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A New Era for the Manhattan Project: Advancements in the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
from America's Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers '24-'25
BY BUFFALO DISTRICT
GREAT LAKES AND OHIO RIVER DIVISION Buffalo District
Fifty years after the initiation of efforts to clean up sites contaminated by the Manhattan Project and early Atomic Energy Commission activities, the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) is reaching a pivotal moment under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District.
In 2024, the Buffalo District saw significant growth in its environmental mission, marked by the completion of remediation at a FUSRAP site surrounded by local homes, the safe disposal of tens of thousands of cubic yards of contaminated material, and the commencement of active remediation efforts at four additional sites.
“This is a critically important time for the Corps of Engineers and FUSRAP,” said Lt. Col. Robert Burnham, Buffalo District commander. “Our team has dedicated significant effort to maintain safety and progress FUSRAP projects for decades, while the communities around them patiently waited. Now, it’s time for action, and a bright future is ahead.”
Prior to 2024, the Buffalo District successfully completed work at five sites in New York and Ohio, transferring them to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management (DOE-LM) for long-term stewardship. This number grew to six in May, with the successful remediation and transfer of the Tonawanda Landfill in western New York.
The district also made significant strides at the Luckey, Ohio, FUSRAP site, safely excavating and disposing of nearly 39,000 cubic yards of contaminated material, keeping the project on track for timely completion.
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Moreover, 2024 saw the beginning of remediation work at four additional sites: Harshaw in Cleveland, the Shallow Land Disposal Area in western Pennsylvania, and the Seaway and Niagara Falls Storage sites in New York. “We’re bringing the full experience of a highly skilled technical team to the investigations and clean-up work on these sites,” said Stephen Buechi, chief of the district’s Environmental Project Management Section.
The Buffalo District’s FUSRAP team is composed of a diverse group of experts, including health physicists, chemists, industrial hygienists, hydrogeologists, environmental engineers, geospatial experts, risk assessors, and outreach specialists. Their collective expertise ensures thorough and effective remediation of each site.
In 2024, the Niagara Falls Storage Site (NFSS) became unique among FUSRAP projects with the establishment of a new Integrated Technical Office (ITO) at the project site. Staffed by ten experts in technical and construction fields, the ITO is dedicated to the success of the NFSS project, with plans for further expansion as the project’s scope and complexity increase in the coming years.
“Since 1997, the environmental branch has grown, especially to work on the FUSRAP program,” said Neil Miller, Buffalo District Environmental Branch chief. “Because of the expertise of people in this branch, we’ve been able to take on more projects and programs outside of FUSRAP, supporting other agencies and organizations with hazardous, toxic, and radiological waste expertise.”
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, the Buffalo District anticipates new investigation and decision reports for FUSRAP sites, continued work across multiple locations, another start of active remediation on a project, and the completion of full remediation at at least one site. These efforts mark a new era in the cleanup of Manhattan Project legacy sites and a step toward a safer, healthier future for the nation.
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The collaborative efforts between USACE, the DOE-LM, and local communities underscore the commitment to addressing the long-standing environmental affects of the Manhattan Project and ensuring that these sites are remediated to protect public health and the environment for generations to come. AE
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