EPA identifies parties responsible for Ashland cleanup
Environmental Issues - May 6, 2011
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JS Online reports that the US Environmental Protection Agency has identified four parties, including Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, as being responsible for cleaning up pollution on Ashland’s waterfront in northern Wisconsin. The project could cost up to $98 million, the EPA says.
The EPA said that Xcel, Canadian National Railroad, the Soo Line Railroad and the City of Ashland are responsible for the work. EPA project manager Scott Hansen says the city and three companies have 120 days to decide how to split up the cost.
The site is a former manufactured gas plant and contains high concentrations of groups of chemicals called polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
In October, the EPA selected a cleanup plan through a combination of sediment and soil excavation, dredging and certain techniques to manage contaminated groundwater.
Hansen said work would not start until next year.