[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26951-26952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11331]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under The Clean Air 
Act

    On May 1, 2015, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed Consent 
Decree with the United States District

[[Page 26952]]

Court for the Western District of Michigan in the lawsuit entitled 
United States v. Merit Energy Company, Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-00455.
    The Consent Decree addresses alleged violations of the Clean Air 
Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq., and its implementing regulations at an 
onshore natural gas processing plant in Kalkaska, Michigan that is 
owned and operated by Merit Energy Company (``Merit''). The United 
States alleges that Merit failed to comply with certain requirements 
governing the control of hazardous air pollutant emissions under 
Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7411, and the implementing 
regulations at: (i) 40 CFR part 60, subpart KKK (Standards of 
Performance for Equipment Leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds From 
Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants); (ii) 40 CFR part 60, subpart VV 
(Standards of Performance for Equipment Leaks of VOC in the Synthetic 
Organic Chemicals Manufacturing Industry); and (iii) 40 CFR part 60, 
Appendix A (Method-21 Determination of VOC Leaks)
    The proposed Consent Decree would resolve the claims alleged in the 
United States' Complaint in exchange for the Defendant's commitment to 
implement appropriate injunctive relief and pay a civil penalty of 
$850,000. Among other things, the injunctive relief provisions of the 
Consent Decree would require Merit to implement an enhanced leak 
detection and repair program at its Kalkaska, Michigan natural gas 
processing plant.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
should refer to United States v. Merit Energy Company, D.J. Ref. No. 
90-5-2-1-10951. 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 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 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 $17.50 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Randall M. Stone,
Acting Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, 
Environment and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-11331 Filed 5-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-15-P