Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00442/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00442-19/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 00:0000 Cause Code Unknown

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1.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

EDMUND G. BROWN JR.

Attorney General of the State of California

TOM GREENE

 Chief Assistant Attorney General

THEODORA BERGER

 Senior Assistant Attorney General

SALLY KNOX

 Supervising Deputy Attorney General

ROSE B. FUA

TIMOTHY E. SULLIVAN (S.B. # 197054)

 Deputy Attorneys General

1515 Clay Street, 20th Floor

P.O. Box 70550

Oakland, CA 94612-0550

Telephone: (510) 622-2100

Fax: (510) 622-2270

Attorneys for Plaintiff

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC

SUBSTANCES CONTROL

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC

SUBSTANCES CONTROL, 

Plaintiff,

v.

CITY OF CHICO, CALIFORNIA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND

CONSENT DECREE BETWEEN

DTSC AND THE CITY OF CHICO

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”), filed an

amended complaint on December 3, 2002, (the “Complaint”) in the United States District Court

for the Eastern District of California (the “Court”), pursuant to the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et

seq., and California state law governing the release of hazardous substances, and nuisance. This

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2.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

Consent Decree embodies the settlement reached between DTSC and defendant the City of

Chico. 

The Court, on the motion and with the consent of DTSC and the City of Chico, hereby

ORDERS, ADJUDGES, AND DECREES as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

A. All terms used in this Consent Decree that are defined in section 101 of

CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, shall have the same meaning set forth in that section.

B. “DTSC,” as used in this Consent Decree, shall mean DTSC, its

predecessors including, but not limited to, the Toxic Substances Control Program of the State of

California Department of Health Services, and its successors.

C. “Chico Central Plume” means both the soil and groundwater existing in

the shallow, intermediate, and/or lower aquifers underlying the city of Chico mostly north of

Big Chico Creek that are contaminated with perchloroethylene and its breakdown products, the

area of which is roughly represented by Figure 2-1 of the “Draft Remedial Action Plan, Chico

Central Plume, Chico, California” dated March 1, 2006 (attached hereto as Exhibit A and

incorporated herein by this reference), and all locations where such contaminants may come to

be located.

D. “Response Costs,” as used in this Consent Decree, shall include all costs

of “removal,” “remedial action,” or “response” (as those terms are defined by section 101 of

CERCLA), incurred or to be incurred by DTSC in response to the release or threatened release

of hazardous substances at, in, or from the Chico Central Plume. Said term shall include, but

not be limited to, direct labor costs; contractor, consultant and expert costs; travel and any other

out-of-pocket expenses; the costs of identifying, developing evidence against, and pursuing

claims against persons or entities liable for the release or threatened release of hazardous

substances at, in, or from the Chico Central Plume; indirect costs; oversight costs; applicable

interest charges; and attorneys' fees.

E. “Remedial Action Plan,” as used in this Consent Decree, shall mean a

remedial action plan prepared to address the release or threatened release of hazardous

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3.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

substances at, in, or from the Chico Central Plume and finally approved by DTSC as described

in California Health and Safety Code section 25356.1, and also includes any amendments to the

remedial action plan that are subsequently approved by DTSC.

F. “Proposed Remedy” means a remedial action to address contamination at,

in, or from the Chico Central Plume, as set forth in detail as “Modified Alternative G” in the

Draft Remedial Action Plan dated March 1, 2006.

G. “Effective Date” is the day on which this Consent Decree is entered as an

order of the Court.

2. RECITALS

A. DTSC is the California state agency with primary jurisdiction over the

response to the release and threatened release of hazardous substances at, in, or from the Chico

Central Plume.

B. By and through its Complaint, DTSC seeks to recover jointly and

severally from the City of Chico, and other defendants who are not parties to this Consent

Decree, all costs it has incurred in response to releases and/or threatened releases of hazardous

substances at, in, or from the Chico Central Plume, pursuant to section 107(a) of CERCLA. 

