Since the early sixties, the radioactive waste disposal policy in the Federal Republic of Germany has beenbased on the decision that all types of radioactive waste are to be disposed of in deep geologicalformations. According to the 1979 German radioactive waste management and disposal concept theGorleben salt dome is investigated to decide upon its suitability to host a repository for all types ofradioactive waste. In addition, the licensing procedure for the Konrad repository project has practicallybeen finished, i.e. a decision could be taken. Since German unification on October 03, 1990, theMorsleben repository has to be considered, too. From January 1994 through September 1998 short-livedlow and intermediate level radioactive waste with alpha emitter concentrations up to 4,0 · 108 Bq/m~3 wasdisposed of in this facility.On September 27, 1998, federal elections took place in Germany. As a result, a coalition of the SocialDemocrats and the Greens has come into power. Based on the coalition agreement of October 20, 1998,nuclear energy is intended to be phased out in Germany. Thus, the new radioactive waste managementpolicy comprises important disposal-related alterations and changes.
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