Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to Clean Air Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to Clean Air Act

Notice is hereby given that on January 24, 1997, a proposed Consent

Decree in United States of America v. North American Chemical Company,

Civil Action No. 97-0477-WJR (CWx), was lodged with the United States

District Court for the Central District of California. This Consent

Decree represents a settlement of claims against North American

Chemical Company (``NACC'') pursuant to section 113(b) of the Clean Air

Act (the ``Act''), 42 U.S.C. 7413(b), for NACC's alleged violations of

provisions of the State Implementation Plan for San Bernardino,

California, as well as for violations of the New Source Performance

Standards and Prevention of Significant Deterioration (``PSD'')

provisions of the Clean Air Act. See Standards of Performance for

Nonmetallic Mineral Processing Plants, 40 CFR part 60, subpart OOO and

the PSD provisions of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7470-7501. The alleged

violations occurred at a facility owned and operated by NACC located

near Trona, California.

Under this settlement between the United States and NACC, NACC will

be required to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from a gas turbine

at the facility. The settlement provides for a civil penalty of

$320,000. In addition, NACC will conduct a supplemental environmental

project to reduce particulate matter emissions at the facility.

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, DC 20530, and should refer to United

States of America v. North American Chemical Company, DOJ Ref. #90-5-2-

1-2001.

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

United States Attorney, Central District of California, 7516 Federal

Building, 300 North Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, California 90012

and at Region IX, Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, Air

Division, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California 94105, 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, 1130 G

Street, NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In requesting a copy,

please refer to the referenced case and enclose a check in the amount

of $8.25 (25 cents per page reproduction cost), payable to the Consent

Decree Library.

Joel M. Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 97-2771 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am]

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