DTSC also seeks a declaratory judgment that defendants are jointly and severally liable for all

additional costs incurred by DTSC in response to the releases and/or threatened releases of

hazardous substances at, in, or from the Chico Central Plume pursuant to section 113(g)(2) of

CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9613(g)(2). DTSC alleges that it will continue to incur Response Costs

until the remedy selected in the Remedial Action Plan, and implementation, operation and

maintenance of that remedy, is completed. DTSC also seeks injunctive relief to abate a public

nuisance (California Health and Safety Code section 58009) and to abate an imminent or

substantial endangerment to public health and safety or to the environment (California Health

and Safety Code section 25358.3). DTSC also seeks to enforce administrative orders issued to

various defendants, not including the City of Chico, for investigation and remediation of the

Chico Central Plume (California Health and Safety Code section 25358.3) and seeks damages

suffered by DTSC as a result of the failure of certain defendants to properly undertake a

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4.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

removal or remedial action (California Health and Safety Code section 25359).

C. By entering into this Consent Decree, the City of Chico makes no

admission of liability.

D. Each of the parties to this Consent Decree represents and acknowledges

that, in deciding whether to enter into this Consent Decree, it has not relied on any statement of

fact, statement of opinion, or representation, express or implied, made by any other party to this

Consent Decree. Each of the parties to this Consent Decree has investigated the subject matter

of this Consent Decree to the extent necessary to make a rational and informed decision to

execute it, and has had the opportunity to consult independent counsel.

E. DTSC and the City of Chico agree that settlement without further

litigation and without the admission or adjudication of any issue of fact or law is the most

appropriate means of resolving this action. This Consent Decree was negotiated and executed

by DTSC and the City of Chico in good faith to avoid prolonged and complicated litigation. 

DTSC and the City of Chico, moreover, have negotiated and executed this Consent Decree to

further the public interest and to protect human health and the environment.

3. JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction over DTSC's federal law claims, which arise under

CERCLA, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 9613(b). This Court has jurisdiction

over DTSC's state law claims under the supplemental jurisdiction provision of 28 U.S.C.

§ 1367(a) and under 28 U.S.C. § 2201, in that the state and federal claims arise from common

facts relating to the release of hazardous substances and remediation of or failure to remediate

the resulting contamination. This Court has personal jurisdiction over each of the parties to this

Consent Decree. Venue is proper in the Eastern District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1391(b) and 42 U.S.C. § 9613(b). This Court, further, has the authority to enter this Consent

Decree as a consent decree of the Court.

4. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTED CLAIMS

4.1 This Consent Decree represents a fair, reasonable, and equitable

settlement of the matters addressed herein. 

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5.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

4.2 For the purposes of this Consent Decree, the City of Chico admits none

of the allegations of the Complaint. Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed as an

admission of any issue of law or fact or of any violation of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing,

the City of Chico acknowledges its responsibility pursuant to this Consent Decree to perform

those acts it has agreed to undertake in this Consent Decree, and shall not deny such

responsibility in any proceeding brought by DTSC to enforce this Consent Decree.

4.3 Except as set forth in section 10 of this Consent Decree, nothing in this

Consent Decree shall prejudice, waive, or impair any right, remedy or defense that the City of

Chico may have in any other or further legal proceeding. 

5. PAYMENTS BY AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CHICO

Upon the Effective Date, DTSC will be entitled to payments as follows:

5.1 Within fifteen (15) business days of the Effective Date, the City of Chico

shall pay to DTSC one million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,750,000.00). The City

of Chico shall pay this amount by check made out to the California Department of Toxic

Substances Control and identified with the Court’s docket number of this case and “Site No.

