[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 29536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11309]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

    Notice is hereby given that on May 13, 2008, a Consent Decree in 
United States of America v. the District of Columbia, Civil Action No. 
1:08-cv-00825-RBW, was lodged with the United States District Court for 
the District of Columbia.
    The consent decree resolves the claims of the United States under 
Section 107(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9607(a), for 
reimbursement of its past response costs incurred in connection with 
EPA's response to releases of mercury at two high schools in the 
District of Columbia. The first release of mercury occurred in and 
around Ballou High School in 2003 and second release of mercury 
occurred in and around Cardozo High School in 2005.
    The consent decree obligates the District of Columbia to reimburse 
$600,000 of the United States' past response costs. In addition, the 
District of Columbia commits to verify that it is properly storing, 
removing and disposing of mercury and other hazardous substances in the 
District of Columbia public schools. Its verification will include 
conducting an audit of a representative number of schools. If the 
District discovers hazardous substances in the schools which are 
present or maintained in a manner inconsistent with its policies and 
procedures, the District commits to remove and dispose of such 
chemicals properly, or to store and inventory them properly.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to this 
proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
either e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to P.O. Box 
7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, Attention: 
Nancy Flickinger (EES), and should refer to United States of America v. 
the District of Columbia, Civil Action No. 1:08-cv-00825-RBW, DOJ 
 90-11-3-09036.
    The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the 
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Judiciary Center 
Building, 555 Fourth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20530. During the 
public comment period, the consent decree may also be examined on the 
following Department of Justice Web site, http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. A copy of the proposed Consent Decree may also 
be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library, P.O. 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. In 
requesting a copy from the Consent Decree Library, please enclose a 
check in the amount of $22.75 (25 cents per page reproduction cost for 
a full copy) payable to the U.S. Treasury.

Robert D. Brook,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. E8-11309 Filed 5-20-08; 8:45 am]
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