OIL POLLUTION
SOUTHERN END OF LAKE MICHIGAN
SEPTEMBER 17-26, 196?
SIM4ARY REPORT
OCTOBER 5, 196?
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11
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY OF'INVESTIGATIONS 1
CONCLUSIONS 12
RECOMMENDATIONS . 13
LABORATORY RESULTS AND FINDINGS 14
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iii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1 SAMPLING STATIONS, OIL POLLUTION 2
LAKE MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 17-26, 196?
2 GENERALIZED WATER MOVEMENT WITH 5
PREVAILING SOUTHERLY AND SOUTHEASTERLY-
WINDS
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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 ANALYSIS OF BOTTOM SEDIMENTS
INDIANA HARBOR CANAL, June 14, 1967 7
2 BOTTOM SEDIMENT ANALYSIS OF DREDGINGS
INDIANA HARBOR CANAL AT 138TH STREET
SEPTEMBER 22, 196? 16
3 BOTTOM SEDIMENT ANALYSIS OF DREDGINGS
INDIANA HARBOR CANAL AT 138TH STREET
SEPTEMBER 23, 196? 17
4 INFRARED, GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY FLAME
IONIZATION, AND REFRACTIVE INDEX ANALYSES
OF OIL SAMPLES 18
5 REFRACTIVE INDEX VALUES OF MIXTURES OF
ASPHALT AND #6 FUEL OIL • 21
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SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATIONS
September 18 newspaper accounts indicated that oil pollution had
interfered with water sports in Lake Michigan and with swimming at
several of the beaches on Sunday, September 17. A few complaints were
received by the F//PCA and the Chicago Program Office made observations of
the Lake and beaches between Jackson Park Beach and the Indiana Harbor
Ship Canal. No oil pollution was observed at Jackson Park Beach at that
time but Coast Guard personnel stated that oil had been observed earlier
Monday at Jackson Park but had washed away. Oil pollution was reported
to have been heaviest on Sunday.
On the same day, Monday, September 18, Chicago Program Office
personnel took two Chicago American reporters from the Calumet Park
Coast Guard Station directly across the Lake to Indiana Harbor and up the
Indiana Harbor Canal, departing at 9 a.m. On the way, they observed small
patches of oil. Upon arrival at Indiana Harbor, they observed minor oil
films of less magnitude than normally observed and the stream was cleaner
than usual. On the return trip, a few patches of oil were observed on the
Lake. Also, some patches of fine silt-like material were observed near
the Commonwealth Edison plant. No samples were taken on this trip.
The following day, newspapers reported heavy "slugs" of congealed
oil on a number of beaches. Patches of oil were also reported off Howard,
Devon, Belmont and Fullerton and between 31st and 50th Streets. Coast
Guardsmen used four boats and a plane from the Traverse City air Station
to sight and chart the oily concentrations which "ranged in size from
small patches covering a few feet to huge slicks estimated at 300 feet
wide and 1,500 feet long." The U. S. Coast Guard also called the FWPCA
to report that they had observed a large oil slick on Lake Michigan
starting at Indiana Harbor and extending northward for about five miles.
The Coast Guard vessel had been dispatched and samples were
collected. Two men from the Coast Guard were sent to the Indiana Harbor
area to see if they could locate the source of oil pollution.
The Coast Guard requested analysis by FWPCA of twelve oil samples
which they had collected. They were advised that the only analysis the
Chicago Program Office could provide would be a comparison between samples.
If the oil found on the Lake was compared to the oil from either a produc-
tion or waste source, identification could be made by infrared spectra to
determine if the two samples were the same oil. The laboratory is not
equipped to make a complete identification of a specific type of oil.
The FWPCA also continued its investigation. Field men from the
Calumet Area Surveillance Unit who collect samples in this area every
week reported that the oil in Indiana Harbor and the Canal on Tuesday and
Wednesday, September 19 and 20, was worse than they had ever seen pre-
viously even though they always see oil in this area.
