The BfkEG came into force on January 1, 2014, meaning that the Federal Office for Nuclear Waste Management was formally founded on that day.

Article 4, number 1 of the Act on the Reorganization of the Organizational Structure in the Area of Final Storage (NeuOrgG) renamed the authority the Federal Office for Nuclear Waste Management Safety (German: Bundesamt für kerntechnische Entsorgungssicherheit, BfE) on July 30, 2016.

From its founding in 2014 to 2016, the Federal Office was temporarily headed by Ewold Seeba, who later became the chairman and managing director of the BGZ Society for Interim Storage.

In addition to the presidential area, the BASE is divided into the following departments: The Participatory Administration Laboratory reports to the vice president.

Its task is to develop innovative working methods in public administration and new participation processes between the state and society.

In addition, the BASE provides the BMUV with technical and scientific support within the scope of its responsibilities (Section 2 Paragraph 2 BfkEG) and in this respect carries out federal tasks which it is commissioned to carry out by the BMUV or, with its consent, by the supreme federal authority responsible for the subject matter (Section 2 Paragraph 3 BfkEG).