The conceptual part of the Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories outlines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the site selection process. This includes not only organisations with statutory duties, but also committees established specifically for this process. Effective collaboration between all stakeholders is crucial.
While the sectoral planning procedure allows for broad stakeholder engagement, the general licence procedure offers more limited opportunities for involvement due to statutory constraints. Additionally, several high-level stakeholders play important roles in radioactive waste disposal without direct involvement in either the site selection process or the general licence procedure. These stakeholders are also detailed below.
Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE)
The SFOE serves as the lead authority for the site selection process under the Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories and for the permit procedure under the Nuclear Energy Act (NEA). The SFOE manages the project, establishes requirements and tasks of participating agencies and institutions, and compiles outcome reports. Additionally, it conducts consultation and participation procedures, handles public communications, and is responsible for financial planning. The SFOE acts as the primary contact for cantons and ensures regional participation.
Nuclear Waste Management Advisory Board
Martin Landolt, a former member of the National Council, is head of the Nuclear Waste Management Advisory Board
The mandate of the advisory board is to ensure that the search for a suitable site for a deep geological repository for radioactive waste leads to a solution that is safe, sustainable and socially acceptable.
Its members are as follows:
Martin Landolt, former member of the National Council, chairman of the advisory board
Herbert Bühl, scientist (Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich), former cantonal councillor, former President of the Federal Commission for the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage
Anna Deplazes Zemp, molecular biologist and bioethicist at the University of Zurich
Klaus Fischer-Appelt, geologist, University Professor at RWTH Aachen University, Head of the Chair of Repository Safety
Philipp Hänggi, physicist, head of production and member of the group executive board of electricity supply company BKW AG
Lisa Stalder, linguist/media scientist, journalist
A seat on the advisory board is also reserved for a representative of environmental organisations, but to date none of them have exercised this option.
You can find the publications below.
Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI)
ENSI is the independent federal supervisory authority responsible for nuclear safety and security at Swiss nuclear facilities. It oversees Swiss nuclear power plants, radioactive waste interim storage facilities and nuclear research facilities. Its regulatory responsibilities span the entire lifecycle from project planning and operation through to decommissioning and disposal of radioactive waste. ENSI's remit includes radiation protection for both staff and the public, as well as security measures against sabotage and terrorism. Additionally, ENSI supervises the transport of radioactive materials to and from nuclear facilities and conducts geological investigations for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. Within the sectoral planning and general licence procedures, ENSI is tasked with reviewing and assessing all safety-related aspects. Specifically, it evaluates general licence applications for deep geological repositories and packaging facilities.
The NSC advises ENSI, DETEC and the Federal Council on fundamental safety matters and provides formal assessments of ENSI reports during the three phases of the sectoral plan and throughout the general licence procedure. The Commission comprises part-time members who are experts in scientific and technical disciplines relevant to nuclear safety.
The EGT comprises independent experts from academia and industry who have no contractual relationships with deep geological repository project developers. Within the framework of the Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories and the ENSI permit procedure, the EGT supports ENSI on safety assessment matters, prepares formal statements, contributes to the Technical Safety Forum and advises ENSI on expert engagement. The EGT assumed the role of the former Nuclear Waste Management Commission (KNE) within the Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories in 2012. The Commission currently consists of eight members.
The TSF addresses technical and scientific questions on safety and geology raised by the public, communes, siting regions, organisations, cantons and affected communities in neighbouring countries. The Forum is chaired by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI).
Various federal offices provide support to the SFOE. The Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) examines and evaluates spatial planning considerations, while the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) assesses environmental aspects. Swisstopo assists ENSI with geological matters throughout the sectoral planning procedure.
National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra)
Nagra's membership comprises the waste producers, including nuclear power plant operators, the Interim Storage Facility Würenlingen and the federal government (which manages waste from medicine, industry and research). Following guidelines established in the conceptual part, Nagra proposes geological siting regions and surface sites, and submits the necessary permit applications. In accordance with the 'polluter pays' principle, radioactive waste producers are required to bear disposal costs. Consequently, Nagra funds various aspects of the process, including regional participation, flat-rate reimbursements to siting cantons for their expenditure, and compensation for the cantonal expert group on safety. Additionally, Nagra finances socio-economic impact studies and covers the federal government's staffing costs.