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- 2 -
Patches of oil were observed on the Lake and increased in frequency
as the crew approached the Indiana Harbor Canal. These oil patches con-
sisted of very thin films of oil gradually increasing to one large oil
slick near the mouth of the Indiana Harbor. Passing into the Indiana
Harbor Canal, the wake of the boat was chocolate colored with less than
the usual amount of foam. At the edge of the wake a very black border of
oil was observed. Oil spread completely across the Harbor.
Visible oil covered the entire Indiana Harbor Canal, and unusual
amounts of surface oil were visible on the Lake George Channel. They also
observed that bottom dredging was occurring in the Canal upstream from the
Forks and portions of the dredged materials were displaced from the
operation and floating dovm the Canal. They also observed oil pollution
upstream from the dredging site as well as in the Lake George branch of
the Canal.
Over the next several days, newspapers continued to report the oil
slick as being the worst case of pollution ever seen in Lake Michigan.
Many suggestions were made as to possible sources of the oil pollution
but no single source has been identified at this time. The coast Guard
and FrfPCA both continued with their investigations and collected samples
from the Lake, beaches and in the Indiana Harbor Area. These sampling
points are shown in Figure 1 and the analytical results are discussed in
detail under Laboratory Results and Findings.
Several meetings were held by the FWPCA and by the U. S. Coast
Guard with each other, with the U. S. Corps of Engineers and with water
pollution representatives of Illinois, Indiana and Chicago to discuss
possible solutions to the problems. One of the points brought out by the
Chicago VJater Department and verified by the U. S. Weather Bureau was
that from Septamber 11 to September 20, the winds were of low velocity
and predominantly from the south to southeast. This lent support to the
view of the Chicago Program Office of FWPCA that much of the oil
pollution had originated in the Indiana Harbor area and had been blown
out into the Lake by prevailing southerly winds.
REPORT OF WIND CONDITIONS
AT SOUTH DISTRICT WATER FILTRATION PLANT, 79th STREET, 2,000'
FROM SHORE
Date
11 SSE 10 mph
12 SSE 15 mph
13 SSE 16 mph
14 SSE 16 mph
15 SSE 15 mph
16 SSE 8 mph
17 SSE 8 inph
18 SSE 11 mph
19 SSE 10 mph
20 S 15 mph
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17*30*
Wilmette Beach
Evanston Beach
Junewav Terrace Bea
Albion St. Beach
FIG. 1
SAMPLING STATIONS
OIL POLLUTION
LAKE MICHIGAN
SEPTEMBER 17-26, 196?
U0S. Depto of the Interior, FWPCA
Chicago Program Office
X FWPCA Samples
o U.S. Coast Guard Samples
Sample 1230 .X
r\
'" \ Calurcet Beach
(H) Indiana Harbor
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- 4-
AT MIDWAY AIRPORT
Date Wind Direction VJind Speed (Knots)
14 S to SE 10
15 SE 10
16 E 8
1? E 7
18 E 7
19 S 5
20 S 10
21 NW 12
(Wind Shifted from S to NW)
(around noon)
AT MEIGS FIELD
14 SE 10
15 S 12
16 E 10
17 ME 10
18 ESE 10
19 S 10
20 SW 15
21 NW 12
The Coast Guard expressed interest in the possible use of chemical
dispersants to emulsify the oil and "eliminate" the oil slicks. The
FWPCA was definitely opposed to the use of any such material. Emulsifi-
cation of the oil creates a worse problem in that emulsified oil is more
hazardous to biological life than the presence of oil on the surface. j[n
addition, such emulsions eventually break and the oil returns to the.
surface of the water. An alternative process which would receive
favorable consideration by FWPCA would be the use of shredded polyeure-
thane foam to absorb the oil. The oil-soaked foam could then be trapped
and lifted from the surface of the water.
