(October 13, 1995) A new report by the Federal Commission for the Management of Nuclear Waste has cast doubt on the results of test drilling in the crystalline basement at two sites in the Lower Aare Valley, and in the opalinus clay structure of an area near Zürich.
(441.4348) WISE-Amsterdam - Not only do the tests look unpromising, but the sites, near the communes of Leuggern and Böttstein, have proven to be unsuitable for the location of a final repository for high-level waste.
Nagra, the Swiss radwaste agency, has announced however that it will continue to work at the site regardless of the report's findings. It claims the report reflects the opinion of 'just one federal body'. The department responsible for nuclear security (HSK) and the federal work group for the management of nuclear waste (Agneb) are due to issue a final report in the autumn.
Nagra plans to build a deep-mined repository 1,000 metres below the surface, in which high-level waste packages are placed in horizontal tunnels backfilled with bentonite. Phase II, obtaining licences and making field investigations, is due for completion by the year 2000, which is a somewhat tight deadline.
Meanwhile, the people of the canton of Nidwalden voted on 25 June against the cantonal government's decision to allow the burial of low- and medium-level radioactive waste in the canton below Mt. Wellenberg. Energy Minister Adolf Ogi has said that the government will respect the Nidwalden vote.
The 'no' vote has put a stop to geological exploration at Mt. Wellenberg, as well as halted work on the research tunnel already authorised by the federal government long ago.
Source:
- Power In Europe, 25 August (p.22)
- Nagra Report (Sw.), July/August 1995
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