The cantons are involved in the process to varying degrees. All cantons are required to provide the necessary spatial planning information and documentation. The relevant government representatives of the siting cantons and those in the immediate vicinity also exchange information within the Committee of Cantons (AdK) and with neighbouring Germany. Seven cantons were involved at the start of the process. In addition to the cantons of Zurich, Aargau and Schaffhausen, which remained in stage 3, these were Nidwalden, Obwalden, Solothurn and Thurgau. The AdK supports the federal government in conducting the selection procedure and makes recommendations to the federal government. All siting and neighbouring cantons cooperate with the federal government, supporting it in the selection process and coordinating the procedures for the necessary adjustments to cantonal structure plans and cooperation with the communes. The siting cantons have also set up a cantonal safety working group (SiKa) and a cantonal safety expert group (KES) to provide expertise and advice on safety matters.
Given the proximity of almost all sites identified as possible options in the sectoral plan, Germany has always been closely involved in the process. In the general licence procedure, Germany has the same status as the siting and neighbouring cantons and is involved in the process. Germany's involvement is at all levels of government: at federal level through the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) and the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE), and at state level through Baden-Württemberg. While three districts were involved when the general licence application was submitted, only Waldshut remains at this level today. At the local level, six German municipalities close to the border are now involved, participating in the Nördlich Lägern Regional Conference or the Deep Repository Packaging Facility Working Group. Until the application was submitted, there were up to nine additional German municipalities. Germany has established two specialist agencies: the German Coordination Office for Swiss Deep Repositories (DKST), based at the Waldshut district office, and the Expert Group on Swiss Deep Repositories (ESchT), based at the BMUKN.
Representatives from communes, organised interest groups and members of the public from potential siting regions contribute regional perspectives to the process. At the beginning of stage 2, regional conferences were established in all six siting regions proposed by Nagra. These conferences discussed Nagra's surface site proposals and addressed issues relating to safety, the potential impact of the deep repository on the environment, society and the economy, as well as the promotion of sustainable regional development. Following Nagra's announcement in September 2022 that it would apply for the Nördlich Lägern (NL) siting region as the location for the deep geological repository, the regional conferences for Jura East and Zurich North-East were dissolved. The other three regional conferences – Jura-Südfuss, Südranden und Wellenberg – had already been dissolved towards the end of stage 2. The Working Group on Packaging Facilities for Deep Geological Repositories (AG VA GTL) was established in response to Nagra's plans to locate the fuel element packaging facility at the Würenlingen Interim Storage Facility rather than the deep geological repository site. This comprises the siting commune of Würenlingen, its neighbouring communes and the relevant planning authorities, including those on the German side. This body serves as the smaller counterpart to the NL Regional Conference and represents the regional concerns of those affected by the packaging facility.
Federal Workgroup for Nuclear Waste Disposal (Agneb)
Agneb is responsible for monitoring nuclear waste disposal activities in Switzerland, preparing statements for the Federal Council, supporting the federal permit procedure and addressing issues relating to international waste management.
Agneb comprises representatives from ENSI, the Federal Office for Energy (SFOE), the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), swisstopo and the research community (Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI). A Nagra representative is invited to attend meetings as required.
Agneb reports annually to DETEC, providing information on its activities and on the research activities of member organisations in the field of waste management. It also documents the current implementation status of the NSC's waste management recommendations.
You can find the publications below.
Decommissioning and Waste Disposal Funds
The costs of decommissioning and radioactive waste disposal after nuclear power plant closure are covered by contributions from nuclear power plant operators to two independent funds: the Decommissioning Fund and the Waste Disposal Fund for Nuclear Power Plants (STENFO). The Decommissioning Fund was established in 1984 and the Waste Disposal Fund in 2000. Both funds are legally independent and separate from the waste producers. The contributions payable by nuclear power plant operators are reviewed every five years based on a cost study.
