[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 42227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20137]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7028-6]


San Gabriel Superfund Site; Proposed Notice of Administrative 
Settlement

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund 
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9600 et 
seq., notice is hereby given that a proposed Agreement and Covenant Not 
to Sue (Prospective Purchaser Agreement) associated with the San 
Gabriel Superfund Site was executed by the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) on August 2, 2001. The proposed Prospective 
Purchaser Agreement would resolve certain potential claims of the 
United States under sections 106 and 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 
and 9607(a) against Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, a Delaware 
corporation, (the Purchaser). The Purchaser plans to acquire Aerojet-
General Corporation's (Aerojet) electronics plant, comprising 
approximately seventy acres, located at 1100 West Hollyvale Avenue, 
Azusa, California within the Baldwin Park Operable Unit (BPOU) of the 
San Gabriel Valley Superfund Site. The Purchaser intends to use the 
plant for the design and manufacture of space-based sensors and smart 
weapons. The proposed settlement would provide the following benefits 
to EPA: (1) The Purchaser will pay EPA $325,000 in cash, to be held in 
reserve in a special account for future cleanup work at the BPOU, as 
needed; (2) Aerojet, a potentially responsible party at the BPOU, will 
pay EPA $9 million as partial reimbursement of its past costs to be 
held in the same special account for the same purposes; and (3) 
Aerojet's parent corporation, GenCorp Inc., will provide a written 
guaranty of $25 million to assure Aerojet's performance of future 
cleanup activities. Neither Aerojet nor GenCorp are signatories to the 
Prospective Purchaser Agreement, however they have agreed to the 
payment and guaranty to effect the sale.
    For thirty (30) calendar days following the date of publication of 
this notice, EPA will receive written comments relating to the proposed 
settlement. If appropriate, prior to the expiration of this public 
comment period, EPA may provide an opportunity for a public meeting in 
the affected area. EPA's response to any comments received will be 
available for public inspection at the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 10, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The proposed Prospective Purchaser Agreement and additional 
background documents relating to the settlement are available for 
public inspection at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. The document can be accessed 
through the Internet on EPA Region 9's Website located at: http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/ppa.html.
    A copy of the proposed settlement may be obtained from Lewis 
Maldonado, Senior Counsel (ORC-3), Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. EPA 
Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Comments 
should reference ``Northrop Grumman PPA, San Gabriel Superfund Site'' 
and ``Docket No. 2001-15'' and should be addressed to Lewis Maldonado 
at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lewis Maldonado, Senior Counsel (ORC-
3), Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne 
Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; phone: (415) 744-1342; fax (415)744-
1041; e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: August 2, 2001.
John Kemmerer,
Acting Director, Superfund Division, U.S. EPA, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 01-20137 Filed 8-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P