[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 15363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05787]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order 
on Consent for Removal Action, Nacimiento Mine Site, Santa Fe National 
Forest, New Mexico

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of settlement; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA), notice is 
hereby given of a proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement and 
Order on Consent (ASAOC), between the United States Department of 
Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) and Williams Express LLC 
(Williams), regarding the Nacimiento Mine Site located on the Santa Fe 
National Forest near Cuba, New Mexico. The property that is the subject 
of this proposed ASAOC are areas where hazardous substances and/or 
pollutants or contaminants are located on the surface features of the 
federally-owned portion of the Site designated as Operable Unit 1 
(OU1).

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by April 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: The proposed settlement and additional background 
information relating to the settlement are available for public 
inspection at the offices of the United States Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Regional Office, 333 Broadway 
SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, or from Kirk M. Minckler with USDA's Office 
of the General Counsel, email: [email protected], phone: (303) 
275-5549. Comments should reference the Nacimiento Mine, Santa Fe 
National Forest, Sandoval County, New Mexico, and should be addressed 
to Kirk M. Minckler, USDA Office of the General Counsel, 1617 Cole 
Boulevard, Suite 385E, Lakewood, Colorado 80401-3305.
    The United States' response to any comments received will be 
available for public inspection at the USDA, Office of General Counsel, 
Mountain Region, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Suite 385E, Lakewood, Colorado 
80401, and at the Forest Service's Southwestern Regional Office, 333 
Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Technical information: Steven J. McDonald, USDA Forest Service 
Southwestern Region, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102; phone: 
505-842-3838, email: [email protected].
    Legal information: Kirk M. Minckler, USDA Office of the General 
Counsel, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Suite 385E, Lakewood, Colorado 80401-
3305; phone (303) 275-5549, Fax: (303) 275-5557; email: 
[email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunications devices for the deaf or hard 
of hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-
8339 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed ASAOC between the Forest 
Service and Williams, in accordance with Section 122(i) of CERCLA, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 9622(i) under Sections 104, 107 and 122, requires 
Williams to perform a Removal Action necessary to implement the 
selected cleanup alternative involving mining waste piles and other 
surface features located on the federally owned portion of OU1 at the 
Site. The performance of this work must be approved and monitored by 
the Forest Service. Also, under the proposed ASAOC, Williams will 
reimburse the Forest Service's inspections, monitoring, and maintenance 
costs related to the Removal Action as Future Response Costs.
    For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this 
notice, the United States will receive written comments relating to the 
ASAOC. The United States will consider all comments received and may 
modify or withdraw its consent to the ASAOC if comments received 
disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the settlement is 
inappropriate, improper, or inadequate.

    Dated: March 15, 2022.
Kerwin S. Dewberry,
Acting Deputy Regional Forester, Southwestern Region.
[FR Doc. 2022-05787 Filed 3-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P