Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program

EVS is helping with assessment, remedial action, and closure activities for nine U.S. sites where radiological and chemical contamination remains from early atomic energy and weapons programs.

At nine locations in several states, EVS is helping with assessment, remedial action, and closure activities for sites where radiological and sometimes chemical contamination remains from early atomic energy and weapons programs. This work is conducted through the federal Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).

DOE established FUSRAP in 1974 to address sites that had been used for research, development, processing, and production of uranium and thorium, as well as for storage of processing residues. EVS has supported FUSRAP technically by preparing environmental compliance documents such as sampling plans and risk assessments, analyzing data, and providing web-based data management.

In 1997, Congress transferred the FUSRAP site remediation activities to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). At that time, EVS helped ensure a smooth program transition and continued progress in remediating FUSRAP sites by sharing critical, site-specific background information and making innovative technologies available for implementation.

Since 1997, EVS has provided specialized technical support to the USACE and its remediation contractors in the areas of human and ecological risk assessments, adaptive sampling and analysis methods, precision soil excavation techniques, and Internet-based data management and communication tools. In addition, for the USACE site management teams, EVS develops probability‑based estimates of contaminated soil volumes, work plans based on innovative real‑time site sampling strategies, and site closure documents based on the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM). EVS also provides site-specific MARSSIM and RESRAD (RESidual RADioactive materials dose assessment) training to USACE staff, their contractors, and state regulators.

FUSRAP remediation activities include addressing surprises, such as this buried drum. [Source: Argonne National Laboratory]

The nine FUSRAP sites with which EVS is currently involved present a complex range of environmental contamination issues, including surface and subsurface soils, burial grounds, buildings, and groundwater. The sites contain a wide range of contaminants, including various isotopes of uranium, radium, and thorium, as well as chemical contaminants such as beryllium, lead, and chlorinated solvents.