OU1: Zone 1, West Calumet Housing Complex – East Chicago, Ind.
On this page:
- April 2023 Update
- September 2022 Update
- August 2022 Update
- May 2022 Update
- January 2021 Update
- Results of Lead and Arsenic Testing
Update - April 2023
In summer 2023, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will begin overseeing the cleanup of Zone 1 of the USS Lead Superfund site, which includes the former West Calumet Housing Complex, a portion of Goodman Park and a utility corridor (see page 3 for a map of the cleanup areas). Soil in these areas is contaminated with elevated levels of lead and arsenic.
The soil cleanup will be conducted by contractors working for Industrial Development Advantage of East Chicago (IDA), under close EPA supervision. IDA has informed EPA that it intends to clean up Zone 1 and install the necessary infrastructure to construct an approximately 850,000 square-foot warehouse and logistics center.
Stockpiling of Clean Soil at Former Housing Complex
In May, trucks will begin transporting clean soil and stockpiling it inside the former West Calumet Housing Complex property. The stockpiles will be used as backfill material during the soil cleanup of Zone 1 of the USS Lead Superfund site later this year.>
Nearby residents may notice increased truck traffic on 151st Street and Kennedy Avenue, Monday through Saturday during normal business hours. IDA is required to take measures to minimize dust. EPA will have air monitoring equipment on site to ensure dust does not leave the site and migrate towards nearby homes.
For more details on the upcoming cleanup of Zone 1, you can read the latest fact sheet at the following link:
EPA Fact Sheet - EPA To Begin Cleanup of Former West Calumet Housing Complex (pdf) (4 pp, 568.53 KB)
En Español: Hoja Informativa: La Limpieza de la Zona 1 Comienza Este Verano (pdf) (4 pp, 820.46 KB)
Update - September 2022
On August 25, 2022, Industrial Development Advantage of East Chicago, LLC (IDA) took title to the land that comprises Zone 1. Subsequently, on September 2, 2022, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) confirming the selection of a commercial/industrial remedial action. EPA published notice of the ESD in the Northwest Indiana Times on September 18, 2022. On September 19, 2022, EPA notified the developer, Industrial Development Advantage of East Chicago, LLC, that the ESD was issued and that the Prospective Purchaser Agreement (PPA) is effective. Similarly, EPA notified certain potentially liable parties who are respondents to the Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (ASAOC) that the ESD was issued. The PPA and ASAOC became effective upon issuance of these notices. Issuance of the ESD and the finalization of the two settlements put in place a framework for cleaning up Zone 1. During the next few months, IDA will submit to EPA plans to facilitate the cleanup of Zone 1. Field work is expected to begin in the spring of 2023. EPA intends to host a public meeting before cleanup work begins.
The finalized ESD and associated agreements and are available at the following links:
- Finalized ESD: Second Explanation of Significant Differences for Zone 1 (PDF) (13 pp, 8.41 MB)
- Proposed ASAOC: Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Payment of Certain Operable Unit 1 Response Costs and for Providing Financial Assurance Associated with Prospective Purchaser Agreement for Remedial Design and Remedial Action at Modified Zone 1 (PDF) (59 pp, 5.59 MB)
- Proposed PPA: Administrative Settlement Agreement for Remedial Action by Prospective Purchaser (PDF) (75 pp, 4.72 MB)
Update-August 2022
Responsiveness Summary Available
Between May 4 and June 3, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accepted public comments on three documents which provide a framework for cleaning up modified Zone 1 (the former West Calumet Housing Complex) of the U.S. Smelter & Lead Refinery Superfund site.
The three documents are the following: the Prospective Purchaser Agreement (PPA); Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (ASAOC); and a draft Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD).
EPA received public comments at the May 21 public meeting and through emails, voicemails, and a comment form on the USS Lead webpage. EPA has reviewed and considered all public comments.
The Responsiveness Summary contains a summary of the comments received as well as EPA’s responses to the comments, and is available at the Technical and Legal Documents section of this website, and at the following link:
Update - May 2022
EPA Seeks Comments on Agreements on Zone 1
On May 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will begin a 30-day public comment period on two proposed agreements and a draft document concerning the cleanup of the former West Calumet Housing Complex property in Zone 1 of the USS Lead Superfund site in East Chicago, Indiana.
EPA seeks comments on a prospective purchaser agreement, or PPA. The PPA requires Industrial Development Advantage, the buyer of the former housing complex property, to clean up the property in a way that meets EPA requirements. EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management will oversee the cleanup.