A meeting was held on Friday, September 22 between the FWPGA and
the Corps of Engineers. The FWPCA presented their proposal for placing
a boom across the Indiana Harbor Channel to control oil discharged into
lake Michigan. It was recognized that this would not control all of the
oil discharged but it was felt that it would eliminate a large portion
of the floating oil. Skimmers would be used behind this boom to remove
the oil which would accumulate in the harbor. The problems involved
with installing and operating such a boom were discussed. The Corps of
Engineers indicated their interest in this proposal and stated they would
take it up with higher authority. The problem of dredging in the Indiana
Harbor Canal was also discussed. FtfPCA analysis of bottom sediments in
Indiana Harbor Canal prior to the dredging operation indicated that the
material at 11 sampling points sampled in June 196? ranged from 17 to 48^
of carbonaceous oxygen demanding material with an oil and grease content
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- 5 -
H.WINNETKA
VKENILWORTH
S.WILMETTE
LAKE
MICHIGAN
Q] Wilson Ave.
^ Corlor H. Horriion
^ Four Mil-;
c£) 68th St.
HornmOnd
_SCALE
01234 5Miles
,-J
r\<
G\Z.
Zl<
_J|O
_J
GENERALIZED WATER MOVEMENT
WITH PREVAILING SOUTHERLY
AND SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS
Figure 2
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-6-
between 3 and 11%. See Table 1. FWPCA officials vere alarmed at this
figure and felt that this material should not be placed in the Lake.
Corps of Engineers representatives said that if the dredging operation
vas to be halted it would mean cancellation of a contract with a severe
penalty and would have to be taken up with a higher level of authority
within their organization. They requested that we complete our analysis
comparing dredged material with the materials found on the beaches as
rapidly as possible so that if this dredging operation was one of the
major contributors to oil pollution it could be eliminated within the
minimum possible time.
The beach conditions observed on September 22 were as follows:
1. Gary Beach - clean.
2. Hammond Beach had a moderate number of globules of this
tar-like material. (One piece about 1 inch in diameter
and from 1/U" to l" in thickness per square yard).
3. Whiting Beach. (See 5-)
k. Calumet Park-Inner 100th Street. (See 5-)
5. 75th Street Beach. (Whiting, Calumet and 100th Street
had one globule of thin, tar-like oil about 1 inch to
1 1/2 inches in diameter per four square yards.)
6. T9"th Street Beach was the same as Hammond Beach.
7. There were a large number of globules of thin tar-like
material all over 57th Street Beach, ranging in size
from 1/2 inch to 3 or h inches in diameter and from 1/U"
to l" in thickness.
8. There was no evidence of this material or oily material
at the 12th Street Beach.
9- Oak Street Beach was the same as 12th Street Beach.
10. The conditions at Ardmore Street Beach (5800 N) were
similar to those observed at 57th Street Beach. The
amount of the tarry material present was somewhat less
.but the size of the globules were larger.
11. Albion Street Beach (6600 N) was the same as at Ardmore.
12. Juneway Terrace Beach (7800 N) was clean.
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- 7 -
Table la-
AVALYS:-^ o? BOTTOM STIDIKENTS
Indi.^ Harbor Canal
Juneih, 1967
Results expressed as rrg/kg
Sample No.
% ?. Solids.
% 7. Vol. Solids
1!H3-N
N03-N
Org-N
T. Sol. PO^
T. POj^
Phenol ( ^g/k^
Oil & Grease
T. Fe
Sulfido
Cu
Cd "
Wi
Zn
Pb
Cr
Cyan5.de
COD
1
Viet Gty
39.6
-
216
3.0
630
6
1550
1620
5/oco
51000
686
5.7
197
2 CO
2h7
370
hs
0,22
i vir.nn
19,7
5h5
7.6
1591
15
3920
ho>o
128800
128800
1730
Ihh
h93
. 506
62h
93h
121
0.56
J.Tvnnn
Wefc
37.8
235
3.0
576
6
3390
Ih90
6!jhoo
52000
1530
66
-V.
