[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38733-38734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18840]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5541-9]


Proposed Settlement Under Section 122(h) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 
(CERCLA), as Amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9622(h), in the Matter of the 
L.H. Inc. Site, Cambridge, Guernsey County, OH

AGENCY:  The Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of proposed administrative settlement and request for 
public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hereby giving 
notice that it proposes to enter into an administrative settlement for 
recovery of past response costs that it has incurred in connection with 
removal activities performed for the L.H. Inc. Site. The L.H. Inc. Site 
is located at 1502 Beckett Avenue, Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio. 
The proposed settlement is with Janice C. Barricklow and Phyllis L. 
Snedegar, and will resolve their liability, pursuant to Section 107(a) 
of CERCLA, for EPA's past response costs incurred in connection with 
the L.H. Inc. Site. This notice of the opportunity to file written 
comments on the proposed administrative settlement is being provided 
pursuant to Section 122(i) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. Section 9622(i).

DATES: Comments must be provided on or before August 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Jacqueline Kline, Office of 
Regional Counsel, Mail Code C-29A, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60604-
3590, and should refer to: In the Matter of L.H. Inc. Site, U.S. EPA 
Docket No. V-W-92-C-168.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Kline, Office of Regional 
Counsel, Mail Code C-29A, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590, (312) 886-7167.


[[Page 38734]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The L.H. Inc. Site consisted of three 
lagoons on approximately one-third acre in an area of mixed industrial 
and residential land use. The lagoons had been used for the treatment 
of spent pickle liquor generated by the steel industry, a hazardous 
waste. L.H. Inc., an Ohio corporation, conducted the hazardous waste 
treatment activities without the necessary permit during 1980. Phyllis 
L. Snedegar and Janice C. Barricklow were officers and directors of 
L.H. Inc. During 1985, after an administrative law judge had ordered 
L.H. Inc. to properly close the facility at 1502 Beckett Avenue, 
Cambridge, Ohio, L.H. Inc. declared bankruptcy. The facility was not 
properly closed.
    A site assessment conducted by EPA during 1991 revealed that 
sludges in two of the three lagoons were characteristic hazardous waste 
owing to the high chromium content of the sludges. On October 13, 1992, 
EPA issued a unilateral administrative order to Phyllis L. Snedegar, 
Janice C. Barricklow, and another individual, ordering them to conduct 
certain removal activities at the L.H. Inc. Site in order to eliminate 
threats to public health, welfare, or the environment. The order found 
that exposure to the hazardous waste in the lagoon was possible because 
the lagoons were not secure and because weather conditions could result 
in their overflowing. During 1993 Snedegar and Barricklow performed the 
removal activities, removing and properly disposing of the lagoon 
contents, sampling the area near the lagoons, and backfilling the 
lagoons with clean soil. EPA does not expect that further removal 
actions will be necessary at the L.H. Inc. Site.
    The proposed administrative settlement agreement provides for 
Snedegar and Barricklow to pay to EPA $12,000, which is approximately 
one-fifth of EPA's unreimbursed past response costs for the L.H. Inc. 
Site. Effective upon receipt of payment, EPA covenants not to sue 
Snedegar and Barricklow for the remainder of EPA's past Site response 
costs.
    EPA is entering into these agreements under the authority of 
Sections 107 and 122(h) of CERCLA. Section 122(h) authorizes EPA to 
enter into administrative settlements with potentially responsible 
parties for the recovery of EPA's past costs where such claims have not 
been referred to the Department of Justice for further action.
    The Environmental Protection Agency will receive written comments 
relating to this agreement for thirty days from the date of publication 
of this notice.

    Authority: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
Sections 9601 et seq.
William E. Muno,
Director, Superfund Division.
[FR Doc. 96-18840 Filed 7-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M