[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 3880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1769]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7443-9]


Proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement Pursuant to the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA), as Amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization 
Act--Upper Tenmile Creek Watershed, Lewis and Clark County and 
Jefferson County, Montana

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 
as amended (CERCLA), concerning the Upper Tenmile Creek Mining Area NPL 
site and Basin Mining Area NPL site in Lewis and Clark County and 
Jefferson County, Montana (Sites). The proposed prospective purchaser 
agreement with the State of Montana, acting by and through the Montana 
Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), would resolve any liability 
the State might incur when it acquires property which was previously 
part of the Basin Creek Mine from the Chapter 7 bankruptcy estates of 
Pegasus Gold Montana Mining, Inc. (PGMMI) and Pangea Explorations, Inc. 
(PEI). MDEQ would acquire the property through a settlement agreement 
with the bankruptcy trustee; the agreement is attached to the proposed 
prospective purchaser agreement.
    EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest 
Service) intend to use a portion of the property, known as the Luttrell 
Pit mine waste repository, to implement CERCLA remedial actions at the 
Sites.
    Parties to the Agreement include EPA, the Forest Service, MDEQ and 
the United States Department of Justice.

DATES: The public should submit comments to EPA relating to this 
proposed settlement on or before February 18, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The proposed settlement is available for public inspection 
at the EPA's Region VIII Superfund Records Center, 999 18th Street, 5th 
Floor, North Tower, Denver, Colorado, (303) 312-6473 and at EPA's 
Montana Superfund Records Center, Federal Office Building, 10 West 15th 
Street, Suite 3200, Helena, Montana, (406) 457-5046. Comments should be 
addressed to Carol J. Pokorny, Enforcement Specialist, (8ENF-T), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, 
Colorado, 80202-2466, and should reference the Upper Tenmile Creek 
Mining Area and Basin Mining Area Sites Prospective Purchaser Agreement 
with the State of Montana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Bohan, Enforcement Attorney, 
at (303) 312-6925.

    Dated: January 9, 2003.
Carol Rushin,
Assistant Regional Administrator, Office of Enforcement, Compliance and 
Environmental Justice.
[FR Doc. 03-1769 Filed 1-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6460-50-M