FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * HALE ROGER W   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ASHLAND INC. [ASH] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 218 MOCKINGBIRD GARDENS DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/15/2012 (Street) LOUISVILLE, KY 40207 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Restricted Stock               1,079 (1) D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Restricted Stock Units

(2)

03/15/2012

J(3)

61

(4)

(4)

Common Stock

61

$ 63.2

22,318

D

Common Stock Units

$ 0 (5)

03/15/2012

J(6)

27

(7)

(7)

Common Stock

27

$ 63.2

9,928

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HALE ROGER W 218 MOCKINGBIRD GARDENS DRIVE LOUISVILLE, KY 40207	X

Signatures

/s/ David A. Rines, Attorney-in-Fact		03/19/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Represents shares of Restricted Common Stock acquired pursuant to Ashland's stock incentive plans as approved by the shareholders and exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3. 79 of these shares are held in the dividend reinvestment plan administered by Ashland's transfer agent.
(2)	Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a right to receive one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock.
(3)	Restricted Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan") as of 3-15-12 and exempt from Rule 16b-3. (One (1) Restricted Stock Unit in the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors is the equivalent of one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock.)
(4)	Subject to any deferral election on timing of distribution by the reporting person under the Plan, the reporting person may, prior to vesting, elect to receive the Restricted Stock Units in Common Stock or cash upon separation from service as a director.
(5)	1-for-1
(6)	Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan") as of 3-15-2012 and exempt under Rule 16b-3. (One (1) Common Stock Unit in the Plan is the equivalent of one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock.)
(7)	Subject to any deferral election on timing of distribution by the reporting person under the Plan, the Common Stock Units are payable in Common Stock upon the reporting person's separation from service as a director.

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