The documentation required for the general licence applications is specified in the Nuclear Energy Ordinance (Art. 23 and Art. 62, KEV):
- The safety report (gTL und BEVA) shows why the sites are safe for the purpose of the two nuclear facilities. For both sites, safety during the operational phase must be assessed, with the purpose of highlighting which characteristics of the site and which aspects of the project are to be considered when determining the design and dimensions of the facilities. In the case of the deep geological repository, a provisional repository project is used to demonstrate that the long-term protection of humans and the environment can be ensured. For the safety assessment, the evolution of the repository and the barriers is evaluated taking into account all conceivable events.
- The Environmental Impact Assessment for nuclear facilities is divided into two stages. For the general licence application, Stage 1 of the Environmental Impact Report (gTL und BEVA) must be submitted. This outlines how the projects can be realised in compliance with environmental legislation. To this end, an assessment is conducted to determine whether and how the project could affect assets worthy of protection. To assess the impacts, the projects and facilities are based on bounding assumptions, and the process for subsequent procedural steps is defined in the form of requirement specifications.
- The project perimeters required for the realisation of the deep geological repository and, in part, the encapsulation plant are located outside the construction zones. By granting the general licence, the Federal Council confirms the spatial planning framework for the surface facility and its corresponding use. The report on coordination with spatial planning (gTL und BEVA) explains how, within the context of the Sectoral Plan process, a suitable site for the surface facility was determined as a result of the collaboration with the regions, cantons and neighbouring Germany.
- The security report (gTL und BEVA) shows that unauthorised access, interference and theft of nuclear materials can be prevented. As only conceptual security considerations are required for the general licence application, these reports are public, as opposed to the security-related documents for subsequent procedural steps.
- The decommissioning concept (gTL und BEVA) outlines how the nuclear facility buildings will be decommissioned and dismantled after the operational phase.
- In accordance with Art. 62 KEV, the general licence application for the deep geological repository also contains a report justifying the site selection, including an assessment of the geological properties that were decisive for the selection of the site. In line with ENSI’s specifications, the documentation also includes a closure concept and an integral monitoring concept.
