Measurement Methods for Above-ground Site Investigation Programmes according to StandAG (Project “MessEr”) – an Overview
Authors: Kock Ingo , Jendras Michael , Faß Thorsten , Frieling Gerd , Wartenberg Wolfram , Leopold Karsten 
Published: November 2021

Abstract. In Germany, the site selection process for a repository for high-level
radioactive waste is stipulated by the Site Selection Act
(Standortauswahlgesetz – StandAG). During the site selection process, the
implementer has to identify and propose siting regions. The Federal Office for
the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (Bundesamt für die Sicherheit der
nuklearen Entsorgung – BASE) as the responsible federal authority has to
review the implementer's proposal and finally the siting regions remaining in
the site selection process will be laid down by federal law. The corresponding
above-ground site investigation programmes submitted by the implementer will
also be reviewed and then determined by BASE. These programmes and subsequent
revisions have to be published by BASE in the Federal Gazette (§ 15
StandAG). When reviewing as well as determining above-ground site investigation
programmes, state-of-the-art science and technology have to be considered –
especially in the field of applied measurement methods. For this reason, it is
convenient to have a catalogue of relevant and available measurement methods. This overview shows the findings and results from the project “MessEr”,
which was carried out by GRS gGmbH and initiated and funded by BASE (funding
code/FKZ 4717F01202). To derive such a catalogue for the above-ground site investigation within the
site selection process the project “MessEr” (Messmethoden für
übertägige Erkundungsprogramme gemäß StandAG – Measurement
methods for surface-based exploration programmes in accordance with the
StandAG) was initiated by BASE. This catalogue should combine two key
features: (i) it should be understandable not only for experts but also for
interested members of the general public and (ii) it also should provide a
basis to evaluate proposed site investigation programmes. Accordingly, the main task within the project was to compile above-ground
measurement methods considering the three host rocks according to the StandAG
– rock salt, clay rock and crystalline rock – and to classify them with
regard to the kind of investigation, measuring principles and achievable
knowledge. In a second step, every single measurement method had to be
characterised and described in detail: advantages, disadvantages and efforts,
as well as limitations and uncertainties. Furthermore, aspects such as
applicability (with regard to the host rock), the combination of different
methods and any possible needs of research and development were discussed. For
further information, references such as standard textbooks, weblinks, journals
or reports from other international repository projects were compiled for each
method. The final step of “MessEr” was to evaluate Appendices 1 to 12 to
§ 24 StandAG (“geoscientific consideration criteria”) with respect to
their significance and requirements for above-ground site investigation
methods. This resulted in three matrices showing the correlations of required
parameters and necessary knowledge according to the StandAG with the compiled
measurement methods.