[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 126 (Thursday, July 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 39965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14890]



[[Page 39965]]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    Notice is hereby given that on June 22, 2004, a proposed Consent 
Decree in United States v. Holyoke Water Power Company, et al., Civil 
Action No. 04-30119-MAP, was lodged with the United States District 
Court for the District of Massachusetts.
    The proposed Consent Decree will settle the United States' natural 
resource damage claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., 
on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(``NOAA'') and the Department of the Interior (``DOI'') (``Federal 
Trustees'') against Holyoke Water Power Company (``Holyoke Water 
Power'') and the City of Holyoke Gas & Electric Department (``HG&E'') 
(``Settling Defendants'') relating to the Holyoke Gas Tar Deposits and 
former Holyoke Gas Works (together, the ``Site''), Massachusetts 
priority disposal sites, located in and around Holyoke, Massachusetts.
    Pursuant to the Consent Decree, the Settling Defendants will pay 
$500,000 as natural resource damages to the Federal Trustees and to the 
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts (together, the ``Trustees''). Of this amount, $155,000 
will be utilized to reimburse, in part, the Trustees' assessment costs 
and $345,000 will be utilized to carry out restoration projects.
    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 of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to United 
States v. Holyoke Water Power Company, et al., Civil Action No. 04-
30119-MAP, D.J. Ref. 90-11-3-1455.
    The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the 
United States Attorney, District of Massachusetts, 1550 Main Street, 
U.S. Courthouse, Room 310, Springfield, MA 01103. During the public 
comment period, the proposed Consent Decree may also be examined on the 
following Department of Justice Web site, http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html. A copy of the proposed Consent Decree may be obtained by 
mail from the Consent Decree Library, PO Box 7611, U.S. Department of 
Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611 or by faxing or e-mailing a request 
to Tonia Fleetwood ([email protected]), fax no. (202) 514-0097, 
phone confirmation number (202) 514-1547. If requesting a copy of the 
proposed Consent Decree, please so note and enclose a check in the 
amount of $8.50 (25 cent per page reproduction cost) payable to the 
U.S. Treasury.

Ronald G. Gluck,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 04-14890 Filed 6-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M