[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 17720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8743]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Revised Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree: Natural Resource 
Damages Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990

    Notice is hereby given that on March 18, 2002, a proposed Consent 
Decree: Natural Resource Damages (``Decree'') in United States and 
State of Alaska v. Kuroshima Shipping, S.A. and Unique Trading Co., 
Ltd., Civil Action No. A02-0057 (JKS), was lodged with the United 
States District Court for the District of Alaska.
    In this action brought pursuant to Section 1002(b)(2)(A) of the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. 2702(b)(2)(A), the United States and 
the State of Alaska sought natural resource damages, including the 
reasonable costs of assessing those damages, arising out of the 
November 26, 1997 grounding and subsequent discharge of oil from the M/
V Kuroshima in the area of Summer Bay, Unalaska Island, Alaska (``the 
Kuroshima Spill''). The defendants are the owner and operator of the 
vessel at the time of the incident. The federal and state natural 
resource trustees, in consultation with the Qawalangin Tribe of 
Unalaska, conducted an assessment of damage to natural resources and 
loss of use of natural resources occasioned by the Kuroshima Spill and 
have proposed a plan for restoring these natural resources and the loss 
of their use by the public. That plan appears as Appendix A to the 
Decree. The proposed Decree provides that defendants shall pay $644,017 
to the natural resource trustees for their implementation of the 
restoration plan and shall place another $9,000 in the registry of the 
Court until the natural resource trustees determine whether that amount 
is necessary for the field component of the restoration plan aimed at 
restoring vegetation or may be returned to the defendants. The proposed 
Decree requires that the defendants reimburse the natural resource 
trustees in excess of $66,158.09 for damage assessment costs. In 
exchange for these payments, the United States and the State of Alaska 
covenant not to sue the defendants for natural resource damages arising 
from the Kuroshima Spill.
    The Department of Justice will accept comments relating to the 
proposed Decree through April 29, 2002. Comments should be addressed to 
the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources 
Division, United States Department of Justice and sent to 801 B Street, 
Suite 504, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3657. Comments should refer to 
United States v. Kuroshima Shipping, S.A. et al., D.J. Ref # 90-5-1-1-
06147.
    The Decree may be examined at the above address by contacting 
Lorraine Carter at 907-271-5452. A copy of the Decree (minus Appendix 
A) may be obtained by contacting Ms. Carter in writing at the address 
above. In requesting a copy, please enclose a check in the amount of 
$5.50 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) payable to the U.S. 
Treasury. A copy of Appendix A may be obtained during the comment 
period from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by 
contacting Doug.Helton at 206-526-4563 or at [email protected]. 
Alternatively, Appendix A may be viewed at www.darcnw.noaa.gov/kuro.htm.

Robert E. Maher, Jr.,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 02-8743 Filed 4-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M