Lower Saxony's Environment Minister Stefan Wenzel added that this planning approval decision included 500 ancillary provisions, which also need to be assessed at present. Lower Saxony expects the federal government to carefully examine whether the state of the art in science and technology is being applied before commissioning a nuclear waste storage facility. He also pointed out that a possible expansion could only be implemented with a new planning approval procedure.
The State Secretary in the Federal Environment Ministry, Jochen Flasbarth, emphasized that the Konrad mine had been approved for 303,000 cubic metres of low and medium-level radioactive waste and that a reversal of this decision was not justifiable. The decision to phase out nuclear power was made after the reactor disaster in Fukushima. A solution had to be found for the legacy.
Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel recalled that the entire nuclear policy was put to the test after Fukushima, only the Konrad shaft was not questioned. He did not understand this or the lack of transparency. "We were shocked and angry when we found out about an extension. We would have liked to have been involved."
For Wolfgang Räschke, the nuclear phase-out means "that we should bury the body". He called for nuclear waste to be stored where it is safe.
Ulrich Löhr pointed out that the region had had bad experiences with Asse and Morsleben and that trust had suffered as a result in terms of belief in promises and pledges.

According to the State Secretary, the Federal Government is breaking new ground with its open-ended search for a repository for highly radioactive materials. The National Waste Disposal Commission would be given everything it needed to find a solution for the nuclear waste. He made his position clear to boos from the audience that there was no pre-commitment to Schacht Konrad for the expansion, but he could not rule it out either.
Ursula Schönberger was equally unconvinced. "If Konrad goes into operation, we'll get the other dirt too," she is convinced. She called on everyone to fight back and set an example together. As soon as the national waste disposal program is available this year, the region should initiate an objection campaign. This program sets out the strategy for the disposal of spent fuel and radioactive waste. Among other things, this National Disposal Commission is to develop the criteria for the search for and selection of final disposal sites. The exploration of the previously explored Gorleben salt dome was discontinued in December 2012; the site will be included in the site selection process.
Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel called for the concept of Schacht Konrad to be put to the test. For him, this includes the political path, which includes an open-ended search for a final repository. In addition, there must be a new planning approval procedure for a possible expansion. "Schacht Konrad is an issue for the region and not just for Salzgitter," said Klingebiel, thanking the mayors, joint mayors of the municipalities, representatives of the church, universities and politicians who showed that they stand by Salzgitter's side by taking part in the readers' forum.