Contaminated sediments dredged from Indiana harbor are to be placed in a confined disposal facility (CDF) that is being constructed in East Chicago, Illinois. The harbor sediments will be pumped as a slurry to the CDF and dewatered. The disposal cells in the CDF are enclosed by dikes and will encompass about 90 acres. Sediment additions to each cell will occur on alternate years, but continue for a number of years.

The emission permit for the CDF requires that dust emissions be held to a low level. The objectives of this study were to determine: a) the seasonal wind erodibility of the dredged sediments, b) the potential dust emissions from the CDF, and c) the effect of various control measures on the dust emissions.

Dredged sediment samples were placed in two 1.2 X 1.8 m outdoor bins at Manhattan, Kansas, and sediment wind erodibility factors periodically measured. During the first winter and spring, sediment erodibility was depressed by oil and grease contamination in the sediments. But gradually, erodibility increased toward that of the soil texture of the sediment which is a sandy loam .

The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) model was used to estimate dust emissions, because it separates suspended dust and saltation/creep emissions on eroding source areas. Measured values for sediment wind erodibility were used in the model to simulate potential dust emissions. Results showed that some level of control measures would likely be needed to ensure that emission tolerances were not exceeded. Various control measures including vegetation, barriers, and soil stabilizers were then simulated to determine their levels of control on dust emissions.