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

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

In accordance with Departmental policy, 28 CFR 50.7, 38 FR 19029,

and 42 U.S.C. 9622(d), notice is hereby given that on October 7, 1999,

a proposed consent decree in United States v. General Electric Company,

Civil Action No. 99-30225-MAP, was lodged with the United States

District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The proposed consent

decree resolves certain claims against General Electric Company

(``GE'') under sections 106 and 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9606

and 9607; section 7003 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(``RCRA''), 42 U.S.C. 6973; and section 309 of the Clean Water Act, 33

U.S.C. 1319, regarding the disposal, release and/or threat of release

of hazardous substances and/or wastes from the GE facility in

Pittsfield, Massachusetts and related areas. Pursuant to the proposed

settlement, GE shall reimburse the United States for certain past and

future response costs; implement certain clean up measures at the GE

facility, surrounding areas, and in the Housatonic River; and

compensate the United States for natural resource damages. The total

value of the settlement is estimated to exceed $250 million.

The proposed settlement also provides that the United States

Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') will issue a draft permit to

GE pursuant to the corrective action provisions of RCRA. Consistent

with 40 CFR 124.10, notice is hereby given of the draft RCRA permit

issued to GE pursuant to the corrective action provisions of RCRA. A

copy of the Fact Sheet describing the draft RCRA permit and the process

for the public to comment upon the draft permit may be obtained by

contacting Angela Bonarrigo, Community Relations Coordinator, EPA-New

England Region at (617) 918-1034.

The Department of Justice will receive for a period of sixty (60)

days from the date of this publication comments relating to the

proposed consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant

Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division,

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

States v. General Electric Company, Civil Action No. 99-30225-MAP, D.J.

Ref. 90-11-3-1479, and 90-11-3-1479z. Consistent with section 7003(d)

of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. 6973(d), the Department of Justice will provide an

opportunity for a public meeting to comment upon the proposed

settlement.

The proposed consent decree may be examined at either of the

following locations: (1) The Springfield Office of the United States

Attorney, District of Massachusetts 1550 Main Street, Suite 310,

Springfield, Massachusetts 01103; or (2) Region I, Office of the

Environmental Protection Agency, One Congress Street, Boston,

Massachusetts 02203. A copy of the consent decree can be obtained my

mail (without attachments) from the Department of Justice Consent

Decree Library, PO Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044. In requesting a copy

of the consent decree (without attachments), please enclose a check in

the amount of $102.25 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) payable to

the Consent Decree Library.

Joel Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 99-27905 Filed 10-25-99; 8:45 am]

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