Construction

Subsurface Investigations and Cutoff Wall
1/14/2002 — 6/16/2004
Subsurface survey investigations and obstruction removal of abandoned petroleum, processed oil and fuel pipes were performed from 2002 to 2004 to make way for the installation of an impervious soil bentonite slurry trench cutoff wall around the perimeter of the site. Utilities, concrete, and other obstructions and debris were discovered and removed during this project. Onsite wells were decommissioned, pipeline plugs and caps were installed, utilities were relocated, and approximately 296,000 square feet of vertical barrier/soil bentonite slurry trench cutoff wall was installed.


Obstruction Removal
11/18/2004 — 10/12/2005

The Obstruction Removal Project was conducted along the southern border of the Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) site in 2005. The Contractor cleared the area free of all brush, trees, and surface obstructions and removed twelve pipes crossing the Lake George Branch of the canal. The pipes, which were located 25' below the water level underneath 15-20' of sediment, were removed in ten foot sections in order to clear a driveline for the South Cutoff Wall.

A localized braced excavation system was used in the canal to isolate the area requiring dredging and obstruction removal, as well as to prevent sloughing of sediment during operations.

 


 

Phase 1 Dike 1
10/28/2004 — 11/5/2005

Dikes were built of impervious clay material to contain the dredged sediments. Construction took place in two phases: one 20 ft lift (Phase I), and another 12-14 ft lift for future capacity expansion (Phase II). The Phase I lift of the exterior dike was broken into 3 projects: Dike 1, Dike 2, and Dike 3.

Approx. 3,569 linear feet of Dike Protection System was installed in 2005 under Phase 1 Dike 1. The perimeter dike consists of a structural clay fill which provides stability for the containment of the dredged sediments and serves as a low hydraulic conductivity barrier (K=1x10-7 cm/sec or less). The dikes were constructed of native clay materials from an offsite borrow source. The exterior of the dike was designed at a 2.5 horizontal to 1 vertical slope. The interior slope is a 2 horizontal to 1 vertical slope.


Slurry Wall Gaps
2/28/2006 — 3/1/2007

Approximately 34,000 square feet of vertical barrier/soil bentonite slurry trench cutoff wall was installed during this project. Gaps had been left in the slurry wall constructed in 2002-2004 underneath the railroad spur which had not yet been relocated. This project completed the impermeable perimeter, hydraulically disconnecting the groundwater at the CDF site from the rest of the Calumet aquifer.

 


 

Phase 1 Dike 2
7/7/2006 — 9/22/2007

This project continued the work done in 2004/2005 under the Dikes—Phase 1 project and continued construction of the perimeter dikes in the areas shown in the figure.

The perimeter dike consists of a structural clay fill which provides stability for the containment of the dredged sediments and serves as a low hydraulic conductivity barrier (K=1x10-7 cm/sec or less). The dikes were constructed of native clay materials from an offsite borrow source. The exterior of the dike was designed at a 2.5 horizontal to 1 vertical slope. The interior slope is a 2 horizontal to 1 vertical slope.

 


 

Gradient Control
5/15/2007 — 12/31/2009

Eight-eight six-inch diameter vertical extraction wells with submersible pumps were installed as part of a system to prevent potential adverse impacts to offsite groundwater. The pumps will produce and maintain an inward hydraulic gradient around the perimeter of the Confined Disposal Facility, which, in combination with the impermeable bentonite slurry wall, will prevent contaminants from migrating offsite.

Forty monitoring wells, two ultrasonic water level indicators, a control building, instrumentation and a control system, and approximately 10,500 linear feet of  header pipe were also installed as a part of this project.

Site grading, construction of a perimeter drainage ditch, and access roads were also provided under this contract.

 


 

Interim Groundwater Treatment Plant
5/24/2007 — 4/15/2012

An Interim Groundwater Treatment Plant (IGWTP) was originally installed to draw groundwater from along the southern edge of the site using well points to alleviate the pressure on the sheetpile wall. The groundwater is treated at the IGWTP to the discharge concentrations established in an NPDES permit issued to USACE by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The IGWTP is designed to treat contaminants of concern in groundwater, which include, but are not limited to, organic compounds, ammonia, metals, total suspended solids, and oil and grease. The effluent from the IGWTP is discharged to the Lake George Branch of the canal.

The IGWTP is connected to the Groundwater Gradient Control System to begin the drawdown and maintenance of the inward gradient. The groundwater will be treated to the same NPDES permit standards issued by IDEM, and will discharge the effluent into the Lake George Branch of the canal.

 


 

South Cutoff Wall
9/5/2007 — 12/31/2009

Approximately 137,000 square feet of steel sheet pile tie-back cut-off wall revetment, 48,000 square feet of steel sheet pile anchor wall, a reinforced concrete crane pad, and approximately 9,000 cubic yards of soil cap were installed to complete the South Cutoff Wall. Excavation, demolition of obstructions, and backfill placement were involved. The cut-off wall was then capped with a parapet wall constructed of approximately 1,200 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. Safety ladders, a floating dock, timber fenders were also provided under this contract.

 


 

Fence Plan
11/4/2009 — 7/2/2010

This project consists of the demolition of an existing fence and installation of approximately 8900 linear feet of 8 ft. high chain link fence with barbed wire around the east, west and north sides of the site. Two gates will also be installed at the site entrances located on Indianapolis Boulevard.


Phase 1 Dike 3
10/23/2009 — 11/17/2010

This project completes Phase 1 dike construction for the Indiana Harbor Confined Disposal Facility. Dike 3 includes the construction of an interior, longitudinal clay dike that will separate the dredged sediments into two cells. Dike 3 also completes the final portion of the perimeter dike at the southeast corner of the site as shown in the figure.

As in Dikes 2 and 3, the perimeter dike consists of a structural clay fill which provides stability for the containment of the dredged sediments and serves as a low hydraulic conductivity barrier (K=1x10-7 cm/sec or less). The dikes were constructed of native clay materials from an offsite borrow source. The exterior of the dike was designed at a 2.5 horizontal to 1 vertical slope. The interior slope is a 2 horizontal to 1 vertical slope.

 


 

South End Features
6/30/2010 – 01/09/2012

The South End Features project consisted of designing the support facilities ancillary to the CDF itself, including an administrative building, maintenance and storage facilities, parking lot, access roads, decontamination station and a pad to be used for a package wastewater treatment plant.

The Contractor provided all necessary facilities, plants, labor, transportation, and equipment to construct the infrastructure for a package wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for the treatment of groundwater, CDF interior precipitation runoff, and sediment dredge water generated at the CDF. Provisions for the construction of support facilities and services including a facility operations building, maintenance garage, visitor parking lot, decontamination station, material and equipment storage pad, package WWTP pad, electrical service, water service and other utilities, access road, sidewalks, site grading, information and security systems and site improvements were also part of the project.

 

Equipment Storage Facility

07/31/2015-10/31/2016

The contractor is required to construct a 3,600 square foot prefabricated building, place concrete pavement, & connect building to utilities. The work is to occur near an existing administrative building complex.

 

Phase 2 dike expansion

July 2021 - present

Earthwork for Phase 2 dike expansion at Indiana Harbor began in July 2021 and is ongoing. Work happening now includes installation of the chimney drain of the dam, and widening the footprint of the dam at the northwest quadrant of the site.

Integrated Environmental Solutions, Inc. is the prime contractor, and Bluff City Materials is the subcontractor performing the earthwork. Options to raise the existing dike crest elevation by 11 feet will be exercised in FY2022.  With these options, construction is expected to extend until November 2023.