The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for environmental restoration of properties that were formerly owned or operated by the United States under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense.  Properties transferred from DoD control prior to October 17, 1987 are known as Formerly Used Defense Sites or FUDS.  The scope and magnitude of the FUDS program in Michigan is significant.  The DoD has identified more than 250 properties as possible FUDS.  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. The DOD and RRD Superfund staff on behalf of the State of Michigan, work closely together to expedite the cleanup of DoD FUDS under federal and state law.  Services provided by the MDEQ to the DoD are fully funded under DERA and administered through the Defense and State Memorandum of Agreement signed by the State and the DoD.

FUDS cleanup projects fall into one or more categories:

1.  Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste: Cleanup and removal of hazardous substances include removal of underground and aboveground storage tanks, drums, and electrical transformers. Other projects in this category include the removal or treatment of soil or groundwater contaminated with hazardous substances, removal of other hazardous substances or waste, and the cleanup of contaminated landfills

2.  Building Demolition and/or Debris Removal: Demolition and removal of structurally unsafe buildings or towers and removal of unsafe debris.

3.  Ordnance and Explosive Waste: Identification and removal of abandoned ordnance and explosive waste such as bombs, bullets, and rockets.  Included are projects that remove or remediate explosives-contaminated soil and chemical warfare material

The Army Corps of Engineers works with RRD Superfund staff to identify, evaluate, and remediate sites within the state.

To learn more about FUDS, please contact William Harmon at (517) 335-6237 or harmonw@michigan.gov, or Robert Delaney at (517) 373-7406 or delaneyr@michigan.gov