The proposed Consent Decree, concerning the Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Superfund Site ( Site ) in Ashland, Wisconsin, is to implement the Remedial Design and Remedial Action ( RD/RA ) to address the release of hazardous substances for certain areas of the Site. Soil, sediment, and groundwater at the Site are contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs ) and volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ).
The Northern States Power Company ( NSP ) is liable under Section 107(a) of CERCLA as the successor to the former owner and operator of a manufactured gas plant that released the hazardous substances at the Site, and as the current owner of a portion of the Site where the manufactured gas plant was located. In addition to the former gas plant that sits on top of a bluff, the Site consists of (i) a portion of Kreher Park, a City-owned property fronting Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior that includes a former municipal waste water treatment plant; (ii) an inlet of Chequamegon Bay that is part of Lake Superior; (iii) a railroad right-of-way owned by the Wisconsin Central Ltd., and formerly owned by the Soo Line Railroad; and (iv) Our Lady of the Lake Church/School, as well as private residences. EPA is the lead agency for this Site and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ( WDNR ) is the support agency. This Site is listed on the National Priorities List.
Under the proposed Consent Decree, NSP would perform the RD/RA pursuant to the ROD. The work requ