[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 29694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09682]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Proposed Settlement Agreement Under the Oil Pollution
Act
Notice is hereby given that the United States of America, on behalf
of the Department of the Interior (``DOI'') acting through the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, is providing an opportunity for public
comment on a proposed non-judical settlement agreement (``Settlement
Agreement'') among the Department of the Interior, the Texas General
Land Office, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (collectively ``Trustees'') and
AET, Inc., Ltd. and AET Ship Management, PTE., Ltd. (collectively,
``AET'').
The Settlement Agreement resolves the civil claims of the Trustees
against AET arising by virtue of their natural resource trustee
authority under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. 2702, and
applicable state law, for injury to, impairment of, destruction of,
loss of, diminution of value of, and/or loss of use of natural
resources resulting from the January 23, 2010 discharge of sour crude
oil into the Sabine-Neches Waterway in the City of Port Arthur,
Jefferson County, Texas at or from the T/V Eagle Otome as a result of
the T/V Eagle Otome's collision with the towboat Dixie Vengeance.
Under the proposed Settlement Agreement, AET agrees to pay $400,000
to the Trustees, as follows: $311,492 to the DOI Natural Resource
Damage Assessment and Restoration Fund to be used to restore, replace,
rehabilitate, and/or acquire the equivalent of those natural resources
and their services injured by the discharge of oil and for the
Trustees' restoration planning and oversight of restoration
implementation; and $88,508 for Trustees' past assessment costs. AET
will receive from the Trustees a covenant not to sue for the claims
resolved by the settlement, subject to reservations and reopeners.
The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on
the proposed Settlement Agreement. Comments on the proposed Settlement
Agreement should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General,
Environment and Natural Resources Division, and should refer to the
Eagle Otome Settlement Agreement, DJ Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-12446. 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 Settlement Agreement 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 Settlement Agreement 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 $3.75 (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. 2023-09682 Filed 5-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P