From 1942 to 1945, the Luckey Site was operated as a magnesium processing facility by National Lead. Between 1949 and 1958, the site was operated as a beryllium production facility by the Brush Beryllium Company (later Brush Wellman) for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). During that time, the AEC sent approximately 1,000 tons of radiologically contaminated scrap metal to the site for the Diamond Magnesium Company to resume magnesium processing. The beryllium facility was closed in 1959.
The Remedial Investigation found the site is contaminated with radiological and chemical waste in soils and the groundwater. The primary radiological contaminants at the site include radium, uranium and thorium. The primary chemical contaminants at the site are beryllium and lead. Beryllium was detected above the drinking water standard in three on-site groundwater monitoring wells and in a rarely used on-site production well, that is not used for drinking water. The levels detected do not pose an unacceptable risk under current use conditions. The Remedial investigation field work occurred from June to September, 1998, and June to July, 1999. The Remedial Investigation Report, including a Baseline Risk Assessment and groundwater model, was completed and placed in the Administrative Record file for public viewing in September 2000. The Luckey site was investigated under the U.S. Army Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program.