82
29hO
399
67
0.27
i89fifir
2
IVv
20.2
622
7.9
1525
16
8970
39hl
170200
137500
ho5o
175
*
217
7790
1053 -
72
0,71
i l.M^nnr
•5
Vet
67.8
h8
3.0
390
2
1670
hoO
37&00
19000
90h
- 18
*
27
852
169
27
O.h9
) nc,V,r
t
Dry
9.2
71
h.h
575
3
2h60
708
551;00
28000
1332
27
*
ho
1258
250
ho
0.72
in -lAcx
Jj
'.vet
59.0
103
5.0
367
5
hhh
1390
22000
32000
730
28
*
90
1510
212
36
NP-
mn filiT
s
Dry
9.5
175
8.5
622
8.5
752
2355
37100
5h2CO
1233
h9
*
153
2560
360
61
NF
nn 1 1,-
5
Wet
5h.5
Ih2
3.0
908
6
2110
1350
62.100
)6'coo
8h7
50
171
175
1050
5h3
0.22
men i v
•
P
i
Dry
16.0
260
5.5
1665
11
3880
2h80
HljOCO
82500
1552
92
3lh
321
1930
1000
*-.
l.nnn ~n
-::- - Not Datected
NF = None Found
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Sanole No.
- 8 -
Table Ib
AVALYSJ3 0? B'TTCIi
Indiana. Harbor
June ll;, 1961
Results expressed
6 7
Wet Dry
% T. Solids #.i
£ ?. Vol. Solids 8.1
ra3-N
>:o3-N
Org-N
?. Sol. PO^
T. POj^
Phenol ( MgA^
Oil & Grease
T. Fe
SulTido
Cu
Cd
Ni
Zn
Pb
Cr
Cyanide
COD
ii9
3,0
950
3
2050
950
22100
h70CO
30h
13
125
133
795
.169
6
89
5.h
1721
5.5
3720
1721
1:0100
85200
551
2U
227
2h2
ihUo
307
11
0.19 0.3'U
7li3CO 13u800
Wet
29.0
76
2.0
872
5
7SltO
1690
37500 1
Dry
16 02
262
6.9
3010
17
27000
5530
29700
S7DIJ-CNTS
Canal
7
as r-.g/kg
8
"vet
2900
129
2,0
663
2
L360
1&60
32300
6CCCO 207000 1-50CO
\61
29
250
2 CO
1610
289
3U
0.15
1575
100
863
690
5560
997
- 117
0.52
?325co
910
30
359
325
1310
333
50.
NF
130000
Dry
20,2
W5
6.9
2305
6.9
15100
61-20
111300
15500-0
31UO
101;
12hO
1120
Ii520
1163
173
NF
lil[9000
9
2302
18U
1.0
936
2
ho5o i
1930
31200
73000
336
15
1170
875
661;
360
38
NF
12Ij'jv/
10
Dry
18.3
653
3.5
3320
7.1
Wet
33o3
167
loO
1053
2
Dry .
17.0
h95
3.0
3120
5.9
.h350 7&hO 23200
6550
111500
259000
1190
53
M50
3100
2355
1279
135
1620
27100
&5CGO
272
12
2530
2050
563
162
23
haco
8 02 CO
251500
605
36
7^90
6070
1980
1365
68
NF NF NF
0 UiCCGO 1190CO 352C
\7 « None Found
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•Sar.ple No.
% ?. Solids.
% T. Vol. Solids
Org-N
T. Sol.
T.
