Notice of Extension of Period for Public Comment on Consent Decree Lodged in United States, et al. v. Montrose Chemical Corp., No. CV 90-3122-AAH (C.D. Cal)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Extension of Period for Public Comment on Consent

Decree Lodged in United States, et al. v. Montrose Chemical Corp., No.

CV 90-3122-AAH (C.D. Cal)

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of Justice

will continue to receive, until June 3, 1997, comments relating to the

proposed consent decree in United States, et al. v. Montrose Chemical

Corporation of California, et al., No. CV 90-3122-AAH (C.D. Cal). The

proposed consent decree was lodged on March 25, 1997, with the United

States District Court for the Central District of California. The

notice of lodging of the proposed consent decree was published at 62

Fed. Reg. 15919 (April 3, 1997).

The consent decree resolves claims under Section 107 of the

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

of 1980, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607, as amended, brought against defendant

County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County and 150 third-party

defendants for natural resource damages associated with contamination

of sediments on the Palos Verdes shelf in the vicinity of Los Angeles,

California, and for response costs incurred and to be incurred by the

United States Environmental Protection Agency in connection with

responding to the

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release and threatened release of hazardous substances at the Montrose

Chemical National Priorities List Site in Torrance, CA, and at the

aforementioned Palos Verdes shelf.

The proposed consent decree provides that the aforementioned

entities will collectively pay $45.7 million to resolve their liability

to the United States for natural resource damages and response costs as

described above. The proposed consent decree includes a covenant not to

sue by the United States under Sections 106 and 107 of the

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

of 1980, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 9606 and 9607, and under Section 7003 of the

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (``RCRA''), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6973.

Commenters may request an opportunity for a public meeting in the

affected area, in accordance with Section 7003(d) of RCRA. Comments

should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General for the

Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of Justice,

Washington, D.C. 20530, and should refer to United States, et al. v.

Montrose Chemical Corporation of California, et al., No. CV 90-3122-AAH

(C.D. Cal), DOJ Ref. #90-11-3-159 and DOJ Ref. #90-11-3-511.

The proposed consent decree may be examined at the office of the

United States Attorney, Central District of California, Federal

Building, 300 North Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; the

Region IX Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, 75 Hawthorne

Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; and at the Consent Decree Library,

1120 G Street, N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 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, N.W., 4th Floor,

Washington, D.C. 20005. In requesting copies please refer to the

referenced case and enclose a check in the amount of $67.00 (25 cents

per page reproduction costs), payable to the Consent Decree Library.

Joel Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 97-11948 Filed 5-7-97; 8:45 am]

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