95-29680. Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 as Amended  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 62479-62480]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-29680]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    
    Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive 
    Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 as 
    Amended
    
        In accordance with Department of Justice policy, 28 CFR 50.7, 
    notice is hereby given that a proposed consent decree in United States 
    v. Western Publishing Company, Inc., et al., 94-CV-1247 (CGC/DNH), was 
    lodged on November 28, 1995, with the United States District Court for 
    the Northern District of new York. The decree resolves claims of the 
    United States against defendant I.S.A. In New Jersey, Inc. (``I.S.A.'') 
    in the above-referenced action under the Comprehensive Environmental 
    Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA'') for 
    contamination at the Hertel Landfill Superfund Site in the Town of 
    Plattekill, Ulster County, New York (the ``Site''). In the proposed 
    consent decree, the defendant agrees to pay the United States $190,000 
    in settlement of the United States' claims for past response costs 
    incurred by the Environmental Protection Agency at the Site and $30,000 
    in settlement of the United States' claims for civil penalties and 
    damages for I.S.A.'s failure or refusal to comply with a unilateral 
    administrative order issued to it by EPA pursuant to section 106 of 
    CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606. The payments will be made from an escrow 
    account as noted below.
        In 1991, I.S.A. and other entities and individuals were indicted by 
    a grand 
    
    [[Page 62480]]
    jury empaneled in the United States District Court for the Southern 
    District of New York on numerous federal felony charges. According to a 
    subsequent plea agreement, I.S.A. and other entities were required to 
    be sold to unrelated third parties. In 1994, the United States entered 
    into an Agreement and Covenant Not To Sue under CERCLA with Browning-
    Ferris Industries of New York, Inc.; Browning-Ferris Industries of 
    Peterson N.J., Inc.; and Browning-Ferris Industries of South Jersey, 
    Inc. (collectively referred to as ``BFI'') regarding BFI's prospective 
    purchase of the assets of I.S.A. and the other entities. In exchange 
    for this Agreement and covenant Not To Sue, BFI paid $250,000 to the 
    United States, from which $55,000 was paid toward past response costs 
    incurred by EPA at the Hertel Site. Upon the sale of the assets of 
    I.S.A. and the other entities, I.S.A. and the others entities paid 
    $1,000,000 of the sale price into an escrow account to be used to 
    resolve certain liability to the United States pursuant to CERCLA at 
    several sites, including the Hertel Superfund Site, the Warwick 
    Superfund Site in the Town of Warwick, New York, the Ramapo Superfund 
    Site in the Town of Ramapo, New York, and the Kin-Buc Superfund Site in 
    Edison, New Jersey. The balance of the proceeds of BFI's purchase of 
    the assets of I.S.A. and the other entities has been used to satisfy a 
    $5,000,000 criminal fine, $3,500,000 in federal and state tax 
    liability, and $300,000 of liabilities to other creditors.
        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 decree. 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 v. Western Publishing Company, Inc., et al., DOJ Ref. Number 90-
    11-2-767A.
        The proposed consent decree may be examined at the Office of the 
    United States Attorney, United States Courthouse, 445 Broadway, Albany, 
    NY 12207; the Region II Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
    290 Broadway, New York, NY 10278; and the Consent Decree Library, 1120 
    G Street NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 624-0892. A copy 
    of the proposed consent decree may be obtained in person or by mail 
    from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street NW., 4th Floor, 
    Washington, DC 20005. In requesting a copy, please refer to the 
    referenced case and enclose a check in the amount of $5.25 (25 cents 
    per page reproduction costs), payable to the Consent Decree Library.
    Bruce S. Gelber,
    Acting Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
    and Natural Resources Division.
    [FR Doc. 95-29680 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4410-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/06/1995
Department:
Justice Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-29680
Pages:
62479-62480 (2 pages)
PDF File:
95-29680.pdf