Indiana’s industrial geography — the Lake Michigan steel corridor in the northwest, coal ash impoundments along the Ohio River and Lake Michigan shoreline, and flat agricultural terrain across the center and south of the state — defines the dominant geomembrane liner project types in the state. Indiana has one of the largest coal ash inventories in the Midwest, northwest Indiana’s steel mills are among the heaviest secondary containment users in the region, and the state’s flat topography creates both agricultural drainage pond liner demand and challenging installation conditions for large-format liner panels. International Cover Systems (ICS) brings the technical field experience and CQA documentation practices to Indiana project sites that IDEM-compliant coal ash, industrial, and agricultural liner projects require, with regional support from ICS’s Midwest office in Traverse City, Michigan.
Coal Ash Impoundment Closure Along Indiana’s Industrial Shorelines
Indiana’s coal ash inventory includes impoundments at AES Indiana’s Harding Street and Petersburg plants, NIPSCO’s Schahfer and Michigan City stations (both on Lake Michigan), and Duke Energy’s Gibson and Edwardsport facilities — most of which are subject to EPA CCR Rule closure requirements. The NIPSCO facilities along Lake Michigan are particularly significant given their proximity to one of the Great Lakes — a regulatory context that has accelerated Indiana’s coal ash closure timelines. Cap-in-place closures require composite cover systems with HDPE geomembrane barrier layers. ICS installs these closure systems with the CQA documentation package — material certifications, panel placement records, destructive coupon test results, non-destructive weld test results — required under CCR Rule provisions and IDEM solid waste permit conditions. Coal ash impoundment closure liner systems are a core ICS capability.
Northwest Indiana Steel Corridor and Agricultural Liner Systems
The Gary-East Chicago-Burns Harbor industrial corridor contains one of the highest concentrations of steel production capacity in North America. ArcelorMittal, US Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs, and their supplier networks require secondary containment liner systems for acid and chemical storage, process wastewater containment, and stormwater management infrastructure — all subject to IDEM NPDES permit conditions and EPA SPCC regulations. The aggressive chemical profiles at steel facilities — including sulfuric acid for pickling, process oils, and coke byproduct liquors — require chemically resistant liner materials. HDPE, XR-5, and other chemically resistant materials are selected based on the specific substances requiring containment.
Indiana’s agricultural interior — among the most productive corn and soybean landscapes in the Midwest — generates drainage pond and tile outlet basin liner demand across central and southern Indiana. PFAS contamination at Camp Atterbury in Johnson County and Grissom Air Reserve Base in Miami County has generated PFAS remediation containment activity at these military installations.
Geomembrane Liner Services in Indiana
- HDPE, LLDPE, PVC, XR-5, RPP, and Dura-Skrim geomembrane liner supply and installation
- Coal ash impoundment closure cap systems — EPA CCR Rule and IDEM compliant
- Northwest Indiana steel corridor secondary containment — SPCC and IDEM NPDES compliant
- PFAS remediation containment at military installations — CQA documented
- Agricultural drainage pond and reservoir liner systems
- Municipal landfill liner and cap systems — IDEM solid waste compliant
- Industrial wastewater containment and lagoon liner systems
- Hot wedge and extrusion welding with destructive and non-destructive testing
- CQA documentation, ASTM testing, GRI standard compliance
- Custom fabrication and AutoCAD design assistance
- Liner inspection and repair for existing installations
Areas Served in Indiana
ICS serves project sites throughout Indiana including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Bloomington, Muncie, Terre Haute, Lafayette, Kokomo, and industrial, agricultural, and municipal sites across Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Marion, Allen, Vigo, Gibson, Pike, Johnson, and Miami Counties.
Frequently Asked Questions — Indiana Geomembrane Liner Installation
What liner specifications apply to coal ash impoundment closure projects at NIPSCO and other Indiana utilities under EPA CCR Rule?
Indiana coal ash impoundment closures under EPA CCR Rule require geomembrane barrier layers as part of approved composite cover systems. Specifications typically include 60-mil HDPE installed under the facility’s closure plan and CQA plan. NIPSCO’s Lake Michigan shoreline facilities face additional regulatory scrutiny given Great Lakes water quality considerations, which can result in more stringent closure documentation requirements. ICS provides complete CQA documentation packages consistent with CCR Rule provisions and IDEM permit conditions for each closure project.
What liner materials are appropriate for the aggressive chemical environments in Indiana’s steel mills?
Steel mill secondary containment environments can include sulfuric acid (pickle liquor), hydrochloric acid, process oils, ammonia, and coke byproduct liquors — a range of chemical profiles that requires careful liner material selection. HDPE is resistant to many steel process chemicals. For applications involving concentrated acids or specific solvent profiles, XR-5 or other fluoropolymer-reinforced liner materials may be specified. ICS coordinates material selection with the facility’s SPCC Plan engineer and chemical compatibility data for the specific substances requiring containment.
Does ICS provide PFAS remediation containment services at Indiana military installations?
Yes. ICS installs HDPE and LLDPE liner systems for PFAS-impacted containment at military installations including Camp Atterbury and Grissom Air Reserve Base, providing CQA documentation consistent with USACE Engineering Manual quality standards. Federal facility PFAS projects typically operate under remedial action work plans approved by the Army Corps of Engineers or Air Force Civil Engineer Center. ICS coordinates with the prime contractor on project-specific documentation requirements.
How does flat terrain in Indiana’s agricultural interior affect liner installation for drainage pond applications?
Indiana’s flat agricultural landscape typically results in drainage pond and tile outlet basin liner projects with low hydraulic head conditions and relatively unconstrained excavation geometry — favorable installation conditions for efficient large-panel liner deployment. Subgrade preparation focuses on establishing consistent grade and removing protrusions from the pond bottom and side slopes before liner placement. ICS uses panel layout planning that minimizes seam length in the high-stress anchor and slope zones, optimizing installation efficiency for flat-terrain agricultural applications.
Can ICS serve both northwest Indiana industrial projects and central Indiana agricultural projects efficiently from its Midwest office?
ICS’s Traverse City, Michigan regional office provides regional proximity for Michigan and northern Indiana projects. Northwest Indiana steel corridor projects are accessible within approximately two hours from Traverse City. For central and southern Indiana projects — agricultural ponds, coal ash closures at Gibson and Edwardsport, and Indianapolis area industrial projects — ICS coordinates mobilization from both the Traverse City office and its Maryland headquarters depending on project scheduling. Contact ICS at 667-290-4153 to discuss logistics for your specific Indiana project location.