Phenol ( j
Oil & Grease
T. Fe
Sulfide
Cu
Cd
Ni
Zn
Pb
Cr
Cyanide
COD
- 9 -
Table lc
ANALYSTS 0? 30TTO!-' SEDlIiEN
Indiana Harbor Canal
June 1)4,1967
Results expressed as mg/kg
39.7
12.5
62 156
1.0 2.5
63U 1722
2 5
Ul60 10h90
1220 3060
lh9CO 37600
77000 19hOCO
Ii72 1190
3.6 hO
656 1652
750 1890
1)190 10580
29h 7hl
19 U8
Wf NF
89900 226500
l.'et, Dry
Dry
_JLlL 15
"•'e-t Dry Vet Dry
NF --• None Found
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- 10 -
13. There was a fair amount of oil present at Evanston Beach
(Dempster St.)
14. Wilmette Beach was clean (Lake Ave.).
FWPCA crews again worked in the entire Calumet Area on Monday,
September 25, 196?. An FWPCA engineer was on a United States Coast Guard
vessel which followed a tug and two barges out into Lake Michigan to dump
dredgings from the Indiana Harbor Canal. He observed the dumping operation,
took photographs and collected samples prior to dumping. A sample was
taken in the wake of the barge to detect leaking, if any. Samples were
taken during the period from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Other FrfPCA scientists flew over the area to observe the effect of
the barge dumping operation. At 1:30 p.m. the tug and barges were observed
returning empty about one mile from Indiana Harbor. Flying out over the
Lake a bad oil slick and severe discoloration of the water was observed
approximately six miles due north of Gary Harbor. The Lake was relatively
calm and pollution effects could be readily discerned.
At 2 p.m., the plane flew over the same point six miles north of
Gary Harbor and observed that the discoloration of the water still per-
sisted. A radio fix was taken of this point to obtain the coordinates.
These coordinates were later checked out against the position of the dredge
dumping as fixed by the United States Coast Guard vessel and were found to
be at the same point.
Another badly discolored area was observed about three miles north
of Gary Harbor. To the east, lighter discolorations were noted over a
broad area of the Lake. Pictures were taken of the discolored areas of
the Lake. This appeared to be the residual of the large oil slick re-
ported on previous days.
An aerial patrol was made over Indiana Harbor, over the Indiana
Harbor Canal, over Gary Harbor, and Calumet Harbor. Pollution was observed
to be severe in Indiana Harbor, in the Indiana Harbor Canal, in the Lake
George Branch, and in the Calumet River Branch of the Indiana Harbor Canal.
Aerial photographs were taken of these pollutional sources.
Two large discharges of heavily discolored water were observed coming
from the South Works of U. S. Steel Corporation at 8?th Street into Calumet
Harbor. The plumes of discolored water continued out through the Harbor
opening into Lake Michigan.
A discharge of waste was observed from a sewer outfall immediately
west of Gary Harbor, apparently.from Gary Works, U. S. Steel Corporation.
This discharge appeared to carry about a mile into the Lake.
The beaches from Indiana Harbor to Wilmette were observed from the
air. One-hundredth Street Beach at Calumet Park was covered with Cladophora.
Some oil was observed on beaches at Jackson Park and in the vicinity of
Foster Avenue.
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Aerial photographs were made by the FWPCA of the dumping of
Indiana Harbor Canal dredging materials into Lake Michigan on Monday,
October 2. These photographs show clearly the formation of an oil slick
on the surface of the Lake as heavier materials darken the waters just
below the surface. Samples were taken at the same time by an FWPCA
engineer who accompanied the barges on a U. S. Coast Guard vessel.
Another oil pollution incident occurred on Tuesday, October 3,
1967. The Coast Guard received an oil pollution report from Indiana
Harbor at 2:30. A Coast Guard vessel and crew was dispatched to the
Indiana Harbor area where an oil slick was observed coming out into
Lake Michigan. Following the oil slick back into the canal, a stream
of oil was traced to a sewer located between the Five Railroads Bridge
and the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge on the Inland Steel side of the
harbor. The Coast Guard collected samples in the canal below the point
of discharge and a sample was collected of the discharged oil coming
from the sewer at about 3:45 p.m. The crew then proceeded further into
the canal to check other possible sources of pollution. No other sources
were found. They returned past the outfall at 4 o' clock and at that
time no oil discharge was observed.
