An application for the establishment of an investigation area at the Hrádek site has been approved
An application for the establishment of an investigation area at the Hrádek site, which is being considered for the potential location of the Czech deep geological disposal facility (DGR), has been approved.
The application for special intervention into the earth’s crust at the Hrádek site for the purpose of the potential construction of the Czech DGR has been legally approved by the Ministry of the Environment. Investigation/exploration areas at the Březový potok and Janoch sites have already been approved.
The Ministry of the Environment has rejected an appeal against the granting of permission to establish an investigation area for special intervention into the earth’s crust at the Hrádek site. The final approval of this investigation/exploration area represents an important step forward in terms of the selection of the final and backup sites for the Czech DGR and paves the way to the payment of statutory financial contributions to the affected municipalities.
This development will allow investigation work to commence at the site.
The investigation/exploration work at the Hrádek site will include detailed geological mapping, geophysical research and deep borehole drilling. The results of this research will then allow geologists to examine in detail the rock mass in which the disposal facility will potentially be constructed. The scientific information obtained will include data on the mineralogical composition of the rocks, their strength and the presence/absence of fractures and faults, as well as on the composition of the local groundwater and its flow regimes. All the research work performed will make an invaluable contribution to the selection of the most suitable and safest site for the construction of the deep geological disposal facility, which is intended for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive waste generated in the Czech Republic.
The determination of this investigation/exploration area will open the door to the payment of financial contributions to the affected municipalities as determined by national legislation. The contribution to the Hrádek site will amount to CZK 27.8 million. More detailed information on the financial contribution is available here.