Ashland Lakefront Project

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the Ashland lakefront was one of the nation’s foremost industrial ports. Coal, iron ore and lumber products were shipped through this port for local use and for sale to markets to the south and east. From 1885-1947, a predecessor company to Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin (“NSP-Wisconsin,” d/b/a Xcel Energy) operated a manufactured gas plant (MGP) that produced and distributed gas to Ashland area residents.

In 1989, the City of Ashland explored plans to expand the wastewater treatment plant that was located along the lakefront. During this planning, contamination was found in the nearby area. The City notified the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) of the contamination and chose to relocate the wastewater treatment plant to a site on the east side of the City. Throughout the 1990’s, this contamination was investigated by the WDNR and NSP-Wisconsin.

In 1995, the WDNR named NSP-Wisconsin as a party potentially responsible for the contamination. In 1997, following further investigations, the WDNR also named Wisconsin Central Limited Railroad (now Canadian National Railroad) and the City of Ashland as potentially responsible parties.

In 1999, a citizen’s petition asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate the site for potential inclusion on the National Priorities List (also known as the Superfund List) of sites requiring cleanup. In September 2002, the EPA formally included this site on the National Priorities List.