INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 

We Protect Hoosiers and Our Environment. 

Mitchell E. Danie!.. Jr. 100 North Senate Avenue 

Governor Indianapolis. Indiana 46204 

(317) 232-8603 

Thomas W. Easterly Toll Free (800) 451-6027 

Commissioner www.idem.IN.gov 

September 29, 2010 

Ms. Susan Hedman 

Regional Administrator 

U.S. EPA, Region V R-19J 

77 West Jackson Boulevard 

Chicago, Illinois 60604-3507 

Dear Ms. Hedman: 

Re: 	 Proposed inclusion of Gary Development 

Landfill, Gary, Lake County, Indiana, on the 

National Priorities List 

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is providing this letter to 

convey its support to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) regarding 

the inclusion of the Gary Development Landfill on the National Priorities List (NPL) ofhazardous 

waste sites. The Gary Development Landfill, U.S. EPA identification number IND077005916, 

located in Gary, Indiana, consists of an abandoned landfill that illegally accepted hazardous waste 

during its operations in the 1970's and 1980's. As a result, wetlands located adjacent to the landfill 

and the Grand Calumet River have become contaminated with heavy metals, semi-volatile organic 

compounds, and PCBs. The Gary Development Landfill is bordered by the Grand Calumet River 

to the south, the EJ&E Railroad to the east and north, and AMG Resources Corporation to the 

west. The source of the contamination in the wetland is the abandoned landfill. 

This site qualifies for inclusion on the NPL because: 

1) 	 The site meets the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan 

(NCP) criteria for listing on the NPL, scoring sufficiently high pursuant to the Hazard 

Ranking System (HRS). 

2) 	 The site requires a long-tenn response action. 

An NPL listing would allow for proper and timely investigation of the nature and extent of 

the contamination and enable the U.S. EPA to detennine cleanup alternatives for the impacted 

areas, protecting human health and the environment. The NPL listing appears to be the most viable 

alternative for addressing the existing environmental problems. However, if in the future, the U.S. 

EPA identifies viable responsible parties that are believed to be capable of and agreeable to 

perfonning the cleanup work under an Administrative Order on Consent or Consent Decree, I 

would support addressing the site as a Superfund Alternative site. 

An Equal Opportunity Employer 	 Please Recycle () 
Ms. Susan Hedman 

Page 2 of2 

As the Commissioner of the IDEM, I am authorized by Indiana Governor Mitchell E. 

Daniels to act in these matters on his behalf. I have considered my staff s recommendations and I 

fully support the designation ofthe Gary Development Landfill for inclusion on the NPL. I request 

that the U.S. EPA assigns a Remedial Project Manager and/or On-Scene Coordinator to implement 

the process. If you require any additional information or have any questions, please contact Mark 

Jaworski ofthe Site Investigation Section at 317/233-2407. 

Thomas W. Easterly 

Commissioner 

cc: Sharon Jaffess, U.S. EPA 

Pat Hamblin, U.S. EPA 

Mayor Rudy Clay 

Rep. Charlie Brown 

Rep. Lonnie Randolph 

Rep. Earline Rogers 

Mark Jaworski, IDEM