Notice of Lodging of Two Consent Decrees Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Two Consent Decrees Pursuant to the

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Notice is hereby given that two proposed consent decrees in United

States, et al. v. Montrose Chemical Corporation of California, et al.,

No. CV 90-3122-AAH (C.D. Cal), were lodged on November 16, 1998 with

the United States District Court for the Central District of

California. The consent decrees resolve claims under Section 107 of the

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

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

Corporation (formerly Westinghouse Electric Corporation) and against

Potlatch Corporation and Simpson Paper Company, 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 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.

One proposed consent decree provides that CBS will pay $9.5 million

to resolve its liability to the United States and State of California

for natural resource damages and response costs as described above. The

second proposed consent decree provides that Potlatch and Simpson will

pay $12 million to resolve their liability to the United States and

State of California for natural resource damages and response costs as

described above. Both proposed consent decrees include 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. 9606 and 9607, and under Section 7003 of the

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

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 decrees. 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, DC 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 decrees 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, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 624-0892. A

copy of either proposed consent decree may be obtained in person or by

mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW, 3rd Floor,

Washington, DC 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. 98-32030 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410-15-M