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The USACE Chicago District, in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, bp, East Chicago Waterway Management District (ECWMD) and the cities of Hammond and East Chicago, Ind. held a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday to celebrate the completion of the Lake George Canal-Middle Section remediation.
This project, executed by USACE on behalf of USEPA, was a multi-agency, cross-industry collaboration to remediate contaminated sediments impacted by oils, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and other contaminants that have significantly contributed to the degradation of the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern.
The work began in September 2021.
It included removal of 115,000 cubic yards of sediment within the Lake George Canal under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, and construction of the sediment cap and aquatic habitat structures.
Upland, aquatic, and emergent habitat restoration plantings will occur between the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024, said USACE.