EPA expects East Chicago cleanup could cost $84.9 million

The EPA on Friday released a document explaining the previously estimated costs for the clean up in two of the zones of the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site will cost more than initially anticipated. The EPA said the cost anticipated for the two residential zones of the Calumet neighborhood are expected to increase from the estimated $22.8 million to an estimated $84.9 million.

The EPA said it based the initial cost estimate on sampling done at 7 percent of the homes in those two residential areas, according to documents, but now that testing has been done at 90 percent of the properties, the data showed more remediation would require more resources.

The initial estimate was based on the number of contaminated properties; size of the properties; extent of contamination; and the per unit cost of remediation, according to the report.

"EPA has determined that the number of properties requiring remediation, the size of those properties and the extent of contamination at those properties are all greater than what was originally estimated," the EPA said in the report.

The EPA said the total volume of contaminated soil to be excavated has gone from roughly 47,000 cubic yards to about 88,000 cubic yards, according to the report, and the estimated cost per cubic yard has gone from $115 to $471.

"Based on that sampling, EPA determined that the actual volume of contaminated soil that needs to be excavated is greater than what was originally estimated," the report said.

Despite the anticipated cost increase, the EPA said the plans to remediate the land will not change, according to the report, and remain the same proposed in the 2012 record of decision.

The EPA's remediation plan for zones 2 and 3 includes excavation of contaminated soil to a maximum depth of 24 inches; disposal of the contaminated material; and restoring the yards once new soil is filled in, according to EPA documents.

"The most important goal of the USS Lead Superfund Site remediation should be protecting human health," said Debbie Chizewer, of Northwestern University's Environmental Advocacy Center, which is advising East Chicago residents. "Although the explanation of significant differences reflects a substantial increase in properties covered by the remediation efforts and amount of contaminated soil removed, significantly more work must be done to achieve the goal of protecting residents at the site."

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt last week put the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site on a list of 21 sites across the county in need of immediate and intense attention, according to a press release.

"Getting toxic land sites cleaned up and revitalized is of the utmost importance to the communities across the country that are affected by these sites," Pruitt said, in a statement. "I have charged the Superfund Task Force to immediately and intently develop plans for each of these sites to ensure they are thoughtfully addressed with urgency."

The added cost does not include the portion of the site that includes the West Calumet Housing Complex and former Carrie Gosch property. The EPA is reviewing alternatives for the remediation in that area, according to the document.

"The EPA may fundamentally change the remedy for those areas," the EPA's report said.

The EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed explanation of significant differences until Feb. 16.