[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 59718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23500]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Proposed Settlement Agreement Under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
On September 2, 2013, a proposed Settlement Agreement was lodged
with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of
California in the case entitled In re Halaco Engineering Company, Case
No. 9:02-bk-12255-RR (Bankr. C.D. Cal.).
In 2006, the United States, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (``EPA''), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration of the Department of Commerce (``NOAA''), and the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the Department of Interior (``FWS'') filed in
the above bankruptcy action a Proof of Claim for environmental response
costs, natural resource damages, and natural resource damage assessment
costs pursuant to Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9607,
relating to the Halaco Superfund Site in Oxnard, California. In 2010,
the United States filed a Request for Payment of Environmental Response
Costs as Chapter 7 Administrative Expenses and Updated Proof of Claim.
Under the Settlement Agreement, the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee has
agreed to provide to EPA an allowed $335,686 Chapter 7 administrative
priority claim and an allowed $52,593,544 general unsecured claim; to
NOAA, an allowed $487,199 general unsecured claim; and to FWS, an
allowed $329,267 general unsecured claim. The Settlement Agreement
further provides the United States with a judgment for the allowed
claims above and an assignment of insurance rights and policies owned
by the debtor, Halaco Engineering Company. The Settlement Agreement
separately resolves non-CERCLA state-law claims asserted in the
bankruptcy action by the California Regional Water Quality Control
Board, Los Angeles Region, and the California State Water Quality
Control Board.
The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on
the proposed settlement agreement. Comments should be addressed to the
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division,
and should refer to In re Halaco Engineering Company, Case No. 9:02-bk-
12255-RR (Bankr. C.D. Cal.), D.J. Ref. No. 90-11-2-08829. All comments
must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication
date of this notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by
mail:
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To submit comments: Send them to:
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By e-mail........................... [email protected].
By mail............................. Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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During the public comment period, the proposed consent decree may
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. We will provide a paper copy
of the proposed consent decree upon written request and payment of
reproduction costs. Please mail your request and payment to: Consent
Decree Library, U.S. DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-
7611.
Please enclose a check or money order for $12.75 (25 cents per page
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.
Henry Friedman,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-23500 Filed 9-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P