[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4440-4441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1876]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to Resources 
Conservation and Recovery Act Sections 3008 and 7003 and Safe Drinking 
Water Act Section 1431

    Notice is hereby given that on January 18, 2000, the United States 
lodged a proposed Consent Decree with the United States District Court 
for the District of New Mexico in the civil actions consolidated as 
Albuquerque v. Sparton Technology, Inc., No. CV 97 0206. The proposed 
Consent Decree resolves civil claims in the consolidated actions 
including the action filed by the United States, United States v. 
Sparton Technology, Inc., No. CV 97 0210 (D.N.M.), related to soil and 
groundwater contamination emanating from the Sparton Technology, Inc.

[[Page 4441]]

(``Sparton'') manufacturing facility on Coors Road in Albuquerque, NM 
(``the Facility''). In this action, the United States alleged claims 
pursuant to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (``RCRA'') Sections 
3008 and 7003, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 6928 and 6973, and Safe Drinking Water 
Act (``SDWA'') Section 1431, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 300i. Under the proposed 
Consent Decree, Sparton will perform comprehensive corrective action to 
address groundwater and soil affected by contamination emanating from 
the Facility. Sparton will also pay a total of $1.675 million 
consisting of a civil penalty of $475,000 to be shared by the United 
States and the New Mexico Environment Department, a payment of natural 
resources damages of $1 million to the State of New Mexico, and 
$200,000 to the City of Albuquerque, the New Mexico Environment 
Department, and the New Mexico Attorney General's Office for litigation 
costs. The proposed Consent Decree also dismisses with prejudice 
Sparton Technology, Inc. v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. CV 97 
0981 (D.N.M.)--one of the consolidated actions--and provides the United 
States a full release with respect to the agency actions challenged by 
Sparton in that case.
    The Department of Justice will receive comments relating to the 
proposed Consent Decree for 30 days following publication of this 
Notice. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, 
Environment and Natural Resources Division, United States Department of 
Justice, P.O. Box 7611, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044-
7611, and should refer to Albuquerque v. Sparton Technology, Inc., No. 
CV 97 0206 (D.N.M.), DOJ No. 90-7-1-875. The proposed Consent Decree 
may be examined at the Office of the United States Attorney for the 
District of New Mexico, 200 3rd Street, NW., Ste 900, Albuquerque, New 
Mexico 87102 and the Region VI Office of the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202. 
A copy of the proposed Consent Decree may be obtained by mail from the 
Department of Justice Consent Decree Library, P.O. Box 7611, 
Washington, DC 20044. When requesting a copy, please enclose a check 
for reproduction costs for the Consent Decree (at 25 cents per page) in 
the amount of $153.75, payable to the ``Consent Decree Library.''

Joel M. Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 00-1876 Filed 1-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M