CHARACTERIZATION OF FILL DEPOSITS IN THE CALUMET REGION OF NORTHWESTERN INDIANA AND NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS By Robert T. Kay, Theodore K. Greeman, Richard F. Duwelius, Robin B. King, and John E. Nazimek, U.S. Geological Survey, and David M. Petrovski, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4126 ABSTRACT: In October 1993, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, began a study of the fill deposits in the Calumet region of northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois. Fill in this area is a mixture of steel-industry wastes, other industrial waste, municipal solid waste, dredging spoil, construction debris, ash, cinders, natural materials, and biological sludge. Fill deposits are concentrated along Lake Michigan; from the Lake Calumet area to the east of the Indiana Harbor Canal; along the Calumet, Little Calumet, and Grand Calumet Rivers; and along the Calumet Sag Channel. Industrial wastes and municipal solid wastes are used as fill near Lake Calumet. Steel-industry wastes, primarily slag, are used as fill along Lake Michigan, Wolf Lake, Lake George, parts of Lake Calumet, and parts of the Calumet and Little Calumet Rivers. Dredging spoil is located along the rivers, and in abandoned river channels, landfills, and tailing ponds. Cinders, ash, construction debris, and natural materials are scattered throughout the area. Currently (1996), fill covers about 60.2 square miles of the study area. A total volume of about 2.1 x 10(10) cubic feet of fill was calculated to be present in the Calumet region. Most of this fill is steel-industry waste. Fill deposition in the study area has been essentially continuous from about 1870 to the present (1996). Fill deposited before 1964 was used as foundation for streets and railroad tracks, to create land for industrial expansion, and to dispose of waste material. Much of the fill deposited after 1964 was disposed of in landfills designed to minimize environmental effects. Industrial wastes, municipal solid wastes, steel-industry wastes, and, perhaps, dredging spoil can be associated with increased concentrations of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, pesticides, cyanide, metals, or major ions in ground water in this area. Construction debris, ash, cinders, and natural fill may be associated with increased concentrations of major ions in ground water. METHODS: Determination of the location, type, and thickness of the fill and the approximate date of fill deposition was accomplished by analysis of topographic maps, maps of surficial geology, aerial photographs, thematic maps of satellite images, results of previous studies of the fill, lithologic logs, field surveys, and the drilling of soil borings. Analysis of this information has allowed the location and thickness of fill, the type of fill, and the approximate date of fill deposition to be mapped in the study area. Several maps of all or part of the study area are available depicting conditions prior to 1900 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1839; Houston, 1872; U.S. Congress, 1882). These maps show the approximate location of the major surface features, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, and roads, but do not include surface topography. The generalized nature of these maps prevents comparison of the exact location of features with subsequent, more accurate maps. However, these maps can be compared with subsequent maps to note gross changes in the surficial features. The earliest topographic maps were published by the USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 1902 at a 1:62,000 scale (Grohmann and Liljenerantz, 1902). These maps cover the entire study area. Topography on these maps was obtained by plane-table survey and triangulation. The next available topographic maps are USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles at a 1:24,000 scale. Topography on the quadrangles was obtained by photogrammetric methods from aerial photographs and plane-table surveys. Though the dates of the topographic surveys and map publication vary, quadrangles were published for the entire Illinois part of the study area on or about 1901, 1927, 1953, 1964, 1977, and 1992. A quadrangle also was published for the area around Lake Calumet in 1960. Quadrangles were published for the Indiana part of the study area on or about 1897, 1934, 1953, 1968, 1977, and 1991. A USACE map of northern Lake County (Indiana) was published in 1917, and a USGS intermediate map edition was published in 1940 for the eastern part of the study area in Indiana. The dates of the surveys or aerial photographs the maps were based on are similar to the dates of map publication. Changes in surface topography and changes in surficial features (water to land, wetland to dry land) were observed on successive USGS quadrangle maps, allowing the location, thickness, and approximate date of the initiation of fill deposition to be identified. Maps of surficial geology were published at the 1:24,000 scale for the Illinois part of the study area in 1939 (Bretz, 1939). The location of some "made and modified land" is shown on these maps. More recent maps of surficial geology include the entire study area (Schneider and Keller, 1970), the Illinois part of the study area (Willman, 1971, pl. 1), and the Indiana part of the study area (Hartke and others, 1975, pl. 1; Gray, 1989). These