Clean Water Act discharge permit · NPDES IN0000205
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS STEEL LLC - INDIANA HARBOR WEST, East Chicago, IN: NPDES IN0000205 discharge permit, effluent exceedances, inspections, penalties
- Administratively continuedPermit status
- MajorDischarger class
- 15Pollutants under a numeric limit
- 20Pollutants with an effluent exceedance
- 4Inspections on file
- 0Formal enforcement actions
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS STEEL LLC - INDIANA HARBOR WEST holds NPDES permit IN0000205, which discharges to Indiana Harbor Canal. EPA’s file records it issued July 21, 2017 and expiring August 31, 2022.
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS STEEL LLC - INDIANA HARBOR WEST, East Chicago, Indiana: Individual permit IN0000205; Administratively continued (past its expiration date and still in force until reissued); issued July 21, 2017, term to August 31, 2022, by IDEM; discharges to INDIANA HARBOR CANAL.
- Zinc, total [as Zn]: 0 limits, 85 violations of any kind, 45 effluent exceedances, latest November 30, 2008, largest 405% over the limit.
- Solids, total suspended: 32 limits, 155 violations of any kind, 29 effluent exceedances, latest June 30, 2015, largest 916% over the limit.
- Oil & Grease: 0 limits, 162 violations of any kind, 24 effluent exceedances, latest November 30, 2011, largest 572% over the limit.
- Oil and grease, hexane extr method: 24 limits, 27 violations of any kind, 23 effluent exceedances, latest March 31, 2016, largest 527% over the limit.
- Cyanide, total [as CN]: 4 limits, 469 violations of any kind, 15 effluent exceedances, latest May 31, 2009, largest 2,147% over the limit.
- NOEL Static Renewal 7Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 19 violations of any kind, 12 effluent exceedances, latest January 31, 2011, largest 99,999% over the limit.
- Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N]: 34 limits, 85 violations of any kind, 11 effluent exceedances, latest February 28, 2019, largest 58% over the limit.
- Chromium, total [as Cr]: 0 limits, 21 violations of any kind, 9 effluent exceedances, latest February 29, 2004, largest 405% over the limit.
- Phenolics, total recoverable: 34 limits, 62 violations of any kind, 7 effluent exceedances, latest August 31, 2013, largest 651% over the limit.
- pH: 10 limits, 80 violations of any kind, 6 effluent exceedances, latest October 31, 1994.
- Lead, total [as Pb]: 0 limits, 46 violations of any kind, 6 effluent exceedances, latest April 30, 2008, largest 36% over the limit.
- Cadmium, total recoverable: 0 limits, 29 violations of any kind, 5 effluent exceedances, latest September 30, 1998, largest 533% over the limit.
- Zinc, total recoverable: 28 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 4 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2022, largest 740% over the limit.
- Chlorine, total residual: 32 limits, 23 violations of any kind, 3 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2023, largest 67% over the limit.
- Toxicity [chronic], Ceriodaphnia dubia: 6 limits, 14 violations of any kind, 3 effluent exceedances, latest May 31, 2012, largest 119% over the limit.
- Mercury, total recoverable: 12 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 3 effluent exceedances, latest June 30, 2016, largest 35% over the limit.
- Naphthalene: 0 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 3 effluent exceedances, latest April 30, 2014, largest 2,261% over the limit.
- LC50 Static Renewal 48Hr Acute Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest November 30, 1990, largest 90% over the limit.
- Noel Statre 7Day Chronic Pimephales: 0 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest November 30, 1990, largest 50% over the limit.
- Cyanide, total recoverable: 0 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest November 30, 2015, largest 27% over the limit.
- Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant: 16 limits, 74 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Iron, total recoverable: 0 limits, 46 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Sulfate, total [as SO4]: 0 limits, 30 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Chloride [as Cl]: 0 limits, 28 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Fluoride, total [as F]: 0 limits, 28 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Tin, total recoverable: 0 limits, 12 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Toxicity [acute], Ceriodaphnia dubia: 6 limits, 10 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Lead, total recoverable: 28 limits, 7 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Toxicity [acute], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow]: 0 limits, 6 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Toxicity [chronic], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow]: 0 limits, 6 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LC50 Static Renewal 96Hr Acute Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 6 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Temperature, water deg. fahrenheit: 16 limits, 4 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Flow rate: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Flow, total: 5 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LC50 Static Renewal 96Hr Acute Pimephales promelas: 0 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- October 1, 2026: Reconnaissance without Sampling (S).
- May 21, 2026: Permit Violations - Discharge Without a Valid Permit (ST6).
- May 21, 2026: Monitoring Violations - Frequency of Sampling Violation (ST6).
- May 21, 2026: Evaluation (S).
- May 21, 2026: Evaluation (S).
- May 21, 2026: Notice of Noncompliance Issued (State).
- February 4, 2026: Reconnaissance without Sampling (S).
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS STEEL LLC - INDIANA HARBOR WEST among its neighbors
EPA’s permit file holds 107 discharge permits in the Calumet River-Frontal Lake Michigan subwatershed (HUC 040400010603), IN0000205 among them. Its county holds 204, 18 of them major permits; IN0000205 is a major permit.
Other permits in the Calumet River-Frontal Lake Michigan subwatershed (HUC 040400010603)
- 12950 S. STONY ISLAND AVENUE, Chicago: ILR10ZDWT, minor permit, permit term to August 31, 2028
- ATLAS TUBE INC, Chicago: ILR001091, minor permit, discharging to LAKE CALUMET, permit term to June 1, 2008
- BP PRODUCTS WHITING REFINERY, Whiting: IN0000108, major permit, discharging to LAKE MICHIGAN, permit term to March 31, 2024
- BUCKEYE KG999B1, East Chicago: INRA11590, minor permit, permit term to April 11, 2028
- BUCKEYE PIPELINE COMPANY EAST CHICAGO STATION, East Chicago: ING340068, minor permit, discharging to Indiana Harbor Canal, permit term to October 31, 2020
- BUCKEYE TERMINALS LLC - EAST CHICAGO TERMINAL, East Chicago: IN0063118, minor permit, discharging to LAKE MICHIGAN VIA INDIANA HARBOR CANAL, permit term to September 30, 2019
- BUCKEYE TERMINALS LLC EAST CHICAGO TERMINAL, East Chicago: ING340080, minor permit, permit term to October 31, 2025
- BUFFINGTON HARBOR DRIVE, Gary: INRA17999, minor permit, permit term to May 3, 2031
- CALUMET COLLEGE, Hammond: INRA17957, minor permit, permit term to April 15, 2031
- CALUMET ENERGY, Collinsville: ILG870863, minor permit, permit term to October 31, 2021
Identity
| Facility as filed | CLEVELAND-CLIFFS STEEL LLC - INDIANA HARBOR WEST |
|---|---|
| Permittee as filed | CLEVELAND-CLIFFS STEEL LLC - INDIANA HARBOR WEST |
| NPDES ID | IN0000205 |
| Permit status | Administratively continued (past its expiration date and still in force until reissued) |
| Permit type | Individual permit |
| Discharger class | Major discharger |
| Facility type | Not a publicly owned treatment works |
| Issued | July 21, 2017 |
| Expiration date | August 31, 2022 |
| Issuing agency | IDEM |
| Address | East Chicago, IN 46312 |
| Receiving water | INDIANA HARBOR CANAL |
| Receiving water impaired | 303(D) Listed |
| Subwatershed | Calumet River-Frontal Lake Michigan (HUC 040400010603) |
| Other EPA IDs (FRS) | RCRA handler IND005462601; ICIS-AIR source IN0000001808900318 |
Effluent limits and exceedances
- 35Pollutants on file
- 15Under a numeric limit
- 35With a violation of any kind
- 20With an effluent exceedance
An effluent exceedance is a discharge monitoring report value over the permit’s numeric limit (EPA’s violation code E90). A violation of any kind also counts a report not filed. Each row is EPA’s own count for that pollutant.
