[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 79521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27229]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On November 1, 2016, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
consent decree with the United States District Court for the District 
of Arizona in the lawsuit entitled United States v. WestRock CP, LLC, 
Civil Action No. CV-16-08247-PCT-PGR.
    The United States alleged that WestRock CP, LLC--as the successor 
to Southwest Forest Industries, Inc.--is liable under Section 107 of 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9607, for reimbursement of response costs 
incurred or to be incurred by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
in connection with releases or threatened releases of hazardous 
substances into the environment at or from land associated with a 
former wood-treating facility located approximately 1 mile northeast of 
Prescott, Arizona and on the Yavapai-Prescott Indian reservation. To 
date, unreimbursed response costs have totaled approximately $6.2 
million. Under the proposed consent decree and consistent with an 
earlier bankruptcy settlement agreement, the United States will be 
allowed a general unsecured claim in the sum of $2.8 million in the 
Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving WestRock CP, LLC's predecessor 
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation. The allowed claim will be 
satisfied as a cash distribution of $1,602,877.46; 56,064 shares of 
WestRock Company stock; and 9,344 shares of Ingevity Corporation stock. 
In return, the United States covenants not to sue or take 
administrative action against WestRock CP, LLC pursuant to Sections 106 
and 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9606 and 9607(a), and Section 7003 of 
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 42 U.S.C. 6973, 
regarding the site.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
should refer to United States v. WestRock CP, LLC, D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-
3-09733/3. 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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    Under section 7003(d) of RCRA, a commenter may request an 
opportunity for a public meeting in the affected area.
    During the public comment period, the consent decree may be 
examined and downloaded at this Justice Department Web site: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. We will provide a paper copy of 
the 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 $6.00 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Henry Friedman,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-27229 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-15-P