[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 57654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27905]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

    In accordance with Departmental policy, 28 CFR 50.7, 38 FR 19029, 
and 42 U.S.C. 9622(d), notice is hereby given that on October 7, 1999, 
a proposed consent decree in United States v. General Electric Company, 
Civil Action No. 99-30225-MAP, was lodged with the United States 
District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The proposed consent 
decree resolves certain claims against General Electric Company 
(``GE'') under sections 106 and 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9606 
and 9607; section 7003 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
(``RCRA''), 42 U.S.C. 6973; and section 309 of the Clean Water Act, 33 
U.S.C. 1319, regarding the disposal, release and/or threat of release 
of hazardous substances and/or wastes from the GE facility in 
Pittsfield, Massachusetts and related areas. Pursuant to the proposed 
settlement, GE shall reimburse the United States for certain past and 
future response costs; implement certain clean up measures at the GE 
facility, surrounding areas, and in the Housatonic River; and 
compensate the United States for natural resource damages. The total 
value of the settlement is estimated to exceed $250 million.
    The proposed settlement also provides that the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') will issue a draft permit to 
GE pursuant to the corrective action provisions of RCRA. Consistent 
with 40 CFR 124.10, notice is hereby given of the draft RCRA permit 
issued to GE pursuant to the corrective action provisions of RCRA. A 
copy of the Fact Sheet describing the draft RCRA permit and the process 
for the public to comment upon the draft permit may be obtained by 
contacting Angela Bonarrigo, Community Relations Coordinator, EPA-New 
England Region at (617) 918-1034.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of sixty (60) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the 
proposed 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 United 
States v. General Electric Company, Civil Action No. 99-30225-MAP, D.J. 
Ref. 90-11-3-1479, and 90-11-3-1479z. Consistent with section 7003(d) 
of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6973(d), the Department of Justice will provide an 
opportunity for a public meeting to comment upon the proposed 
settlement.
    The proposed consent decree may be examined at either of the 
following locations: (1) The Springfield Office of the United States 
Attorney, District of Massachusetts 1550 Main Street, Suite 310, 
Springfield, Massachusetts 01103; or (2) Region I, Office of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, One Congress Street, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02203. A copy of the consent decree can be obtained my 
mail (without attachments) from the Department of Justice Consent 
Decree Library, PO Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044. In requesting a copy 
of the consent decree (without attachments), please enclose a check in 
the amount of $102.25 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) payable to 
the Consent Decree Library.
Joel Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 99-27905 Filed 10-25-99; 8:45 am]
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