[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35237-35238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14825]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Settlement Agreement Under the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)

    Notice is hereby given that on May 30, 2003, a proposed Consent 
Decree in United States and State of Illinois v. National Steel 
Corporation, Case No. 1:03cv3338 was lodged with the United

[[Page 35238]]

States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
    In this action the United States sought civil penalties and 
injunctive relief arising from National Steel Corporation's improper 
characterization and disposal of hazardous wastes in an on-site 
landfill at its Granite City Division facility in Granite City, 
Illinois. The Consent Decree provides that National Steel Corporation 
will close its on-site landfill and increase the monitoring and post-
closure care of its landfill. In addition, the Consent Decree requires 
payment of a civil penalty of $500,000. Payment of the penalty will be 
subject to procedures in National Steel Corporation's Chapter 11 
Bankruptcy proceeding, In Re: National Steel Corporation, et al., No. 
02-08699 (Bankr. N.D. Ill., filed March 6, 2002).
    National Steel Corporation is currently negotiating the final terms 
for a court-approved transfer of its assets to the United States Steel 
Corporation. Therefore the Consent Decree provides a procedure for 
United States Steel Corporation to assume the obligations of National 
Steel Corporation once the Bankruptcy Court has approved the final 
transfer of assets.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the Consent 
Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, 
Environment and Natural Resources Division, P.O. Box 7611, U.S. 
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and should refer to 
United States and State of Illinois v. National Steel Corporation, D.J. 
Ref. 90-11-3-07887. Commenters may request an opportunity for a public 
meeting in the affected area, in accordance with section 7003(d) of 
RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6973(d).
    The Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the United 
States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 219 South Dearborn 
Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60604 and at U.S. EPA Region 5, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604. During the public comment period, 
the Consent Decree may also be examined on the following Department of 
Justice Web site, http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html. A copy of the 
Consent Decree may also be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree 
Library, P.O. Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 
20044-7611 or by faxing or e-mailing a request to Tonia Fleetwood 
([email protected]), fax no. (202) 514-0097, phone confirmation 
number (202) 514-1547. In requesting a copy from the Consent Decree 
Library, please enclose a check in the amount of $7.00 (25 cents per 
page reproduction cost) payable to the U.S. Treasury.

William D. Brighton,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 03-14825 Filed 6-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M