Program Information

Army Deactivated Reactor Program

Program Description: The U.S. Army built and operated several nuclear power plants and research reactors for defense related purposes.  A majority of these plants have been partially or completely decommissioned and currently only one Army reactor remains operational.  The U.S. Army Headquarters (HQDA) maintains the overall responsibility and advocacy for the Army Reactor Program and oversees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) management of three deactivated Army nuclear power plants that are in safe storage waiting for final decommissioning actions to be performed. The Chief, Environmental Community of Practice, CEMP-CE, holds permits issued by HQDA that require that USACE ensures the safety of the public from exposure to residual radioactivity and maintains the security of the reactor facilities at Fort Belvoir, VA, Fort Greely, AK, and aboard the Sturgis Barge moored at Fort Eustis, VA.  USACE is responsible for formulating decommissioning strategies and execution procedures for these reactors.

Army Installation Restoration (Army IRP)

 Program Description:   The Army's Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) was formally established by Congress in 1986 and provides for the cleanup of Department of Defense (DoD) sites under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense. The Army has two restoration programs under DERP at active/operating Army installations, the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) and the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP). The IRP is a comprehensive program to identify, investigate and clean up hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants at active/operating Army installations. The MMRP addresses non-operational range lands that are suspected or known to contain unexploded ordnance (UXO), discarded military munitions (DMM) or munitions constituents (MC) contamination. Eligible sites include those contaminated by past defense activities that require clean up under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended by Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) and certain corrective actions required by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA). The Army's MMRP at closed ranges is also a part of the Army's DERP.

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)

Program Description:   The Army's Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) was formally established by Congress in 1986 and provides for the cleanup of Department of Defense (DoD) sites under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense. It includes the environmental restoration activities at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) installations.  Eligible sites include those contaminated by past defense activities that require clean up under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) as amended by Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) and certain corrective actions required by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA).

Cost Recovery

Program Description:  Under the umbrella of the Environmental Restoration program executed by the Corps, comes the added responsibility to insure all responsible parties contribute their fair share of the cost of cleanup.  For programs under the management and control of the Corps (mainly FUDS and FUSRAP), the focus has been on obtaining contribution up front.  However, such goals cannot always be obtained and CERCLA cost recovery actions become necessary.  Under the Superfund program, our role is to support EPA in their endeavor to recovery cleanup cost.

Defense and State Memorandum of Agreement Program (DSMOA)

Program Description:  The Defense and State Memorandum of Agreement (DSMOA) Program was established pursuant to section 211 (B) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), enacted October 17, 1986.  The goal of the DSMOA Program is to expedite environmental restoration at the Department of Defense (DoD) installations through partnerships with States.  These partnerships are fostered through improved communication, coordination, and cooperation between States and DoD Components in order to protect human health and the environment through environmental restoration at DoD installations in an expeditious and efficient manner in compliance with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.  Funding for the DSMOA Program is provided through DERP and BRAC Programs, and only those installations undergoing or planning to undergo environmental restoration in the DERP and BRAC Programs are eligible for DSMOA funding.

Formerly Used Defense Sites Program (FUDS) 

Program Description  The Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for environmental restoration of properties that were formerly owned by, leased to or otherwise possessed by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense. Such properties are known as Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS). The Army is the executive agent for the program and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the organization that manages and directs the program's administration. The scope and magnitude of the FUDS program are significant, with more than 9,000 properties identified for potential inclusion in the program. Information about the origin and extent of contamination, land transfer issues, past and present property ownership, and program policies must be evaluated before DoD considers a property eligible for Defense Environment Restoration Account (DERA) funding under the FUDS program. Environmental cleanup procedures at FUDS are similar to those at active DoD installations.

Formerly Utilized Site Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP)

Program Description:  In October 1997, Congress transferred the management FUSRAP from the Department of Energy (DOE) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  Through this program the USACE addresses the environmental remediation of sites once used by DOE’s predecessor agencies, the Manhattan Engineer district and the Atomic Energy Commission as part of the Nations early atomic energy and weapons programs.  The waste at FUSRAP sites consists mainly of low levels of uranium, thorium and radium along with some mixed wastes.  Upon completion of remedial activities these sites are transferred to DOE for long-term stewardship activities.  .

Potentially Responsible Party Program (PRP)

Program Description: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) represents the Department of Defense’s interests when it has been identified as a CERCLA potentially responsible party (PRP) for environmental contamination at FUDS properties where there are other PRPs.  USACE works with and supports Department of Justice in negotiations and/or litigation to resolve DoD’s environmental liability with other the parties and the regulators.  The PRP program goal is reach a fair share contribution settlement, when appropriate, rather than perform the response actions. 

SUPERFUND Program

Program Description:  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund Program which was enacted by Congress in Public Lay 96-510, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) of 1980.  The legislation made provisions for the Superfund program’s use of the existing capability of other Federal agencies in meeting its objectives.  The EPA and Corps signed an agreement in 1982 and 1984 stating, that upon EPA request, USACE will manage design and construction contracts and provide technical assistance to EPA in support of remedial response cleanup of hazardous waste sites.