Buffalo, New York, Site

Background

The Buffalo, New York, Site was remediated under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). FUSRAP was established in 1974 to remediate sites where radioactive contamination remained from Manhattan Project and early U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) operations.

History

In 1952, the Bliss and Laughlin Steel Company machined and straightened uranium rods under subcontract to National Lead of Ohio, a prime AEC contractor. The activities generated waste cuttings which were shipped to the nearby Lake Ontario Ordinance Works. A 1992 preliminary survey of the building interior and exterior identified radioactive material on the floor of the finishing area where machining operations took place.

Remediation of the Buffalo Site began in December 1998 and continued through March 1999. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) remediated the contaminated areas to site-specific standards. After obtaining concurrence from the State of New York that the site complied with the cleanup criteria, USACE issued the site closure report and declaration of completion for remedial action on September 30, 1999. In 2002, USACE transferred long-term stewardship responsibilities to DOE which then transferred responsibility to its Office of Legacy Management in 2004.

Final Conditions

No supplemental limits or institutional controls are in effect at the site, and DOE does not require on-site monitoring or surveillance. Office of Legacy Management long-term stewardship responsibilities consist of managing FUSRAP site records and responding to stakeholder inquiries.  

For more information about the Buffalo FUSRAP Site, view the fact sheet.