maps are at a scale of 1:250,000 or 1:1,000,000 and show the approximate location of some of the larger, more continuous fill deposits near the large surface-water bodies. The location of the smaller fill deposits and the type, thickness, or age of fill are not identified. Aerial photographs taken in 1938 and 1990 were analyzed to refine the estimation of the date when fill deposition was initiated as well as interpretations of the location of fill identified by analysis of the topographic and surficial-geologic maps. These photographs also were used to locate fill deposits too small or too thin to be identified on the topographic and surficial-geologic maps. Aerial photos from 1990 did not cover Porter County in Indiana. Slag deposits were identified and delineated with computer- processed multispectral satellite digital imagery. A 1,300- by 950-pixel subset of two Landsat thematic mapper (TM) images acquired on September 5, 1990, and June 4, 1991, were utilized in the study. These images did not include the eastern quarter of the study area. The TM images consist of 6 spectral bands of 30-meter resolution and 1 spectral band of 120-meter resolution imagery (Lillesand and Kiefer, 1987). Training data for the TM were derived by identifying areas of known surficial slag. These data were digitized into a geographic information system (GIS) vector format and overlaid on the TM coverage. The spectral data corresponding to areas of known slag were used to locate areas with similar spectral signatures. Training data also were developed for land cover without slag. Training signatures were then input to the maximum likelihood classifier. The image classification of maximum likelihood compared to areas of known surficial slag identified with this method are shown in figure 9. Approximately 6,600 acres of surficial slag were delineated using this method. However, surficial-slag deposits covered with substantial amounts of vegetation cannot be detected with this method, so this estimate of slag acreage is conservative. Area wide studies by previous investigators, especially the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1968), Rosenshein (1961), Hartke and others (1975), Indiana Department of Natural Resources (1979), Colten (1985), Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory (1991), and Roadcap and Kelly (1994), identified some general areas where fill was emplaced and some of the types of fill in these areas. Some site-specific environmental and geotechnical studies conducted at industrial and waste-disposal facilities in the area have detailed descriptions of the type, thickness, and location of fill and detailed information on the timing of fill operations (for example, Geosciences Research Associates, Inc., 1987; Geosciences Research Associates, Inc., 1988; Warzyn Engineering, Inc., 1987; Ecology and Environment, Inc., 1990; Ecology and Environment, 1993; Eldridge Engineering Associates, 1990; Law Environmental, Inc., 1993). These facilities typically range from about 5 to 300 acres in size. Because they typically involve intensive investigation on a smaller scale, the site-specific studies generally provide detailed information on the fill and can supplement and verify interpretations made from analysis of the maps and aerial photographs. Lithologic logs from over 1,000 borings drilled for previous environmental and geotechnical studies, and 43 soil borings drilled for this study were used to determine the type, location, and thickness of fill. The spatial distribution of the lithologic information is variable. Most information was obtained for sites where environmental or geotechnical studies were done and is, therefore, concentrated in areas of industry, waste disposal, or interstate highways. Many of the borings done for geotechnical studies, such as for interstate highways, were drilled prior to fill emplacement associated with subsequent construction. In addition, extensive field surveying to verify interpretations of the location, type, and thickness of the fill was done by USGS and USEPA personnel as part of this study. The location and thickness of the fill depicted on plate 1 are based on an analysis of the available data. It should not be inferred, however, that the representation of the fill on plate 1 is exactly correct in every detail. Because of the inherent heterogeneity of the fill and discontinuous character of many of the fill-placement processes, the type and thickness of the fill materials found at a specific location could differ substantially from the information provided in this report. It also is likely that there are numerous thin, scattered fill deposits in this area that have not been identified. The location and thickness of fill depicted on plate 1 do not include fill deposits that may be present below the water level of the lakes. Most of the fill areas along Lake Michigan are bounded by sheet piling and typically do not extend below water out into the lake. It is probable, however, that fill extends below the water surface in most of the lakes surrounded by fill. This includes Wolf Lake, Lake Calumet, Lake George, and an unnamed lake located about 1 mi south of the confluence of the Calumet Sag Channel and the Little Calumet River. Analysis of the data indicates that most of the fill is a heterogeneous mixture of steel-industry wastes, municipal solid waste, dredging spoil, construction debris, ash and