[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26768-26769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11174]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of a Consent Decree Under The Clean Water Act, 
The Clean Air Act, and The Federal Pipeline Safety Laws

    Notice is hereby given that on May 3, 2011, a proposed Consent 
Decree in United States v. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., Civil Action 
No. 3:09-CV-00064-JWS was lodged with the United States District Court 
for the District of Alaska.
    In this action the United States seeks civil penalties and 
injunctive relief for violations of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 
1311, 1319, 1321, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.; the Clean Air Act (CAA), 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q; and 
the Federal Pipeline Safety Laws, 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq., in 
connection with BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. (``BPXA'')'s operation of 
oil pipelines on the North Slope of Alaska. The Clean Water Act claims 
in the Complaint arise from two unauthorized discharges of crude oil in 
the spring and summer of 2006, as well as violations of the Spill 
Prevention Control and Countermeasure regulations. The Clean Air Act 
claims against BPXA arise from the improper removal of asbestos-
containing material from its pipelines in the spring and summer of 
2006, in violation of CAA regulations. The Pipeline Safety Law claims 
arise from BPXA's failure to comply with an order issued by the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the United 
States Department of Transportation pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60112, 
requiring BPXA to perform corrective action on its pipelines.
    Under the proposed Consent Decree, BPXA will be required to 
implement a comprehensive integrity management program to maintain its 
oil pipelines in Prudhoe Bay. BPXA will also pay $25 million in civil 
penalties.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the 
proposed 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. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., D.J. Ref. 90-5-
1-1-08808.
    The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, 
WA 98101 (contact Associate Regional Counsel Stephanie Mairs (206) 553-
7359). During the public comment period, the proposed Consent Decree 
may also be examined on the following Department of Justice Web site, 
at 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.

[[Page 26769]]

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 $32 for complete Consent Decree or $15.75 for 
the Consent Decree without the appendices (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.

Robert E. Maher, Jr.,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-11174 Filed 5-6-11; 8:45 am]
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