Lodging of Consent Decree

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Lodging of Consent Decree

In accordance with Departmental policy and 28 CFR 50.7, please be

advised that a proposed Partial Consent Decree (``Decree'') was lodged

on June 16, 1999, in United States v. Absolute Enterprises, Inc., et

al., C.A. No. WMN-97-2469, with the United States District Court for

the District of Maryland. The Decree resolves litigation brought by the

United States under Section 113(b) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.

7413(b), for alleged violations of the National Emissions Standard for

Hazardous Air Pollutants (``NESHAP'') regulating emissions of asbestos

particles.

Under the Consent Decree, Defendant the State of Maryland

Department of General Services (``DGS'') will undertake an extensive

program to eliminate violations of the asbestos NESHAP, and will pay a

civil penalty of $20,000. DGS will require that its asbestos abatement

and industrial hygiene contractors comply with the NESHAP and will

implement detailed procedures for, among other things, inspecting DGS

sites where asbestos is being removed, investigating contractors to

determine their records as to NESHAP compliance, training workers at

such sites, and performing supervisory oversight at such sites.

Any comments on the proposed Decree should be addressed to the

Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources

Division, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, and should

refer to United States v. Absolute Enterprises, Inc., et al., DOJ Ref.

#90-5-2-1-1983. The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the

office of the United States Attorney, District of Maryland, U.S.

Courthouse, Room 604, 101 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201,

and the Region III Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, 1650

Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. A copy of the proposed

Consent Decree may be obtained in person or by mail from the Consent

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

(202) 624-0892. The proposed Consent Decree contains 43 pages,

including attachments. To obtain the Consent Decree enclose a check for

$10.75. Please make the check payable to the Consent Decree Library,

and refer to the case by its title and DOJ Ref. #90-5-2-1-1983.

Joel Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc 99-16114 Filed 6-23-99; 8:45 am]

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