Proposed CERCLA Administrative Cost Recovery Settlement: Parker Street Waste Site, New Bedford, Massachusetts

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed settlement; request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of a proposed administrative cost settlement for recovery of response costs concerning the Parker Street Waste Site, located in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts with the Settling Party the City of New Bedford. The proposed settlement requires the Settling Party pay EPA $1,600,000 to settle EPA's past response costs, which currently amount to $18,408,619. In exchange, EPA will provide the Settling Party with a covenant not to sue for past costs. The settlement has been approved by the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice. For 30 days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement for recovery of response costs. The Agency will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to this cost recovery settlement if comments received disclose facts or considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the New Bedford Free Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street, New Bedford 02740 and at the Environmental Protection Agency—Region I, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02109-3912.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted by August 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be addressed to John Kilborn, Senior Enforcement Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (OES04-3), Boston, MA 02109-3912 (Telephone No. 617-918-1893) and should reference the Parker Street Waste Site, U.S. EPA Docket No: CERCLA 01-2012-0040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the proposed settlement may be obtained from Stacy Greendlinger, Office of Site Remediation and Restoration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region I, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (OSRR02-2), Boston, MA 02109-3912, (617) 918-1403; greendlinger.stacy@epa.gov. Technical questions can also be directed to Stacy Greendlinger. For legal questions, John Kilborn, Office of Environmental Stewardship, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region I, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (OES04-3), Boston, MA 02109-3912, (617) 918-1893; kilborn.john@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This proposed administrative settlement for recovery of past response costs concerning the Parker Street Waste Site, located in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts is made in accordance with Section 122(h)(l) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). EPA covenants not to sue or take administrative action against the Settling Party, the City of New Bedford, pursuant to Section 107(a) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. 9607(a), for Past Response Costs. In exchange, the Settling Party agrees to pay EPA $1,600,000. Payment of such amount shall be due within 30 days after the Effective Date and, if timely paid, shall include no interest. If payment is not paid as stipulated, interest shall accrue beginning as of the Effective Date and shall continue to accrue on any unpaid amount until the total amount due has been received. For 30 days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the settlement for recovery of response costs. The Effective Date of the Agreement is the date upon which EPA notifies the City that the public comment period has closed and that such comments, if any, do not require that EPA modify or withdraw from the Agreement.