![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
U.S. Smelter & Lead Refinery Superfund Site
Site Information
- East Chicago, IN (Lake County)
- EPA ID# IND047030226
- NPL Factsheet
- CERCLIS listing
- Alias(es): USS Lead
- Aerial photo showing site boundaries (PDF) (1 pg, 150K)
Contact Information
Community Involvement Coordinator
Janet Pope (pope.janet@epa.gov)
312-353-0628 or 800-621-8431, ext.30628
Remedial Project Manager
Michael Berkoff (berkoff.michael@epa.gov)
312-353-8983 or 800-621-8431, ext. 38983
Repositories
(where to view written records)
East Chicago Public Library
Reference Department
2401 E. Columbus Drive
East Chicago, IN 46312
219-397-2453
East Chicago Public Library
1008 West Chicago Ave
East Chicago, IN
219-397-5505
Background
U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc. (USS Lead) facility is located on a 79-acre tract of land in East Chicago, Indiana. The USS Lead Superfund site includes both a portion of the former USS Lead facility and nearby commercial, municipal, and residential properties. The primary contaminants of concern at the site are lead and arsenic.
From 1906 to 1920, the Delamar Copper Refinery operated at the USS Lead facility as a copper smelter. In 1920, the property was purchased by U.S. Smelting Refining and Mining and the facility became a lead refinery. The property was later purchased by USS Lead. Between 1972 and 1973, the USS Lead facility was converted to a secondary lead smelter, recovering lead from automobile batteries. All operations USS lead ceased in 1985. While USS lead was a significant contributor to contamination in the area, EPA’s investigations indicate that other facilities in the area have also been significant sources of contamination to the residential area.
Site Updates | News Releases | Fact Sheets || Technical Documents Public Meetings
You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Site Updates
May 2013
During 2013, EPA will be negotiating with entities that may be potentially liable for the cleanup. EPA expects the design phase of the cleanup work on the residential portion of the site to begin during 2014.
On November 30, 2012, EPA signed a Record of Decision, a document outlining the cleanup plan selected by EPA to address lead and arsenic soil contamination at the residential portion of the site. The plan was presented to the public at a meeting in July 2012 and then opened to public comment for 60 days. The decision calls for EPA to dig up and remove contaminated soil at residences where concentrations of lead or arsenic pose a threat to residents. The contaminated soil will be taken to a licensed landfill for disposal. Once contaminated soil has been removed, yards will be filled with clean soil and restored to their original condition. EPA estimates that approximately 700 residences may require cleanup.
- EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan for Residential Area (PDF) (8 pp, 522K) Summer 2012
- Proposed Plan (PDF) (15 pp, 673K) July 2012
- Final Feasibility Study Report (PDF) (133 pp, 2.68MB) June 2012
Documents
News Releases
- US EPA adds East Troy site to Superfund list, proposes two Ohio and one Indiana site for list September 3, 2008
Fact Sheets
- EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan for Residential Area (PDF) (8 pp, 522K) Summer 2012
- Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Yard (PDF) (2 pp, 263K) Spring 2010
- EPA to Begin Testing for Lead Contamination in Yards / EPA a Comenzar las Pruebas de Contaminación de Plomo en Patios (PDF) (10 pp, 251K) December 2009
- USS Lead Superfund Site Cleanup Status - December 2007 information sheet
- USS Lead USEPA and IDEM Joint Fact Sheet - October 2007
- Aerial photo showing site boundaries (PDF) (1 pg, 150K) December 2007
- EPA to begin testing for lead contamination in yards (PDF) (5 pp, 364K) March 2006
Technical Documents
- Proposed Plan (PDF) (15 pp, 673K) July 2012
- Final Feasibility Study Report (PDF) (133 pp, 2.68MB) June 2012
- Community Involvement Plan (PDF) (25 pp, 448K) April 2011
Public Meetings
- Transcript of public meeting (PDF) (92 pp, 817K) July 25, 2012
- Proposed Cleanup Plan Presentation (PDF) (40 pp, 1.16MB) July 25, 2012
- Information Sessions about the Residential Testing Process for the U.S.S. Lead Superfund Site
Sesiones de Información sobre el Proceso de Pruebas Residenciales del Sitio de Superfondo U.S.S. Lead
Monday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 3-5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Community Center, 4802 Melville Ave., East Chicago, IN - EPA held an informational meeting on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.