[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44877-44878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16779]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

    In accordance with Departmental policy, the Department of Justice 
gives notice that a proposed consent decree with Fort James Operating 
Company (``Fort James'') in the case captioned United States and the 
State of Wisconsin v. Fort James Operating Company, Civil Action No. 
02-C-0602 (E.D. Wis.) was lodged with the United States District Court 
for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on June 20, 2002. The complaint 
filed in the case by the United States and the State of Wisconsin (the 
``Plaintiffs'') alleges that Fort James is party liable for certain 
response costs associated with the release and threatened release of 
hazardous substances from facilities at or near the Fox River/Green Bay 
Site in northeastern Wisconsin (the ``Site''), pursuant to the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 
42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.
    The proposed consent decree sets forth the terms of a proposed 
settlement between the Plaintiffs and Fort James addressing both: (1) 
the claims for recovery of response costs that are included in the 
complaint; and (2) related claims for natural resource damages at the 
Site. The Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin and the Menominee Indian 
Tribe of Wisconsin are additional parties to the settlement, as Tribal 
trustees for injured natural resources at and near the Site.
    Under the settlement, Fort James would agree to preserve more than 
1000 acres of wildlife habitat in northeastern Wisconsin and pay an 
additional $8.5 million for other restoration projects as compensation 
for injuries to natural resources caused by widespread polychlorinated 
biphenyl (``PCB'') contamination at the Site. The Federal, State, and 
Tribal trustees that are parties to the Consent Decree have reviewed 
and approved the specific restoration projects described in an Appendix 
to the Consent Decree, and will jointly select future projects to be 
funded with additional money available under the settlement. In 
addition to its payments for restoration projects, Fort James would pay 
$1.6 million to help offset natural resource damage assessment costs 
and certain cleanup-related response costs incurred by the United 
States and the State.
    For a period of thirty (30) days from the date of this publication, 
the Department of Justice will receive comments relating to the 
proposed consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, United 
States Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611, 
and should refer to United States and the State of Wisconsin v. Fort 
James Operating Company, Civil Action No. 02-C-0602 (E.D. Wis.), and 
DOJ Reference Number 90-11-2-1045/1. A copy of the proposed consent 
decree may be examined at: (1) the Office of the United States Attorney 
for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, U.S. Courthouse and Federal 
Building--Room 530, 517 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 
(contact Matthew Richmond (414-297-1700)); and (2) the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (Region 5), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604 (contact Peter Felitti (312-886-5114)). Copies 
of the proposed consent decree may also be

[[Page 44878]]

obtained by mail from the Department of Justice Consent Decree Library, 
PO Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611. In requesting copies, please 
refer to the above-referenced case name and DOJ Reference Number, and 
enclose a check made payable to the Consent Decree Library for $15.25 
(61 pages at 25 cents per page reproduction cost).

William D. Brighton,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 02-16779 Filed 7-3-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M