DAYTON, Ohio -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District will begin the first phase of investigation in and around 1601 W. First Street, Dayton Unit III. Dayton Unit III or Bonebrake Seminary is one of four local sites known as the Dayton Project. This investigation is one of the steps in determining if this site is eligible for inclusion in the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The FUSRAP program was initiated to address sites used during the Nation's early atomic energy program. The Corps is mandated by Congress to follow the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) process for determination of site cleanup. This process outlines the steps that must be taken to reach a final decision as to whether or not a site requires clean up. It also requires open involvement between the Corps, stakeholders and the community.

Historical records indicate the Dayton Unit III was used by the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) for research, chemical, and quality control purposes up until the late 1940s. Based on the review of existing information, the Corps has determined that there is no immediate health risk posed by any possible Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)/Manhattan Engineer District (MED) related contaminants at any of the Dayton sites under evaluation. Dayton Board of Education owns the Dayton Unit III site currently.

As the first step in the CERLCA process, the Corp is performing a combined Preliminary Assessment / Site Inspection. The planned inspection for the Dayton Unit III will consist of two different investigation procedures. The first involves scanning surface soil with field instrumentation, otherwise known as a gamma walkover, and is scheduled on the property during the second week of September. The second involves subsurface soil sampling and will occur on the property during the fourth week of September. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Health have concurred with the plans for both phases and will provide oversight for the field work.

Planning stages for the remaining sites in Dayton continues. The Corps of Engineers is committed to a comprehensive review of each site and to follow the procedures outlined in CERCLA . The Corps' goal remains ensuring protection of human health and the environment; as well as to investigate, determine any clean-up that may be required by law and ultimately return the property to the stakeholders for future use.

The Corps welcomes interested citizens, who would like to be kept apprised of the project and to be added to the FUSRAP site mailing, to call the Corps' toll free number at 1-800-833-6390. Letters may be addressed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, Attention: FUSRAP (Dayton Unit III) Information Center, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, N.Y. 14207. E-mails may be addressed to fusrap@usace.army.mil. Additional information regarding FUSRAP and the Dayton locations can be found on the Corps of Engineer's Buffalo District Web site at: www.lrb.usace.army.mil/fusrap.