GREAT LAKES MUD
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    • Indiana >
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Indiana Harbor Canal TSCA

Grand Calumet River
​Area of Concern

Site History

With a history rich in steelmaking, meatpacking, and oil refining,  a cocktail of heavy metals, PCBs, PAHs, NAPL, and oil and grease was discharged into the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor Canal before modern environmental controls were established.

​
Concerted efforts to clean up the river and limit or remove sources of pollution are making the Grand Calumet River closer than ever to becoming safe for people, fish, and wildlife. S
ince 2009, more than 2 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment have been dredged or capped in the 13-mile Grand Calumet River system under the Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA). Wetland is being restored with native flowers, grasses, and other plants, providing food and shelter to local fish and wildlife.

Additionally, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is dredging 1.8 million cubic yards from the Indiana Harbor Canal to maintain the navigation channel and keep it deep enough for shipping traffic. USACE is required to use the least-cost option to dispose of sediment,  the East Chicago Confined Disposal Facility (CDF). When "hot spots" of TSCA-level (high concentrations of) PCB contamination were identified in the canal, the community asked U. S. EPA to explore off-site disposal options for TSCA sediment. A voluntary Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) partnership among U. S. EPA, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and ArcelorMittal explored the feasibility of disposing of the TSCA-level PCB sediment off-site. To proceed forward with a cleanup using offsite disposal funded under the GLLA, a voluntary cost-share partner is required. No partners came forward. The U. S. EPA and IDEM have approved disposal of TSCA sediment in the CDF.

Indiana Harbor Canal TSCA is located in East Chicago, IN in the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern.
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As of 2012 when the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers began its project, the canal had not been dredged in 40 years.
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TSCA sediment is located in the southern end of the Indiana Harbor Canal, #11 on the map.

More Information

  • ​USACE request for EPA approval to dispose of TSCA sediment in Confined Disposal Facility 
  • USACE Confined Disposal Facility
IISG and GLR logos
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Contact Us

Great Lakes Mud c/o Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Purdue University
195 Marsteller Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2033

​Email: abelle@illinois.edu
© 2019 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, All Rights Reserved.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant strives to ensure equal access and an
​inclusive environment.
Website last updated December 14, 2022
  • Home
  • Pollution
    • Dioxins
    • Heavy Metals
    • NAPL
    • Oil and Grease
    • PAHs
    • PCBs
    • TBT
    • TPH
  • Partnership
    • Great Lakes Legacy Act
    • Cost-Sharing
  • Cleanup Process
    • Project Stages
    • Dredging
    • Dry Excavation
    • Caps and Covers
    • Habitat Restoration
  • Waterbody
    • Indiana >
      • East Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Branch Phase II - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Chicago Waterways - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Indiana Harbor Canal TSCA - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Lake George Canal Middle & East - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Roxana Marsh - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Stateline - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • West Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
    • Michigan >
      • Black Lagoon - Detroit River AOC
      • Centennial Park - Detroit River AOC
      • Division Street Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Former MGP Site - St. Marys River AOC
      • Lower Rouge River Old Channel - Rouge River AOC
      • River Raisin - River Raisin AOC
      • Riverwalk - Detroit River AOC
      • Ruddiman Creek - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Ryerson Creek Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Tannery Bay - St. Marys River AOC
      • Torch Lake - Torch Lake AOC
      • Upper Trenton Channel - Detroit River AOC
      • Zephyr Site - Muskegon Lake AOC
    • Minnesota >
      • Azcon/DSPA Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Minnesota Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Munger Landing - St. Louis River AOC
      • Scanlon Reservoir - St. Louis River AOC
      • Slip 3 and Slip C - St. Louis River AOC
      • SLR Interlake/Duluth Tar - St. Louis River AOC
      • Spirit Lake Site - St. Louis River AOC
    • New York >
      • Buffalo River - Buffalo River AOC
    • Ohio >
      • Ashtabula River - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Cuyahoga River Old Channel - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Gorge Dam - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Jack's Marine North Slip - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Ottawa River - Maumee AOC
      • Otter Creek - Maumee AOC
    • Wisconsin >
      • Greater Milwaukee Estuary - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Hog Island Inlet - St. Louis River AOC
      • Howards Bay - St. Louis River AOC
      • Kinnickinnic River - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Lincoln Park - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Sheboygan River - Sheboygan River AOC
      • Tyco - Menominee River AOC
    • More coming soon...
  • Education
    • Grade School Curriculum
    • High School Curriculum
    • More Resources >
      • Indiana
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Ohio
      • Wisconsin
  • Contact