100035.” Payment shall be mailed to:

Department of Toxic Substances Control

Cashier, Hazardous Substance Account

P. O. Box 806

Sacramento, CA 95812-0806

A copy of the check shall be mailed to:

Timothy E. Sullivan

Office of the Attorney General

1515 Clay Street, 20th Floor

Oakland, CA 94612

5.2 Payments by The Fidelity & Casualty Company of New York,

Continental Insurance Company and Continental Casualty Company (collectively referred to

herein as “CNA”) shall be made on behalf of the City of Chico as follows:

(a) CNA, an insurer for the City of Chico, shall pay directly to DTSC

on behalf of the City of Chico a total of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000.00),

pursuant to a settlement agreement between CNA and the City of Chico, of which DTSC is an

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6.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

intended beneficiary.

(b) CNA’s payments to DTSC shall be made according to the

following schedule:

$300,000 shall be paid within 30 days of the Effective Date; and

$150,000 shall be paid in January 2008.

CNA shall pay these amounts by checks made out to the California Department of Toxic

Substances Control and identified with the Court’s docket number of this case and “Site No.

100035.” Payment shall be mailed to:

Department of Toxic Substances Control

Cashier, Hazardous Substance Account

P. O. Box 806

Sacramento, CA 95812-0806

A copy of the checks shall be mailed to:

Timothy E. Sullivan

Office of the Attorney General

1515 Clay Street, 20th Floor

Oakland, CA 94612

David R. Frank

City Attorney

City of Chico

P.O. Box 3420

Chico, CA 95927

(c) DTSC and the City of Chico acknowledge that they are entering

into this Consent Decree in reliance on the promise made by CNA to pay $450,000.00 to DTSC

in partial settlement of DTSC’s claims against the City of Chico. CNA’s submission to the

jurisdiction of the Court is limited to section 5.2 of the Consent Decree and enforcement of

same. CNA has no obligations under this Consent Decree other than to make payments to

DTSC as described in sections 5.2(a) and (b).

6. ACCESS TO CITY OF CHICO PROPERTY

The City of Chico agrees to allow DTSC, its agents, or contractors reasonable access to

public rights-of-way and City of Chico property for the purposes of implementing the Proposed

Remedy by performing removal or remedial actions, including the installation of underground

pipelines in public streets within the City of Chico and the installation of extraction and

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7.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

monitoring wells. The City of Chico agrees that it will work with DTSC in a cooperative

manner to ensure that DTSC’s removal and remedial actions can proceed expeditiously with a

minimum of procedural delays. Upon receipt by the City of Chico’s City Attorney of

documentation that the City of Chico, its officers, agents, employees, and servants are included

as additional insureds under all insurance coverages DTSC will require for the work to be

performed by DTSC, its agents, or contractors, the City of Chico will not require DTSC, its

agents, or contractors to obtain additional insurance as a condition of allowing access to public

rights-of-way and City of Chico property. The City of Chico will not require DTSC, its agents,

or contractors to post a bond for the purpose of ensuring proper future destruction of any well

that will be owned by DTSC or the State of California; DTSC acknowledges its responsibility to

properly destroy wells that it owns in accordance with standards promulgated for the

destruction of wells by the Department of Health Services. DTSC, its agents, or contractors

will coordinate with the City of Chico Community Services Department in order to minimize to

the extent feasible disruptions to traffic flow and impact on City services. Within ten (10) days

of the Effective Date, the City of Chico will designate an employee of the Community Services

Department to serve as a liaison with DTSC for coordination of access to public rights-of-way

and City of Chico property.

7. GOVERNMENT LIABILITIES

Neither DTSC nor any other department or agency of the State of California shall be

liable for any injuries or damages to persons or property resulting from acts or omissions by the

City of Chico in carrying out activities pursuant to this Consent Decree. Neither DTSC nor any

other department or agency of the State of California shall be held as a party to any contract

entered into by the City of Chico or its agents in carrying out activities pursuant to this Consent

Decree unless the contract is entered into in writing by DTSC or such other department or

agency of the State of California.

