ASSESSMENT PLAN for the NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT of the EAST BRANCH LITTLE CALUMET RIVER / BURNS WATERWAY AND ASSOCIATED LAKE MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTS February 2021 Prepared by: U.S. Department of the Interior State of Indiana U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Department of Environmental Management and and National Park Service Department of Natural Resources TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT A NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT ........................................... 1 PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSMENT PLAN .................................................................................................... 2 DECISION TO PERFORM A TYPE B ASSESSMENT .................................................................................... 4 PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF DAMAGES ................................................................................................ 4 COORDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES ................................................................. 5 PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSESSMENT BY NON-TRUSTEE PARTIES ......................................................... 5 ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSESSMENT PLAN.......................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ......................................................................... 7 GEOLOGIC SETTING OF THE ASSESSMENT AREA AND THE SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN DUNES ............ 7 Indiana Dunes Ecological Values ...................................................................................................... 8 Recent History of Indiana Dunes 1860-2010 ..................................................................................... 8 1860-1899 .................................................................................................................................................. 8 1900-1910 .................................................................................................................................................. 9 1911-1920 .................................................................................................................................................. 9 1921-1930 .................................................................................................................................................. 9 1940-1950 .................................................................................................................................................. 9 1951-1960 .................................................................................................................................................. 9 1961-1970 ................................................................................................................................................ 10 1971-1999 ................................................................................................................................................ 10 2000-2010 ................................................................................................................................................ 11 GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF THE ASSESSMENT AREA ................................................................................ 11 East Branch Little Calumet River.................................................................................................... 11 Burns Waterway ............................................................................................................................. 11 Lake Michigan ............................................................................................................................... 11 Indiana Dunes National Park .......................................................................................................... 14 INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY AND IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ...................... 14 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND OIL PRESENT IN THE ASSESSMENT AREA .......................................... 15 Ammonia ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Cyanide .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Oil and Related Compounds ........................................................................................................... 16 Metals ............................................................................................................................................ 17 NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE ASSESSMENT AREA ............................................................................. 17 Surface Water Resources ................................................................................................................ 17 Ground Water Resources ................................................................................................................ 17 Air Resources ................................................................................................................................. 18 Geologic Resources ........................................................................................................................ 18 Biological Resources ...................................................................................................................... 18 Benthic Invertebrates ................................................................................................................................ 18 Fish .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Freshwater Mussels .................................................................................................................................. 19 RECREATIONAL USES IN THE ASSESSMENT AREA ....................................................................... 19 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) CONFIRMATION OF EXPOSURE ........................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 3 INJURY DETERMINATION AND QUANTIFICATION ................................... 22 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 22 PATHWAY DETERMINATION ............................................................................................................... 23 INJURY DETERMINATION.................................................................................................................... 24 Task 1 - Evaluate Surface Water with Respect to Applicable Water Quality Criteria ....................... 25 Objective .................................................................................................................................................. 25 Operative Injury Definition ....................................................................................................................... 25 Regulatory Conformance........................................................................................................................... 25 Background Information ........................................................................................................................... 26 Approach .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Task 2 - Characterize the Nature and Extent of Soil and Sediment Contamination ........................... 26 Objective .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Operative Injury Definition ....................................................................................................................... 26 Regulatory Conformance........................................................................................................................... 27 Background Information ........................................................................................................................... 27 Approach .................................................................................................................................................. 27 Review of existing data ......................................................................................................................... 27 Data gap analysis .................................................................................................................................. 27 Additional sampling and analysis .......................................................................................................... 28 Task 3 - Evaluate the Impact of Sediment Contamination on Invertebrate Communities .................. 28 Objective .................................................................................................................................................. 28 Operative Injury Definition ....................................................................................................................... 29 Regulatory Conformance........................................................................................................................... 29