Nagra submits a supplementary application for a deep borehole in Nördlich Lägern


Nagra has submitted a further application for a deep borehole in the Nördlich Lägern siting region, bringing the total number of applications to 23. The purpose of the deep boreholes is to complete the overall geological picture of the siting regions.

Nagra, the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste, has submitted a supplementary application for a deep borehole in the potential siting region Nördlich Lägern. The borehole will be drilled in the northern part of the community of Stadel. As Nagra suspected, and as the results of 3D seismic measurements have now confirmed, geological fault zones exist in the northern part of the Nördlich Lägern siting region. The geology in the southern part is more stable. The goal of the deep borehole in Stadel is to investigate the northern margin of the undisturbed southern part.

Nagra has now submitted 23 applications for deep boreholes to the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). The purpose of the deep boreholes is to complete the overall geological picture of the siting regions, thus allowing a scientifically substantiated selection of the safest sites for deep geological repositories. At present, three permits have been granted, and more are expected over the coming weeks and months. How many boreholes will be needed to complete the overall geological image depends on the results gained from these investigations, but it is not planned to drill boreholes at all 23 sites.

Further information: Patrick Studer, Head Media Service: medien@nagra.ch or tel. 076 579 36 50.

According to Swiss nuclear energy legislation, the producers of radioactive waste are responsible for its safe management and disposal. In 1972, the Federal Government and the nuclear power plant operators set up the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) to perform this task. Nagra, which has its headquarters in Wettingen (AG), is the national technical competence centre in the field of deep geological disposal of radioactive waste.

Out of a strong sense of responsibility for the long-term protection of man and the environment, 120 employees are involved daily in performing this important work. The high level of competence is secured by targeted research programmes in two Swiss underground rock laboratories and intensive international collaboration.