[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53655-53656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27206]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as 
Amended, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

    Notice is hereby given that a proposed consent decree in the action 
entitled United States v. RohmTech, Inc., Civil Action No. 97CV12200 
EFH, was lodged on September 30, 1997, with the United States District 
Court for the District of Massachusetts. The proposed consent decree 
resolves the United State's claims against RohmTech at the Nyanza 
Chemical Waste Dump Superfund Site, located in Ashland, Massachusetts 
(``Site''), under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et 
seq.  and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 
Sec. 6973.

[[Page 53656]]

RohmTech is the successor to a former owner and operator of the Site. 
The consent decree will also resolve the claims of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts (``Commonwealth'') in connection with the Site under 
CERCLA and the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release 
Prevention and Response Act, M.G.L. c. 21E.
    Under the proposed consent decree, RohmTech will make an immediate 
payment to the United States and the Commonwealth in the amount of 
$4,000,000, plus interest. In addition, the United States and the 
Commonwealth will receive a percentage of gross proceeds from related 
insurance litigation and litigation against another potentially 
responsible party. Of the total payments, $2,100,000 will be paid to 
the United States and the Commonwealth in connection with claims for 
natural resource damages at the Site. The remaining money will be paid 
to the United States and the Commonwealth as reimbursement for response 
costs incurred and to be incurred at the Site. The amount of the 
payments to be made by RohmTech reflect the company's financial 
condition.
    The Department of Justice will receive, for a period of up to 
thirty days from the date of this publication, comments relating to the 
proposed consent decree. Any comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources 
Division, Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7611, Ben Franklin Station, 
Washington, DC 20044, and should refer to United States v. RohmTech, 
Inc., DOJ Ref. Number 90-11-2-340. Commenters may request an 
opportunity for a public meeting in the affected area, in accordance 
with Section 7003(d) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6973.
    The proposed consent decree may be examined at the Environmental 
Protection Agency, One Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts (contact 
Joanna Jerison at 617-565-3350) and at the Consent Decree Library, 1120 
G Street, NW., 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 $12.50 (50 pages at 25 cents per page 
reproduction costs), payable to the Consent Decree Library.
Bruce S. Gelber,
Deputy Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 97-27206 Filed 10-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M