One of the explanations for this is probably that we have difficulty relating to and grasping such time periods, another is that the process leading up to the decision has dragged on for so long.

Östhammar was selected as the intended place already in 2009 - and then the idea was that they would have put the shovel in the ground by now.

So for us county residents, it can feel like we have heard it many times that NOW there is a Decision.

But it then turns out to be another stop on the way to the Decision. 

Therefore, perhaps few get started on the fact that Östhammar now comes with "a position".

The latest thing that happened in the process around the final repository was that the municipal council in Östhammar this summer voted no to an advisory referendum on the final repository.

Governing politicians believe it is time to make a decision now.

One in the leadership duo: Margareta Widén Berggren (S) then said that after the issue has been threshed for over a decade - there have been all opportunities to influence in a democratic way. 

Having a municipal referendum can also feel tricky as the issue of final disposal of nuclear fuel has proved so complex that today there is no country on earth that has yet managed to get a final disposal.

Finland has come closest when they have started to build a final repository that is reminiscent in structure of the proposal that now exists.

A tiring marathon

In the middle of this is Östhammar.

Widén Berggren's pair horse, municipal board chairman Jacob Spangenberg (C) is not late to put into words the fatigue the municipality feels in this marathon by municipal standards: 

"The whole issue of nuclear waste has to a large extent been dumped in the lap of the municipalities of Oskarshamn and Östhammar

," he told Ekot last spring.

We know that the governing politicians in the municipality want the final repository.

The opinion in the municipality is for - a final repository would provide hundreds of jobs in a small municipality - and also an extra bag of money from SKB with the so-called value-added agreement. 

But the final repository process also costs Östhammar a lot of time and energy.

And now you start to get tired.  

2.5 years ago, something confusing happened that two different authorities came up with completely different information on the final repository issue.

The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority said YES and the Land and Environmental Court NO (to the copper canister method) but Yes to the site Forsmark. 

Since then, the issue has been on the government's table - and they are the ones who ultimately decide on the fate of the final repository. 

Right now, officials and politicians are reviewing responses from various consultative bodies.

If the government now has sufficient evidence to make a decision - and when a decision can possibly be expected - it is not possible to answer today among the officials at the Government Offices.

said a Council of Ministers.

The government decides

But to the question of what the next step is, the answer becomes clearer: It is to bring in Östhammar municipality's attitude.

Because even if the government decides, the municipality has a kind of veto.

Do not want Östhammar - there will be no final repository. 

To land where we started.

How hot the political political final repository issue is or has the potential to become - I have a hard time judging.

But the questions about Stockholm's airports have divided the government before.

And the question is whether any party has anything to gain from making a decision on this issue.  

In light of all this, it becomes quite natural that Östhammar, with his public stance, tries to push the issue on the agenda - and to some extent smoke out his party friends in the government on the track.

Should there be a final repository in Östhammar or not.

We need to know and that soon - seems to be the message.

If they succeed, time will tell.

But in the long run, it will be all these seemingly small points that lead to a decision.

Which may affect for many, many generations to come.

Video: How do we store nuclear waste for 100,000 years?

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How will Sweden store nuclear waste for 100,000 years?