http://www.endlager-asse.de Latest News of ASSE Repository en-gb Copyright by BfS. All rights reserved. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2012/0103_new_signs.html Currently the Asse-GmbH provides all apparatuses, devices, containers and rooms in the Asse repository with a warning sign for radioactivity, even if only small amounts of radioactive substances could exist there. No enhanced risk underground is associated with this additional labelling. Rather the Asse-GmbH is implementing requirements resulting from the mine being now operated under nuclear law. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/1222_situation_mining.html Regarding the decommissioning of the Asse mine, the objective is the long-term safety of man and environment in terms of impacts from the radioactive waste stored in the mine. According to the latest findings, this can only be achieved by retrieving the waste stored in the Asse mine. This evaluation is based on a comparison of different decommissioning options, in which, as a result of previously determined scientific criteria that had also been discussed with the public, one arrived at this conclusion at the beginning of 2010. In terms of this assessment nothing has changed. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/1202_drilling.html It will not be possible to carry out the drilling into emplacement chamber 7 in this year. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) briefed the accompanying group on this topic and explained the reasons. The implementation of the requirements contained in the licence according to Article 9 Atomic Energy Act (AtG) granted by the federal state of Lower Saxony for carrying out step 1 of the trial phase (fact finding) demands more time. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/1110_new_probes.html The measuring network in the vicinity of the Asse repository has become even denser. At the request of the population the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has installed three further measuring probes in Remlingen, Wittmar and Groß Denkte. With the help of the measuring probes radioactive substances in the environment are registered. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/0820_smouldering_fire.html A smouldering fire started in an electrical switchgear on Saturday in the basement of the shaft hall on the premises of the Asse mine. The fire fighters quickly extinguished the smouldering fire. There was property damage, persons were not injured. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) explicitly points out that no radioactive waste whatsoever is being stored in the basement of the shaft hall. The regulatory authorities have been informed.. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/0725_office_containers.html New office containers will be erected on the premises of the Asse mine in August. The offices are needed to get sufficient room for the staff of the mine. With the help of a mobile crane the office containers are erected in the eastern part of the facility grounds. Furthermore, remediation measures are currently being carried out at the listed winding tower dating from 1909. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/0705_exploration_shaft.html To be able to recover the radioactive waste from the Asse repository safely, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) plans the construction of a new shaft. Planning works for the new shaft run parallel to the preparations of the trial phase (fact finding) for retrieving the radioactive waste. Based on the available geological knowledge the BfS has determined a possible site for the new shaft. Prior to starting the exploration drillings, the BfS needs to get the required licences from the federal state of Lower Saxony. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/0621_state_collecting_depot.html To open chamber 12 in the scope of the fact finding (trial phase) around 80 cubic metres of brine need to be removed. According to legal regulations it is incumbent upon the federal state of Lower Saxony to take the contaminated brines into the federal state collecting depot. The Lower Saxon Environment Ministry commissions companies to deal with this task. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection does not have any influence on this form of contract with third parties. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/0610_schedule.html The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has set up a comprehensive time schedule for drilling into the first emplacement chamber of the Asse repository. This schedule takes into consideration the time that is necessary for complying with the licensing requirements of the Lower Saxon Environment Ministry (NMU). On 21 April 2011 the NMU issued its licence including 32 requirements. The BfS needs to fulfil these requirements before the first emplacement chamber of the Asse mine may be drilled into. “On the basis of these requirements we have set up a time schedule consisting of about 850 work steps,” a BfS spokesman said. If everything goes according to plan, drilling works can start at the beginning of November. http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/0421_licence_drilling.html The NMU handed over the licence for drilling into emplacement chambers to BfS on 21 April 2011. This licence comprising approximately 100 pages and 32 requirements differs from the draft to some extent. An evaluation has been initiated as to how much planning and time will be required for implementing the requirements made until one can start drilling.