02-16780. Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Notice is hereby given that on June 21, 2002, a proposed consent decree in United States v. South Jersey Clothing Company, Inc. Civil Action No. 96-3166 (JBS), was lodged with the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

In this action, the United States alleged under section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9607, that South Jersey Clothing Company, Inc., is liable for the costs in responding to the release or threatened release of hazardous substances at the South Jersey Clothing Company/Garden State Cleaners Superfund Sites in Minotola, New Jersey (the Sites). Under the terms of the proposed consent decree, the United States and the State of New Jersey will be paid $4,285,102.00 as reimbursement for past and future response costs with respect to the Sites.

The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of this publication comments relating to the proposed partial consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530.

The proposed consent decree may be examined at the Office of the United States Attorney, District of New Jersey, U.S. Courthouse, One John F. Gerry Plaza, Camden, New Jersey, and at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, New York. A copy of the proposed consent decree may also be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library, PO Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, or by faxing a request to Tonia Fleetwood, fax no. [phone], phone confirmation number [phone]. If requesting a copy of the proposed consent decree (without appendices), please so note and enclose a check in the amount of $11.00 (25 cent per page reproduction cost) payable to the U.S. Treasury.

Ronald Gluck,

Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division.