Treatment and final disposal of nuclear waste: Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory

The scientific investigations within SKB &#39;s research programme are a part of the work<br/>of designing a deep repository and identifying and investigating a suitable site.<br/>A balanced appraisal of the facts, requirements and assessments presented in connection<br/>with the preparation of R&D-Programme 86 11/led to the proposal to construct<br/>an underground research laboratory. This proposal was presented in the aforementioned<br/>research programme and was very positively received by the reviewing bodies.<br/>In the autumn of 1986, SKB initiated the field work for the siting of an underground<br/>laboratory, the Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory, in the Simpevarp area in the municipality<br/>of Oskarshamn. At the end of 1988, SKB arrived at a decision in principle to site the<br/>facility on southern Aspo about 2 km north of the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Station.<br/>After regulatory review, SKB ordered the excavation of the access tunnel to the Aspo<br/>Hard Rock Laboratory to commence in the autumn of 1990. In conjunction with the<br/>tunnelling work, which has now (September 1992) reached a depth of more than 200<br/>m, a large number of investigations have been carried out.<br/>This background report to SKB&#39;s RD&D-Programme 92 is based on the previous<br/>background reports on the Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory within R&D-Programmes 86<br/>and 89 /2/. The report provides a general background and presents goals, project&#39;s<br/>results obtained to date and future work. Compared to the previous background<br/>reports, more space is devoted here to experiment planning and the future demonstration<br/>programme