[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 31612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14892]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

    Under 28 CFR 50.7 notice is hereby given that on May 26, 1999, a 
proposed Consent Decree in United States v. Quanex Corporation, Civil 
Action No. H-99-1633, was lodged with the United States District Court 
for the Southern District of Texas.
    In this action the United States sought civil penalties and 
injunctive relief for violations of National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) permits and pollution prevention regulations 
at a facility located in Rosenberg, Fort Bend County, Texas. The 
Consent Decree resolves allegations that Quanex Corporation, the 
facility owner until December 3, 1997, and Vision Metals, Inc., the 
facility owner after December 3, 1997, failed to comply with NPDES 
permits by violating effluent limits, failing to monitor, failing to 
report, failing to properly operate and maintain the facility, and 
failing to comply with the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure 
Plan regulatory requirements. The Consent Decree also resolves 
allegations that Quanex failed to comply with two Administrative 
Orders. Quanex is required to pay a civil penalty of $466,421. Vision 
Metals, Inc. is required to pay a civil penalty of $58,907 and perform 
injunctive relief to ensure compliance with its NPDES permit and the 
pollution prevention regulations.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the Consent 
Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General 
of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of 
Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to U.S. v. Quanex 
Corporation, D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-4495.
    The Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the Untied 
States Attorney, 910 Travis, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77208, at U.S. 
EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202, and at the Consent 
Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20005, 
(202) 624-0892. A copy of the Consent Decree may be obtained in person 
or by mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW, 3rd 
Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In requesting a copy, please enclose a 
check in the amount of $15.25 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) 
payable to the Consent Decree Library.
Joel M. Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 99-14892 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M