[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 89459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29745]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9956-34-Region 2]


Proposed CERCLA Section 122(h) Cost Recovery Settlement for the 
Columbia Smelting and Refining Works Site, Brooklyn, Kings County, New 
York

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as 
amended (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given by the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA''), Region II, of a 
proposed cost recovery settlement agreement pursuant to Section 122(h) 
of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9622(h), with the City of New York (the ``Settling 
Party'') for the Columbia Smelting and Refining Works Site (``Site'') 
in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. The Site is a ``facility'' as 
defined by Section 101(9) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9601(9).
    The Site is composed of (1) Red Hook Recreation Area Ball Field 
Numbers 5, 6, 7, and 8 (``Ball Fields 5-8''); (2) areas surrounding 
Ball Fields 5-8 where grass is planted (referred to as ``Planting 
Strips''); (3) Red Hook Recreation Area Ball Field Number 9 (``Ball 
Field 9''); (4) the Ball Field 9 Planting Strips; (5) the sidewalks 
bordering the Ball Fields 5-8 Planting Strips and the Ball Field 9 
Planting Strips; and (6) any other areas that have been impacted by the 
historic operations of the former Columbia Smelting and Refining Works 
facility. Ball Fields 5-8 and the Ball Fields 5-8 Planting Strips, 
collectively, comprise approximately 4.17 acres and are located on 
Block 581, Lot 1 of the Tax Map of Kings County, New York, bordered on 
the north by Lorraine Street, on the east by Henry Street, on the south 
by Bay Street, and on the west by Hicks Street. Ball Field 9 and the 
Ball Field 9 Planting Strips, collectively, comprise approximately 3.4 
acres and are bordered on the north by Bay Street, on the east by 
Soccer Field #2, on the south by Halleck Street, and on the west by a 
track surrounding Soccer Field #3, located generally in the vicinity of 
Block 614, Lot 300 and Block 602, Lot 1 of the Tax Map of Kings County, 
New York. Settling Party is the current owner of the Site.
    The Settling Party agrees to pay EPA $395,105.40 in reimbursement 
of past response costs related to the performance of work performed by 
EPA at the Site.
    The settlement includes a covenant by EPA not to sue or to take 
administrative action against the Settling Party pursuant to Section 
107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607(a), with regard to the response costs 
related to work performed at the Site. For thirty (30) days following 
the date of publication of this notice, EPA will receive written 
comments relating to the settlement. EPA will consider all comments 
received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the settlement if 
comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that 
the proposed settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. 
EPA's response to any comments received will be available for public 
inspection at EPA Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, New York 10007-
1866.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 11, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The proposed settlement is available for public inspection 
at EPA Region II offices at 290 Broadway, New York, New York 10007-
1866. Comments should reference the Columbia Smelting and Refining 
Works Site, Index No. CERCLA-02-2016-2018. To request a copy of the 
proposed settlement agreement, please contact the EPA employee 
identified below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Praschak, Assistant Regional 
Counsel, New York/Caribbean Superfund Branch, Office of Regional 
Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway--17th 
Floor, New York, New York 10007-1866. Email: [email protected]. 
Telephone: 212-637-3172.

    Dated: November 21, 2016.
Walter Mugdan,
Director, Emergency and Remedial Response Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 2016-29745 Filed 12-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P