The Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program is a significant and integral part of DoD's environmental restoration program. As with operational and closing installations, DoD must address potential contamination at properties that were formerly owned, leased, or otherwise operated by DoD or any of its Components.

FUDS project categories include, but are not limited to:

• Hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste (HTRW)
• Military munitions including munitions constituents
• Containerized HTRW
• Building demolition and debris removal
• Potentially responsible party sites

The initial concept for the FUDS program originated with a study DoD directed in 1974. The study was conducted to determine the potential environmental impact of abandoned military debris on Federal lands in Alaska. As a result of the study, Congress became increasingly concerned about abandoned military buildings and other debris on Federal lands across the nation. These growing concerns as well as concerns about releases of hazardous substances from former and active installations laid the foundation for what has evolved into the current DoD environmental restoration program.

The FUDS program was officially established in December 1983, when the FY84 Defense Appropriations Act required that DoD establish a program to manage environmental cleanup at properties formerly controlled by DoD. In 1985, the Army became the executive agent in charge of executing the FUDS program, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assuming the primary management role. The Army's responsibility includes addressing environmental restoration at any previously controlled DoD site, regardless of which DoD Component originally controlled the property or was responsible for the suspected contamination.

Under the FUDS program, investigation and cleanup procedures are similar to those at currently owned and operational installations. Although the FUDS restoration process parallels the efforts undertaken at other DoD installations, the FUDS program includes an additional inventory phase that evaluates information on the origin of the contamination, the history of land transfer, and past and current ownership. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviews this information to determine if a site is eligible that is, whether it was formerly owned or controlled by DoD and whether DoD caused or potentially caused the suspected contamination.

Managing the FUDS program is a major undertaking. Contaminated sites range from those used for military training exercises, including proving grounds and fire fighting training areas, to those used for major industrial operations and production facilities. As in other areas of DoD's environmental restoration program, cleanup progress ultimately depends on communication, partnerships, and community involvement. Such efforts are especially challenging to the FUDS program because DoD does not have a resident representative at the site. At an operational facility, an installation commander or environmental organization normally manages environmental restoration efforts and associated duties; at FUDS properties, these duties are the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers division or district. As such, the division or district is charged with carrying out the initiatives of the DoD environmental restoration program, including responding to the concerns of the community, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.

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