cinders, and natural material. Fill deposits composed of industrial wastes also were detected. For the purposes of this report, industrial wastes and steel-industry wastes are considered separate materials. Steel-industry wastes are considered to be primarily solid materials such as slag, casting brick, and foundry sand. Industrial wastes, which may be produced by the steel industry, can include liquids and sludges that contain material such as oils, paint, tar, solvents, and grease. Wood chips used for purification of coal gas also are considered industrial wastes in this report. The heterogeneity of the fill complicates the determination of a particular fill type and identification of its spatial extent at many locations. With the exception of industrial waste, which was mapped wherever substantial quantities were documented, if more than one type of fill was described at a given location, the predominant fill type identified was mapped as depicted on plate 2. The types of fill represented on plate 2 are categorized as follows: 1. Industrial waste 2. Municipal solid waste 3. Steel-industry wastes (primarily slag) 4. Dredging spoil 5. Biological sludge 6. Ash and cinders 7. Construction debris 8. Natural material The date of the initiation of fill deposition in the study area depicted on plate 3 was divided into six periods: pre-1902, 1902-27, 1928-53, 1954-64, 1965-77, and 1978-93. Areas of fill that first appear on maps from 1897 and 1901 were mapped as emplaced before 1902. Areas of fill that first appear on maps published on or about 1917, 1927, or 1934 were mapped as emplaced from 1902 to 1927. Areas of fill that first appear on maps published on or about 1940 or 1953 were mapped as emplaced from 1928 to 1953. Areas of fill that first appear on maps published on or about 1960, 1964, or 1968 were mapped as emplaced from 1954 to 1964. Areas of fill that first appear on maps published on or about 1977 were mapped as emplaced from 1965 to 1977. Any areas of fill that first appear on maps published after 1980 were mapped as emplaced from 1978 to 1993. Because many of the maps have different dates of survey and publication, the dates for the time of fill emplacement must be considered as approximate. Fill has been removed in some places (for example, a large area of fill southwest of Lake Calumet was excavated at some time between 1978 and 1990). Therefore, the historical extent of fill shown on plates 2 and 3 differs in some areas from the current extent of fill shown on plate 1. Only the initial date of fill deposition at a given location is shown on plate 3. No information about when deposition ceased or about the dates of fill deposition subsequent to the initial emplacement is provided. There are many areas where fill was deposited the same location at different times. The type of fill deposited at a given location may have changed through time. Volume calculations for the fill materials were obtained using a GIS. Digital map layers (coverages) were generated for the type, age, and thickness of fill in the study area. These coverages contain polygons attributed with location and thickness, age, and type of fill present. The thickness and type coverages can be joined using an overlay operation. This operation allows polygons to be selected based on single or multiple attributes. After the overlay operation, the selection for all slag polygons automatically allows access to the thickness values. In addition, the area value for each polygon given in user-defined units is automatically calculated with the GIS. Total volume is calculated by multiplying the thickness value by the area value. DISCLAIMERS: This database, identified as WRIR 96-4126, has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the U.S. Geological Survey reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the U.S. Geological Survey nor the U.S. Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other than personal use must be secured from the copyright owner. CONTENTS: This report includes three plates. Three shapefiles and metadata associated with the shapefiles represent the spatial data shown on the three plates. The IN_IL_Fill_Thickness.txt, IN_IL_Fill_Time.txt, and IN_IL_Fill_Type.txt metadata files in the Metadata directory pertain to the shapefiles in Shapefile directory in the subdirectories named IN_IL_Fill_Thickness (plate 1), IN_IL_Fill_Time (plate 2), and IN_IL_Fill_Type (plate 3). 00Readme.txt report.pdf Metadata (directory): contains files IN_IL_Fill_Thickness.txt (metadata for plate 1) IN_IL_Fill_Time.txt (metadata for plate 2) IN_IL_Fill_Type.txt (metadata for plate 3) Shapefile directory IN_IL_Fill_Thickness.shp (.dbf/.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.shp/.xml/.shx) (shapefile components for plate 1) IN_IL_Fill_Time.shp (.dbf/.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.shp/.xml/.shx) (shapefile components for plate 2) IN_IL_Fill_Type.shp (.dbf/.