In the late 1990's PAREPG members were involved in discussions with Penrice Soda Products, the EPA and other groups concerning the industrial waste Penrice was dumping into the Port River. In the course of this discussion it became apparent that the Penrice waste was too contaminated to be used as clean fill in conventional earthworks.
Indeed the only option under the contaminated soil guidelines then in place was to dispose of the waste in a licensed landfill. At the time the company produced an analysis of the waste which is shown below.
| Element | Clean Fill maximum | Analysis | Pcent over clean fill maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 20ppm | 32-55ppm | 160-175% |
| Boron | 75ppm | 170-252ppm | 233-336% |
| Manganese | 500ppm | 579-1080ppm | 116-216% |
The company subsequently changed the analysis techniques for Arsenic, such that the levels fell below the guidelines, although no rationale for the change of technique was provided at the time.