[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 59 (Friday, March 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15900-15901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6763]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Settlement Agreement Under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

    Under 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby given that on March 19, 2004, a 
motion to approve a proposed Settlement Agreement was filed in the 
United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada in In re 
Washington Group, International, Inc., et al., Case No. BK-N-01-31627 
(Bankr. D. Nev.). The Court's action on the proposed Agreement is 
subject to the United States' determination whether to proceed with the 
Agreement following any public comment on its terms. Further, the 
proposed Agreement is subject to the notice provisions of Rule 9019(a) 
of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.
    The United States filed a proof of claim in the above bankruptcy 
seeking reimbursement for response costs expended by the United States 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, under Section 104 of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 
(``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9604, to investigate releases of selenium from 
four reclaimed phosphate mines located in southeastern Idaho--the North 
Maybe, South Maybe, Champ and Mountain Fuel Mines (``the Mines''). In 
its proof of claim, the United States included an unliquidated claim 
for compensation for CERCLA response costs which the Forest Service 
anticipates incurring at the Mines. The

[[Page 15901]]

Forest Service expects to incur, among other potential expenses, 
additional investigative costs and the costs of abating selenium 
releases, including releases into pit lakes, seeps and streams, and the 
uptake of selenium into forage grasses and other plants. Releases of 
selenium from the Mines have caused the deaths of domestic animals and 
may endanger wildlife. Under the proposed Agreement, the United States 
will be awarded an allowed general unsecured claim against Washington 
Group International, Inc. and affiliated debtors in the amount of $30 
million. In addition, the United States will receive payments from two 
insurance companies totaling $4.5 million.
    As is typical, the proposed Agreement provides contribution 
protection to the settling parties. In addition, through the motion to 
approve the Agreement, the reorganized debtors and the Plan Committee 
\1\ are seeking an injunction which would preclude any and all persons 
and entities from asserting claims against the settling insurers that 
arise out of or relate to the Policies and relate to the Sites.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Formally known as the Plan Committee in Bankruptcy Case No. 
01-31627-GWZ, before the Bankruptcy Court for the District of 
Nevada.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department of Justice will receive comments relating to the 
proposed Settlement Agreement during a period ending April 14, 2004. 
Comments must be received by that date. If sent by U.S. Mail, comments 
must be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General for the 
Environmental and Natural Resources Division, P.O. Box 7611, U.S. 
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611. Any comments sent by 
a delivery service other than U.S. Mail must be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources 
Division, in care of Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Room 
13073, 1425 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005. Comments should 
refer to In re Washington Group International, et al., DOJ Ref. 
90-11-2-07499/1.
    The proposed Settlement Agreement may be examined at the office of 
the United States Attorney, District of Nevada, 100 West Liberty 
Street, Suite 600, Reno, Nevada 89501 and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Pacific Region--Portland Office, 1220 SW. Third Avenue, 
Room 1734, Portland, OR 97204-2825. During the public comment period, 
the proposed Settlement Agreement may also be examined on the following 
Department of Justice Web site, http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html. A 
copy of the proposed Settlement Agreement may be obtained by mail from 
the Consent Decree Library, PO Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, 
Washington, DC 20044-7611 or by telefaxing or e-mailing a request to 
Tonia Fleetwood ([email protected]), telefax no. (202) 514-
0097, phone confirmation number (202) 514-1547. The Agreement, without 
exhibits, consists of 18 pages. Including Exhibits A and B, the 
Agreement consists of 30 pages. Exhibit C is a voluminous exhibit 
consisting of ten insurance policies. Copies of the insurance policies 
may be obtained by calling David Street at (202) 514-5471. In 
requesting copies of the Agreement, specify whether copies of exhibits 
are sought and include a check in the appropriate amount (25 cents per 
page reproduction cost) for In re Washington Group International, Inc., 
et al., payable to the U.S. Treasury.

Robert E. Maher, Jr.,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 04-6763 Filed 3-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M