These samples were to be submitted to the custody of the U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers by the U. S. Coast Guard with subsequent arrangement
for the FWPCA to obtain representative portions for analysis. However,
these samples have not yet been released to the Chicago Program Office
of FWPCA.
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12
CONCLUSIONS
As a result of the FVJPCA investigation and the results of the
analysis of samples collected by the FWPCA and the U.S. Coast Guard,
the Chicago Program Office of FWPCA draws the following conclusions:
lo The laboratory findings indicated that the major portion
of the extensive oil slick which spread over the southern tip of Lake
Michigan in the week of September 17 consisted of No. 6 fuel oil
containing some asphaltic products. Some areas of both heavier and
lighter oils were found.
2. The data also shows a substantial difference in chemical
nature between the heavy oil found in the slick and on the beaches
as compared to the dredged materials from the Indiana Harbor Canal
collected at the 138th Street site.
3« Some of the oil samples collected in Indiana Harbor and
the Indiana Harbor Canal on September 19 differed from No. 6 fuel
oil but matched an oil sample collected at the south end of 55th
Street Beach on September 18. Other samples from the surface in
Indiana Harbor matched the heavy oil samples found on the Lake.
ho A floating oil sample collected upstream from the dredging
operation on September 22 matched samples collected the same day at
Ardmore Street Beach (5800 North) and at the 79th Street boat launch-
ing site (7900 South). These samples were nearly identical to the
Noo 6 fuel oil reference sample.
5» Samples collected from the ground area next to Youngstown
Steel Oil Docks,from the fuel oil pipeline, and from the overflow
next to a new fill area contained an apparent mixture of asphalt
in Noo 6 fuel oil.
60 On the basis of the observations made, it is believed
that the oil pollution originated in the Indiana Harbor and Indiana
Harbor Canal and was swept out into the Lake by the prevailing
southerly and southeasterly winds.
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13
RECOMMFNDATIOMS
Whether or not the September 17 to 20, 196? oil pollution can
be laid at the doorstep of any individual, corporation or ship owner
does not alter the fact that oil pollution has been continuing unabated
in the Calumet Area both before, during, and after this particular
incident.
It is recommended therefore:
1. That all oil pollution be kept out of Lake Michigan.
2. That a boom and curtain be placed across Indiana Harbor to
minimise the movement of oil from Indiana Harbor into Lake Michigan
with an operating gate to permit navigation.
3. That oil skimmers be placed behind this boom to remove
surface oil which accumulates.
It. That a floating adsorbant material such as shredded poly-
urethane foam be considered as an aid in the adsorption and removal of
this oil.
5o That oil skimmed from the harbor be disposed of on land.
60 That the above boom and skimmers be operated by the U.S0
Corps of Engineers and operating costs be charged to all persons,
corporations, and ship owners using the Harbor and Canal except those
who can prove they do not discharge any oil.
7. That each source of oil pollution be identified and a
concerted effort be made by Federal, state, and local authorities to
require elimination of each source.
8. That all individuals, corporations, and ship owners be
required to state their position and establish a date at which they
will cease all oil discharges to the waterways.
9o That the use of chemical oil dispersants not be permitted
in discharges to streams or as a means of controlling an oil spill.
10. That water quality standards for soluble oil as well as for
floating oil be established and that the presence of either soluble
oils or floating oil be considered a violation of water quality standards,
lie, That the above recommendations be applied to all other harbors
or tributaries to Lake Michigan where oil discharges are encountered.
12. That there be an expansion in the FWPCA surveillance activities
both in the frequency of surveillance and the area covered bv the surveil-
lance activities.
