HLW repository sites and laboratories
Country Geologic medium Site/Status
Belgium Clay (plastic boom clay) Mol/Dessel. Specific research on site since 1984.
Finland Granite Olkiluoto. Specific research on site since 1992.
France Granite Fanay-Augères. Generic R&D. In service from 1980 to 1990.
  Clay Tunnel de Tournemire. Generic R&D. In service since 1992.
  Clay Bure. Generic R&D. Start of construction in 2000.
Germany Salt Asse. Generic R&D. Closed in 1995.
  Salt Gorleben. Specific research on site since 1985.
    Start of construction of storage in 1997. 
Japan Granite Mizunami. Generic R&D. Specific research on site since 1996.
  Tertiary sedimentary Horonobe. Generic R&D. Specific research on site since 2001.
  rock (mudstone)  
Sweden Granite Stripa. Generic R&D. In service from 1976 to 1992.
  Granite Äspö. Generic R&D. Start of construction in 1990.
Switzerland Granite Grimsel. Generic R&D. In service since 1983.
  Clay (opalinus clay) Mont Terri. Generic R&D. Started in 1995.
USA Salt (layers) Carlsbad, New Mexico. WIPP. Specific research on site.
    In service since 1982 (650m depth). In exploitation since March 1999
    (a-bearing military TRU-wastes without heat-generation). 
  Welded tuff Yucca Mountain. Exploratory studies facility. Specific research on site (300m depth). Start of experiments in situ in 1996. Construction of tunnel for experiments in situ ended in 1998.