How far have we come today?

Where the repositories will be constructed is decided as part of a pre-defined, multistage site selection process known as the Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories. The Federal Government has the lead in this process, in which highest priority is assigned to safety.
 

The first stage was completed in 2011. The aim was to define which areas in Switzerland are suitable in principle as geological siting regions (see previous question). In the coming years, in Stages 2 and 3, Nagra will further specify the details of the disposal projects and will investigate and compare potential sites, finally proposing those it considers to be most suitable. The public and the responsible authorities in the siting regions can participate in this process from Stage 2 onwards. Nagra’s work is monitored by the safety authorities, the Federal Government and the Cantons.  At the end of the process, the Federal Council, Parliament and, in the final instance, the Swiss voters (by optional referendum) will decide whether licences can be granted for the selected sites. This decision is expected for around the year 2020.

The three stages of the repository site selection process.