8. COVENANT NOT TO SUE BY DTSC

8.1 Except as specifically provided in sections 8.2 and 9, below, and except

as may be necessary to enforce the terms of this Consent Decree, as of the date this Consent

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8.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

Decree is entered as a consent decree of the Court, DTSC covenants not to sue the City of Chico

for “Matters Addressed” by this Consent Decree. “Matters Addressed” includes any and all

civil liability for reimbursement of all or any portion of DTSC’s Response Costs, past or future,

declaratory relief, injunctive relief or any other relief under CERCLA, the Carpenter-PresleyTanner Hazardous Substance Account Act, California Health & Safety Code sections 25300 et

seq., or common law for liability for Response Costs and/or response actions, with regard to

releases or threatened releases of perchloroethylene and its breakdown products at, in, or from

the Chico Central Plume, as set forth in the Complaint. 

8.2 “Matters Addressed” shall not include, and the covenant not to sue set

forth in section 8.1 above does not pertain to, any matters other than those expressly specified in

section 8.1. DTSC reserves, and this Consent Decree is without prejudice to, all rights, claims

and causes of action DTSC may have against the City of Chico with respect to all other matters,

including releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances in the city of Chico other than

releases or threatened releases of perchloroethylene and its breakdown products at, in, or from

the Chico Central Plume. 

9. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

9.1 The Covenant Not to Sue set forth in section 8.1 above does not pertain

to the following matters, which DTSC reserves, and this Consent Decree is without prejudice to

all rights and claims of DTSC against the City of Chico with respect to the following:

(a) failure of the City of Chico to meet the requirements of this Consent

Decree applicable to it;

(b) damage to natural resources, as defined in section 101(6) of CERCLA, 42

U.S.C. § 9601(6), including all costs incurred by any natural resources

trustees; and

(c) criminal liability.

9.2 Except as expressly provided in this Consent Decree, nothing in this

Consent Decree is intended nor shall it be construed to preclude DTSC from exercising its

authority under any law, statute or regulation. Furthermore, nothing in this Consent Decree is

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Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

intended, nor shall it be construed, to preclude any other state agency, department, board or

entity or any federal entity from exercising its authority under any law, statute or regulation.

10. COVENANTS NOT TO SUE BY THE CITY OF CHICO

10.1 The City of Chico covenants not to sue, and agrees not to assert any

claims or causes of action against, DTSC, or its contractors or employees, for any costs or

damages that the City of Chico might incur or for any injuries or losses that the City of Chico

might suffer as a result of its performance of the requirements of this Consent Decree. The City

of Chico further covenants not to sue, and agrees not to assert any claims or causes of action

against, DTSC, or its contractors or employees, for any and all civil liability for reimbursement

of all or any portion of the City of Chico’s response costs, past or future, declaratory relief,

injunctive relief or any other relief under CERCLA, the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous

Substance Account Act, California Health & Safety Code sections 25300 et seq., or common

law for liability for response costs and/or response actions, with regard to releases or threatened

releases of perchloroethylene and its breakdown products at, in, or from the Chico Central

Plume.

10.2 The City of Chico covenants not to sue, and agrees not to assert any

claims or causes of action against Noret, Inc., Norville Weiss or Janet Weiss for any costs or

damages that the City of Chico might incur or for any injuries or losses that the City of Chico

might suffer as a result of its performance of the requirements of this Consent Decree. The City

of Chico further covenants not to sue, and agrees not to assert any claims or causes of action

against Noret, Inc., Norville Weiss or Janet Weiss for any and all civil liability for

reimbursement of all or any portion of the City of Chico’s response costs, past or future,

declaratory relief, injunctive relief, or any other relief under CERCLA, the Carpenter-PresleyTanner Hazardous Substance Account Act, California Health & Safety Code sections 25300 et

seq., or common law for liability for response costs and/or response actions, with regard to

releases or threatened releases of perchloroethylene and its breakdown products at, in, or from

the Chico Central Plume. This covenant not to sue is intended by the City of Chico to activate

reciprocal releases by Noret, Inc., Norville Weiss and Janet Weiss in favor of the City of Chico,

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10.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

as set forth in paragraph 11.2 of the Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree between DTSC

and Noret, Inc., Norville Weiss and Janet Weiss, which was approved by this Court on

October 4, 2006.

