[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 80764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25570]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On November 8, 2023, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Northern 
District of Indiana in the lawsuit entitled United States and the State 
of Indiana v. Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor LLC and Cleveland-Cliffs 
Steel LLC, Case No. 23-381 (N.D. Ind.).
    The Complaint seeks compensation for natural resource damages 
relating to a steel manufacturing and finishing facility in Burns 
Harbor, Indiana, owned and operated by Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor 
LLC and its corporate parent Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC (collectively, 
``Cleveland-Cliffs''). The Complaint alleges that Cleveland-Cliffs 
released cyanide and ammonia into the East Branch of the Little Calumet 
River during an August 2019 incident, which led to beach closures, a 
fish kill, and other natural resource damages recoverable under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. 
Under the Consent Decree, Cleveland-Cliffs would be required to provide 
compensation for the natural resource damages. In particular, the 
Consent Decree requires: (1) the donation and conservation of two 
approximately one-acre parcels of land bordering the East Branch of the 
Little Calumet River and near the Indiana Dunes National Park; (2) 
payment of $409,533 to the DOI Natural Resource Damage Assessment and 
Restoration Fund; and (3) payment of $590,173 to the governments for 
reimbursement of natural resource damages assessment costs.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
should refer to United States and the State of Indiana v. Cleveland-
Cliffs Burns Harbor LLC and Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC, D.J. Ref. No. 
90-5-1-1-12268/2. All comments must be submitted no later than 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 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 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 $6.25 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Patricia McKenna,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-25570 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P