[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 249 (Monday, December 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 74330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6243]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean 
Water Act

    Notice is hereby given that on December 13, 2007, a Consent Decree 
in United States of America v. Merck & Co., Inc., Civil Action No. 07-
cv-5239, was lodged with the United States District Court for the 
Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
    The proposed consent decree with Merck & Co., Inc., (``Merck'') 
resolves the claims of the United States on behalf of EPA against Merck 
for injunctive relief and civil penalties under section 309 of the 
Clean Water Act (``CWA''), 33 U.S.C. 1319, in connection with the 
pharmaceutical and vaccine research and manufacturing facility located 
in West Point, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Pursuant to the consent 
decree, Merck will pay a total of $1,575,000 in penalties. Merck will 
pay a civil penalty of $750,000 to the United States, $750,000 to the 
Commonwealth, and $75,000 to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. 
In addition, Merck has undertaken, and will continue to take, remedial 
measures at their facility to prevent further discharges. Finally, 
Merck has agreed to State Community Environmental Projects and Federal 
Supplemental Environmental Projects at a value in excess of $9 million.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to this 
proposed 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, Attention: 
Nancy Flickinger (EES), and may be submitted by electronic mail to the 
following address: [email protected]. Comments should refer 
to United States of America v. Merck & Co., Inc., Civil Action No. 07-
cv-5239 D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-09062.
    The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the 
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 615 
Chestnut Street, Suite 1250, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, and at 
U.S. EPA Region III's Office, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. 
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/Consent_Decrees.html. A copy of the proposed 
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 $7.75 
(25 cents per page reproduction cost for a full copy) payable to the 
U.S. Treasury.

Robert D. Brook,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 07-6243 Filed 12-28-07; 8:45 am]
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