[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 59016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25302]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Air Act

    In accordance with 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby given that on 
September 12, 2000, a proposed Consent Decree (``Decree'') in United 
States v. Northwestern Steel and Wire Company, Civil Action No. 00 C 
3700 was lodged with the United States District Court for the Northern 
District of Illinois.
    In this action the United States sought injunctive relief and civil 
penalties for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 
Sec. 741 et seq., and applicable regulations thereunder, including 
provisions of the Illinois State Implementation Plan (``SIP'') and New 
Source Performance Standards applicable to Northwestern Steel and Wire 
Company's (``NWSW's'') electric arc furnaces (``EAFs'') in Sterling, 
Illinois. The proposed Decree requires NWSW to achieve, demonstrate and 
maintain compliance with the Clean AIr Act and applicable regulations. 
The Decree prohibits NWSW from operating its EAF No. after August 15, 
2000 unless NWSW installs pollution capture and control equipment 
meeting requirements for a new source and obtains applicable 
construction or operating permits from the Illinois Environmental 
Protection Agency. In addition, the Decree requires NWSW to complete 
emissions testing of EAF No. 8, where NWSW has substantially upgraded 
the EAF and associated air pollution controls, and to submit the 
results of this testing to U.S. EPA by January 1, 2001. The Decree also 
requires NWSW to comply at all times with SIP particulate and opacity 
requirements at EAF No. 7, except as authorized in applicable permits 
for the facility. Finally, the proposed Decree provides for payment of 
a civil penalty in the amount of $434,460 and for implementation of 
three Supplemental Environmental Projects (``SEPs''), including a road 
paving project, installation of a new baghouse dust transfer system and 
installation of a new electrolytic macroetching machine intended to 
reduce emissions of particulate matter and hydrochloric acid vapors at 
the facility.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of the publication comments relating to the proposed 
Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, 
Environment and Natural Resources Division, P.O. Box 7611, U.S. 
Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20044-7611, and should refer to 
United States v. Northwestern Steel and Wire Company, Civil Action No. 
00 C 3700, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-2173.
    The proposed Decree may be examined at the Office of the United 
States Attorney, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604, and at 
U.S. EPA Region 5, Office of Regional Counsel, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604. A copy of the proposed Decree may also be 
obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library, P.O. Box 7611, U.S. 
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611. In requesting a copy, 
please enclose a check in the amount of $7.00 (25 cents per page 
reproduction costs) payable to to the Consent Decree Library.

Bruce S. Gelber,
Principal Deputy Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 00-25302 Filed 10-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M