German Fukushima caused by Helmholtz scientists

At the Asse mine, a former salt mine, research and development work is performed on the disposal of radioactive wastes in salt formations. The emplacement of radioactive wastes terminated in 1978. [1]

Helmholtz storing nuclear waste at Asse mine
From April 1967 to December 1978 there were 125.000 packages  of low radioactive waste was stored at the levels at 750 metres depth and at 725 metres depth, and  1.300 bins containing middle radioactive waste were stored at 511 metres level by Helmholtz. Some bins with high radioactive nuclear waste may corrode in a near future. Some bins were not registered. Walls and ceiling is collapsing. Water is leaking in and becomes a brine.

Problems ahead [2]
Helmholtz Zentrum realised that the mine is about to collapse. Water is leaking in and becomes a brine. Metal bins will corrode in near future. Realising the problem the institute was eager to transfer the whole trouble to the responsibility of tax payers.  In 2009 the Asse mine responsibility  was transferred to the  Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) to achieve the safe closure of the facility. This can only be ensured by retrieving the waste. The poor condition of the mine, however, allows only a limited period of time to achieve this objective.

Examination of selected emplacement chambers  [3]
For the finding of facts two emplacement chambers have been selected that are as representative as possible. The following chambers have been selected:

In a control bore hole detected an enhanced activity of caesium-137. The BfS carried out the measurement near the so-called brine swamp in front of emplacement chamber 12 in a depth of 750 meter. In the bore hole there is approximately one litre of radioactive brine which escaped from the waste chamber. Approximately 240,000 becquerel per litre were measured.

Contaminated brine in front of chamber 12 has a concentration of approximately 90,000 becquerel per litre in the same bore hole. In addition to caesium-137 also the radionuclide cobalt-60 was measured in the brine. However, only a low level of cobalt-60 has been measured, amounting to 10.5 becquerel per litre. Control boring is stopped because of safety issues.

Decommissioning concept for the Asse repository
According to the current state of knowledge the long-term safety can only be ensured for the Asse site after all the waste has been retrieved.

Extensive supply with nitrogen required [4]
An important matter is that it is currently not possible to ensure the extensive supply with nitrogen required in case of a fire in the emplacement chamber. So far no company has been able to fulfil the given required amount of gas by tank lorry.
Therefore, an own air separation plant needs to be installed and operated in the mine.

Drilling in 750 metres [5]
Drilling into chamber 7 on the 750-m level which was backfilled with salt grit will give access to radar measurements in the bore holes, cavities in the chamber are to be detected, which have possibly remained after the chamber was closed at the end of the 1970s. These cavities are then to be drilled into. After this has been done, more information will be available about the atmosphere prevailing in the chamber, the radiological exposure and the state of the chamber. It will also be possible to draw conclusions about the state of the emplaced waste packages.

Other than in emplacement chamber 7 on the 750-m level, the residual cavities in chamber 12 on the 750-m level were not backfilled after the radioactive waste had been emplaced. Therefore it is assumed that there are still larger cavities in the chamber. After this chamber has been drilled into, gas samples from the chamber atmosphere can then be taken.

However, there is currently still a so-called brine sump (a depression where saline solution accumulates) directly in front of the emplacement chamber. The solution in the sump is radiologically contaminated. Before it will be possible to drill into the chamber the area in front of it must therefore be decontaminated and remediated. On account of these necessary preparations, chamber 7 will thus be the first one to be drilled into.

Only after the emplacement chambers 7 and 12 on the 750-m level have been opened can the situation in situ be evaluated accurately. This evaluation is required to be able to plan in detail the technology for recovering the waste.
For the trial recovery it is necessary to establish an infrastructure underground which permits interim storage of the packages.

The responsibility
Scientists lack commitment to their work. They are quick in closing an eye to some problems in order to find a way to harmonize with the ideas of the investors or money providers. Turning things the way politicians and big corporations want to have it done, is the cause of failure of  the Climate Conference at Durban. It is why Steven Chu is unable to correct the disastrous climate politics of Obama. At Asse II the Helmholt institute closed its eyes to the problems which must now be repaired by the taxpayers. The Occupy movement is active in all parts of our society to get responsibility back at all positions. This is urgently needed among scientists and institutes.

[1] Welcome at the Asse Mine! HelmholtzZentrum München. Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt. 31 Dec 2008.
http://www.asse-archiv.de/en/asse-archiv/asse-home/index.html

[2] Decommissioning of the Asse repository
http://www.endlager-asse.de/EN/4_WhatWillBecome/DecommissioningConcept/_node.html

[3] Enhanced caesium activity in a control drilling
http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/0414_caesium.html

[4] Extensive supply with nitrogen required. Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz. 02 Dec 2011.
http://www.endlager-asse.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/EN/2011/1202_drilling.html

[5] Drilling into selected emplacement chambers.
http://www.endlager-asse.de/EN/4_WhatWillBecome/DecommissioningPlanning/Fact_Finding/Steps/step_1.html