In 2008, the ad hoc working group VEK dealt with the safety-related aspects of the nuclear licensing procedure for granting of the second partial operating licence (TBG) for the Karlsruhe vitrification plant VEK) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). On the basis of the consultations during the three meetings on 09 April, 18 June and 13 August, it prepared the draft of an ESK statement. On 17.09.2008 (3rd meeting), the ESK consulted on it and passed a statement. The second TBG, by which hot operation of the VEK is licensed, was granted by the competent authority in Baden-Württemberg on 24 February 2009.

In 2010, the Committee on WASTE CONDITIONING, TRANSPORT AND INTERIM STORAGE (AZ) prepared, according to a request for advice, a draft statement on underground and above ground treatment or radioactive waste which may have to be retrieved from the Asse II mine. This draft was consulted on within the ESK and adopted as a statement [129 KB] (in German).

In 2010, the Committee on WASTE CONDITIONING, TRANSPORT AND INTERIM STORAGE (AZ) also prepared, according to a request for advice, draft ESK recommendations for guides to the performance of periodic safety reviews for interim storage facilities for irradiated fuel elements and heat generating radioactive waste (PSÜ-ZL). This draft was discussed and a recommendation to the ESK adopted. This draft was consulted on within the ESK and adopted as a recommendation [34 KB] (in German).

Furthermore, in 2010, the Committee on WASTE CONDITIONING, TRANSPORT AND INTERIM STORAGE (AZ) prepared, according to a request for advice, a draft statement on the return of medium-level vitrified waste from the reprocessing of irradiated fuel elements in France to Germany. This draft was consulted on within the ESK and adopted as a statement [116 KB] (in German).

In 2011, the Committee on WASTE CONDITIONING, TRANSPORT AND INTERIM STORAGE (AZ) adopted the “Empfehlungen zum Alterungsmanagement bei der trockenen Zwischenlagerung bestrahlter Brennelemente und Wärme entwickelnder radioaktiver Abfälle” [332 KB] (in German) (recommendations on ageing management for dry interim storage of irradiated fuel and heat generating radioactive waste). This document was made available to the BMU - like the ESK recommendations for guides to the performance of periodic safety reviews for interim storage facilities for irradiated fuel elements and heat generating radioactive waste (PSÜ-ZL) - and its contractors for the work to conduct the “pilot phase of the implementation of the PSR in interim storage facilities for spent fuel and heat generating waste”.