Full Notification

Due to the ongoing situation caused by a Chemical Spill reported by USS Midwest Plant into the Burns Waterway, the Ogden Dunes Town Council has ordered the Ogden Dunes Town Beach to be closed until further notice. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has also closed both of the beaches at West Beach and Portage Lakefront Park.

The Ogden Dunes Water Department has issued a statement that all Ogden Dunes Water is currently coming from the Indiana American Water Company plant in Gary, the Ogden Dunes Plant, owned and operated by Indiana American is currently closed.

The following statement was issued by Save the Dunes Council concerning the incident.

April 11, 2017
SPECIAL STATEMENT FROM SAVE THE DUNES:
On Tuesday, April 11, 2017, U.S. EPA responded to a spill containing hexavalent chromium (also known as chromium-6) into Burns Waterway within 100 yards of Lake Michigan from the US Steel facility in Portage, Indiana. Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), U.S. EPA, and National Park Service staff are currently on site to mitigate and monitor for damages.
Until further notice has been provided, people and pets should avoid direct contact with Lake Michigan. Hexavalent chromium is a byproduct of industrial processes. It is known for creating reversible and irreversible skin legions if in direct contact. A fish kill is expected to be a result of this incident. This is also the same carcinogenic chemical that appeared in the 2000 biographical film, "Erin Brockovich."
“The state of Indiana’s emergency spill response actions and associated responsibilities are quite lax,” states Natalie Johnson, Executive Director. “While the law requires communication with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management within two hours of a spill’s discovery, it is not clear how quickly residents and property owners downstream should be reached.”
Lake Michigan is a primary source of drinking water for those living in LaPorte, Porter, and Lake counties. Regulations and agencies like IDEM and U.S. EPA safeguard residents against spills and act as the first responders when these situations arise. “Now is not the time to defund the U.S. EPA,” says Johnson, “or to minimize the creation and strengthening of regulation. Our health and safety depends on it.”
According to a recent U.S. EPA press release, U.S. EPA is working closely with U.S. Steel and federal, state and local partners. In an abundance of caution, the nearest municipal water source, the Indiana American Water in Ogden Dunes, has shut down its water intake and will use reserve water. Also, the National Park Service has temporarily closed two beaches at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (see https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm for more information).