[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3975-3976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1677]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    Notice is hereby given that on November 17, 1999 a proposed Consent 
Decree (the ``Consent Decree'') in United States v. Intalco Aluminum 
Corporation (``Intalco''), Civil Action No. CS-99-0324 was lodged with 
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of 
Washington.
    In this action the United States sought to recover the United 
States Department of Agriculture Forest Service's (``Forest Service'') 
past costs incurred in connection with past response actions at the 
Holden Mine Site (the ``Site''), located in the Wenatchee National 
Forest in Chelan County, Washington. Throughout the history of mining 
operations at Holden Mine, large quantities of mine tailings were 
deposited in and around the Site and caused releases of hazardous 
substances. In 1989 and 1990 the Forest Service performed a variety of 
actions costing approximately $6 million to stabilize the tailings and 
prevent further environmental degradation. Under the Consent Decree, 
Intalco will reimburse the Forest Service $3.1 million for those past 
costs. Under an Administrative Order on Consent entered into between 
the Forest Service, Intalco, the Environmental Protection Agency and 
the State of Washington, Department of Ecology, Intalco is performing a 
Remedial Action and Feasibility Study for the Site, which is expected 
to result in selection of a remedy to address hazardous substances at 
the Site. Under

[[Page 3976]]

the Consent Decree, Intalco agrees to perform or fund the remedy, 
subject to future orders or decrees. Additionally, Intalco agrees not 
to sue the United States for any response costs associated with the 
Site.
    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, D.C., 20530, and should refer to United States v. 
Intalco Aluminum, D.J. Ref. 90-11-2-1135.
    The Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the United 
States Attorney, Suite 300, United States Courthouse, 920 West 
Riverside, Spokane, Washington, 99210; at the Office of the Wenatchee 
National Forest, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, Washington, 98801; at the 
Office of the Holden Village, Holden, Washington; and a copy may be 
obtained from the Department of Justice Consent Decree Library, P.O. 
Box 7611, Washington, D.C. 20044-7611. In requesting a copy, please 
enclose a check in the amount of $26.75 payable to the Consent Decree 
Library.

Joel M. Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 00-1677 Filed 1-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M