Fact Sheet

A History of the Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Site
 

Introduction

The Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Site is made up of several properties within the city of Ashland, Wisconsin, and about 10 acres of sediment and surface waters in Chequamegon Bay.

The properties comprising the site include, from south to north, the Northern States Power Company facility (NSP), Wisconsin Central Limited railroad corridor (WCL), Kreher Park – including the city of Ashland’s old wastewater treatment plant – and the contaminated sediments and surface waters of Chequamegon Bay.

The site’s boundaries include U.S. Highway 2 to the south, Prentice Avenue to the east, Ellis Avenue to the west, and Chequamegon Bay to the north.

Soils, groundwater, sediments and surface waters in this area are contaminated with wastes typical of manufactured gas plants, including poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metals.

Tars and oils exist as free product in the soils, groundwater and sediments in portions of the site. "Free Product" refers to contamination that is present in the environment as a separate, floating or sinking material that does not readily mix with or dissolve in water.

Site History

Prior to about 1880, Chequamegon Bay extended south near the location of the current WCL railroad corridor. Significant industrial activities began about that time. The city-owned parcel, now known as Kreher Park, was created in the late 1800s and early 1900s by the placement of various fill materials into Chequamegon Bay.

In the eastern portion of the former bay, the fill material consisted of mainly sawdust and wood waste from a series of sawmills that operated on the site from the early 1880s until about 1932.

The uncontrolled filling of the rest of this area occurred during and after the operation of the sawmills, with the western portion of the former bay filled in with primarily demolition waste material.

From the 1880s through 1947, a manufactured gas plant operated on the property now owned by NSP. A ravine ran through the property, emptying out near the former shoreline to the north. Historical maps show that the ravine was open at the start-up of gas production in the late 1800s, and was filled by the early 1900s. Investigations have shown that the fill material includes cinders ash, boiler slag, demolition debris and soil.

Groundwater within the filled ravine is contaminated with PAHs, VOCs and significant free product known as "dense non-aqueous phase liquid" (DNAPL). The groundwater is moving from the south to the north. This DNAPL consists of oil, tar and other wastes typically produced by manufactured gas plants.

Near the point where the ravine previously emptied into the bay exists a seep area where water, oils, and tars discharge to the surface. This area is fenced to prevent access.

Kreher Park is primarily owned by the City of Ashland and currently used as a park and recreation area. In this area the underlying fill material and groundwater are impacted by the same contaminants as the filled ravine area, including free product.

The contaminated sediments within Chequamegon Bay are located directly off shore and bounded to the east and west by historic docks that act as breakwaters in this area.

Currently the dock structure to the west has been developed into a marina and to the east, a boat landing operated by the city.

Sediments in this area contain VOC, PAH and free product contamination consistent with the rest of the site. Contamination exists mainly within the sediments; however, if the sediments are agitated, oils and tars are released to the water column, causing a "slick" to form on the water surface.

There is also oil and tar free product in the Copper Falls aquifer. This aquifer is located beneath much of the site and is made up of mainly sand and gravel. The free product has been measured at a depth of up to 70 feet. There is also a plume of contamination migrating with the groundwater flow to the north toward Chequamegon Bay.

Environmental Investigations and State, Federal Involvement

Local officials notified the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of contamination found in excavations around the wastewater treatment plant in the late 1980s. Subsequent investigations carried out by the city determined widespread VOC and PAH contamination on their property.

In 1993, DNR staff began investigating the contamination found on the city property using money from the Environmental Fund. These investigations concluded that at least some of the contamination detected on city property was residuals from the historic manufactured gas plant that operated on the adjacent property.

In 1995, NSP was notified as a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) for that contamination. From 1995 until now, NSP and DNR have carried out investigations of the site, and through these investigations, the degree and extent of soil, groundwater and sediment contamination have largely been determined.

A Human Health Risk Assessment has been completed for the site and an Ecological Risk Assessment for the sediments.

In 1999, a citizen’s petition requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assess the site and determine if it should be listed on the Federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

At EPA’s request, DNR prepared a preliminary assessment, which showed enough evidence for EPA officials to take the next step and do a more rigorous evaluation using Superfund’s Hazard Ranking System (HRS).

Next Steps

Officials from EPA may make a decision on whether to list the Ashland/NSP Lakefront Site by the spring of 2000. In the meantime, the Sigurd Olson Institute and the League of Women Voters are holding public education meetings and community interviews to help inform the public about the community and environmental impacts of the site.

The organizations are working with local officials, the DNR and NSP to keep the public involved and informed about the investigation and clean-up options for the Ashland/NSP Lakefront Site.

Contacts

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute:

Kenneth Bro, Executive Director, 715-682-1223
kbro@northland.edu

Ashland County Health Department:

Judy Hitchcock, 715-682-7028
jhitchco@dockernet.com

DNR, Northern Region:

Jamie Dunn, Project Manager, 715-635-4049
dunnj@dnr.state.wi.us

Department of Health and Family Services:

Henry Nehls-Lowe, Division of Health,
608-266-3479, nehlshl@dhfs.state.wi.us

For More Information

To see official documents and records for this site, please visit the following locations:

Vaughn Public Library

502 W. Main St.
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-7060

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute

Northland College
1411 Ellis Avenue
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-1223