Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Air Act (``CAA'')

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Air Act

(``CAA'')

Consistent with the policy set forth in the Department of Justice

regulations at 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby given that on May 20,

1998, a proposed Consent Decree was lodged with the United States

District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, in United States

v. National Steel Corporation, Civil Action No. 97-850 (GPM). The

proposed Consent Decree settles claims asserted by the United States,

on behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency,

pursuant to Section 113(b) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 9613(b), in

connection with operation of National Steel's steel manufacturing

facility in Granite City, Illinois.

The Consent Decree requires National Steel to pay $546,700 in civil

penalties for alleged violation of opacity limits applicable to basic

oxygen furnace operations in the federally enforceable Illinois State

Implementation Plan (``SIP''), as well as violations of SIP permit

conditions and emission limits and National Emissions Standards for

Hazardous Air Pollutants (``NESHAP'') applicable to certain operations

at National Steel's coke manufacturing plant in Granite City. The

proposed Decree also requires National Steel to perform two

supplemental environmental projects.

The Department of Justice will receive written comments relating to

the proposed Consent Decree for thirty (30) days from the date of

publication of this notice. Comments should be directed to the

Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division,

U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to

United States v. National Steel Corporation, DOJ Reference #90-5-2-1-

2108.

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

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, 9

Executive Drive, Suite 300, Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208, at the

offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West

Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590, 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. In requesting a

copy, please enclose a check in the amount of $5.50 (25 cents per page

reproduction cost) payable to the Consent Decree Library.

Bruce S. Gelber,

Deputy Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section.

[FR Doc. 98-15210 Filed 6-8-98; 8:45 am]

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