Clean Water Act discharge permit · NPDES IN0000281
UNITED STATES STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS FACILITY, Gary, IN: NPDES IN0000281 discharge permit, effluent exceedances, inspections, penalties
- Administratively continuedPermit status
- MajorDischarger class
- 42Pollutants under a numeric limit
- 25Pollutants with an effluent exceedance
- 4Inspections on file
- 0Formal enforcement actions
UNITED STATES STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS FACILITY, held by U.S. STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS, holds NPDES permit IN0000281, which discharges to Grand Calumet R To Lake Michigan. EPA’s file records it issued October 2, 2015 and expiring October 31, 2020.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS FACILITY, Gary, Indiana: Individual permit IN0000281, held by U.S. STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS; Administratively continued (past its expiration date and still in force until reissued); issued October 2, 2015, term to October 31, 2020, by IDEM; discharges to GRAND CALUMET R TO LAKE MICHIGAN.
- pH: 51 limits, 112 violations of any kind, 102 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2009.
- Chlorine, total residual: 76 limits, 37 violations of any kind, 25 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 1996, largest 360% over the limit.
- Solids, total suspended: 68 limits, 31 violations of any kind, 13 effluent exceedances, latest November 30, 2024, largest 982% over the limit.
- Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N]: 52 limits, 24 violations of any kind, 12 effluent exceedances, latest March 31, 2003, largest 325% over the limit.
- Mercury, total recoverable: 38 limits, 16 violations of any kind, 12 effluent exceedances, latest October 31, 2020, largest 1,150% over the limit.
- Temperature, water deg. fahrenheit: 44 limits, 14 violations of any kind, 11 effluent exceedances, latest October 31, 2025, largest 5% over the limit.
- BOD, carbonaceous [5 day, 20 C]: 40 limits, 101 violations of any kind, 7 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2003, largest 96% over the limit.
- Cyanide, weak acid, dissociable: 38 limits, 26 violations of any kind, 7 effluent exceedances, latest October 31, 2014, largest 266% over the limit.
- Benzo[a]pyrene: 32 limits, 7 violations of any kind, 7 effluent exceedances, latest June 30, 2007, largest 573% over the limit.
- Selenium, total recoverable: 12 limits, 7 violations of any kind, 7 effluent exceedances, latest November 30, 2018, largest 121% over the limit.
- Oil & Grease: 0 limits, 7 violations of any kind, 7 effluent exceedances, latest October 31, 2000, largest 123% over the limit.
- Phenolics, total recoverable: 33 limits, 14 violations of any kind, 6 effluent exceedances, latest March 31, 2004, largest 161% over the limit.
- Toxicity [chronic], Ceriodaphnia dubia: 8 limits, 6 violations of any kind, 6 effluent exceedances, latest April 30, 2024, largest 1,222% over the limit.
- Zinc, total recoverable: 87 limits, 20 violations of any kind, 5 effluent exceedances, latest January 31, 2026, largest 23,048% over the limit.
- Zinc, total [as Zn]: 0 limits, 5 violations of any kind, 5 effluent exceedances, latest October 31, 2006, largest 146% over the limit.
- Oil and grease, hexane extr method: 84 limits, 16 violations of any kind, 3 effluent exceedances, latest May 31, 2020, largest 60% over the limit.
- Chromium, total recoverable: 24 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 3 effluent exceedances, latest March 31, 2005, largest 206% over the limit.
- Copper, total recoverable: 32 limits, 9 violations of any kind, 2 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2013, largest 27% over the limit.
- Chromium, hexavalent dissolved [as Cr]: 20 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 2 effluent exceedances, latest May 31, 2014, largest 728% over the limit.
- Lead, total [as Pb]: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 2 effluent exceedances, latest August 31, 1998, largest 6,754% over the limit.
- Toxicity [chronic], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow]: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 2 effluent exceedances, latest August 31, 2015, largest 2,678% over the limit.
- Thermal Discharge: 3 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest November 30, 2019, largest 2% over the limit.
- Naphthalene: 14 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest August 31, 1998, largest 3% over the limit.
- Toxicity [acute], Ceriodaphnia dubia: 8 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest August 31, 2015, largest 99,999% over the limit.
- Toxicity [acute], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow]: 0 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest August 31, 2015, largest 9,900% over the limit.
- Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant: 62 limits, 27 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Lead, total recoverable: 73 limits, 23 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Flow rate: 0 limits, 14 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Nickel, total recoverable: 40 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Cadmium, total recoverable: 40 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Cyanide, total [as CN]: 36 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Flow, total: 26 limits, 6 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Nitrogen, Kjeldahl, total [as N]: 16 limits, 5 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Nitrite + Nitrate total [as N]: 16 limits, 5 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Phosphorus, total [as P]: 16 limits, 5 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Chemical Oxygen Demand [COD]: 16 limits, 5 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Silver total recoverable: 20 limits, 4 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Tetrachloroethylene: 10 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Surface area, square feet: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Depth to water level ft below landsurface: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Iron, total recoverable: 3 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Manganese, total recoverable: 2 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Oxygen, dissolved [DO]: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Velocity of intake: 0 limits, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Fluoride, total [as F]: 16 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Benzene: 12 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Total toxic organics [TTO] [40 CFR433]: 5 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Chloride [as Cl]: 4 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Sulfate, total [as SO4]: 4 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Temperature, length of excursion: 3 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Chromium, total [as Cr]: 1 limit, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- September 14, 2026: Evaluation (S).
- September 14, 2026: Evaluation (S).