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.shp/.xml/.shx) (shapefile components for plate 3) INSTRUCTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS REPORT 96-4126 To access the data: The data files can be downloaded via the web from http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wri964126. The main product is a Portable Document Format (.pdf) report which requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing. Acrobat software runs on a variety of systems and is available for download free of charge from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com. To view the shapefiles, ArcMap or ArcReader is required. It is recommended that the thickness be set at the following intervals when viewing the shapefile to best mimic the plates included in the report. Thickness categories: 0.0-4.9/5.0-9.9/10.0-19.9/20.0-39.9/40.0-59.9/ 60.0-79.9/80.0-81.0 It is recommended that the years be set at the following intervals when viewing the shapefile to best mimic the plates included in the report. Time intervals: Before 1902/1902 to 1927/1928 to 1953/1954 to 1964/ 1965 to 1977/1978 to 1993 Software preferred at the time of publication: Adobe Acrobat, or Adobe Acrobat Pro, or the free Adobe Reader; XI is preferred, but older or newer versions may work. ArcGIS 10.1 is preferred; older or newer versions may also work. ArcReader may be downloaded free of charge from http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcreader/download for viewing additional files included in this report. REFERENCES CITED IN README FILE Bretz, H.J., 1939, Geology of the Chicago region, part I General: Illinois State Geological Survey Bulletin no. 65, part 1, 118 p. Colten, C.E., 1985, Industrial wastes in the Calumet area, 1869-1970 An historical geography: Savoy, Ill., Illinois Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center Report RR 001, 124 p. Ecology and Environment, Inc., 1990, Special study report of U.S. Scrap: Chicago, Ill., prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 253 p. Ecology and Environment, Inc., 1993, Site assessment report for the H. Baristow Company site, USEPA ID: IND980679021: Unpublished report on file in Chicago, Ill., at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sections 1-4, (various pagination). Eldridge Engineering Associates, 1990, Site closure documents, Sexton-Lansing landfill: Springfield, Ill., prepared for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, 53 p. Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, 1991, Land use and site maps NW Indiana discovery inventory: Chicago, Ill., Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 15 p. Geosciences Research Associates, Inc., 1987, Remedial investigations of Midwest Solvent Recovery, Inc., (Midco I), Gary, Indiana, public comment draft: Unpublished report on file in Chicago at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sections 1-4, (various pagination). Geosciences Research Associates, Inc., 1988; 1988, Remedial investigations of Midwest Waste Disposal Co., Inc., (Midco II), Gary, Indiana, public comment draft: Unpublished report on file in Chicago at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sections 1-4, (various pagination). Gray, H.H., 1989, Quaternary geologic map of Indiana: Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey Miscellaneous Map 49. Grohmann, A.T., and Liljenerantz, G.A.M., 1902, Map showing Calumet River District-Illinois & Indiana: Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, scale: 1 inch = 1 mile. Hartke, E.J., Hill, J.R., and Reshkin, M., 1975, Environmental geology of Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana: An aid to planning: Bloomington, Ind., Indiana Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey Special Report 11, 57 p. Houston, D.C., comp., 1872, (Map of) Calumet-Grand Calumet Rivers- Illinois and Indiana: Corps. of Engineers, U.S.A., Calumet River series A, no. 1, scale: 1 inch = 1 mile. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 1979, An inventory of man-made land along the shoreline of Lake Michigan: Indiana State Planning Services Agency Technical Report no. 304, 24 p. Law Environmental, Inc., 1993, Description of current conditions, Inland Steel Corporation Indiana harbor works: Chicago, Ill., Document prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 volumes. Lillesand, T.M., and Kiefer, R.W., 1987, Remote sensing and image interpretation: New York, John Wiley and Sons, 721 p. Roadcap, G.S., and Kelly, W.R., 1994, Shallow groundwater quality and hydrogeology of the Lake Calumet area, Chicago, Illinois: Interim Report Prepared for the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 64 p. Rosenshein, J.S., 1961, Groundwater resources on northwestern Indiana, preliminary report, Lake County: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Bulletin no. 10, 229 p. Schneider, A.F., and Keller, S.J., 1970, Geologic map of the 1X2 Chicago quadrangle, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan showing bedrock and unconsolidated deposits: Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 1 p. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1839, Map of Calumet Region, 1 p. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1968, Dredging and water quality in the Great Lakes: Prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, v. 12, 200 p. U.S. Congress, Senate, 1882, Lake Calumet area 1881: Executive Document, First Session, 1882, no. 77, 75 p. Warzyn Engineering, Inc., 1987, Agency review draft, remedial investigations report, Ninth Avenue Dump, Gary, Indiana: Omaha, Nebr., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contract No. DAWC 45-86-C-0002, acting for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (various pagination). Willman, H.B., 1971, Summary of the geology of the Chicago area: Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 460, 77 p.