EPA also seeks comments on an administrative settlement agreement and order on consent, or ASAOC. The ASAOC requires parties potentially responsible for the contamination to provide financial assurance for the Zone 1 cleanup and reimburse EPA for $18 million in past cleanup costs primarily associated with Zone 3.
In addition, EPA is accepting comments on an explanation of significant differences, or ESD. The ESD document confirms that certain conditions have been met and the former housing complex property will be cleaned up to EPA-specified industrial standards. The property has been rezoned by the City of East Chicago as industrial and will soon be purchased by an industrial developer. The draft ESD will be finalized when the buyer obtains the title to the former housing complex property. Work is expected to begin shortly thereafter.
The proposed agreements, draft ESD and a fact sheet that explains the documents are available at the following links:
- U.S. EPA Fact Sheet: EPA Seeks Comments on Agreements on Zone 1 (PDF) (2 pp, 193.78 KB)
- (En Español) Hoja Informativa de US EPA: La EPA Propone Acuerdos Administrativos, Zona 1 (PDF) (2 pp, 159.99 KB)
- Proposed ASAOC: Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Payment of Certain Operable Unit 1 Response Costs and for Providing Financial Assurance Associated with Prospective Purchaser Agreement for Remedial Design and Remedial Action at Modified Zone 1 (PDF) (59 pp, 5.59 MB)
- Proposed PPA: Administrative Settlement Agreement for Remedial Action By Prospective Purchaser (PDF) (75 pp, 4.72 MB)
- Draft ESD: Second Explanation Of Significant Differences - USS Lead Superfund Site Zone 1 - Draft For Public Comment Purposes (PDF)(13 pp, 802.45 KB)
Public Hearing: A public meeting and hearing was held on May 21, 2022, where EPA answered questions regarding the proposed administrative settlements and the ESD.
Date: May 21, 2022 Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Venue: Old Carrie Gosch School, Auditorium, 455 E. 148th St., East Chicago
January 2021
In November 2020, contractors working for a redevelopment firm chosen by the City of East Chicago collected soil samples at the former West Calumet Housing Complex within Zone 1. The purpose of the soil sampling is to further delineate the extent of soil contamination at the property, in preparation for a future cleanup.
In March 2020, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler amended the 2012 cleanup plan for the former West Calumet Housing Complex in Zone 1. The amendment to the Record of Decision (94 pp, 2.1 MB, About PDF) reflects EPA’s awareness of local efforts to redevelop Zone 1 for commercial use, although the current designation remains residential.
EPA estimates that cleanup to residential reuse standards would cost approximately $28.8 million and would take 7 months. The cleanup would require 2 feet of lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil to be removed, disposed of off-site and replaced with clean soil. The site would then be suitable for new housing development. In response to public comments, the ROD amendment also requires management of contaminated soil while such redevelopment is underway.
The city of East Chicago has indicated a preference for redeveloping the property for commercial/industrial use. EPA's amendment includes a contingent cleanup plan to accommodate this potential change. If the property is re-zoned and a developer commits, the ROD amendment requires cleanup of the property to the level required for industrial/commercial reuse. This type of cleanup would cost an estimated $14.1 million and would take approximately 5 months. In May 2020, the East Chicago City Council approved the re-zoning of the former West Calumet Housing Complex property from residential to commercial use. EPA is currently in discussions with the developer chosen by the City of East Chicago and parties responsible for the pollution to clean up Zone 1.
In summer 2019, the parties responsible for the pollution cleaned up two areas around the former Carrie Gosch Elementary School. One area (Excavation Area 1) is on the school property located inside the main gate. The other area (Excavation Area 2) is located just outside the main gate to the former school. The contaminated soil was removed from these areas and replaced with clean fill. The areas were then restored to natural conditions. Due to underground pipelines, the mounded area located within Excavation Area 2 was restored to its previous condition.
- Fact Sheet: Comment Period and Public Meeting on a Proposed Amendment to the Cleanup Plan for the Residential Area (Zone 1) (PDF) (8 pp, 1.74 MB, About PDF)
Results of Lead and Arsenic Testing
EPA took soil samples from front and back yards at all residences in the complex starting in December 2014 and continuing into 2015. Personally identifiable information has been removed.
Results of Lead and Arsenic Testing at West Calumet Housing Complex (Excel spreadsheet) (xlsx)