[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-33080]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree; National Marine Sanctuaries 
Act

    Notice is hereby given that the United States, on behalf of the 
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, in 
United States v. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, Civil Action No. 
97-2510, consolidated with 97-10075, on December 4, 2002. This Consent 
Decree resolves the claims of the United States against Great Lakes 
Dredge and Dock Company (``Great Lakes''), pursuant to the National 
Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1431, et seq. The Consent Decree 
concerns the grounding of a vessel owned by Coastal Marine Towing and 
the dragging of a dredge pipe for 13 miles through the Florida Keys 
National Marine Sanctuary west of Marathon, Florida.
    The Consent Decree provides that Great Lakes will purchase an 
annuity from Allstate Life Insurance Company (``Allstate'') which will 
provide for the payment of $969,000 to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (``NOAA'') over a period of five years from 
December 16, 2002. The funds will be used by NOAA to repay damage 
assessment costs, compensatory or loss use values, and for the primary 
on-site restoration of the grounding site. The Consent Decree further 
provides that the United States covenants not to bring a civil action 
or take administrative action against Great Lakes pursuant to the NMSA 
for violations of the Act alleged in the Amended Complaint.
    The Department of Justice will receive, for a period of 30 days 
from the date of this publication, comments relating to the proposed 
Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney 
General for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division, 
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to United 
States v. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, DOJ 90-11-3-
1636.
    The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the United States 
Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida, 99 NE. 4th St., Suite 
328, Miami, FL 33132. A copy of the proposed Consent Decree may be 
obtained by mail from the Department of Justice Consent Decree Library, 
P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044. In requesting a copy, please refer 
to the reference number given above and enclose a check in the amount 
of $8.50 (25 cents per page reproduction costs), payable to the Consent 
Decree Library.

Ellen M. Mahan,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 02-33080 Filed 12-31-02; 8:45 am]
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