[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 71272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19709]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA R9-2024-01; FRL-12107-01-R9]


Notice of Proposed Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order 
on Consent for Removal Actions and Recovery of Past Response Costs at 
the Max Johnson No. 9, Manuel Denetsone No. 2, and Juan Horse No. 3 
Abandoned Uranium Mine Sites, Navajo Nation, Coconino County, Arizona

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed settlement; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (``CERCLA''), notice 
is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') has 
entered into a proposed settlement, embodied in an Administrative 
Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (``Settlement Agreement''), 
with Wells Cargo, Inc. (``Wells Cargo''). Under the Settlement 
Agreement, Wells Cargo agrees to take response actions and pay a 
portion of EPA's past response costs at the Max Johnson No. 9, Manuel 
Denetsone No. 2, and Juan Horse No. 3 abandoned uranium mine sites 
(``Sites'') in the Navajo Nation in Coconino County, Arizona.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The proposed settlement agreement is available for public 
inspection at https://insert link. Comments on the Settlement Agreement 
should be submitted in writing to Gregory Krauss at 
[email protected]. Comments should reference the Wells Cargo Sites 
and Docket No. 2024-01, the EPA Region 9 Docket Number for the 
Settlement Agreement. If for any reason you are not able to submit a 
comment by email, please contact Mr. Krauss at (415) 972-3913 to make 
alternative arrangements for submitting your comment. EPA will post its 
response to any comments at https://www.epa.gov/navajo-nation-uranium-cleanup/western-abandoned-uranium-mine-region, EPA's website for the 
Western Abandoned Uranium Mine Region in the Navajo Nation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Krauss, Assistant Regional 
Counsel (ORC-3), Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. EPA Region IX, 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; Email: 
[email protected]; Phone (415) 972-3913.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this proposed administrative 
settlement is made in accordance with section 122(i) of CERCLA. The 
Settlement Agreement concerns the performance of response actions at 
the Sites and the recovery by EPA of past response costs. The 
Settlement Agreement requires Wells Cargo to perform removal site 
evaluations at the Max Johnson No. 9 and Manuel Denetsone No. 2 mines, 
conduct certain sampling at the Juan Horse No. 3 mine, and complete an 
Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis for each of the Sites as 
determined to be necessary by EPA. Wells Cargo will also pay 
$391,183.15 to resolve its liability for EPA's past response costs 
through March 31, 2019. The Settlement Agreement includes a compromise 
of around $75,000 on interest payments and some indirect costs and 
provides Wells Cargo contribution protection and a covenant not to sue 
regarding response costs incurred through March 31, 2019, and the work 
to be performed. EPA will consider all comments received on the 
Settlement Agreement in accordance with the DATES and ADDRESSES 
sections of this Notice and may modify or withdraw its consent to the 
Settlement Agreement if comments received disclose facts or 
considerations that indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, 
improper, or inadequate.

    Dated: August 27, 2024.
Will Duncan,
Acting Director, Superfund and Emergency Management Division, EPA 
Region 9.
[FR Doc. 2024-19709 Filed 8-30-24; 8:45 am]
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