
The Zürcher Weinland (Cantons Zürich, Thurgau) has already been known for several years as a potential siting region for a geological repository. The area that lies to the south-east of the Rhine in the north of Canton Zürich is suitable for both a high-level waste repository and a low- and intermediate-level waste repository.
The geological siting area covers an area of around 50 square kilometres. The preferred host rock is the Opalinus Clay (with its confining units).
Understanding of the spatial conditions in the area is based on 2D and 3D seismic investigations and results from a deep borehole (Benken). The siting area is located in the Tabular Jura at the northern boundary of the Molasse Basin and is tectonically quiet. The host rock is in a stable setting, with a slight dip to the south-east. This allows considerable flexibility in terms of the layout of the disposal caverns and tunnels.
Overall, the siting area is evaluated as being very suitable.
The underground installations of a deep geological repository for high-level waste in Opalinus Clay could be constructed in the area shown in orange.
Siting communities:
Canton Zürich: Benken, Dachsen, Flaach, Flurlingen, Kleinandelfingen, Laufen-Uhwiesen, Marthalen, Ossingen, Rheinau, Trüllikon, Truttikon
Canton Thurgau: Schlatt
Planning perimeter for surface facilities
The required surface structures (e.g. portal of the access tunnel) can also be located outside this siting region. Working together with the affected Cantons and representatives from Germany, the Federal Government has defined planning zones (so-called provisional planning perimeters) that include these additional areas. The planning perimeter extends up to 5 km around the geological siting region and should be connected; it should also have good road or rail access. Mountainous and hilly areas and protected natural areas are restricting factors. The Federal Office of Energy announced the provisional planning perimeters on 10th December 2009.
Additional communities within the provisional planning perimeter (besides the siting communities):
Canton Zürich: Adlikon, Andelfingen, Dägerlen, Dorf, Feuerthalen, Henggart, Humlikon, Thalheim an der Thur
Canton Schaffhausen: Beringen, Gutmadingen, Löhningen, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Neunkirch, Schaffhausen
Canton Thurgau: Basadingen-Schlattingen, Diessenhofen
Geological profile from north-west to south-east through the Zürcher Weinland. The grey arrow marks the Opalinus Clay.

Wirtschaftliche und soziale Komponenten sind neben der geologischen Sicherheit ebenfalls gewichtige Faktoren für eine potenzielle Standortregion. Man möchte deshalb über alle möglichen Auswirkungen vor, während und nach dem Betrieb eines Tiefenlagers informiert sein.
Das Bundesamt für Energie und die «Arbeitsgruppe Opalinus» (bestehend aus Vertretern der Zürcher Weinländer Gemeinden Benken, Marthalen und Trüllikon) haben deshalb Studien über solche wirtschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen in Auftrag gegeben. Die im September 2005 abgeschlossene Studie für die Arbeitsgruppe Opalinus ergab, dass einerseits ein klarer wirtschaftlicher Nutzen für die Standortregion resultieren würde (Bauwirtschaft, Handel, Gastgewerbe, Arbeitsplätze, Gebühren, Kompensationen), andererseits aber das Image der Standortregion bezüglich des Absatzes landwirtschaftlicher Produkte leiden könnte. Systematische Befragungen an Standorten von Zwischenlagern und Tiefenlagern im In- und Ausland bestätigen diese befürchteten Image-Auswirkungen aber nicht.
Studie
Nukleare Entsorgung in der Schweiz: Untersuchung der sozio-ökonomischen Auswirkungen des Entsorgungsprojektes nördliches Zürcher Weinland. (September 2005, Auftraggeber Arbeitsgruppe Opalinus).
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Philip Birkhäuser
Tel. +41 (0)56 437 12 73
2010 (1st September) | Start of the public consultation phase on Stage 1 of the site selection process for deep geological repositories. |
2010 (26th February) | The Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) approves Nagra's proposed siting regions following a review of safety and engineering feasibility aspects. |
2009 (10th December) | Announcement of the provisional planning perimeter by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). |
2008 (24th November) | Marthalen. Together with the ENSI and Nagra, the SFOE provides information on the proposals for geological siting regions. |
2008 (6th November) | Announcement by the SFOE of the proposed siting regions for deep geological repositories. |
2008 (2nd April) | The Federal Council approves the conceptual part of the sectoral plan for deep geological repositories. |
2006 (28th June) | The Federal Council approves the „Entsorgungsnachweis" project, but rejects the request for identification of a site as being premature. |
2005 | Submission of a report setting out the options, in terms of potential host rocks and siting regions, for disposal of high-level waste (NTB 05-02, in German). |
2002 | Submission of the „Entsorgungsnachweis" feasibility study for high-level waste to the Federal Council. The project is based on the example of the Opalinus Clay in the Zürcher Weinland. |
2001 | Publication of the investigation reports for the Benken borehole (NTB 00-01) and the 3D seismic campaign (NTB 00-03). |
1998 – 1999 | Benken borehole. |
1997 | Extensive 3D seismic measurement campaign. |
1996 | The Federal Council grants a permit for the Benken borehole. |
1991 – 1992 | Regional seismic investigations between the river Aare and Lake Constance (2D seismics). |
1982 – 1984 | Regional seismic investigations in the area Olten - Schaffhausen. |