| Pollutant or measure | Limits | Violations, any kind | Effluent exceedances | Latest exceedance | Largest exceedance, as filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc, total [as Zn] | 0 | 85 | 45 | November 30, 2008 | 405% over the limit |
| Solids, total suspended | 32 | 155 | 29 | June 30, 2015 | 916% over the limit |
| Oil & Grease | 0 | 162 | 24 | November 30, 2011 | 572% over the limit |
| Oil and grease, hexane extr method | 24 | 27 | 23 | March 31, 2016 | 527% over the limit |
| Cyanide, total [as CN] | 4 | 469 | 15 | May 31, 2009 | 2,147% over the limit |
| NOEL Static Renewal 7Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia | 0 | 19 | 12 | January 31, 2011 | 99,999% over the limit |
| Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N] | 34 | 85 | 11 | February 28, 2019 | 58% over the limit |
| Chromium, total [as Cr] | 0 | 21 | 9 | February 29, 2004 | 405% over the limit |
| Phenolics, total recoverable | 34 | 62 | 7 | August 31, 2013 | 651% over the limit |
| pH | 10 | 80 | 6 | October 31, 1994 | |
| Lead, total [as Pb] | 0 | 46 | 6 | April 30, 2008 | 36% over the limit |
| Cadmium, total recoverable | 0 | 29 | 5 | September 30, 1998 | 533% over the limit |
| Zinc, total recoverable | 28 | 8 | 4 | July 31, 2022 | 740% over the limit |
| Chlorine, total residual | 32 | 23 | 3 | July 31, 2023 | 67% over the limit |
| Toxicity [chronic], Ceriodaphnia dubia | 6 | 14 | 3 | May 31, 2012 | 119% over the limit |
| Mercury, total recoverable | 12 | 3 | 3 | June 30, 2016 | 35% over the limit |
| Naphthalene | 0 | 3 | 3 | April 30, 2014 | 2,261% over the limit |
| LC50 Static Renewal 48Hr Acute Ceriodaphnia dubia | 0 | 8 | 1 | November 30, 1990 | 90% over the limit |
| Noel Statre 7Day Chronic Pimephales | 0 | 8 | 1 | November 30, 1990 | 50% over the limit |
| Cyanide, total recoverable | 0 | 1 | 1 | November 30, 2015 | 27% over the limit |
| Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant | 16 | 74 | 0 | ||
| Iron, total recoverable | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
| Sulfate, total [as SO4] | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| Chloride [as Cl] | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| Fluoride, total [as F] | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| Tin, total recoverable | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Toxicity [acute], Ceriodaphnia dubia | 6 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Lead, total recoverable | 28 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Toxicity [acute], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow] | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Toxicity [chronic], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow] | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| LC50 Static Renewal 96Hr Acute Ceriodaphnia dubia | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Temperature, water deg. fahrenheit | 16 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Flow rate | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Flow, total | 5 | 1 | 0 | ||
| LC50 Static Renewal 96Hr Acute Pimephales promelas | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Inspections, violations and enforcement
- 2Single-event violations
| Date | What EPA recorded | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | Permit Violations - Discharge Without a Valid Permit | ST6 |
| May 21, 2026 | Monitoring Violations - Frequency of Sampling Violation | ST6 |
Inspections
| Date | What EPA recorded | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Reconnaissance without Sampling | S |
| May 21, 2026 | Evaluation | S |
| May 21, 2026 | Evaluation | S |
| February 4, 2026 | Reconnaissance without Sampling | S |
Formal enforcement and penalties
0 formal actions, 0 of them with a penalty assessed. Federal and state penalties are separate figures from separate authorities and are shown as each was filed, never added together.
Informal enforcement
| Date | What EPA recorded | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | Notice of Noncompliance Issued | State |
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Figures from EPA’s ICIS-NPDES download, loaded September 15, 2026.