[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 8011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4322]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5692-5]
Proposed Settlement Agreement, Clean Air Act Suit
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of proposed settlement; request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as
amended, (``CAA''), notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement
agreement, which was lodged with the United States District Court for
the District of Columbia by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (``EPA'') on January 31, 1997, in a lawsuit filed by the
Washington Legal Foundation. A number of United States Senators and
Representatives are co-plaintiffs. This lawsuit concerns, among other
things, EPA's alleged failure to meet mandatory deadlines under section
312 of the CAA to provide to Congress (1) a Cost/Benefit Report
regarding the costs and benefits of past compliance with certain CAA
standards (``Retrospective Report'') and (2) the first Cost/Benefit
Report making projections into the future regarding expected costs,
benefits and other effects of compliance with CAA standards
(``Prospective Report''). The proposed settlement agreement provides
that EPA shall promulgate the Retrospective Report to Congress no later
than October 15, 1997 and the first Prospective Report no later than
August 30, 1999.
For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication
of this notice, the Agency will accept written comments relating to the
proposed settlement agreement from persons who were not named as
parties to the litigation in question. In accordance with section
113(g) of the CAA, EPA or the Department of Justice may withhold or
withdraw consent to the proposed settlement agreement if the comments
disclose facts or circumstances that indicate that such consent is
inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or inconsistent with the
requirements of the Act. Unless EPA or the Department of Justice
determines, following the comment period, that consent is
inappropriate, the parties intend that the CAA provisions of the final
settlement agreement, including the deadlines for the promulgation of
the reports provided for in Sec. 312, will be incorporated into an
appropriate order of the court.
A copy of the proposed settlement agreement was lodged with the
Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
on January 31, 1997. Copies are also available from Samantha Hooks
(2344), Air and Radiation Division, Office of General Counsel, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20460, (202) 260-7620. Written comments should be sent to Hale
Hawbecker at the above address and must be submitted on or before March
24, 1997.
Dated: February 10, 1997.
Scott C. Fulton,
Acting General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 97-4322 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M
