[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 26628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12630]


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

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Water 
Act

    Notice is hereby given that on April 17, 1998, a proposed Consent 
Decree was lodged with the United States District Court for the 
District of Kansas in United States v. Texaco Pipeline, Inc., et al., 
Civ. No. 96-2152-GTV (D. Kan.). The proposed Consent Decree settles 
claims asserted by the United States at the request of the United 
States Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') in an action 
originally filed on April 1, 1996. The United States filed this action 
pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred 
to as the Clean Water Act (``CWA'' or ``Act''), 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1251 et 
seq. The complaint requested the assessment of civil penalties and 
injunctive relief against defendants Texaco Pipeline, Inc. (``Texaco 
Pipeline'') and Texaco Trading and Transportation, Inc. (``Texaco 
Trading'') for discharges of oil into navigable waters of the United 
States or adjoining shorelines in violation of Sections 301 and 311 of 
the CWA, 33 U.S.C. 1311 and 1321. These discharges took place from the 
defendants' pipeline systems in the State of Kansas.
    Under the proposed Consent Decree, the defendants' collectively 
will pay to the United States a $925,000 civil penalty. In addition, 
Texaco Trading shall purge and permanently remove from service 
specified portions of its pipeline system. The defendants also shall 
undertake additional injunctive relief which includes the lowering of 
pipeline, improved maintenance of pipeline, and inspection of pipeline 
within the State of Kansas.
    The Department of Justice will receive written comments relating to 
the proposed Consent Decree for thirty (30) days from the date of 
publication of this notice. 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. Texaco Pipeline Inc., et al., DOJ #90-
5-1-1-4272. The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the EPA 
Region 7 Office at 726 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101. A copy of 
the proposed Consent Decree may be obtained in person or by mail from 
the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, 
D.C. 20005 (202) 624-0892. In requesting a copy, please enclose a check 
in the amount of $8.00 (25 cents per page) payable to the ``Consent 
Decree Library''.
Joel Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 98-12630 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M