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LABORATORY RESULTS AND FINDINGS
Sampling Background
The first camples received by the laboratories were oil samples
collected by the Chicago Program Office from the water surface in Indiana
Harbor and Indiana Harbor Canal on September 19. Additional samples were
received from the U. S. Coast Guard and submitted to the laboratories on
September 20. These samples were the oily wastes collected from the surface
of Lake Michigan at twelve points located between Indiana Harbor and Chicago
Jackson Park Harbor. One sample was collected on September 11 and the others
were collected Sept. 18 and 19- The next group of samples received were
collected by Chicago Program Office personnel late on Friday afternoon,
September 22. One crew visited the site of dredging operations in the Indiana
Harbor Canal at 138th Street. Dredging operations had ceased; however, three
samples were obtained, two directly from the barge and one from the water
surrounding the barge. Concurrently, two other crews visited Lake Michigan
beaches from Gary, Indiana to Uilmette, Illinois. Samples of black asphalt-
like material were collected from eleven of these beaches and shore line
points.
Additional samples were obtained by Chicago Program Office personnel
on Saturday, September 23, 19°? at _the dredging site in the Indiana Harbor
Canal. These samples were as follows: one water sample, one sample from the
contents of the dredging bucket and one sample fron the dredgings deposited.
on the barge. In addition, samples of asphalt and No. 6 fuel oil were obtained
from the Sinclair Refining Company to use as standard reference samples.
On September 25, the U.S. Coast Guard submitted an additional four
samples. These were collected at points located in and near the industrial
sites situated in the vicinity of the Indiana Harbor and Indiana Harbor Canal.
Also, on September 25, six water samples were collected at and in the
vicinity of the dumping site for dredge material. The dumping site is located
in Lake Michigan approximately six miles from Indiana Harbor. Analysis of
this set of samples was not completed at the time this report was prepared.
On September 27, the U.S. Coast Guard submitted five more samples. Four of
these were materials collected on the property of the Youngstown Steel Company.
'One of these samples had the physical appearance and odor of black asphaltjc
deposits collected on the beaches. The second sample was a sample from a pipe-
line and resembled No. 6 fuel oil. The third sample was a large piece of
plastic which had been embedded in the soil along the cana3. and was covered
with black asphalt-like material. The fourth sample was a water sample from
an overflow pipe at Youngstown Steel. The last sample was a sample of water
from an overflow pipe at Inland Steel Plant ^-1.
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- 15 -
Daily water sampling was initiated for the purpose of determining
the type of oil in the waters located at the two monitors in Indiana
Harbor and Dickey Road.
Sampling locations are shown in Figure 1.
Analyses Performed
The oil and asphalt-like substances were analyzed by the organic
chemistry laboratory to obtain infrared spectra, gas chromatography flame
ionization profiles and refractive indexes on selected samples. The
bottom sediment and water samples were analyzed for the customary domestic
and industrial pollutants as shown in Tables 2 and 3- In addition, two
samples of the black asphaltic-like materials from the beaches were
analyzed for selected parameters as shown in Table 2.
Laboratory Findings
The laboratory findings available to date are shown in Tables 2, 3,
k, and 5.
All of the infrared spectra and flame ionization profiles obtained
from the beach samples and floating oil collected on the surface of Lake
Michigan were very similar, indicating that all samples were the same
type of material.
Infrared spectra were obtained on knovm reference samples of
asphalt and No. 6 fuel oil. These two substances give very similar in-
frared spectra. The infrared spectra from the beach and floating oil
samples also gave similar spectra, suggesting that the materials tested
were either asphalt or No. 6 fuel oil, or a mixture of both, as is
indicated in Table 4.
The samples were next characterized by flame ionization. With
this latter test the reference samples of asphalt and No. 6 fuel oil pro-
vided clearly distinct profiles. The flame ionization profiles of the
beach samples and floating oil samples from Lake Michigan gave flame
ionization profiles more closely resembling, but not identical to, No. 6
oil.
