In addition to Gorleben, the Federal Government pursues another repository programme in the former iron ore mine Konrad near Salzgitter, Lower Saxony. From 1965 to 1976, 6.6 million tons of iron ore were mined at this site. Upon approval by the Federal Government, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB (national metrology institute providing scientific and technical services) filed an application with the responsible authorities of the state Lower Saxony in 1982 to start a nuclear planning assessment procedure. The final planning documents were submitted in 1990. The planning assessment decision was made public on June 12, 2002.