The Swiss National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste, Nagra, has selected two sites that could host deep geological repositories for nuclear waste. Nagra has proposed further investigations in the Zürich Nordost and Jura Ost areas; these regions best fulfil the safety requirements for both a high-level waste (HLW) and a low- and intermediate-level waste (L/ILW) repository.
In the first stage of the selection process (November 2011), six sites were proposed; Nagra is required to propose at least two regions to host each of the repositories for further investigations in the third stage. Four other regions are under consideration in the second stage (Südranden, Nördlich Lägern, Jura-Südfuss and Wellenberg) and will be placed in reserve. The Federal Council is expected to make a decision in 2017.
The entire process is expected to be completed by 2027, while the repository for L/ILW is expected to become operational in 2050 and the repository for HLW in 2060.