[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30324-30325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12301]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Two Consent Decrees

    Notice is hereby given that on May 15, 2012, two proposed Consent 
Decrees were lodged with the United States District Court for the 
Central District of California. Both Consent Decrees were lodged in the 
case United States et al. v. Seachrome Corp. et al, Civil Action No. 
2:02-cv-4565 ABC (RCx) (C.D. Cal.) (``Seachrome'').
    In Seachrome, the United States of America (``United States''), on 
behalf of the Administrator of the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency (``EPA''), and the California Department of Toxic 
Substances Control (``Department''), filed a complaint pursuant to 
Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. Sec.  
9607, seeking reimbursement of response costs incurred or to be 
incurred for response actions taken in connection with the release or 
threatened release of hazardous substances at the South El Monte 
Operable Unit of the San Gabriel Valley Area 1 Superfund Site in South 
El Monte, Los Angeles County, California (the ``South El Monte O.U.'').
    Under the first proposed Consent Decree, nine potentially 
responsible parties (``PRPs'') with respect to the South El Monte O.U. 
will pay a total of about $4.625 million. The nine PRPs are: Astro 
Seal, Inc.; EBA, Inc. d/b/a Earl Butler Associates; New Air, Inc.; 
Pacific Coast Drum Company; Art Weiss, Art Weiss, Inc., and Del Ray 
Industrial Enterprises, Inc. (``Art Weiss Defendants''); Craneveyor 
Corp.; M&T, LLC; Mary Brkich; and Quaker Chemical Corp., the first five 
of which are settling based on an amount commensurate with their 
limited ability to pay. In exchange for the ability to pay payments, 
the plaintiffs covenant not to sue the ability to pay settling 
defendants under Section 106 or 107 of CERCLA with respect to the South 
El Monte O.U. In exchange for the payments from the other four parties, 
the plaintiffs covenant not to sue those parties under Section 106 or 
107 of CERCLA with respect to past response costs, the interim remedy 
for volatile organic compounds, or for perchlorate.
    Under the second proposed Consent Decree, the settling party, 
Seachrome Corporation, will pay a total of about $960,000. The 
settlement amount is based on Seachrome Corporation's limited ability 
to pay. In exchange for the ability to pay payment, the plaintiffs 
covenant not to sue Seachrome Corporation under Section 106 or 107 of 
CERCLA with respect to the South El Monte O.U.
    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 Decrees. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
either emailed to [email protected] or mailed to P.O. Box 
7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and should 
refer to this case: United States et al. v. Seachrome Corp. et al, 
Civil Action No. 2:02-cv-4565 FMC (C.D. Cal.), D.J. Ref. 90-11-2-09121/
5.
    The proposed Consent Decrees may be examined at the Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Regional Counsel, 75 Hawthorne St., San 
Francisco, California 94105. During the public comment period, the 
Consent Decrees 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 Decrees 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 emailing a request to 
``Consent Decree Copy'' ([email protected]), fax no. (202) 514-
0097, phone confirmation no. (202) 514-5271. In requesting a copy from 
the Consent Decree Library, please enclose a check payable to the 
``U.S. Treasury'' or, if by email or fax, forward a check to the 
Consent Decree Library at the stated address, in the following amounts 
(25 cents per page reproduction cost): $8.75 for the first proposed 
Consent Decree (without attachments), which involves nine parties, or 
$6.75 for the second

[[Page 30325]]

proposed Consent Decree (without attachments), which involves one 
party.

Henry S. Friedman,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-12301 Filed 5-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P