98-32030. Notice of Lodging of Two Consent Decrees Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 66582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32030]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Two Consent Decrees Pursuant to the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

    Notice is hereby given that two proposed consent decrees in United 
States, et al. v. Montrose Chemical Corporation of California, et al., 
No. CV 90-3122-AAH (C.D. Cal), were lodged on November 16, 1998 with 
the United States District Court for the Central District of 
California. The consent decrees resolve claims under Section 107 of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
of 1980, 42 U.S.C. 9607, as amended, brought against defendant CBS 
Corporation (formerly Westinghouse Electric Corporation) and against 
Potlatch Corporation and Simpson Paper Company, for natural resource 
damages associated with contamination of sediments on the Palos Verdes 
shelf in the vicinity of Los Angeles, California, and for response 
costs incurred and to be incurred by the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency in connection with responding to the release and 
threatened release of hazardous substances at the Montrose Chemical 
National Priorities List Site in Torrance, CA, and at the 
aforementioned Palos Verdes shelf.
    One proposed consent decree provides that CBS will pay $9.5 million 
to resolve its liability to the United States and State of California 
for natural resource damages and response costs as described above. The 
second proposed consent decree provides that Potlatch and Simpson will 
pay $12 million to resolve their liability to the United States and 
State of California for natural resource damages and response costs as 
described above. Both proposed consent decrees include a covenant not 
to sue by the United States under Sections 106 and 107 of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
of 1980, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607, and under Section 7003 of the 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (``RCRA''), 42 U.S.C. 6973.
    The Department of Justice will receive, for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication, comments relating to the 
proposed consent decrees. Commenters may request an opportunity for a 
public meeting in the affected area, in accordance with Section 7003(d) 
of RCRA. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General 
for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of 
Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to United States, et 
al. v. Montrose Chemical Corporation of California, et al., No. CV 90-
3122-AAH (C.D. Cal), DOJ Ref. #90-11-3-159 and DOJ Ref. #90-11-3-511.
    The proposed consent decrees may be examined at the office of the 
United States Attorney, Central District of California, Federal 
Building, 300 North Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; the 
Region IX Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, 75 Hawthorne 
Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; and at the Consent Decree Library, 
1120 G Street, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20005, [phone]. A 
copy of either proposed consent decree may be obtained in person or by 
mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW, 3rd Floor, 
Washington, DC 20005. In requesting copies please refer to the 
referenced case and enclose a check in the amount of $67.00 (25 cents 
per page reproduction costs), payable to the Consent Decree Library.
Joel Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 98-32030 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
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