Zürich Nordost

The geological siting area covers an area of around 50 square kilometres. The host rock formations occurring within the area are the claystone sequence Brauner Dogger and the Opalinus Clay. 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 for a deep geological repository for low- and intermediate-level waste in the host rocks Opalinus Clay and Brauner Dogger could be constructed in the area shown in green.

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 infrastructure (e.g. the portal of the access tunnel) could 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 planning perimeters) that include these additional areas. The planning perimeter extends up to 5 km around the geological siting region and should have good road or rail access. Mountainous and hilly zones and protected natural areas are restricting factors. The Federal Office of Energy announced the planning perimeters in provisional form on 10th December 2009; these were approved by the Federal Council on 30th November 2011.

Additional communities within the planning perimeter (besides the siting communities):
Canton Zürich: Adlikon, Andelfingen, Dägerlen, Dorf, Feuerthalen, Henggart, Humlikon, Thalheim an der Thur

Canton Schaffhausen: Beringen, Guntmadingen, Löhningen, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Neunkirch, Schaffhausen

Canton Thurgau: Basadingen-Schlattingen, Diessenhofen

Further reading:

What is the surface facility?
Participatory approach to identifying the siting areas
Requirements on the siting areas

ZNO-1

The area is located in the community of Rheinau and partly in Marthalen, in an agricultural zone. Some construction measures would be necessary to provide access. Apart from a railway line and several minor roads, the area is not overdeveloped in terms of infrastructure. Because of the forest to the south-east, the facility would be visible only from the north-west from more distant localities.

ZNO-2

The area lies in the community of Marthalen in the vicinity of a gravel-pit and partly in an agricultural zone. Accessing the area by rail would be costly (e.g. by tunnel). The area is located between forest and a marked terraced zone and cannot be seen from larger residential zones.

ZNO-3

The area lies in the community of Marthalen close to the railway station and an industrial zone and is used today for agriculture. Accessing it from the existing transport network would be straightforward. The facility would be visible from residential zones and would have an impact on the present overall appearance of the locality.

ZNO-4

The area is located in the community of Schlatt adjacent to an existing industrial zone and is generally used today for agriculture. Access would be relatively straightforward. The existing industrial buildings mean that the facility would not be visible from the nearest residential zones in the village of “Neu Paradies”, but would be visible from the south and east.

• The Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is responsible for the sectoral plan process. Further information and contact persons for questions on the sectoral plan can be found under: www.bfe.admin.ch/radioaktiveabfaelle

• The Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) (until 31 December 2008: HSK) is the regulatory authority for all questions relating to safety. Further information can be found under: www.ensi.ch

• For questions to Nagra on your region:



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Philip Birkhäuser

Tel. +41 (0)56 437 12 73