[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 74 (Monday, April 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 22942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08209]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On April 12, 2022, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
Consent Judgment with the United States District Court for the Eastern 
District of New York in a lawsuit entitled United States v. Northrop 
Grumman Systems Corporation et al., Civil Action No. 22-cv-02101.
    In this action, the United States seeks, as provided under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(``CERCLA''), recovery of response costs from Northrop Grumman Systems 
Corporation and Northrop Grumman Corporation (collectively ``Grumman'') 
related to its historical operations at the Naval Weapons Industrial 
Reserve Plant, Bethpage, New York, and adjacent former facilities owned 
and operated by Grumman's predecessors (``the Sites''). The proposed 
Consent Judgment resolves the United States' claims against Grumman for 
the United States' response costs, and related contribution claims, at 
the Sites.
    Under the proposed Consent Judgment, the United States will receive 
$35,000,000 from Grumman. Of the settlement proceeds, $17,500,000 will 
go to the Department of the Navy's Environmental Restoration account, 
and $17,500,000 will go to the United States Treasury.
    The settlement (Section IX) provides, in exchange for the above 
payments, the United States releases and covenants not to sue or to 
take administrative action against Grumman with respect to claims 
arising from or relating to the Sites or the related groundwater 
contamination, including claims for response costs and contribution 
under CERCLA or other laws. Further, under Section XI, Grumman 
releases, and covenants not to sue the United States with respect to 
claims arising from or relating to the Sites or related groundwater 
contamination, including claims for response costs and contribution 
under CERCLA or other laws. The Consent Judgment more fully describes 
these covenants, and Section X identifies certain exceptions to each of 
the above-referenced covenants.
    Under the Consent Judgment, the parties will each continue with 
their respective response actions and commitments to take response 
actions to address the Sites, as described in Section VII of the 
Consent Judgment. Further, the Parties will coordinate and cooperate 
with each other in implementing their respective response actions to 
address the Sites, as described in Section VII.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed Consent Judgment. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
and should refer to United States v. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. et 
al., Civil Action No. 22-cv-02101, D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-3-10336. 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 Consent Judgment may be 
examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. A paper copy of the Consent 
Judgment will be provided 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 $4.00 (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. 2022-08209 Filed 4-15-22; 8:45 am]
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