[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 242 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 78492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32029]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6917-5]


Palmyra Atoll; Proposed Notice of Administrative Settlement

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund 
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9600 et 
seq., notice is hereby given that a proposed Agreement and Covenant Not 
to Sue (Prospective Purchaser Agreement) associated with Palmyra Atoll 
was executed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
on November 16, 2000. The proposed Prospective Purchaser Agreement 
would resolve certain potential claims of the United States under 
sections 106 and 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607(a), and 
section 7003 of the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), 42 
U.S.C. 6973, against The Nature Conservancy, a District of Columbia 
non-profit corporation (the Purchaser). The Purchaser plans to acquire 
Palmyra Atoll, a group of coral islets approximately 680 acres in 
extent located in the tropical Pacific Ocean 900 miles south-southwest 
of Hawaii at Lat. 5o N, Long. 162o W, to preserve it as a wildlife 
refuge. The Purchaser will pay EPA $10,000 and commit to manage the 
atoll to protect its conservation values in cooperation with the U.S. 
Department of Interior's Fish & Wildlife Service.
    For thirty (30) calendar days following the date of publication of 
this notice, EPA will receive written comments relating to the proposed 
settlement. If requested prior to the expiration of this public comment 
period, EPA will provide an opportunity for a public meeting in the 
affected area. EPA's response to any comments received will be 
available for public inspection at the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The proposed Prospective Purchaser Agreement and additional 
background documents relating to the settlement are available for 
public inspection at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. A copy of the proposed 
settlement may be obtained from William Keener, Assistant Regional 
Counsel (ORC-1), Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. EPA Region IX, 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Comments should reference 
``The Nature Conservancy PPA, Palmyra Atoll'' and ``Docket No. 2001-
04'' and should be addressed to William Keener at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Keener, Assistant Regional 
Counsel (ORC-1), Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. EPA Region IX, 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; phone: (415) 744-1356; fax 
(415) 744-1041; e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: December 7, 2000.
Michael Feeley,
Acting Director, Superfund Division, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 00-32029 Filed 12-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P