Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Notice is hereby given that on March 9, 1995, a proposed Consent

Decree in United States v. Arrowhead Refining Co. et al., Civil Action

5-89-202, was lodged with the United States District Court for the

District of Minnesota. This consent decree represents a settlement of

claims against 209 parties under the Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et

seq. (CERCLA).

The consent decree requires 44 parties (the Settling Defendants) to

perform one component of the remedial action (the ``sludge pit'' clean-

up) at the Arrowhead Refining Co. Site (the Site) at an approximate

cost of $12.52 million. These parties have already spent $6.4 million

in Site related investigative and response activities. In addition, the

Settling Defendants are required to pay an additional $134,800 to

federal and state natural resources trustees for use in habitat

restoration projects.

One hundred and sixty-five other parties, including De Minimis and

De Micromis parties, ``Hardship'' parties, a defunct owner/operator,

eight federal entities, and several oil company defendants, will

contribute financially to the Settling Defendants' performance of the

remedial action.

This settlement was part of EPA's Mixed Funding Pilot Project. In

addition to the work to be performed by the Settling Defendants, EPA

and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) intend to undertake

the remaining soils and gourndwater components of the remedial action

as ``mixed work.'' These portions of the remedy are expected to cost

approximately $6.35 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30)

days from the date of this publication comments relating to the

proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant

Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division,

Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, and should refer United

States v. Arrowhead Refining Co. et al. D.J. Ref. 90-11-3-164.

The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the

United States Attorney, District of Minnesota, 234 U.S. Courthouse, 110

South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Region V Office of

the Environmental Protection Agency, 200 West Adams Street, Chicago,

Illinois, and at the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW., 4th

Floor, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 624-0892. A copy of the proposed

Consent Decree may be obtained in person or by mail from the Consent

Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In

requesting a copy, please enclose a check in the amount $26.75 (25

cents per page reproduction cost) payable to the Consent Decree

Library.

Joel M. Gross,

Acting Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and

Natural Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 95-6895 Filed 3-20-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410-01-M