Environmental Impacts on Soils

(A TOSC Fact sheet)

Soils Contamination at the Ashland Lakefront/NSP Site

Two classes of contaminants are of greatest concern in the on-site soils. They are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Benzene, a constituent of gasoline, is a VOC. Two common PAHs at the site are naphthalene (a light PAH) and benzo(a)pyrene (a heavy PAH). Metals contamination, mainly arsenic and lead, was also identified.

Soil borings have been drilled on and around the NSP property and in Kreher Park. (See Conceptual Geological Cross Section) Borings were collected and sent to a lab to be analyzed.

An area at the bottom of the filled ravine in Kreher Park, known as the "seep," has water mixed with VOCs, PAHs, and free product. The seep area has been fenced off and warning signs posted.

Some borings were below detectable levels of contaminants. Some borings on NSP property had levels of contaminants above the Residual Contamination Levels (RCL) for industrial land use guidelines. In Kreher Park some borings had levels of contaminants above the RCL for non-industrial land use guidelines

This chart shows contaminant levels in some of the soil borings taken.
NSP Property
Boring	Contaminant	Amount	RCL (Industrial Land Use)
B-23 2-4 ft	Benzene	4800 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Toluene	8800 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Napthalene	120000 ( m gkg)	110000 ( m g/kg)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	8700 ( m g/kg)	390 ( m g/kg)
	Arsenic	< 430 (mg/kg)	1.6 (mg/kg)
	Lead	30.7 (mg/kg)	500 (mg/kg)
B-23 12-14 ft	Benzene	73 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Toluene	78 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Napthalene	230 ( m g/kg)	110000 ( m g/kg)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	60 ( m g/kg)	390 ( m g/kg)
	Arsenic	13.3 (mg/kg)	1.6 (mg/kg)
	Lead	12.8 (mg/kg)	500 (mg/kg)
B-25 4.5-6.5 ft	Benzene	200000 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Toluene	240000 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Napthalene	1600000 ( m g/kg)	110000 ( m g/kg)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	50000 ( m g/kg)	390 ( m g/kg)
	Arsenic	10.1 (mg/kg)	1.6 (mg/kg)
	Lead	149 (mg/kg)	500 (mg/kg)
B-25 12-14 ft	Benzene	14000 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Toluene	190000 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Napthalene	440000 ( m g/kg)	110000 ( m g/kg)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	230 ( m g/kg)	390 ( m g/kg)
	Arsenic	8.67 (mg/kg)	1.6 (mg/kg)
	Lead	7.66 (mg/kg)	500 (mg/kg)
Kreher Park
	Contaminant	Amount	RCL (Non-Industrial Land Use)
	Benzene	8300 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Toluene	16300 ( m g/kg)	NA
	Napthalene	470000 ( m gkg)	110000 ( m g/kg)
	Arsenic	3.3 (mg/kg)	1.6 (mg/kg)
	Lead	52 (mg/kg)	500 (mg/kg)

The Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center, Michigan State University.
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