Tasks of the Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management The Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management develops recommendations for the Austrian federal government. These recommendations serve as the foundations for subsequent decisions regarding the final disposal of radioactive waste.

The Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management received its mandate from the federal government during its Council of Ministers on the 10th of March 2021. It is valid for three years. After this period the federal government will renew this mandate depending on the recommendations contained in the final report of the Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management.

During the first three years the Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management will specifically compile topics and questions in order to outline the status quo of radioactive waste in Austria and describe a step by step approach for its final disposal. During this phase the work of the Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management will neither search for a suitable location of a final repository site nor recommend a particular type of repository.

The mandate of the Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management includes the following tasks:

  • To compile a more detailed inventory of the current and future radioactive waste than is currently available
  • Evaluation of possible options for the final repository of Austrian radioactive waste, including the necessary requirements, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks as well as associated costs
  • Compilation of a participation concept with recommendations on how the population may be informed, involved and included in any decisions
  • Outline of a timetable and milestones for the disposal of the radioactive waste produced in Austria

All results and recommendations from the Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management will be summarised in a final report to the federal government. The federal government will then take further steps towards the construction of a final repository on the basis of this report.

The Austrian Board for Radioactive Waste Management’s specific manner of operating is detailed in its rules of procedure.