[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18252-18253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8495]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6963-8; MM-HQ-2001-0017]


Clean Water Act Class II: Proposed Administrative Settlement, 
Penalty Assessment and Opportunity to Comment Regarding XO 
Communications, Inc.

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has entered into a consent agreement with XO 
Communications, Inc. to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act 
(``CWA''), and its implementing regulations. XO failed to prepare Spill 
Prevention Control and Countermeasure (``SPCC'') plans for three (3) 
facilities where they stored diesel oil in above ground tanks. EPA, as 
authorized by

[[Page 18253]]

CWA section 311(b)(6), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6), has assessed a civil 
penalty for these violations. The Administrator, as required by CWA 
section 311(b)(6)(C), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(C), is hereby providing 
public notice of, and an opportunity for interested persons to comment 
on, this consent agreement and proposed final order.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 7, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to the Enforcement & Compliance Docket 
and Information Center (2201A), Docket Number EC-2001-004, Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Mail Code 2201A, Washington, DC 
20460. (Comments may be submitted on disk in WordPerfect 8.0 or earlier 
versions.) Written comments may be delivered in person to: Enforcement 
and Compliance Docket Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Rm. 4033, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC. Submit comments electronically to [email protected]. 
Electronic comments may be filed online at many Federal Depository 
Libraries.
    The consent agreement, the proposed final order, and public 
comments, if any, may be reviewed at the Enforcement and Compliance 
Docket Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Rm. 
4033, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. 
Persons interested in reviewing these materials must make arrangements 
in advance by calling the docket clerk at 202-564-2614. A reasonable 
fee may be charged by EPA for copying docket materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Cavalier, Multimedia Enforcement 
Division (2248-A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 564-
3271; fax: (202) 564-9001; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Copies: Electronic copies of this 
document are available from the EPA Home Page under the link ``Laws and 
Regulations'' at the Federal Register--Environmental Documents entry 
(http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr).

I. Background

    XO Communications, Inc., a telecommunications company incorporated 
in the State of Delaware and located at 11111 Sunset Hills Road, 
Reston, Virginia 20190, failed to prepare SPCC plans for three 
facilities. XO Communications, Inc. disclosed, pursuant to the EPA 
``Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosures, Correction and 
Prevention of Violations'' (``Audit Policy''), 60 FR 66706 (December 
22, 1995), that they failed to prepare SPCC plans for three facilities 
where they stored diesel oil in above ground storage tanks, in 
violation of the CWA section 311(b)(3) and 40 CFR part 112. EPA 
determined that XO met the criteria set out in the Audit Policy for a 
100% waiver of the gravity component of the penalty. As a result, EPA 
waived the gravity based penalty ($12,000) and proposed a settlement 
penalty amount of two hundred and twenty-two ($222). This is the amount 
of the economic benefit gained by XO, attributable to their delayed 
compliance with the SPCC regulations. XO Communications, Inc. has 
agreed to pay this amount in civil penalties. EPA and XO negotiated and 
signed an administrative consent agreement, following the Consolidated 
Rules of Procedure, 40 CFR 22.13, on March 19, 2001 (In Re: XO 
Communications, Inc., Docket No. MM-HQ-2001-0017). This consent 
agreement is subject to public notice and comment under CWA section 
311(b)(6), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6).
    Under CWA section 311(b)(6)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1321 (b)(6)(A), any 
owner, operator, or person in charge of a vessel, onshore facility, or 
offshore facility from which oil is discharged in violation of the CWA 
section 311(b)(3), 33 U.S.C. 1321 (b)(3), or who fails or refuses to 
comply with any regulations that have been issued under CWA section 
311(j), 33 U.S.C. 1321(j), may be assessed an administrative civil 
penalty of up to $137,500 by EPA. Class II proceedings under CWA 
section 311(b)(6) are conducted in accordance with 40 CFR part 22.
    The procedures by which the public may comment on a proposed Class 
II penalty order, or participate in a Clean Water Act Class II penalty 
proceeding, are set forth in 40 CFR 22.45. The deadline for submitting 
public comment on this proposed final order is May 7, 2001. All 
comments will be transferred to the Environmental Appeals Board 
(``EAB'') of EPA for consideration. The powers and duties of the EAB 
are outlined in 40 CFR 22.04(a).
    Pursuant to CWA section 311(b)(6)(C), EPA will not issue an order 
in this proceeding prior to the close of the public comment period.

    Dated: March 26, 2001.
David A. Nielsen,
Director, Multimedia Enforcement Division, Office of Enforcement and 
Compliance Assurance.
[FR Doc. 01-8495 Filed 4-5-01; 8:45 am]
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