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 the policy of the Department of Justice, notice

is hereby given that a proposed consent decree in United States v.

Western Processing Co., et al., Civ. No. C83-252M, was lodged with the

United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, on

November 23, 1999. That action was brought against defendants pursuant

to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability

Act (CERCLA) for payment of past costs incurred, and future costs to be

incurred, by the United States at the Western Processing Superfund Site

in Kent, Washington. (The site is being cleaned up and some past costs

have already been recovered pursuant to several prior settlements.)

This decree requires Union Oil Company of California (d/b/a Unocal)

(``Unocal'') to pay $879,593 in satisfaction of the United States'

claims against it for response costs incurred in connection with the

site between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1996. Unocal remains

liable for response costs incurred after that date. The United States

is also continuing to pursue other defendants to recover past and

future costs.

The Department of Justice will receive comments relating to the

proposed consent decree for a period of 30 days from the date of this

publication. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney

General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department

of Justice, Washington, DC 20530. All comments should refer to United

States v. Western Processing Co., et al., D.J. Ref. 90-7-1-233.

The proposed consent decree may be examined at the office of the

United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington, 3600

Seafirst 5th Avenue Plaza, 800 5th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104;

and at the Region X office of the Environmental Protection Agency, 1200

Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101. A copy of the proposed consent

decree may be obtained in person or by mail from the Department of

Justice Consent Decree Library, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-

7611. In requesting a copy, please enclose a check in the amount of

$4.00 (25 cents per page reproduction costs) payable to the Consent

Decree Library. When requesting a copy, please refer to United States

v. Western

[[Page 66933]]

Processing Co., et al., D.J. Ref. 90-7-1-233.

Joel M. Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

resources Division.

[FR Doc. 99-31102 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]

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