In Switzerland, the process of implementing a LLW/ILW repository is entering a crucial phase. After a long planning period in which great emphasis was placed upon producing a convincing demonstration of basic safety and on collecting the necessary laboratory and field data, the selection of the site of Wellenberg in Canton Nidwalden was announced in June 1993. The announcement of the Wellenberg site was the start of an extended federal and cantonal licensing procedure. The first step consisted of submitting the application for a general license to the Swiss Federal Government in June 1994. The decision of the Government on the general license, which is expected in mid 1996, must still be ratified by the Federal Parliament and the full licensing procedure is expected to take around four years. Partly parallel to this, complementary federal and cantonal licenses for the construction and later for the operation of the repository must be applied for. In addition to the nuclear licenses according to federal law, a special mining concession must be applied for to the Canton, since the repository is considered as a facility which may interfere with hypothetical future mining projects and, in Switzerland, mining issues are covered by Cantonal law. This license was applied for in September 1994 and was granted by the Cantonal Government in January 1995. However, it will only become valid after a vote by the Cantonal population. The people of the siting community of Wolfenschiessen have already (June 1994) agreed to host the company responsible for constructing and operating the repository by a 63% affirmative vote. Since, for the repository, the zone planning of the community had to be adapted, another vote by the community assembly was necessary in December 1994; this was affirmative by 70%. This paper will cover the site selection procedure, the criteria applied and the results of the site evaluation and the characteristics of the selected site of Wellenberg, as well as the procedure applied to enhance project acceptance.
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