The refractive indices obtained from the black asphaltic-like
material from the beaches and the floating oil from Lake Michigan ranged
all the way from 1.3302 to 1.6581. However, the majority was in the
range 1.6495 to 1.6528, which is essentially the same range of indices
obtained from various mixtures of asphalt and Mo. 6 fuel oil (see Table
5 for indices of selected mixtures of asphalt and No. 6 fuel oil).
The refractive index of three of the Lake samples therefore had a
greater value than the index obtained from the asphalt reference sample.
Two of the Lake samples had a refractive index characteristic of light
oil.
-------
- 16 -
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- 21 -
TABLE 5
Refractive Index Values of
Asphalt and #6 Fuel
CPO
Sample
Mo.
739
710
% Asphalt
br wt.
100*
75
50
25
0
0
% #6 Fuel Oil
by wt.
0
25
5o
75
100**
100
Mixtures of
Oil
Refractive
Index
1.6506
1.6530
1.6525
1 06505
1.6509
1.6U90
* Heated 6 hrs. at 100° C.
*-*- Heated 8 hrs. at 100° C and stood
on bench top over weekend, exposed
to the atmosphere.
-------
- 22 -
The above findings indicate that major portion of the large oil
slick which occurred on Lake Michigan the week of September 17 was comprised
of No. 6 fuel oil and contained some asphaltic products. However, some
areas of both heavier and lighter oils were found.
Analysis of three of the four samples that were collected by the
U. S. Coast Guard at Youngstown Steel Company on September 27 indicated a
mixture of No. 6 fuel oil and asphalt. The oily content of the other two
samples of that group was not great enough to provide reliable results from
infrared and flame ionization.
The results of the samples of September 27 may be compared to the
values shown in Table 5 which shows the refractive index of mixtures of
the reference samples- of //6 oil and asphalt. By this comparison, it would
appear that the area next to Youngstown Steel oil docks was contaminated
with approximately 50^ asphalt in #6 fuel oil. It was noted that the
refractive index of the sample of asphalt used for this comparison (Sample
No. 739.) was lower than the refractive index of the reference sample of
asphalt used previously (Sample No. 738). Similarly, the fuel oil pipe-
line and the overflow next to a new fill area also appeared to have mixtures
of about 50^ asphalt in fuel oil. Also a piece of plastic material dug up
in the sandy area was apparently coated with about 25% of asphalt in #6
fuel oil.
Samples collected in the Indiana Harbor Canal and in the Indiana
Harbor on September 19 had refractive indexes similar to the index of the
sample collected by the Coast Guard at the south end of 55th Street Beach
on September 18 but differed from the other beach samples. These samples
were characteristic of light oils.
The water samples and bottom sediment samples collected at the
dredge site on September 22 were extracted for oil content and character-
ization. Ardmore Beach and 79th Street samples were run with and without
extraction. The extracts from the bottom sediment samples and the water were
a bright yellow color, while the extracts from the beach samples were jet
black. All other samples were run without extracting samples.
A sample of floating oil collected 50 feet upstream from the dredging
operation at 138th Street on September 22, 1967 had the same refractive
index as samples collected on the same date at the 79th Street boat
launching site and Ardmore Street beach (5800 N). The refraction index of
this sample was not identical but was very close to the value obtained for
the No. 6 fuel oil.
The results from the inorganic analysis of bottom sediments are
shown in Tables2 and 3. These findings indicate large amounts of
industrial and domestic pollutants were present in the bottom sediments as
reflected in the high'concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, phosphorus,
-------
phenols, sulfides, and oil and grease. The results of metals analysis on
the dredging samples are still pending and will be provided in the near
future. The two samples of solidified materials taken from the 79th Street
Beach and Ardmore Beach showed extremely high volatile solids. Oil and
grease were very high as would be expected.
The sample taken from the bucket of the dredge on September 23 gave
much higher results for most parameters than did those taken from the
barge. The barge results from September 22 show that there was a consider-
able difference in the values from samples taken from one end of the barge
to the other, indicating that the dredgings at the site were very
heterogeneous.
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