Did you know that beneath this seemingly ordinary ground lies a story of environmental injustice? This is the USS Lead Superfund Site, OU2. It is a place tainted by industrial activities and burdened by a legacy of contamination.
The USS Lead Superfund Site, OU2, is part of a larger area in East Chicago. It includes the former USS Lead facility. This facility along with nearby commercial and residential areas form the Superfund site. The site is divided into two Operable Units. OU1 is residential and OU2 is industrial.
From 1893, various industries operated here. DuPont processed metals and chemicals. Anaconda Copper Company refined lead. Then the USS Lead plant smelted ore and salvaged lead. These operations released lead and arsenic into the environment. The pollution particularly affected the West Calumet Housing Complex or WCHC.
Urban renewal efforts led to the construction of the WCHC on contaminated land. This decision disproportionately impacted minority communities. These communities were already facing housing discrimination. Scholar Sophie Rasof called this environmental racism. A resident said they were forced to live in the poisoned area.
Families in the WCHC unknowingly lived on land with high levels of lead and arsenic. Research in 1985 found lead poisoning in children. In the 1990s, 40% of children in the WCHC had elevated blood lead levels. Emissions from USS Lead were eight times higher than standards.
Lead and arsenic contamination causes many health problems. Children are especially vulnerable. Lead exposure can cause brain development issues and reduced IQ. Arsenic exposure can harm the skin and nervous system. It can also lead to cancer. There is no safe level of lead.
The USS Lead site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2009. The EPA is working to clean up the site. The EPA identified responsible parties including United States Metals Refining Company. They will reimburse the EPA for cleanup costs.
Remediation involves removing contaminated soil. Workers replace it with clean soil. The contaminated soil is taken to a licensed landfill. Monitoring ensures no additional hazards remain.
After demolition of the West Calumet Housing Complex in 2019, the city planned a warehouse. The zoning changed from residential to light industrial. Residents cannot return to live here. Lawsuits seek damages for physical and neurological injuries. Plaintiffs claim officials knew about the contamination for years.
The story of USS Lead Superfund Site, OU2, is a reminder. It tells of environmental contamination. It shows housing discrimination. It highlights the importance of protecting communities from industrial pollution. While cleanup efforts continue remember the people affected by this site.