[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 39 (Monday, March 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9106-9107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4367]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

    Notice is hereby given that on February 11, 2009, a Consent Decree 
in United States v. Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp., et 
al., Civil Action No. 09-0866, was lodged with the United States 
District Court for the Central District of California.
    The Consent Decree resolves claims brought by the United States, on 
behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA''), 
and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (``DTSC'') 
under Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9607, and Section 7003 of 
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6973, 
related to the releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances 
at the Puente Valley Operable Unit of the San Gabriel Valley Area 4 
Superfund Site (``Site'') in Los Angeles County, California.
    The Consent Decree resolves the liability of Northrop Grumman Space 
& Mission Systems Corp. (``Northrop'' or ``Performing Settling 
Defendant'') and 43 cashout parties associated with 17 source 
properties and their related

[[Page 9107]]

entities (``Contributing Settling Defendants'') with respect to the 
groundwater contamination and its investigation and treatment as set 
forth in the Interim Record of Decision, as modified by the Explanation 
of Significant Differences. The Consent Decree requires the Performing 
Settling Defendant, on behalf of all of the Settling Defendants, to 
construct the intermediate zone remedy to address groundwater 
contamination and operate it for eight years from the operational and 
functional date of the groundwater treatment system for the 
intermediate zone at an estimated cost of $21 million, pay $465,420.90 
to EPA for past costs, and pay $90,000 to DTSC for past response costs. 
The Performing Settling Defendant represents that between 2002 and June 
30, 2007, it incurred costs in excess of seven million dollars ($7 
million) to implement the intermediate zone remedial action in 
compliance with the Unilateral Administrative Order No. 2002-06 issued 
on March 21, 2002, pending negotiations of the Consent Decree. Settling 
Defendants who currently own source properties within the PVOU are 
required to provide access and all of the Settling Defendants are 
required to retain records and provide EPA access to information. The 
Consent Decree gives all Settling Defendants a covenant not to sue. The 
Consent Decree reserves the United States' right to sue the Settling 
Defendants for the final Record of Decision and is subject to standard 
reopeners and reservations of rights.
    The 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, and either e-
mailed to [email protected] or mailed to P.O. Box 7611, 
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and should refer 
to United States v. Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp., 
D.J. Ref. 90-11-2-354/16. Commenters may request an opportunity for a 
public meeting in the affected area, in accordance with Section 7003 of 
RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6973(d).
    The Consent Decree may be examined at U.S. EPA Region IX at 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California 94105. During the public 
comment period, the Consent Decree may also be examined on the 
following Department of Justice Web site, to http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.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 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 $95.50 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) payable to the 
U.S. Treasury or, if by e-mail or fax, forward a check in that amount 
to the Consent Decree Library at the stated address.

Henry Friedman,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. E9-4367 Filed 2-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P