[1] The entrance to the outer harbor lies near Indiana Shoals, which extend up to 5 miles offshore, where water depths are as shallow as 15 feet.

The shortline railway connecting this area to other rail lines is still known as the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad.

The harbor allows transport of iron ore (taconite pellets) and limestone to the steel mills from the mines and quarries of the upper Midwest through the Great Lakes.

[3] Ninety percent of the water which passes through the Canal originates as industrial outflow or stormwater overflow.

Historic contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals has put the canal under the EPA's Grand Calumet River Area of Concern (AoC)—the only AoC to be listed impaired in all 14 beneficial use categories.

[4] Lacking any alternative disposal location, the harbor and canal have accumulated a backlog of approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards (760,000 m3) of sediment, which hinders deep draft commercial navigation.

[7] Despite some local environmental justice concerns over the close proximity of the CDF to two low-income public schools,[8] construction of the facility began in spring 2002.