Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00023/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00023-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 33:1319 Clean Water Act

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STIPULATION AND ORDER AMENDING PARAGRAPH 16 OF CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED JUNE 8, 

2006 - CASE NO.: 1:06-CV-00023-REC-LJO 

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LINDA M. DARDARIAN, CA Bar No. 131001 

GOLDSTEIN, DEMCHAK, BALLER, 

BORGEN & DARDARIAN 

300 Lakeside Drive, Suite 1000 

Oakland, CA 94612 

(510) 763-9800 

(510) 835-1417 (fax) 

ldar@gdblegal.com

MICHAEL R. LOZEAU, CA Bar No. 142893 

LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL R. LOZEAU 

1516 Oak Street, Suite 216 

Alameda, CA 94501 

(510) 749-9102 

(510) 749-9103 (fax) 

mrlozeau@lozeaulaw.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff CALIFORNIA 

SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE 

PAUL P. “SKIP” SPAULDING, III, CA Bar No. 83922 

DAVID J. LAZERWITZ, CA Bar No. 221349 

FARELLA BRAUN & MARTEL, LLP 

235 Montgomery Street 

San Francisco, CA 94104 

(415) 954-4400 

(415) 954-4480 (fax) 

sspaulding@fbm.com

dlazerwitz@fbm.com

Attorneys for Defendant 

MERIDIAN GOLD COMPANY, INC. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION 

ALLIANCE, a non-profit corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

MERIDIAN GOLD COMPANY, a corporation 

Defendant. 

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Case No.: 1:06-cv-00023-REC-LJO 

STIPULATION AND ORDER AMENDING 

PARAGRAPH 16 OF CONSENT 

AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED 

JUNE 8, 2006 

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Case 1:06-cv-00023-REC-LJO Document 18 Filed 08/11/06 Page 1 of 6
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STIPULATION AND ORDER AMENDING PARAGRAPH 16 OF CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED JUNE 8, 

2006 - CASE NO.: 1:06-CV-00023-REC-LJO 

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WHEREAS, on June 1, 2005, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (“CSPA”) provided 

to Meridian Gold Company, Inc. and its related or affiliated entities, including Meridian Beartrack 

Company (collectively “Meridian”), a written notice of, among other things, alleged violations of the 

California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (“Proposition 65”), which 

prohibits businesses from knowingly discharging or releasing listed chemicals into water or onto land 

where it passes or probably will pass into a source of drinking water. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 

25249.5. The CSPA Notice Letter was sent to the Executive Officer of the Regional Water Quality 

Control Board, Central Valley Region (“Regional Board”); and to Meridian, pursuant to Cal. Health & 

Safety Code § 25249.7(d)(1). A true and correct copy of the CSPA Notice Letter is attached as Exhibit 

B to the Consent Agreement and Order, entered by this Court on June 8, 2006. 

WHEREAS, on January 6, 2006, CSPA filed a Complaint against Meridian in the United 

States District Court, Eastern District of California, alleging, among other things, violations of 

Proposition 65. CSPA filed a First Amended Complaint (“Complaint”) against Meridian on April 6, 

2006. CSPA served a copy of the First Amended Complaint upon the Attorney General of the State of 

California on April 11, 2006. 

WHEREAS, Meridian denies CSPA’s allegations, including that it has violated Proposition 65, 

and denies that it has any liability whatsoever to CSPA. 

WHEREAS, the Parties entered into a Consent Agreement on April 11, 2006, to resolve all 

issues raised in the First Amended Complaint, including CSPA’s claim under Proposition 65, and to 

avoid prolonged and costly litigation of the claims raised therein. 

WHEREAS, pursuant to California Health & Safety Code § 25249.7(f)(3), on April 13, 2006, 

CSPA submitted to the California Attorney General a reporting form enclosing the Consent Agreement 

as specified therein. 

WHEREAS, pursuant to California Health & Safety Code § 25249.7(f)(4), on April 28, 2006, 

CSPA submitted the Consent Agreement to this Court upon noticed motion for approval. 

WHEREAS, on June 8, 2006, the Court issued an order approving the Consent Agreement, 

after specifically finding, for purposes of California Health & Safety Code §§ 25249.5 and 25249.7(f), 

that: (1) the mitigation payments in lieu of penalties in Paragraph 16 of the Consent Agreement are 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER AMENDING PARAGRAPH 16 OF CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED JUNE 8, 

2006 - CASE NO.: 1:06-CV-00023-REC-LJO 

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reasonable and appropriate in light of the statutory criteria set forth in § 25249.7(b)(2); and (2) the 

attorneys’ fee award payment in Paragraph 19 of the Consent Agreement is reasonable under 

California law. Also on June 8, 2006, the Court entered judgment in accordance with its approval 

order and ordered this case closed. 

WHEREAS, pursuant to oral comments received from the Office of the California Attorney 

General on June 16, 2006, the parties seek to modify the Consent Agreement to clarify the description 

of the portion of the Proposition 65 mitigation payment CSPA is to receive pursuant to Paragraph 16 of 

the Consent Agreement, consistent with 11 Cal. Code Regs. § 3203(b). 

WHEREAS, on June 16, 2006, CSPA provided the California Attorney General with notice of 

this amendment to the Consent Agreement along with the motion for judicial approval and supporting 

papers, and accordingly requests that the Court withhold approval of this Stipulation and Order 

Amending Paragraph 16 of the Consent Agreement until the Attorney General has 45 days from June 

16, 2006 (or until July 30, 2006) to review and comment upon this amendment. 

