99-26178. Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 54643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26178]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act, 
Oil Pollution Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act

    Notice is hereby given that on September 27, 1999, a proposed 
Consent Decree in United States v. Pearl Shipping Company, et al., 
Civil Action No. 994359SBA was lodged with the United States District 
Court for the Northern District of California.
    In this action, the United States sought Civil penalties, response 
costs, and natural resource damages for discharges of oil from the 
tanker vessel M/T Command into the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific 
Ocean. The M/T Command is owned by defendant Pearl Shipping Company and 
operated by defendant Anax International Agencies, Inc. The State of 
Calfironia is also a co-plaintiff with the United States and has 
brought claims for civil penalties, natural resource damages, response 
costs, and other damages. The Consent Decree resolves the claims of the 
United States and the State of California. Under the Decree, the 
defendants will pay $4.05 million in natural resource damages, 
including damage assessment costs, under the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 
1321, the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. 2702, 2706, and National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1443; $196,200 in civil penalties for 
violations of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1437; 
$1,181,800 in civil penalties, response costs, and other damages to the 
State of California; and $90,000 to the County of San Mateo to settle 
claims of the County. The Consent Decree also includes a fleet-wide 
Corporate Compliance Program to be implemented by the defendants to 
prevent future spills.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the Consent 
Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General 
of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of 
Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to Untied States v. 
Pearl Shipping Company, et al., D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-06455.
    The Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the United 
States Attorney, Northern District of California, 450 Golden Gate 
Avenue, 11th Floor, San Francisco, California 94102, [phone], 
and at the Consent Decree Library, 1425 New York Avenue, 13th Floor, 
Washington, DC 20005, [phone]. A copy of the Consent Decree may 
also be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library, P.O. Box 
7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611. In requesting a copy, please enclose a 
check in the amount of $7.00 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) 
payable to the Consent Decree Library.
Walker B. Smith,
Deputy Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 99-26178 Filed 10-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M