Grand Calumet River/Indiana Harbor Canal Feasibility Study Discuss approach and considerations when planning habitat restoration for dredging projects East Chicago Waterway Management District Jim Wescott April 23, 2015
Grand Calumet River & Indiana Harbor Canal East Chicago Waterway Management District and EPA are funding an investigation and study of the GCR/IHC to develop a remedial design ECWMD, EPA, and their consultant, Tetra Tech, want stakeholder feedback on remedial options, funding priorities, future end use, and other stakeholder groups not represented here today.
GCR/IHC Progress East Branch Actual Start spring 2013 Discuss WBGCR and how lessons learned applied to EBGCR.
Completed/In Progress EBGCR USS Steel Section: Hydraulic Dredging WBGCR Reaches 3-5: Mechanical Excavation and Capping WBGCR Reaches 1&2:Hydraulic Dredging, Mechanical Excavation, Capping, and Habitat Restoration EBGCR Reaches 4A&4B: Hydraulic Dredging, Mechanical Excavation, Capping, and Habitat Restoration WBGCR Reaches 6&7:Mechanical Excavation and Capping EBGCR Gary Section: Feasibility Study/Remedial Design WB/EB GCR, Indiana Harbor Canal, and Lake George Canal Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study
Current Project Area – GCR/IHC
Grand Calumet River Junction
Indiana Harbor Canal
Lake George Canal
RI/FS Tasks Remedial Investigation Feasibility Study Sediment Sampling Pore Water Sampling Source Control Evaluation Bathymetric and Topographic Surveys Geotechnical Sampling Clean Up Goals Development Remedial Alternative Screening and Evaluation
GCR Surface Sediment Total 16 PAH
GCR Subsurface Sediment Total 16 PAH
GCR Surface Sediment PCBs
GCR Subsurface Sediment PCBs
GCR Surface Sediment Metals
IHC Surface Sediment Total 16 PAH
IHC Subsurface Sediment Total 16 PAH
IHC Surface Sediment PCBs
IHC Subsurface Sediment PCBs
IHC Surface Sediment Metals
LGC Surface Sediment Total 16 PAH
LGC Subsurface Sediment Total 16 PAH
LGC Surface Sediment PCBs
LGC Subsurface Sediment PCBs
LGC Surface Sediment Metals
Remedial Options No Action Monitored Natural Recovery In Situ Capping Environmental Dredging or Excavation
Grand Calumet River Options Sediment Dredge 10 feet of River (Majority of Impacted Sediment) and place 2 feet of sand over remaining sediment. Estimated $43,000,000 Dredge 3 feet of West Branch. Place active cap material over West and East Branches. Estimated $16,000,000. Option 2 with targeted dredging in East Branch. Estimated $17,500,000 Habitat Dredge and rebuild/restore Junction Marsh and the USS Lead Marsh. Estimated $13,000,000 Invasive Species control and replant both marshes. Estimated $1,000,000 Option 2 with partial dredging along river boundary. Estimated $7,500,000
Indiana Harbor Canal Options Sediment Dredge 8 feet of Canal (Majority of Impacted Sediment) and place 2 feet of sand over remaining sediment. Estimated $48,000,000 Option 1 with 1 foot sand. Estimated $44,000,000 Partial dredging for PCB areas and place 2 feet of sand over remaining sediment. Estimated $15,000,000 Option 3 with 1 foot sand. Estimated $11,000,000
Lake George Canal Options Lake George Canal East of Railroad Bridge Dredge area to navigation channel depth (10 feet) Estimated $8,000,000 Partial dredge to reduce resuspension (5 feet) Estimated $4,000,000 Lake George Canal between Railroad Bridge and Land Bridge Partial dredge (5 feet) and 2 feet sand cap. Estimated $8,500,000 Six (6) foot sand cap. Estimated $4,500,000 Lake George Canal west of Land Bridge Dredge 6 feet and 1 foot sand cap. Estimated $ 18,000,000 2.No Action
Selection Considerations Cost Permits Site Access Utilities and other Debris Sediment Characteristics Long Term Effectiveness Potential for Recontamination Future End Use Stakeholder and Community Acceptance
Typical Remedial Tasks
Time Frame and Costs Seeking Project Partners Begin Dredging spring 2016 Complete remedial action 2018-2020 Cost Ranges from $40 Mil to $145 Mil Schedule heavily dependent on non-federal and federal funding Construction could be broken into smaller pieces to facilitate funding and stakeholder priorities Seeking Project Partners
Jim Wescott Tetra Tech jim.wescott@tetratech.com 312.201.7781 Questions? Jim Wescott Tetra Tech jim.wescott@tetratech.com 312.201.7781