Work to discover the extent of radiation on Dalgety Bay beach will start next week.
A contractor working on behalf of the Ministry of Defence will dig test pits and boreholes to help identify radioactive areas on the beach and work out the scale of the problem.
Before this, particles have only been identified when they have been at or near the surface.
During the work, which will take around three weeks to complete, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) will be on site.
It is understood radioactive particles found on the beach are coming from caches underground. These helped form the coastline during the time Donibristle was used as a Second World War airfield and after its closure.
SEPA’s radioactive substances specialist Dr Paul Dale said: ”Once this work is completed, we should have a better understanding of the extent and magnitude of the contamination.
”The results, together with the work SEPA has been doing, will help to inform options for appropriate remediation at the end of the investigation period.”
Environment secretary Richard Lochhead welcomed the move.
”I hope that the MoD understands the considerable anxiety that this long-running issue has caused the community,” he said.
”There is still a long way to go before the issues at Dalgety Bay are fully resolved and remediation options should be presented as soon as possible.”
SEPA has been carrying out work to investigate the activity of particles, changes in the coastline and make up of the area of ground in front of the sailing club.
The results will be considered by the Dalgety Bay Expert Group, whose recommendations will be given to SEPA.