[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 155 (Thursday, August 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49015-49016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20292]


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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 Department of Justice policy codified at 28 CFR 
50.7 and Section 122 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622, notice is hereby given 
that on July 25, 2000, three proposed Consent Decrees in United States 
v. Raymond C. Wolf, et al., Civ. Action No. 1:99-CV-01032, were lodged 
with the United States District Court for the Northern District of 
Ohio. The three proposed Consent Decrees resolve the claims of the 
United States for recovery of response costs incurred by the United 
States in connection with the Lincoln Fields Superfund Removal Site 
(``Site'') in Madison Township, Ohio under section 107(a) of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 
1980 (``CERCLA''), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9607(a), against Raymond C. 
Wolf and Joanne R. Wolf (``the Wolfs''), Charles R. Sell and Wanda J. 
Sell (``the Sells''), and Dale M. Eberts (``Eberts'') (collectively, 
``Settling Defendants''). Each of the Settling Defendants are owners 
and operators of the Site, a portion of which was operated for twenty 
years as a dry cleaning business. EPA incurred approximately $12.3 
million in

[[Page 49016]]

conducting a removal action to address releases of tetrachloroethylene 
(or ``PCE'') from the dry cleaning operation in the soil and 
groundwater at the site. Under the terms of the Wolf Consent Decree, 
the Wolfs agree to pay the United States $10,000 in response costs 
within 90 days of entry of the Consent Decree. In addition, the Wolfs 
agree to pledge to the United States 75% of the value of a piece of 
property (currently valued at approximately $800,000), which is a 
portion of the Site, upon its transfer. In consideration for these 
payments, the Wolfs will receive a covenant not to sue for Site 
response costs (which, based on certain conditions, extends to future 
Successors in Interest or Assigns of the Wolfs' property) and 
contribution protection. Under the terms of the Sells Consent Decree, 
the Sells agree to pay the United States $2,000 in response costs 
within 30 days of entry of the Consent Decree. In consideration for 
this payment, the Sells will receive a covenant not to sue for Site 
response costs and contribution protection. Under the terms of the 
Eberts Consent Decree, Dale Eberts agrees to pay the United States 
$5,000 in response costs within 30 days of entry of the Consent Decree. 
In consideration for this payment, Eberts will receive a covenant not 
to sue for Site response costs and contribution protection. Each of 
these settlements is based on the Settling Defendants' limited ability 
to pay.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the 
proposed Consent Decrees. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 
20530, and should refer to United States v. Raymond C. Wolf, et al. 
Civ. Action No. 1:99-CV-01032; D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-3-06281.
    The Consent Decrees may be examined at the Office of the United 
States Attorney, 1800 Bank One Center, 600 Superior Avenue East, 
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2600, and at the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois 60604-3590. A copy of the Consent Decrees may also be obtained 
by mail from the Consent Decree Library, P.O. Box 7611, U.S. Department 
of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20044-7611. In requesting a copy of the 
Consent Decrees, please enclose a check payable to the Consent Decree 
Library in amount of $16.75 (67 pages at 25 cents per page reproduction 
cost) for all three Consent Decrees; or $8.75 (35 pages at 25 cents per 
page reproduction cost) for the Wolf Consent Decree; $4.00 each (16 
pages at 25 cents per page reproduction cost) for the Sells Consent 
Decree and the Eberts Consent Decree.

Joel M. Gross,
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment & Natural 
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 00-20292 Filed 8-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M