[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13675-13676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05149]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On March 5, 2014, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
consent decree with the United States District Court for the Southern 
District of West Virginia in a lawsuit entitled United States, et al. 
v. Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 2:14-cv-
11609.
    The proposed Consent Decree will resolve Clean Water Act claims 
alleged in this action by the United States, the State of West 
Virginia, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and 
the Commonwealth of Kentucky against Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. and 
59 of its subsidiaries \1\ (collectively, ``Alpha'') for the discharge 
of pollutants into state waters and waters of the United States in 
violation of limits in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(``NPDES'') permits. The Consent Decree will also resolve claims 
against Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. and Cumberland Coal Resources, LP 
for discharging pollutants into state waters and waters of the United 
States without complying with the requirements for obtaining an NPDES 
permit.
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    \1\ Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.; Alpha Appalachia Holdings, 
Inc.; Alex Energy, Inc.; Alpha PA Coal Terminal, LLC; Amfire Mining 
Company, LLC; Aracoma Coal Co., Inc.; Bandmill Coal Corp.; Belfry 
Coal Corp.; Big Bear Mining Co.; Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC; 
Brooks Run South Mining LLC; Clear Fork Coal Co.; Cumberland Coal 
Resources, LP; Delbarton Mining Co.; Dickenson-Russell Coal Company, 
LLC; Duchess Coal Co.; Eagle Energy, Inc.; Elk Run Coal Co., Inc.; 
Emerald Coal Resources, LP; Enterprise Mining Company, LLC; Goals 
Coal Co.; Greyeagle Coal Co.; Harlan Reclamation Services LLC; 
Herndon Processing Co., LLC; Highland Mining Co.; Independence Coal 
Company, Inc.; Jacks Branch Coal Co.; Kanawha Energy Co.; Kepler 
Processing Co., LLC; Kingston Mining, Inc.; Kingwood Mining Co., 
LLC; Knox Creek Coal Corp.; Litwar Processing Co., LLC; Marfork Coal 
Co.; Martin County Coal Corp.; New Ridge Mining Co.; Omar Mining 
Co.; Paramont Coal Company Virginia, LLC; Paynter Branch Mining, 
Inc.; Peerless Eagle Coal Co.; Performance Coal Co.; Peter Cave 
Mining; Pigeon Creek Processing Corp.; Pioneer Fuel Corp.; Power 
Mountain Coal Co.; Premium Energy, LLC; Rawl Sales & Processing Co.; 
Resource Land Co.; Riverside Energy Co., LLC; Road Fork Development 
Co.; Rockspring Development, Inc.; Rum Creek Coal Sales, Inc.; 
Sidney Coal Co.; Spartan Mining Co.; Stirrat Coal Co.; Sycamore 
Fuels Inc.; Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company; Trace Creek Coal 
Co.; and Twin Star Mining, Inc.
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    Under the proposed Consent Decree, Defendants will perform 
injunctive relief including: (1) Development and implementation of an 
environmental management system and periodic internal and third-party 
environmental compliance auditing; (2) data tracking and evaluation 
measures, including centralized audit and violations databases to track 
information relevant to compliance efforts at each outfall; (3) 
response measures for effluent limit violations, including consultation 
with a third-party expert and automatic stipulated penalties; (4) 
construction and operation of a specified treatment system to address 
violations of osmotic

[[Page 13676]]

pressure permit limits; and (5) implementation of compliance plans, 
including water management or treatment approaches, to address 
violations of selenium permit limits. In addition, Alpha will pay a 
civil penalty of $27.5 million.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
and should refer to United States, et al. v. Alpha Natural Resources, 
Inc., et al., D.J. Reference No. 90-5-1-1-08470/1. All comments must be 
submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of 
this notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by mail:

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         To submit comments:                     Send them to:
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By email............................  [email protected]
By mail.............................  Assistant Attorney General,
                                      U.S. DOJ--ENRD,
                                      P.O. Box 7611,
                                      Washington, DC 20044-7611/
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    During the public comment period, the proposed consent decree may 
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department Web site: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
    We will provide a paper copy of the proposed consent decree upon 
written request and payment of reproduction costs. Please mail your 
request and payment to: Consent Decree Library, U.S. DOJ--ENRD, P.O. 
Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611.
    Please enclose a check or money order for $29.25 (25 cents per page 
reproduction costs) payable to the United States Treasury. For a paper 
copy without the exhibits and signature pages, the cost is $22.00.

Maureen Katz,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
& Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2014-05149 Filed 3-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-CW-P