[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 3922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01111]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[RCRA-02-2024-7301; FRL-11630-01-R2]


Proposed Settlement Agreement Pursuant to RCRA, CERCLA and the 
Authority of the Attorney General of the United States To Compromise 
and Settle Claims for the Former SCPC Facility, St. Croix, United 
States Virgin Islands

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended 
(commonly referred to as RCRA), and the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), notice is 
hereby given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA''), 
Region 2, of a proposed settlement agreement (``Settlement'') pursuant 
to RCRA and CERCLA with St. Croix Petrochemical Corporation (``SCPC'') 
(``Settling Party'') related to the former SCPC manufacturing facility 
that operated in the past on a portion of the former HOVENSA refinery 
(``SCPC Facility'') in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands 
(``USVI'').

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 21, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Reviewing Proposed Settlement: The proposed Settlement can 
be viewed online at https://www.epa.gov/ny/proposed-settlement-agreement-former-scpc-facility-st-croix-united-states-virgin-islands. A 
copy of the proposed Settlement may also be obtained from the EPA 
contact person identified below. Submission of comments must be via 
electronic mail to [email protected]. Comments should reference 
the SCPC Settlement, St. Croix, USVI, Index No. RCRA-02-2024-7301. For 
those unable to communicate via electronic mail please contact the EPA 
employee identified below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ricardito Vargas, Land and 
Redevelopment Programs Branch, Region 2, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 290 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866. Email: 
[email protected]. Telephone: 212-637-3703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Settlement would resolve the liability 
of SCPC for soil and groundwater contamination related to its former 
para-xylene manufacturing facility, a 20-acre portion of the former 
HOVENSA refinery in St. Croix. This Settlement would be 
contemporaneously finalized and become effective with a companion 
settlement between SCPC and the Hovensa Environmental Response Trust 
(``ERT''). The ERT was established during the HOVENSA, LLC bankruptcy 
proceedings, to, among other things, implement RCRA corrective measures 
at the former HOVENSA facility. Under both settlement agreements, SCPC 
would transfer its remaining assets of approximately $1.7 million to 
the ERT to help fund remediation of contamination caused by SCPC at the 
former HOVENSA facility. This payment would be made within 60 days of 
the Effective Date of the Settlement. The Settlement includes a 
covenant by EPA not to sue SCPC under sections 3013 and 7003 of RCRA 
and sections 106 and 107(a) of CERCLA regarding the SCPC Facility, 
contingent upon SCPC transferring its remaining assets to the ERT. For 
thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, EPA 
will receive written comments relating to the Settlement. EPA and the 
United States Department of Justice will consider all comments received 
and may modify or withdraw consent to the Settlement if comments 
received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the 
proposed Settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The 
response to any comments can be viewed online at https://www.epa.gov/ny/proposed-settlement-agreement-former-scpc-facility-st-croix-united-states-virgin-islands. A copy of the response to comments may be 
obtained from the EPA contact person identified above. Commenters may 
request an opportunity for a public meeting in the affected area in 
accordance with section 7003(d) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6973(d).

Alyssa Arcaya,
Deputy Regional Administrator, Region 2, Environmental Protection 
Agency.
[FR Doc. 2024-01111 Filed 1-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P