98-27853. Notice of Lodging of Settlement Agreement Under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Emergency Planning and Right To Know Act, and Toxic Substance Control Act

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 55639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27853]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Settlement Agreement Under the Clean Air 
Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Emergency 
Planning and Right To Know Act, and Toxic Substance Control Act

    Notice is hereby given that the United States, on behalf of the 
United States Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') lodged a 
proposed Consent Decree in the United States District Court for the 
Eastern District of Kentucky, in United States v. Ashland, Inc., Civil 
Action No. 98-157, on October 1, 1998. This Consent Decree resolves the 
claims of the United States against Ashland, pursuant to the Clean Air 
Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1431, et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 
Secs. 1251, et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 
Secs. 6901, et seq., the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know 
Act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 11011, et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 
15 U.S.C. Sec. 2601, et seq., state permits, related state laws, and 
state and federal regulations. The consent decree concerns Ashland's 
operation of petroleum refineries in Canton, Ohio, Catlettsburg, 
Kentucky, and St. Paul Park, Minnesota.
    The Consent Decree provides that Ashland will pay $5,864,000 in 
cash penalties and will spend approximately $15 million implementing 
four Supplemental Environmental Projects (``SEPs''). In addition, 
Ashland has agreed to undertake injunctive work at its three 
facilities. The cost of this work totals approximately $12 million. The 
consent decree further provides for the payment of interest from the 
date of lodging the decree and stipulated penalties should Ashland fail 
to comply with the decree including failure to complete any of the 
injunctive work or SEPs.
    The Department of Justice will receive, for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication, comments relating to the 
proposed Settlement Agreement. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources 
Division, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, and should 
refer to United States v. Ashland, Inc. DOJ #90-7-1-906.
    The proposed Settlement Agreement may be examined at the following 
offices: United States Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky, 110 West 
Vine Street, Suite 400, Lexington, KY 40596-3077, United States 
Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, 1800 Bank One Center, 600 
Superior Ave., E., Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2600; United States Attorney 
for the District of Minnesota, 300 South 4th St., Suite 600, 
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415; and at the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G 
Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005, [phone]. A copy 
of the proposed Settlement Agreement may be obtained in person or by 
mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, 
Washington, D.C. 20005. In requesting a copy please refer to the 
reference given above and enclose a check in the amount of $9.75 (25 
cents per page reproduction costs), payable to the Consent Decree 
Library.
Bruce S. Gelber,
Deputy Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 98-27853 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M