[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24505-24506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07350]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Third Amendment To Consent Decree 
Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

    On March 29, 2024, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
Third Amendment to a Consent Decree (``Amendment 3'') with the United 
States District Court for the Central District of California 
(``Court'') in the matter of United States of America and State of 
California on behalf of the Department of Toxic Substances Control and 
Toxic Substances Control Account vs. Abex Aerospace, et al., Civil 
Action No. 2:16-cv-02696 (C.D. Cal.).
    This Amendment 3 amends Appendix D of the Consent Decree previously 
approved by the Court on March 31, 2017 (for which the Court also 
approved amendments on April 5, 2018, and June 10, 2020). The Consent 
Decree pertains to environmental contamination at Operable Unit 2 
(``OU2'') of the Omega

[[Page 24506]]

Chemical Corporation Superfund Site (``Site'') in Los Angeles County, 
California. Amendment 3 is for the purpose of adding additional 
settling parties to the Consent Decree and follows the mechanisms that 
the previously approved Consent Decree sets forth for adding additional 
settlors.
    The Consent Decree resolves certain claims under Sections 106 and 
107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act and Section 7003 of the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act, as well as related state law claims, in connection with 
environmental contamination at OU2. Amendment 3 adds the following 
parties, each of which has owned or operated a facility within the 
commingled OU2 groundwater plume area, as Settling Cash Defendants:

1. Bodycote Thermal Processing, Inc.
2. Palmtree Acquisition Corporation
3. First Dice Road Company
4. Phibro-Tech, Inc.
5. Union Pacific Railroad Company

    These parties are ``Certain Noticed Parties'' within the meaning of 
Paragraph 75 and Appendix G of the Consent Decree. This Amendment 3 
requires the additional settling parties to pay $20,500,000 toward 
cleanup of the portion of the OU2 groundwater plume addressed by the 
Consent Decree.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed Amendment 3, which is available for public review as 
described below. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney 
General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and should refer 
to United States of America and State of California on behalf of the 
Department of Toxic Substances Control and Toxic Substances Control 
Account vs. Abex Aerospace, et al., D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-3-06529/15. 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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    Under section 7003(d) of RCRA, a commenter may request an 
opportunity for a public meeting in the affected area. Any comments 
submitted in writing or at a public meeting 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 lodged proposed Amendment 3 
and the previously approved Consent Decree may be examined and 
downloaded at this Justice Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. If you require assistance accessing Amendment 3, 
you may request assistance by email or by mail to the addresses 
provided above for submitting comments.

Scott Bauer,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-07350 Filed 4-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P