Public Notice: Risk Based Disposal Approval for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

This served as a public notice of Approval for PCB Risk-Based Disposal of sediment containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Indiana Harbor and Canal Dredging Project by USACE under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 15 U.S.C. § 2605 (e) (1). The comment period has closed. Comments will no longer be accepted.

On this page:

• Background
• Facility, Repository and Contact Information
• Important Dates
• Supporting Documents
• Comments

Background

EPA received public comments on the proposed Indiana Harbor Confined Disposal Facility (CDF), an existing disposal facility in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana, during the public comment period of March 1, 2017, through April 30, 2017. Comments were also received at the public meeting held on March 6, 2017.

USACE began construction of the CDF in 2001 on a portion of the site of the former Energy Cooperative Industries (ECI) petroleum products refinery. The site is bordered by the Lake George Branch of the Indiana Harbor Canal to the south, Indianapolis Boulevard to the east, Cline Avenue to the north and the British Petroleum Refinery to the west.  The site is owned by the East Chicago Waterway Management District (ECWMD) and the CDF is operated, managed and maintained by USACE.

USACE has used the CDF for the disposal of less than 50 parts per million (ppm) PCB-contaminated dredged materials from the Indiana Harbor and Canal (IHC) since 2012.  USACE is requesting approval to accept sediment from the IHC dredging project with a PCB concentration at or greater than 50 ppm. A risk-based application is required because the IHC sediments have in-situ PCB concentrations of 50 ppm and greater, and the CDF is not a permitted TSCA chemical waste landfill or Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste disposal facility.  The PCB regulations require disposal of dredged material with a PCB concentration of 50 ppm or greater in a permitted TSCA or RCRA disposal facility.

On March 24, 2014, USACE, as operator of the Indiana Harbor CDF, submitted to EPA a risk- based application, pursuant to TSCA and Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 761.61(c), for the disposal of TSCA- regulated, PCB-contaminated dredged material from the IHC dredging project into the Indiana Harbor CDF. Additional revised references in support of their risk-based application followed.

The proposed Risk-Based Disposal Approval was open for public comment through April 30, 2017. A public meeting presenting an overview of the proposed Risked Based Approval on the project was held March 6, 2017, at the East Chicago Public Library, Main Branch. A portion of the meeting was open to public comments. Documents may be viewed at the East Chicago Library or on the Indiana Department Environmental Management (IDEM) web page.

For questions, contact EPA Project Manager Jean Greensley by phone at 312-353-1171 or by email at greensley.jean@epa.gov, or contact IDEM Project Manager George Ritchotte by phone at 317-727-6907 or by email at gritchot@idem.in.gov.

Facility, Repository and Contact Information

Contact Information

EPA Project Manager:
Jean Greensley
312-353-1171
greensley.jean@epa.gov
U.S. EPA Region 5, Land & Chemicals Division
Corrective Action Section 1 – LU-16-J
77 West Jackson Blvd
Chicago, Illinois 60604 

Indiana Department Environmental Management (IDEM) Project Manager
George Ritchotte
317-727-6907
gritchot@idem.in.gov
IDEM
100 N. Senate Ave IGCN 1101
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

For other inquiries about this public notice, please contact:

EPA Public Affairs Specialist:
Rafael P. Gonzalez
Gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov
800-621-8431, Ext. 60269
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., weekdays

Important Dates

•  June 22, 2017 - Information Session, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the East Chicago Library located at 2401 E. Columbus Drive, East Chicago, Indiana
• Public Comment Period has closed

Supporting Documents

• Documents associated with this approval may be viewed at the East Chicago Library, 2401 E. Columbus Drive, East Chicago, Indiana, or on the IDEM Web page.
• Check out a fact sheet about the June 22nd information session

The Public Comment Period Has Closed - Comments Will No Longer Be Accepted