[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45727-45728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17310]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7244-2; CWA-HQ-2002-6002; EPCRA-HQ-2002-6002; RCRA-HQ-2002-6002; 
CAA-HQ-2002-6002]


Clean Water Act Class II: Proposed Administrative Settlement, 
Penalty Assessment and Opportunity To Comment Regarding Dobson Cellular 
Systems, Inc. and American Cellular Corporation

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has entered into a consent agreement with Dobson Cellular 
Systems, Inc. and American Cellular Corporation (``Respondents'') to 
resolve violations of the Clean Water Act (``CWA''), Emergency Planning 
and Community Right-to-Know Act (``EPCRA''), Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act (``RCRA''), and Clean Air Act (``CAA'') and their 
implementing regulations.
    The Administrator is hereby providing public notice of this consent 
agreement and proposed final order, and providing an opportunity for 
interested persons to comment on the CWA portions of this consent 
agreement, in accordance with CWA section 311(b)(6)(C), 33 U.S.C. 
1321(b)(6)(C).
    Respondents failed to prepare Spill Prevention Control and 
Countermeasure (``SPCC'') plans for four facilities where they stored 
diesel oil in above ground tanks. EPA, as authorized by CWA section 
311(b)(6), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6), has assessed a civil penalty for these 
violations.
    Respondents failed to file an emergency planning notification with 
the State Emergency Response Commission (``SERC'') and to provide the 
name of an emergency contact to the Local Emergency Planning Committee 
(``LEPC'') for eleven facilities. Respondents failed to submit Material 
Safety Data Sheets (``MSDS'') or a list of chemicals to the LEPC, the 
SERC, and the fire department with jurisdiction over each facility for 
twenty-three facilities in violation of EPCRA section 311, 42 U.S.C. 
11021. For twenty-three facilities, Respondents failed to submit an 
Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory form to the LEPC, the SERC, 
and the fire department with jurisdiction over each facility in 
violation of EPCRA section 312, 42 U.S.C. 11022. EPA, as authorized by 
EPCRA section 325, 42 U.S.C. 11045, has assessed a civil penalty for 
these violations.
    Respondents failed to notify the implementing agency of the 
existence of an Underground Storage Tank (``UST'') at four facilities 
in violation of RCRA section 9002(a)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6991a(a)(1). At four 
facilities, Respondents failed to comply with UST system upgrade 
requirements in violation of RCRA section 9003, 42 U.S.C. 6991b. 
Respondents failed to notify the implementing agency of closure at one 
facility in violation of RCRA section 9003, 42 U.S.C. 6991b. EPA, as 
authorized by RCRA section 9006, 42 U.S.C. 6991e, has assessed a civil 
penalty for these violations.
    Respondents failed to obtain the appropriate operating permits or 
exemptions at three facilities in violation of CAA section 110, 42 
U.S.C. 7410, and various state implementation plan (``SIP'') 
requirements for emergency generators. EPA, as authorized by CAA 
section 113(d)(1), 42 U.S.C. 7413(d)(1), has assessed a civil penalty 
for these violations.

DATES: Comments are due on or before August 9, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to the Enforcement & Compliance Docket 
and Information Center (2201A), Docket Number EC-2002-019, 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 9.0 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].

[[Page 45728]]

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 202-564-2444. A reasonable 
fee may be charged by EPA for copying docket materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Milton, Multimedia Enforcement 
Division (2248-A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 564-
5029; fax: (202) 564-0010; 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

    Dobson Cellular Systems, Inc., a telecommunications company 
incorporated in the State of Oklahoma and American Cellular 
Corporation, a telecommunications company incorporated in the State of 
Delaware, disclosed, pursuant to the EPA ``Incentives for Self-
Policing: Discovery, Disclosures, Correction and Prevention of 
Violations'' (``Audit Policy''), 65 FR 19618 (April 11, 2000), that 
they failed to prepare SPCC plans for four 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. Respondents disclosed that for 
eleven facilities they had failed to file emergency planning 
notifications with the SERC and failed to provide the name of an 
emergency contact to the LEPC, in violation of EPCRA sections 302-303, 
42 U.S.C. 11002-11003. Respondents further disclosed that for twenty-
three facilities they had failed to submit MSDSs or a list of chemicals 
to the LEPC, SERC, and the fire departments with jurisdiction over the 
facilities, in violation of EPCRA section 311, 42 U.S.C. 11021; and 
that for twenty-three facilities had failed to submit an Emergency and 
Hazardous Chemical Inventory to the LEPC, SERC, and fire departments 
with jurisdiction over the facilities, in violation of EPCRA section 
312, 42 U.S.C. 11022. Respondents disclosed that for four facilities 
they had failed to notify the implementing agency of the existence of 
UST systems, in violations of RCRA section 9002, 42 U.S.C. 6991a 
Respondents disclosed that for four facilities they had failed to 
notify the implementing agency of the existence of an UST in violation 
of RCRA section 9002(a)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6991a(a)(1). Respondents 
disclosed that at four facilities they had failed to comply with UST 
system upgrade requirements in violation of RCRA section 9003, 42 
U.S.C. 6991b. Respondents disclosed that for one facility they had 
failed to notify the implementing agency of closure in violation of 
RCRA section 9003, 42 U.S.C. 6991b. Respondents disclosed that for 
three facilities they had failed to obtain operating permits or 
exemptions in violation of CAA section 110, 42 U.S.C. 7410, and various 
SIP requirements for emergency generators.
    EPA determined that Respondents 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 ($677,735) and 
proposed a settlement penalty amount of nine thousand, eight hundred 
and forty-three dollars ($9,843). Of this amount, $7,319 is 
attributable to the EPCRA violations; $1,309 is attributable to the 
RCRA violations; $1,062 is attributable to the CWA violations; and $153 
is attributable to CAA violations. This is the amount of the economic 
benefit gained by Respondents, attributable to their delayed compliance 
with the CWA, EPCRA, RCRA, and CAA regulations. Respondents have agreed 
to pay this amount. EPA and Respondents negotiated and reached an 
administrative consent agreement, following the Consolidated Rules of 
Practice, 40 CFR 22.13(b), on July 2, 2002 (In Re: Dobson Cellular 
Systems, Inc. and American Cellular Corporation Docket Nos. CWA--HQ-
2002-6002, EPCRA-HQ-2002-6002, RCRA-HQ-2002-6002, CAA-HQ-2002-6002). 
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 a Class II 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 August 9, 2002. 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 22.4(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: July 3, 2002.
Rosemarie A. Kelley,
Acting Director, Multimedia Enforcement Division, , Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
[FR Doc. 02-17310 Filed 7-9-02; 8:45 am]
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