[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 68 (Friday, April 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 18351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8602]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Water 
Act (``CWA'') and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act (``CERCLA'')

    Consistent with Departmental policy, 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby 
given that a proposed Consent Decree in United States v. Gulf States 
Steel, Inc. was lodged with the United States District Court for the 
Northern District of Alabama on march 28, 2000 (CV-97-BU-2755-M). The 
United States filed a complaint pursuant to Section 309(b) of the Clean 
Water Act alleging that the defendant violated the CWA on numerous 
occasions. The proposed Consent Decree resolves the CWA liability of 
Gulf States Steel as alleged in the complaint. The United States also 
believes that the defendant is liable pursuant to Section 107 of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
of 1980 (``CERCLA''), as amended, for costs incurred and to be incurred 
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency at the Gulf States 
Steel Superfund Site in Gadsden, Alabama. The proposed Consent Decree 
resolves certain such liabilities.
    Under the Consent Decree, Gulf States Steel agrees to pay a civil 
penalty to the United States in the amount of $100,000. In addition, 
Gulf States Steel agrees to operate its plant in compliance with its 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, and 
with the CWA. In addition, Gulf States Steel agrees to undertake 
certain Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) in the amount of at 
least $206 million. These SEPs will result in significant pollution 
prevention or reduction in excess of Gulf States Steel's legal 
obligations. In addition, one SEP will result in Gulf States Steel 
purchasing ecologically-valuable land for perpetual preservation. Gulf 
States Steel also agrees to pay $6.54 million for cleanup of Lake 
Gadsden and Black Creek in Gadsden, Alabama. Gulf States Steel also 
agrees to purchase or donate appropriate real property for placement of 
sediments, if needed by EPA, Region 4.
    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, 
U.S. Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, D.C. 20044; and 
refer to United States  v. Gulf States Steel, Inc. DOJ Ref. # 90-5-1-1-
4211.
    The proposed settlement agreement may be examined at the Office of 
the United States Attorney, 1800 Fifth Avenue, North, Birmingham, 
Alabama 35203, and at the office of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. In 
requesting a copy, please refer to the referenced case and enclose a 
check in the amount of $4.25 (25 cents per page reproduction costs).

Joel Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 00-8602 Filed 4-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M