[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 18669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05358]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Oil Pollution Act (OPA)

    On March 7, 2024, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
consent decree with the United States District Court for the Western 
District of Washington in the lawsuit entitled United States of 
America, State of Washington, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and Suquamish 
Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation v. Crowley Marine 
Services, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-00307. Docket No. 3-1.
    The proposed consent decree resolves claims brought by the United 
States on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
and the Department of the Interior, the State of Washington, the 
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and the Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port 
Madison Reservation (collectively, Trustees) against Crowley Marine 
Servies, Inc., 8th Avenue Terminals, Inc., and the Washington State 
Department of Transportation (collectively, Defendants) for natural 
resource damages caused by releases of hazardous substances and 
discharges of oil at or from facilities owned and/or operated by 
Defendants, located along and near the Lower Duwamish River, pursuant 
to section 107(a) of CERCLA, section 311 of the CWA, section 1002(b) of 
OPA, and the Washington Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), RCW 70A.305. 
The settlement requires Defendants to purchase credits in a habitat 
restoration project constructed along the River and pay a total of 
$210,000 for natural resource damages to the Trustees. The settlement 
also requires Defendants to pay $64,325.63 to reimburse their equitable 
share of assessment costs incurred by the Trustees. Defendants will 
receive covenants not to sue under the statutes listed in the complaint 
and consent decree for specified natural resource damages.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
and should refer to United States et al. v. Crowley Marine Services., 
et al., D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-3-07227/13. 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, D.C. 20044-7611.
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    Any comments submitted in writing may be filed by the United States 
in whole or in part on the public court docket without notice to the 
commenter.
    During the public comment period, the proposed consent decree may 
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. If you require assistance 
accessing the proposed consent decree, you may request assistance by 
email or by mail to the addresses provided above for submitting 
comments.

Kathryn C. Macdonald,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-05358 Filed 3-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P