WHEREAS, on June 23, 2006, CSPA provided the United States Department of Justice (“USDOJ”) and Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) with notice of this amendment to paragraph 16 

of the Consent Agreement. On that date, the US-DOJ and EPA responded orally to CSPA that they 

have no objection to this amendment, and they orally waived the forty-five day notice period for the 

Court’s entering the amendment under 33 U.S.C. § 1365(c)(3). 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED BY AND 

BETWEEN THE PARTIES TO THIS ACTION, THAT:

1. This case is reopened for the purpose of filing and approving the stipulated amendment 

to paragraph 16 of the Consent Agreement previously approved and entered on June 8, 2006; and 

2. The last sentence of Paragraph 16 of the Parties’ Consent Agreement, approved June 8, 

2006, located at lines 23-24 of page 9, which reads “The remaining 25 percent ($44,375) of the 

payment shall be paid to CSPA consistent with Health and Safety Code § 25249.12(d)” shall be 

amended to provide as follows: “The remaining 25 percent ($44,375) of the payment shall be paid to 

CSPA to fund water quality related projects in the Littlejohns Creek watershed, the lower San Joaquin 

River or its tributaries, or the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta estuary.” 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER AMENDING PARAGRAPH 16 OF CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED JUNE 8, 

2006 - CASE NO.: 1:06-CV-00023-REC-LJO 

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Dated: July 15, 2006 California Sportfishing Protection Alliance 

By: /s/ Bill Jennings 

Bill Jennings 

Executive Director 

Dated: July 3, 2006 Meridian Gold Company, Inc. 

By: /s/ Edgar A. Smith 

Edgar A. Smith 

Vice President Operations 

APPROVED AS TO FORM: 

Dated: June 30, 2006 GOLDSTEIN, DEMCHAK, BALLER, BORGEN & 

DARDARIAN 

By: /s/ Linda M. Dardarian 

Linda M. Dardarian 

Attorneys for California Sportfishing Protection Alliance 

Dated: August 1, 2006 Law Offices Of Michael R. Lozeau 

By: /s/ Michael R. Lozeau 

Michael R. Lozeau 

Attorney for California Sportfishing Protection Alliance 

Dated: July 3, 2006 Farella, Braun & Martel LLP 

By: /s/ David J. Lazerwitz 

Paul P. “Skip” Spaulding, III 

David J. Lazerwitz 

Attorneys for Meridian Gold Company, Inc. 

ORDER 

WHEREAS, on June 8, 2006, this Court found the Agreement, which the parties filed with the 

Court on April 28, 2006, to be: (1) fair, adequate and reasonable; (2) consistent with applicable laws; 

and (3) protective of the public interest; and specifically found, for purposes of California Health & 

Safety Code §§ 25249.5 and 25249.7(f), that: (1) the mitigation payments in lieu of penalties in 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER AMENDING PARAGRAPH 16 OF CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED JUNE 8, 

2006 - CASE NO.: 1:06-CV-00023-REC-LJO 

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Paragraphs 15 and 16 of the Consent Agreement are reasonable and appropriate in light of the statutory 

criteria set forth in § 25249.7(b)(2); and (2) the attorneys’ fee award payment in Paragraph 19 of the 

Consent Agreement is reasonable under California law; 

WHEREAS, in accordance with these findings, on June 8, 2006, the Court issued an Order 

approving the Consent Agreement and entered judgment thereon;

WHEREAS, the provisions of the foregoing stipulation are hereby approved; 

WHEREAS, the Parties have consented to the foregoing amendment to Paragraph 16 of the 

Consent Agreement previously approved and entered by the Court; 

WHEREAS, at least 45 days have elapsed since the Attorney General of the State of California 

was served on June 16, 2006 with a copy of this Stipulation and Proposed Order Amending Paragraph 

16 of the Consent Agreement; 

WHEREAS, the Court further specifically finds, for purposes of California Health & Safety 

Code §§ 25249.5 and 25249.7(f), that: (1) the mitigation payments in lieu of penalties in Paragraph 16 

of the Consent Agreement, as amended above, are reasonable and appropriate in light of the statutory 

criteria set forth in § 25249.7(b)(2); and 

WHEREAS, good cause appearing therefor, 

1. THIS CASE IS REOPENED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FILING AND APPROVING 

THE STIPULATED AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 16 OF THE CONSENT AGREEMENT 

PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND ENTERED ON JUNE 8, 2006; 

2. THE AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 16 OF THE CONSENT AGREEMENT AND 

ORDER, stating that “The remaining 25 percent ($44,375) of the payment shall be paid to CSPA to 

fund water quality related projects in the Littlejohns Creek watershed, the lower San Joaquin River or 

its tributaries, or the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta estuary,” IS HEREBY APPROVED AND 

JUDGMENT IS ENTERED IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH; and 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER AMENDING PARAGRAPH 16 OF CONSENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ENTERED JUNE 8, 

2006 - CASE NO.: 1:06-CV-00023-REC-LJO 

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3. This Court shall retain and have jurisdiction over CSPA and Meridian Gold Company, 

Inc. with respect to implementation of the terms of their Consent Agreement and the resolution of any 

disputes that may arise under that Consent Agreement, as provided therein. 

Dated: August 9, 2006 

/s/ ROBERT E. COYLE

United States District Court Judge 

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