Gov. Eric Holcomb extends East Chicago emergency status

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed an executive order Friday extending emergency status for the East Chicago Superfund Site, identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 as one of the worst-contaminated sites in the country.

The city's disaster emergency status has been extended for another 30 days, allowing the state to continue to work with local and federal agencies as residents at the West Calumet Housing Complex are relocated.

The housing complex's more than 1,000 residents were informed last summer they would be relocated before the buildings would be shut down and demolished.

Then-Gov. Mike Pence rejected the city's request for emergency declaration last December, claiming federal and state agencies were addressing the situation.

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/03/10/gov-eric-holcomb-extends-east-chicago-emergency-status/99037364/