Office of Legacy Management (LM) Site Manager Melissa Lutz was recently promoted to manager of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).
August 25, 2026
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Office of Legacy Management (LM) Site Manager Melissa Lutz was recently promoted to manager of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).
FUSRAP was established in 1974 by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), predecessor to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to evaluate and remediate sites where radioactive contamination remained from the Manhattan Engineer District and AEC operations. Today, LM and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) jointly manage FUSRAP. There are currently 35 completed FUSRAP sites in the LM portfolio in long-term surveillance and maintenance, and USACE is actively remediating 20 sites that will come to LM after cleanup is complete.
Lutz has been with LM since June of 2021, but her career in the DOE complex spans decades as a DOE contractor, where she worked with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
“Having spent the majority of my career in the CERCLA/RCRA world, I am really excited about this new chapter,” Lutz said when talking about her recent promotion. “It is a welcomed opportunity for continued growth, and I love a challenge. It keeps you motivated and excited about your job.”
Lutz plans to draw on her wealth of knowledge and experience in site operations, environmental protection, and project management to successfully transition into her new role. “FUSRAP is already a well-developed program,” Lutz said. “I feel very fortunate to step into a role that has solid groundwork laid by my predecessors.”
Despite her previous experience, Lutz sees her biggest asset and most valuable resources being the people she works with. “I’m most excited about the folks I will be working with and building new relationships. Those relationships are not only the key to a great place to work, but will ensure FUSRAP continues to move forward and operate effectively and efficiently,” Lutz said. “LM and the LM Support Partner are blessed with talented and dedicated employees. My coworkers are awesome!”
LM Supervisory General Engineer Darina Castillo highlighted Lutz’s versatility and readiness for the position. “Mel is a team player who has supported LM in many capacities over the years,” said Castillo. “She has led major infrastructure projects, coordinated the NY District Activities for FUSRAP and led the Pinellas site. All these combined with several supporting activities for the Weldon Spring Site made her a great candidate for promotion.”
Looking ahead, Lutz knows there is plenty of work on the horizon. LM is slated to inherit 20 more FUSRAP sites, with 15 of them expected to transition into long-term surveillance and maintenance within the next decade. Many of these sites are more complex in nature than LM’s current FUSRAP sites, with some involving active groundwater treatment systems. “I am eager to contribute to these successful transitions,” Lutz said. “But the real stars of these transitions are our dedicated LM and LM Support Partner site managers, our knowledgeable subject matter experts, and our USACE partners. It truly takes a village.”