[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 61694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27258]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Partial Consent Decree Between De Minimis 
Settling Defendants and the United States and State of New Jersey, and 
the Natural Resource Damages Partial Consent Decree Between Settling 
Defendants and the United States and State of New Jersey Under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 
as Amended

    Notice is hereby given that, on October 20, 2003, a proposed 
partial consent decree between de minimis settling defendants and the 
United States and State of New Jersey, and a proposed Natural Resource 
Damages Partial Consent Decree between settling defendants and the 
United States and State of New Jersey Natural Resources Damages Partial 
Consent Decree were lodged in United States v. Beckman Coulter, Inc., 
et al., Civil Action No. 98-CV-4812 (WHW) and New Jersey Department of 
Environmental Protection, et al. v. American Thermoplastics Corp., et 
al., Civil Action No. 98-CV-4781 (WHW) (consolidated) before the United 
States District Court in the District of New Jersey, Newark Vicinage.
    The De Minimis Decree resolves the liability for response costs 
under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 
Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq. (CERCLA) of 58 de 
minimis parties in connection with the Combe Fill South Site in New 
Jersey. Pursuant to the settlement, the United States and New Jersey 
will recover $3.235 million in response costs. The Natural Resource 
Damages Decree resolves the liability of 53 of those same parties for 
natural resource damages in connection with the Site. Pursuant to that 
settlement, State and federal natural resource trustees will receive 
$302,000 for natural resource restoration and other NRD-related costs 
in connection with the Site.
    The Department of Justice will receive, for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication, comments relating to the 
consent decrees. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney 
General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Post Office Box 
7611, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, 
and should refer to United States v. Beckman Coulter, Inc., et al., 
Civil Action No. 98-CV-4812 (WHW) and New Jersey Department of 
Environmental protection, et al. v. American Thermoplastics Corp., et 
al., Civil Action No. 98-CV-4781 (WHW) (consolidated) and reference 
number 90-11-2-1134/1.
    The two Decrees may be examined at the Office of the United States 
Attorney, District of New Jersey, at the Peter Rodino Federal Building, 
970 Broad Street, Suite 700, Newark, NJ (call (973) 645-2700 to arrange 
to examine the Decrees). Copies of the Decrees may also be obtained by 
mail from the Consent Decree Library, Post Office 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 payable to the United States Treasury in the amount of $36.25 (25 
cents per page reproduction cost). During the public comment period, 
the Consent Decrees may also be examined on the following Department of 
Justice Web site http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html.

Ronald Gluck,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 03-27258 Filed 10-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-01-M