[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 69586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22739]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Settlement Agreement Under the Oil Pollution 
Act (``OPA'')

    Notice is hereby given that on November 4, 2005, a proposed 
Settlement Agreement in In re Equinox Oil Co., Inc., et al., Civil 
Action Nos. 99-12688 and 99-13071 was lodged with the United States 
Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
    The United States and the State of Louisiana (``State'') each filed 
a Proof of Claim in this jointly administered bankruptcy action, 
seeking natural resource damages, and the United States also sought 
removal costs paid by the Coast Guard to clean up oil that was 
discharged into the waters of Lake Grande Ecaille in Plaquemines 
Parish, Louisiana during a well blowout. The State and federal claims 
were authorized by the Oil Pollution Act (``OPA''). The well was owned 
by Alma Energy Corporation and operated by Equinox Oil Company, Inc. 
These companies filed for bankruptcy and subsequently were purchased by 
Elysium Energy, L.L.C. (``Elysium''), which assumed liability for these 
claims.
    Under the Settlement Agreement, Elysium agreed to pay $1.2 million 
to resolve the United States' and the State's natural resource damage 
claims, including costs to implement restoration projects on property 
near the location of the oil spill, past assessment costs, and 
estimated future restoration costs. The Coast Guard's removal costs 
were paid earlier.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the 
proposed Settlement Agreement. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
PO Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and 
should refer to In re Equinox Oil Co., Inc., et al., D.J. Ref. No. 90-
11-3-07003.
    The Settlement Agreement may be examined during the public comment 
period on the following Department of Justice Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html. A copy of the Settlement Agreement may 
also be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library, PO 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 of the Settlement Agreement from the Consent Decree 
Library, please enclose a check in the amount of $6.75 (25 cents per 
page reproduction cost) payable to the U.S. Treasury.

Thomas A. Mariani, Jr.,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 05-22739 Filed 11-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M