- April 21, 2026: Reconnaissance without Sampling (S).
- January 12, 2026: Reconnaissance without Sampling (S).
UNITED STATES STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS FACILITY among its neighbors
EPA’s permit file holds 107 discharge permits in the Calumet River-Frontal Lake Michigan subwatershed (HUC 040400010603), IN0000281 among them. Its county holds 204, 18 of them major permits; IN0000281 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 | UNITED STATES STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS FACILITY |
|---|---|
| Permittee as filed | U.S. STEEL CORP - GARY WORKS |
| NPDES ID | IN0000281 |
| 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 | October 2, 2015 |
| Expiration date | October 31, 2020 |
| Issuing agency | IDEM |
| Address | Gary, IN 46402 |
| Receiving water | GRAND CALUMET R TO LAKE MICHIGAN |
| Receiving water impaired | 303(D) Listed |
| Subwatershed | Calumet River-Frontal Lake Michigan (HUC 040400010603) |
| SIC | 3312 – Blast Furnaces And Steel Mills |
| Other EPA IDs (FRS) | RCRA handler IND985097716; ICIS-AIR source IN0000001808900121 |
Effluent limits and exceedances
- 51Pollutants on file
- 42Under a numeric limit
- 44With a violation of any kind
- 25With 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 51 | 112 | 102 | July 31, 2009 | |
| Chlorine, total residual | 76 | 37 | 25 | July 31, 1996 | 360% over the limit |
| Solids, total suspended | 68 | 31 | 13 | November 30, 2024 | 982% over the limit |
| Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N] | 52 | 24 | 12 | March 31, 2003 | 325% over the limit |
| Mercury, total recoverable | 38 | 16 | 12 | October 31, 2020 | 1,150% over the limit |
| Temperature, water deg. fahrenheit | 44 | 14 | 11 | October 31, 2025 | 5% over the limit |
| BOD, carbonaceous [5 day, 20 C] | 40 | 101 | 7 | July 31, 2003 | 96% over the limit |
| Cyanide, weak acid, dissociable | 38 | 26 | 7 | October 31, 2014 | 266% over the limit |
| Benzo[a]pyrene | 32 | 7 | 7 | June 30, 2007 | 573% over the limit |
| Selenium, total recoverable | 12 | 7 | 7 | November 30, 2018 | 121% over the limit |
| Oil & Grease | 0 | 7 | 7 | October 31, 2000 | 123% over the limit |
| Phenolics, total recoverable | 33 | 14 | 6 | March 31, 2004 | 161% over the limit |
| Toxicity [chronic], Ceriodaphnia dubia | 8 | 6 | 6 | April 30, 2024 | 1,222% over the limit |
| Zinc, total recoverable | 87 | 20 | 5 | January 31, 2026 | 23,048% over the limit |
| Zinc, total [as Zn] | 0 | 5 | 5 | October 31, 2006 | 146% over the limit |
| Oil and grease, hexane extr method | 84 | 16 | 3 | May 31, 2020 | 60% over the limit |
| Chromium, total recoverable | 24 | 8 | 3 | March 31, 2005 | 206% over the limit |
| Copper, total recoverable | 32 | 9 | 2 | July 31, 2013 | 27% over the limit |
| Chromium, hexavalent dissolved [as Cr] | 20 | 2 | 2 | May 31, 2014 | 728% over the limit |
| Lead, total [as Pb] | 0 | 2 | 2 | August 31, 1998 | 6,754% over the limit |
| Toxicity [chronic], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow] | 0 | 2 | 2 | August 31, 2015 | 2,678% over the limit |
| Thermal Discharge | 3 | 2 | 1 | November 30, 2019 | 2% over the limit |
| Naphthalene | 14 | 1 | 1 | August 31, 1998 | 3% over the limit |
| Toxicity [acute], Ceriodaphnia dubia | 8 | 1 | 1 | August 31, 2015 | 99,999% over the limit |
| Toxicity [acute], Pimephales promelas [Fathead Minnow] | 0 | 1 | 1 | August 31, 2015 | 9,900% over the limit |
| Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant | 62 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Lead, total recoverable | 73 | 23 | 0 | ||
| Flow rate | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Nickel, total recoverable | 40 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Cadmium, total recoverable | 40 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Cyanide, total [as CN] | 36 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Flow, total | 26 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Nitrogen, Kjeldahl, total [as N] | 16 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Nitrite + Nitrate total [as N] | 16 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Phosphorus, total [as P] | 16 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Chemical Oxygen Demand [COD] | 16 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Silver total recoverable | 20 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Tetrachloroethylene | 10 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Surface area, square feet | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Depth to water level ft below landsurface | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Iron, total recoverable | 3 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Manganese, total recoverable | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Oxygen, dissolved [DO] | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Velocity of intake | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Fluoride, total [as F] | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Benzene | 12 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total toxic organics [TTO] [40 CFR433] | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Chloride [as Cl] | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sulfate, total [as SO4] | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Temperature, length of excursion | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Chromium, total [as Cr] | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Inspections, violations and enforcement
- 0Single-event violations
EPA’s single-event violation file, as loaded, holds no violation for NPDES IN0000281.
Inspections
| Date | What EPA recorded | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2026 | Evaluation | S |
| September 14, 2026 | Evaluation | S |
| April 21, 2026 | Reconnaissance without Sampling | S |
| January 12, 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
EPA’s informal enforcement file holds no action for NPDES IN0000281.
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Figures from EPA’s ICIS-NPDES download, loaded October 14, 2026.