The search for a repository for highly radioactive nuclear waste is to be completed by 2031 and is taking place with public participation. The National Citizens’ Oversight Committee is part of the public participation and has the task, as a pluralistic social committee, to accompany the search for a repository in an independent, transparent and citizen-oriented manner.

The National Citizens’ Oversight Committee is an independent 18-member body, composed of scientists, persons of public interest and six interested citizens. The aim of the National Citizens’ Oversight Committee is to mediately accompany the search for a repository for high-level radioactive waste.

The selection process for naming the citizens is described in the rules for the election of citizens for the National Citizens’ Oversight Committee in Paragraph 8 of the Site Selection Act. The selection process takes place in the form of a random selection and is carried out in three steps: First, there is a citizens’ forum with 170 citizens randomly drawn from across Germany. From their midst, they appoint the 40-strong electoral body, which will then elect three citizens as members of the National Monitoring Committee in a session in 2023 and another three citizens in a session in 2024.

nexus has been commissioned to carry out the selection process, which includes the random selection and participant support of 170 citizens as well as the conception, moderation, implementation and documentation of the events of the citizens’ forum and the two electoral bodies.

Duration: 10/2022 – 03/2025
Client: Bundesamt für die Sicherheit der nuklearen Entsorgung, inhaltliche Begleitung durch das Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz
Team: Prof. Dr. Christiane Dienel (Projektleitung), Ina Metzner (stellv. Projektleitung), Justine Kenzler, Sandrine Steinhoff

Photo: Day Of Victory Stu. – stock.adobe.com