Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act 33 U.S.C. 1301, et seq.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act 33

U.S.C. 1301, et seq.

Notice is hereby given that on April 23, 1999 a proposed Consent

Decree (``Decree'') in United States v. Sinclair Oil Corporation, Civil

Action No. 98 CV 166B, was lodged with the United States District Court

for the District of Wyoming. The United States filed this action

pursuant to Sections 301 and 311 of the Clean Water Act, as amended by

the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. 1301 and 1321, as amended by the oil

pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. 1301 and 1321, seeking injunctive relief and

civil penalties for the Defendant's discharge of oil from a rupture in

its underground pipeline into a navigable water of the United States in

violation of the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act.

The proposed Consent Decree requires the Defendant to either: (i)

Repair and replace all sections of its pipeline manufactured by the

same company that manufactured the ruptured pipe; or (ii) perform an

ultrasonic ``smart'' pig of these portions of the pipeline, and repair

or replace those portions as indicated by the results of the smart pig.

In addition, Sinclair will pay a civil penalty of $29,000, including

interest, to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Finally, Sinclair will

perform a Supplemental Environmental Project involving the replacement

of 1000 feet of pipe from one of Sinclair's underground pipelines which

passes under Casper Creek--a navigable water within a few miles of the

spill site.

The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30)

days from the date of this publication comments relating to the Decree.

Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General of the

Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of Justice,

Washington, D.C. 20530, and should refer to, United States v. Sinclair

Oil Corporation, Civil Action No. 98 CV 166B, and D.J. Ref. #90-5-1-1-

4424.

The Decree may be examined at the United States Department of

Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Denver Field

Office, 999 -18th Street, North Tower Suite 945, Denver, Colorado,80202

and the U.S. EPA Region VIII, 999 18th Street, and at the Consent

Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington D.C. 20005,

(202) 624-0892. A copy of the Decree may be obtained in person or by

mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 3rd Floor,

Washington, D.C. 2005. In requesting a copy, please enclose a check in

the amount of $10 for the Decree (25 cents per page reproduction cost)

payable to the Consent Decree Library.

Joel M. Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resource Division.

[FR Doc. 99-11267 Filed 5-4-99; 8:45 am]

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