Safety Guidelines for Dry Interim Storage of Irradiated Fuel Assemblies in Casks

Roles and Responsibilities

Competent licensing authority for a building permission

local authorities pursuant to the legislation of the Federal State in which the facility is located

Competent licensing authority for interim storage of spent fuel:

Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) - Art. 23 Atomic Energy Act

Competent supervisory authority:Authorities of the Federal State in which the

facility is located

- Art. 24 Atomic Energy Act

External expertsAssigned by the licensing or the

supervisory authority - Art. 20 Atomic Energy Act

Application

Building authority of the federal state

Federal Office for Radiation ProtectionLicensing authority according to the Atomic Energy Act

Verification of compliance

with the licensing

requirementsfor a building

permission

Verification of compliance with thelicensing requirements according to

Art. 6 para. 2 Atomic Energy Act

Public participation

license draft

Participation of concerned authorities

Hearing of the applicantDecision about the applied storage

Building Permission License for Storage of Spent Fuel

Statement on constructive aspects

Formalized licensing procedure

Environmental Impact Assessment

Announcement of the application in the Federal Bulletin and local daily papers: basic informations on the project,

period and location of the disclosure of the basic application documents

disclosure of the basic project documents for public inspection for two months at a public location near the site of the applied facility and at BfS:

application, safety report and short description of the project, environmental impact study, further decisive documents

Opportunity to raise objections against the project within the presentation period,exclusion of further objections after the expiry of the term

Hearing of the objectors and discussion of the objections at a location near the site of the applied facility,

precise documentation in a transcript of the hearing

Announcement of the final decision and disclosure of the notice of approval, which contains a justification of the decision including an evaluation of the objections

and of the environmental impacts

Public Participation

Non-formalized licensing procedure

Application (Modification of licensed storage)

Federal Office for Radiation ProtectionLicensing authority according to the Atomic Energy Act

Verification of compliance with the licensing requirements according to Art. 6 para. 2 Atomic Energy Act

license draftParticipation of

concerned authorities

Hearing of the applicantDecision about the applied storage

Amending License

Case-by-case Examination of possible environmental impacts:decision about environmental impact assessment

Necessity to coduct EIA: formalized procedure

EIA is not necessary: announcement to public, non-formalized procedure

Supplementary Licenses

(continuation of the basic licensing procedure)

Basic Licenses

Amending Licenses

- Interim storage facility at the site of the NPP Obrigheim

- Further types of fuel elements - Fuel elements with missing fuel rods- Fuel elements with defect fuel rods- Neutron sources/absorber elements - Fuel elements with control rods - further types of transport- and storage casks

- New or modified types of transport- and storage casks- Modified inventory and loading of transport- and storage casks

Current licensing procedures

Public presentation of the basic application documents:

8th May until 7th July 2008

in the Town Hall of Obrigheim and the Federal Office for Radiation

Protection, Salzgitter

Number of objectors: 897

Different objections: 20

Hearing of the objectors: 8th until 10th October 2008

Participants:

- about 25 objectors

- applicants

- BfS as licensing authority

- assigned independent experts

- building authority, supervisory authority

Storage Facility in Obrigheim: Involvement of the Public

Photo: BfS

Transport and storage casks in the interim storage

facility of GorlebenPhoto: GNS