[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30163-30164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4831]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act, 
the Clean Air Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

    Under 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby given that on May 11, 2006, a 
proposed Consent Decree in United States of America v. Rohm and Haas 
Texas Inc., 4:06-cv-01622, was lodged with the United States District 
Court for the Southern District of Texas.
    The United States alleges that Rohm and Haas Texas Inc. (``Rohm and 
Haas'') violated Clean Water Act Section 301, 33 U.S.C. 1311, by 
discharging pollutants in excess of permit effluent limits; violated 
Clean Air Act Section

[[Page 30164]]

112(d), 42 U.S.C. 7412(d), by failing to comply with the requirements 
of the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants 
(``NESHAPS'') 40 CFR Part 63; and violated the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act Section 3008(a) and (g), 42 U.S.C. 6928(a) and (g), by 
failing to comply with the provisions of the federally approved Texas 
hazardous waste management program. The alleged violations occurred at 
a chemical manufacturing complex owned and operated by Rohm and Haas 
located in Deer Park, Texas (``the facility''). The United States 
sought injunctive relief and civil penalties to address these 
violations.
    Under the proposed Consent Decree, Rohm and Haas will pay a civil 
penalty of $485,000 and implement a supplemental environmental project 
(``SEP'') which will cost at least $670,000. The SEP involves the 
purchase of at least 300 acres of coastal wetlands and associated 
upland prairie in the Texas Galveston Bay Watershed and the transfer of 
that property to a non-profit for conservation. The proposed Consent 
Decree also requires monitoring of CWA compliance. If Rohm and Haas 
violates the effluent limits in its permit, the Consent Decree requires 
the company to take action to prevent future violations.
    The United States 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 of America v. Rohm and Haas Texas Inc., D.J. 
Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-06926.
    During the public comment period, the Consent Decree may 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 
number (202) 514-0097, phone confirmation number (202) 514-1547. If 
requesting from the Consent Decree Library a copy of the Consent 
Decree, please enclose a check in the amount of $22.25 (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. 06-4831 Filed 5-24-06; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M