[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42266-42267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20686]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Settlement Pursuant to the Clean Air Act

    In accordance with Department policy, 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby 
given that on July 18, 1996, a proposed Consent Decree in United States 
v. Georgia-Pacific Corporation, (N.D.GA.) (Civil No. 1 96-CV-1818-FMH), 
was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of 
Georgia, Atlanta Division. The United States filed its compliant in 
this action simultaneously with the consent decree, on behalf of the 
Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') pursuant to Section 113(b) of 
the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7413(b). The complaint seeks 
injunctive relief and civil penalties for violations of the Act and 
regulations promulgated thereunder at eighteen wood processing 
facilities located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
    The complaint alleged that Georgia-Pacific Corporation (``G-P'') 
failed to obtain permits required by the Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration (``PSD'') regulations prior to making major modifications 
at these facilities. As a result, G-P's facilities are emitting 
significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (``VOCs''). 
Alternatively, the complaint alleges that even if the modifications at 
G-P's facilities did not trigger PSD, G-P still had an obligation to 
obtain construction permits for the modifications. Finally, the 
complaint alleges that G-P violated provisions of state implementation 
plans by failing to report VOC emissions on various permit 
applications.
    Under the terms of the settlement, G-P will apply for PSD or 
federally enforceable state minor source permits for modifications at 
the 18 facilities, install state-of-the-art pollution control equipment 
at 11 of those plants, and agree to strict production limits at 2 
additional plants. The consent decree requires a 90% reduction of VOC 
emissions from G-P's plywood and OSB dryers. In addition, for the 
remaining plants where G-P made modifications to its plywood presses, 
the consent decree obligates G-P to seek determinations from the state 
in which the facility is located of Best Available Control Technology 
for control of emissions resulting from the plywood presses.
    The Consent Decree also requires G-P to conduct comprehensive Clean 
Air Act audits of all 26 of its wood product facilities nationwide and 
to monitor compliance with emission limits on a daily basis. In 
addition, G-P will pay a civil penalty of $6 million and perform 
Supplemental Environmental Projects that will cost $4.25 million.
    The Consent Decree provides that G-P's satisfaction of all of the 
requirements of the Decree will constitute full settlement of, and will 
resolve all civil and administrative liability of G-P to the United 
States for, PSD and minor source permitting violations covering all 
criteria pollutants for the modifications listed in Schedule C to the 
Consent Decree, and for any other violations alleged in the 
Environmental Protection Agency's August 5, 1994 and May 18, 1995 
Notices of Violation, or in the United States' Complaint.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments

[[Page 42267]]

concerning the proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to 
the Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources 
Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, and 
should refer to United States v. Georgia-Pacific Corporation, D.J. ref. 
90-5-2-1-1851.
    The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the 
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta 
Division, 1800 U.S. Courthouse, 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 
30335 and at the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 4th 
Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005. A copy of the proposed Decree may be 
obtained in person or by mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. In requesting a copy, please 
enclose a check in the amount of $28.00 ($0.25 per page for 
reproduction costs) payable to: Consent Decree Library.
Joel Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 96-20686 Filed 8-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-01-M