Commissioning of the Konrad repository is not jeopardised by water law

The Konrad repository in Salzgitter is currently under construction and is due to begin operating in the early 2030s. The parties that are obliged to deliver waste in Germany are preparing their waste accordingly. Radioactive waste is conditioned (treated and packaged) in accordance with the requirements of the Konrad final disposal conditions and described in detail with regard to its radiological and material properties. The waste documentation is checked by the BGE’s product control department and must be approved before a waste packages can be emplaced in the Konrad repository.

Limit values lowered

“There are currently many waste packages that both meet the radiological requirements of the Konrad final disposal conditions and have been approved by the product control department. At the same time, however, no packages have been approved with regard to their material description. As things stand, there are therefore no waste packages with low- or intermediate-level radioactive waste that could be emplaced in the Konrad repository,” says Iris Graffunder, Chair of the BGE Management Board. 

The material description of the waste packages can still be checked by the product control department, but final confirmation cannot be given. The background to this is that the limit values in conventional water legislation have been lowered for some substances. In this case, the verification system for the Konrad repository provides for all water law verifications to be carried out again under the new boundary conditions as part of the implementation of the qualified permission under water law. These are therefore changes to the conventional regulations that have an impact on waste destined for the Konrad repository. 

Safety objectives are met

The BGE is convinced that the emplacement of radioactive waste will not result in unacceptable contamination of usable groundwater, such that the safety objectives will be met at all times. Waste will be emplaced at a depth of around 850 metres, whereas the usable groundwater is at a much higher level. There is no direct connection between the subterranean water and drinking water. A dispersion model was used to determine the transport of material to the surface after 300,000 years based on very conservative assumptions. The BGE is currently working to verify compliance with the amended limit values in water law, but this work has not yet been completed.

“The BGE has not yet submitted any new applications for PCBs, PAHs or PFAS, because discussions are still ongoing with the Lower Saxony State Department for Waterway, Coastal and Nature Conservation and the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment. These discussions concern the verification methodology for concrete implementation of the supervisory procedure as a result of the amendment of the limit values in conventional water law. This collaboration with the relevant state authorities in Lower Saxony is proceeding on an objective and professional basis,” concludes Graffunder.