Due to the ongoing COVID 19 emergency, the monthly meetings of the Waukegan Harbor Citizen’s Advisory Group have been canceled until the emergency is lifted.
The Document Repository is located in Lilac Cottage – Bowen Park. Please contact Bryan Escobar, Waukegan Park District – Arts & History Specialist, if you would like to access the repository,
847-360-4749
bescobar@waukeganparks.org
$1 Billion Investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Will Accelerate AOC Cleanup Efforts Across the Great Lakes (read more)
In 1981, prompted by the discovery of high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in harbor sediments, Waukegan Harbor was designated as a Superfund site (see Superfund Process) and independently named as one of 43 Areas of Concern* (AOC) on the Great Lakes by the International Joint Commission, U.S. EPA and IEPA. The harbor was identified as an AOC using protocols developed by the United States and Canada under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1987.
*(What is an AOC and how has the program addressed contamination in the Great Lake basin? View a short video – AOC 101 – created by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)
The Waukegan Harbor Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) was formed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in 1990 to assume a leadership role in developing a remedial action plan (RAP) for the Waukegan Harbor AOC. The harbor at one time had the largest known concentrations of PCBs and PCB-contaminated sediments.
In addition to reducing contamination in the harbor, the CAG also worked with state and local government officials to deal with the open dumping of litter, garbage and tires, and has worked to identify older commercial properties that are candidates for redevelopment. The CAG received a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GRLI) Grant to restore portions of the Glen Flora Ravine and the coastal habitat located south of Illinois Beach State Park to the City of Waukegan public beach.
The membership of the CAG is representative of diverse community interests. CAG meetings provide a public forum for representatives from business, education, government, industry, environment, civic and recreation interests and the local citizenry to present and discuss their needs and concerns related to the decision-making process at the Waukegan Harbor AOC. The CAG has spearheaded the implementation of the RAP. See: Waukegan Harbor Remedial Action Plan Final Stage iii Report 1999.
In late October 1998, the Waukegan Harbor CAG was presented the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) “Success Story” award for their efforts to restore Waukegan Harbor’s beneficial uses. The award says “The SOLEC 98 Steering Committee and the Canadian and the United States Consuls General extend their sincere congratulations to all those who have participated in the Waukegan Harbor environmental activities. Successful efforts such as yours serve to inspire and encourage others to assume responsibility and take an active role in the improvement of the Great Lakes ecosystem.”
In 2013, the final environmental dredge of Waukegan Harbor was completed thanks to the efforts of staff at the US and Illinois EPA, local, state and federal elected officials, representatives from industries located around the harbor and from the efforts of residents who were committed to seeing that the cleanup would meet rigorous environmental standards in order to protect the public.
As of August 2020, the Waukegan AOC just one Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI), Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption, remains in place. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources continues to monitor PCB levels in harbor fish.
The Waukegan Harbor CAG will continue to work with local, state and federal agencies to assure that the remaining contaminated sites located along the Waukegan lakefront are remediated and the remaining BUI is delisted and the AOC be declared an Area of Recovery. The CAG will promote stewardship of the lakefront and work with others to protect this great asset for the people of Waukegan, Lake County and Northeastern Illinois.