[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