Notice of Lodging of Consent Decrees Related to the Fred Ramsey Superfund Site Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decrees Related to the Fred Ramsey

Superfund Site Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act

Notice is hereby given that two proposed consent decrees were

lodged in United States v. Fred Ramsey et al., Civil Action No. 7:96-

CV-14 (HL) (M.D. Ga.) on May 7, 1997, with the United States District

Court for the Middle District of Georgia. The consent decrees settle

claims against separate defendants brought under section 107(a) of the

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

(``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607(a), for response costs incurred by

the United States at the Fred Ramsey Tank Superfund Site (``Site'') in

Valdosta, Georgia. These costs were incurred when EPA removed three

abandoned aboveground storage tanks, one abandoned tanker-trailer, and

contaminated soil from the Site. These tanks were formerly used by

Ramsey Chemical Co. as part of its solvent recycling business and were

moved to the Site by Mr. Ramsey. The United States has incurred

approximately $335,000 in response costs (including interest).

Under one of the proposed consent decrees, Mr. Ramsey is agreeing

to pay $112,000 to the United States in reimbursement of response costs

associated with the Site. In addition, Mr. Ramsey is agreeing to pay

$213,000 in civil penalties under sections 104(e) and 106(b) of CERCLA,

42 U.S.C. Secs. 9604(e) and 9606(b), and section 3008(a) of the

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

Sec. 6928(a).

Under the second proposed consent decree, thirteen former customers

of Ramsey Chemical Co. (referred to as the ``Generator Group'') are

collectively agreeing to pay $223,000 to the United States in

reimbursement of response costs associated with the Fred Ramsey Tank

Superfund Site. The parties to this decree are: General Motors

Corporation; Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.; Rexham Inc.;

Guardsman Products, Inc.; BASF Corporation; Kalama Chemical Inc.,

Lobeco Products, Inc.; R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; Grow Group, Inc.;

ITT Automotive, Inc.; Miller Brewing Company; The Alpha Corporation of

Tennessee; and, DeSoto, Inc.

The Department of Justice will receive comments relating to the

proposed consent decrees for a period of thirty days from the date of

this publication. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant

Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division,

Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., 20530. All comments should

refer to the name of the case and to DOJ Ref. No. 90-11-3-1600.

The proposed consent decrees may be examined at the Office of the

United States Attorney, Middle District of Georgia, 433 Cherry Street,

4th Floor, Galleria Building, Macon, Georgia, 31202; the Region 4

Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, 61 Forsythe Street,

S.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30303; and at the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G

Street, N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, D.C., 20005, (202) 624-0892.

Copies of the proposed consent decrees 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 a copy please refer to the

referenced

[[Page 28065]]

case and enclose a check in the amount of $3.50 for the consent decree

with Fred Ramsey, or $6.50 for the consent decree with the Generator

Group (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. 97-13473 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]

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