Monitoring Results
During the Indiana Harbor and Canal (IHC) Dredging and Disposal Project, the Kokosing Construction/O'Brien & Gere Joint Venture (JV) is conducting an extensive air and water
monitoring program, developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to protect workers, the environment, and the surrounding community.
All data collected during performance of dredging activities and confined disposal facility (CDF) operation will be available for review by the public.
Air Quality
Check here for the latest data from the real-time air quality monitoring program.
This program provides immediate environmental data demonstrating that air quality impacts from the project area are consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
guidance for air quality impacts for remediation projects and within Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) regulations for air quality.
Dock Area PID
Check here for the latest data from the Dock Area PID air quality monitoring program. Whenever a barge with dredged material is located at the site the air will be monitored to ensure
that the level of VOCs is below 10 parts per million (ppm). If that level is exceeded for five consecutive days then the contractor will implement emission control measures.
If it ever exceeds 100 ppm then the contractor will implement emission control measures immediately.
Water Quality Monitoring Data
Check here for the latest data from the real-time, in-stream water quality monitoring program. This program provides immediate data to monitor water quality during dredging
activities at IHC and is consistent with the USEPA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and guidance.
Actions Taken
Check here to get the list of weekly Actions Taken in cases of high readings from the monitoring equipment.
Background of Air Monitoring Program
The East Chicago Waterway Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District (USACE) have entered into a project cooperation agreement to dredge 1.6 million
cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the Indiana Harbor and Canal. A CDF was constructed to store the backlog of dredged sediment on a USEPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
site in East Chicago, IN, located on the Lake George Branch of the IHC. In advance of these dredging activities, the USACE has been obtaining information on ambient air quality at the CDF property,
as well as at the East Chicago Central High School.
Purpose of Air Monitoring Program
The goal of the air monitoring program is to collect ambient air samples from the CDF site and from the East Chicago Central High School. The main objectives for this project are:
-
Obtain quantitative data on the occurrence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), particulate matter, metals,
dioxins, and furans in air samples at the CDF site
-
Establish a long-term air quality database
-
Monitor and evaluate trends in ambient air quality at the CDF and local high school
-
Respond to public inquiries about ambient air quality in the vicinity of the CDF
-
Obtain meteorological data during air monitoring, so that an assessment of the impact of weather conditions on air quality measurements can be made
-
Obtain data on seasonal variations in air quality in and around the CDF site
Additional links to historical air and water quality monitoring reports and information can be found at the following USACE, Chicago District website:
Historical Results.
Detailed explanations