[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 11917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6272]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Loging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act

    Notice is hereby given that a consent decree that addresses claims 
in two Federal Court cases--United States v. Bethlehem Steel 
Corporation, Civ. Act. No. JFM-97-559 (D.Md.) and Maryland v. Bethlehem 
Steel Corporation, Civ. Act. No. JFM-97-558 (D.Md.)--was lodged on 
February 25, 1997.
    The proposed decree resolves the claims of the United States under 
section 3008(h) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
(``RCRA''), 42 U.S.C. 6928, for performance of studies and other 
activities to investigate environmental contamination at the Bethlehem 
Steel plant at Sparrows Point, Maryland. The decree also addresses 
claims brought by the State of Maryland and the Maryland Department of 
the Environment under RCRA and State laws relating to air pollution and 
solid waste disposal. The decree obligates Bethlehem to pay a civil 
penalty of $350,000 to Maryland and, inter alia, to (a) perform a 
comprehensive investigation of contamination at the facility; (b) 
propose a plan for cleanup; (c) take prompt action to address 
conditions that pose a threat to human health or the environment; (d) 
reduce emission of particulate matter into the air; (e) recycle large 
quantities of waste and thereby reduce toxic emissions from the plant; 
and (f) improve management of its solid waste landfills. The United 
States and the State retain their legal authority to require Bethlehem 
to carry out the plan for ultimate cleanup of the facility.
    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 for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to United 
States v. Bethlehem Steel Corporation, DOJ Ref. # 90-7-1-830.
    The proposed consent decree may be examined at the United States 
Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 
20005, (202) 624-0892. A copy of the proposed consent decree may be 
obtained in person or by mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G 
Street, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In requesting a copy, 
please refer to the referenced case and enclose a check in the amount 
of $22.75 (25 cents per page reproduction costs), payable to the 
Consent Decree Library. Attachments to the proposed consent decree can 
be obtained for additional amount.

Joel M. Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 97-6272 Filed 3-12-97; 8:45 am]
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