News Releases from Headquarters

U.S. EPA, Indiana, East Chicago Officials Issue Joint Statement Pledging Improved Coordination, Communication and Cleanup of USS Lead Superfund Site

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.), and East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland today issued the following joint statement pledging improved coordination, communication, and cleanup of the USS Lead Superfund site in East Chicago:

“The recent meeting in East Chicago signals our renewed commitment to restore public trust by improving communication and coordination and delivering real solutions for protecting health and public safety in the community, especially for the families impacted by the closure of West Calumet Housing Complex. The painful personal stories of East Chicago residents will guide us as we chart a new path forward, and we are extremely grateful to each person who bravely shared their comments.

“EPA and IDEM will continue efforts to remediate the Superfund site and work to ensure safe drinking water is provided through the city's public water system. In addition, officials remain committed to investigating the sources, size, and scope of the lead contamination, as well as informing the public and quickly implementing remedies, if necessary, to ensure the residents of East Chicago have access to safe drinking water.

“These actions are in addition to recently signed state legislation directing testing of the city's water, coupled with a law requiring a plan be filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission detailing how lead service line replacement will be completed in conjunction with ongoing infrastructure replacement. We will continue moving forward together until the job is done. Residents deserve nothing less.”

The joint statement follows the officials’ visit to East Chicago in late April 2017. There, they engaged in a robust conversation with state and local leaders and residents of the East Chicago community and toured cleanup activities at the USS Lead Superfund site. They discussed the current status of cleanup and other ongoing issues. Click here to learn more.


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