[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 4203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1866]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7442-3]


Notice of Proposed Purchaser Agreement Pursuant to the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 
1980, as Amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund 
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 
9601-9675, notice is hereby given that a proposed purchaser agreement 
(``Purchaser Agreement'') associated with the Commodore Semiconductor 
Group Superfund Site (``Site'') located in Norristown, Pennsylvania, 
was executed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department 
of Justice and is now subject to public comment, after which the United 
States may modify or withdraw its consent if comments received disclose 
facts or considerations which indicate that the Purchaser Agreement is 
inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Purchaser Agreement will 
resolve certain potential EPA claims under sections 106 and 107 of 
CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607, against 950 Rittenhouse, Inc., and 950 
Rittenhouse Associates, L.P. (``Purchaser''). The property subject to 
the Purchaser Agreement is the Site which encompasses approximately 14 
acres at 950 Rittenhouse Road, in the Valley Forge Corporate Center in 
Lower Providence Township, Norristown, Pennsylvania. A portion of the 
Site had been operated as a semiconductor chip manufacturing facility. 
At the time the building was constructed, a 250-gallon underground 
concrete storage tank was installed adjacent to the southeast side of 
the building. The concrete tank was used to store a waste solution 
known to contain trichloroethene (``TCE'') and other solvents. 
According to information obtained by EPA from Commodore Business 
Machines, Inc., the former operator of the Facility, contents from the 
underground concrete storage tank leaked in 1974.
    In February 1984, EPA performed a Site Inspection (``SI'') at the 
Site. A Preliminary Assessment (``PA'') and another SI were 
subsequently completed by EPA on December 5 and 12, 1986, respectively. 
Sampling results revealed the presence of trichloroethene (``TCE'') in 
nearby residential wells. EPA also found the presence of volatile 
organic compounds (``VOCs'') which include trichloroethene (``TCE''), 
trichloroethane (``TCA''), 1,2 dichloroethene, 1,1 dichloroethene, and 
1,1 dichloroethane and vinyl chloride in groundwater, surface water, 
and soil samples taken from the Site.
    For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this 
notice, the Agency will accept written comments relating to the 
proposed Purchaser Agreement. The Agency's response to any comments 
received will be available for public inspection at the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, 
Philadelphia, PA 19103.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 27, 2003.

Availability: The proposed Purchaser Agreement and additional 
background information relating to the proposed Purchaser Agreement are 
available for public inspection at the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. A copy of 
the proposed Purchaser Agreement may be obtained from Suzanne Canning, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Legal Program Coordinator 
(3RC00), 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Comments should 
reference the ``Commodore Semiconductor Group Superfund Site 
Prospective Purchaser Agreement'' and ``EPA Docket No. CERCLA-03-2002-
0071,'' and should be forwarded to Suzanne Canning at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvette Hamilton-Taylor (3RC43), Senior 
Assistant Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1650 
Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Phone: (215) 814-2636.

    Dated: December 30, 2002.
Thomas Voltaggio,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 03-1866 Filed 1-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P