Notice of Loging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Loging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Resource

Conservation and Recovery Act

Notice is hereby given that a consent decree that addresses claims

in two Federal Court cases--United States v. Bethlehem Steel

Corporation, Civ. Act. No. JFM-97-559 (D.Md.) and Maryland v. Bethlehem

Steel Corporation, Civ. Act. No. JFM-97-558 (D.Md.)--was lodged on

February 25, 1997.

The proposed decree resolves the claims of the United States under

section 3008(h) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(``RCRA''), 42 U.S.C. 6928, for performance of studies and other

activities to investigate environmental contamination at the Bethlehem

Steel plant at Sparrows Point, Maryland. The decree also addresses

claims brought by the State of Maryland and the Maryland Department of

the Environment under RCRA and State laws relating to air pollution and

solid waste disposal. The decree obligates Bethlehem to pay a civil

penalty of $350,000 to Maryland and, inter alia, to (a) perform a

comprehensive investigation of contamination at the facility; (b)

propose a plan for cleanup; (c) take prompt action to address

conditions that pose a threat to human health or the environment; (d)

reduce emission of particulate matter into the air; (e) recycle large

quantities of waste and thereby reduce toxic emissions from the plant;

and (f) improve management of its solid waste landfills. The United

States and the State retain their legal authority to require Bethlehem

to carry out the plan for ultimate cleanup of 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 for the Environment and Natural Resources Division,

Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to United

States v. Bethlehem Steel Corporation, DOJ Ref. # 90-7-1-830.

The proposed consent decree may be examined at the United States

Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division,

Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 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 refer to the referenced case and enclose a check in the amount

of $22.75 (25 cents per page reproduction costs), payable to the

Consent Decree Library. Attachments to the proposed consent decree can

be obtained for additional amount.

Joel M. Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 97-6272 Filed 3-12-97; 8:45 am]

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