Indiana Harbor and Canal Dredging and Disposal Activities
Project Manager:  Bill White

 
 

Go to the Indiana Harbor and Canal Dredging and Disposal Project Web pages

Introduction:
Welcome to the web site for the Indiana Harbor and Canal Dredging and Disposal Project. This project is designed to dredge and safely dispose of contaminated Indiana Harbor sediment in a way that:

  • Is safe to human health
  • Improves the environment
  • Is economically beneficial

 

Authorization:
WRDA 1986 and 1996

Project Description:
The existing navigation project consists of a harbor channel ranging in depth from 27 to 29 feet LWD and 2 canals with depths of 22 feet. Due to contaminated sediments and lack of a suitable storage area for the sediment, the harbor has not been dredged since 1972. An estimated dredging backlog of 1 million cubic yards of sediments causes pollution of Lake Michigan and affects the efficiency of deep draft commercial navigation. The current project provides for constructing a confined dredged material disposal facility (CDF) on an USEPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) site in East Chicago, Indiana, and dredging the entire federal channel to congressionally authorized navigation depths. Berthing and dock areas adjacent to the federal channel will be dredged and the sediments disposed into the CDF at non-federal expense. The CDF will also isolate and contain existing on-site soil and groundwater contamination in compliance with the RCRA requirements. The CDF features include a cutoff wall, dikes, seals and offloading facilities; a wastewater treatment plant; collection trenches and gradient water control system; and a waterloo barrier at the canal. Dredging activities are scheduled to begin in 2007 upon completion of the CDF.

Costs:

  • Total Project Cost           $123,000,000
  • Federal Cost                   $63,000,000
  • Non-Federal Cost           $60,000,000

Current Status: 
Cutoff wall construction began in Spring 2002 and was completed in Spring 2004. Baseline perimeter ambient air monitoring is ongoing, and a monitoring strategy during dredging operations is being developed. Detailed design for CDF dikes, channel obstructions and groundwater control features are underway. Construction contracts for channel obstruction removal and dikes, phase 1, are currently being advertised.

Benefit/Cost Ratio:
3:0

Project Sponsors:
East Chicago Waterway Management District

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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Date Updated: August 27, 2004