[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 225 (Friday, November 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 67498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25867]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed First Amendment to Consent Decree

    On November 19, 2021, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
First Amendment to Consent Decree with the United States District Court 
for the Western District of Louisiana in the lawsuit entitled United 
States et al. v. Columbian Chemical Company, (W.D. La.), Civil Case. 
No. 6:17-cv-01661.
    The Consent Decree, entered by the Court on August 14, 2018, 
resolved claims by the United States, the State of Kansas, and the 
State of Louisiana alleging violations of certain Clean Air Act 
provisions at two carbon black manufacturing facilities owned and 
operated by Columbian Chemicals (now ``Birla''). The Consent Decree 
requires Defendant to reduce harmful SO2, NOX, 
and PM emissions through the installation and operation of pollution 
controls at its North Bend, Louisiana and Hickok, Kansas facilities. 
Defendant also agreed to spend $375,000 to fund environmental 
mitigation projects that will further reduce emissions and benefit 
communities adversely affected by the pollution from the facilities, 
and pay a civil penalty of $650,000.
    The proposed First Amendment to Consent Decree would, if entered by 
the Court, make modifications to the Consent Decree to address and 
resolve claims by Defendant that force majeure events caused delays in 
meeting certain compliance deadlines at Defendant's Borger, Texas 
facility. The modifications extend certain deadlines in the Consent 
Decree, while maintaining Defendant's ultimate obligation to install 
and operate pollution controls at its facilities.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed First Amendment to 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. 
Columbian Chemicals Company, (W.D. La.), D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-10943. 
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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         To submit comments:                     Send them to:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By email............................  [email protected].
By mail.............................  Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
                                       DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
                                       Washington, DC 20044-7611.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    During the public comment period, the proposed First Amendment to 
Consent Decree may be examined and downloaded at this Justice 
Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. We 
will provide a paper copy of the proposed First Amendment to 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 $5.25 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Thomas Carroll,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-25867 Filed 11-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P