11. EFFECT OF CONSENT DECREE

11.1 This Consent Decree constitutes the resolution of the City of Chico’s

liability to DTSC with respect to the Matters Addressed in a judicially approved settlement

within the meaning of section 113(f)(2) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9613(f)(2). The parties

intend that this Consent Decree constitute the resolution of the liability, if any, of the City of

Chico, as alleged joint tortfeasor or co-obligor with any other defendant, for equitable

comparative contribution, or partial or comparative indemnity, based on comparative

negligence or comparative fault as to releases or threatened releases of perchloroethylene and

its breakdown products at, in, or from the Chico Central Plume.

11.2 Accordingly, upon entry of this Consent Decree as a consent decree of

the Court, and provided that the City of Chico performs all of its obligations under this Consent

Decree, the City of Chico shall be entitled, as of the date this Consent Decree is entered as a

consent decree of the Court, to protection against all claims for contribution, pursuant to section

113(f)(2) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9613(f)(2), for the Matters Addressed by this Consent

Decree (as described in section 8), and by entering this Consent Decree this Court makes a

determination pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 877.6 that the settlement

was made in good faith and shall bar any other joint tortfeasor or co-obligor from any further

claims against the City of Chico for equitable comparative contribution, or partial or

comparative indemnity, based on comparative negligence or comparative fault, to the fullest

extent permitted by law.

11.3 Except as specifically provided in this Consent Decree, nothing in this

Consent Decree is intended, nor shall be construed, to waive, release, or otherwise affect any

right, claim, or cause of action held by any party to this Consent Decree against, or to provide a

covenant not to sue to, any third person not a party to this Consent Decree, or to in any way

limit, restrict, or impair the right of any party to this Consent Decree to assert rights, claims,

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Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

causes of actions, and defenses against any third person not a party to this Consent Decree,

including without limitation, the right to seek payment, reimbursement, contribution, or

indemnity from such persons for obligations incurred or to be incurred, or actions taken or to be

taken, under this Consent Decree. Except as specifically provided in this Consent Decree,

DTSC and the City of Chico expressly reserve any rights, claims, or causes of actions they

might have against any third person not a party to this Consent Decree.

11.4 This Consent Decree is contingent and dependent on all of its terms being

approved and entered by the Court. If the Court does not approve and enter this Consent

Decree, DTSC and the City of Chico reserve all of their respective rights, remedies, and

defenses.

11.5 This Consent Decree is not intended, nor shall it be construed, to limit or

otherwise affect DTSC's right to select a remedial action for the Chico Central Plume that is

different from or inconsistent with the Proposed Remedy.

12. RETENTION OF RECORDS

12.1 The City of Chico shall provide to DTSC, upon request, copies of all

documents and information within its possession or control or that of their contractors or agents

relating to the implementation of this Consent Decree, including, but not limited to design

specifications, reports of construction activities, contracts, invoices, sampling, analysis, chain of

custody records, manifests, trucking logs, receipts, reports, sample traffic routing,

correspondence, easements, permits, grants of access to public property, and city government

resolutions. Such records shall be preserved by the City of Chico until 10 years after the entry

of this Consent Decree, or 10 years after creation of a record or document, whichever is later.

12.2 The City of Chico may assert that certain documents, records, and other

information are privileged under the attorney-client privilege or any other privilege recognized

by law. If the City of Chico asserts such a privilege, it shall provide DTSC with the following:

(1) the title of the document, record, or information; (2) the date of the document, record, or

information; (3) the name and title of the author of the document, record, or information; (4) the

name and title of each addressee and recipient of the document, record, or information; (5) a

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Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

description of the subject of the document, record, or information; and (6) the privilege asserted

by the City of Chico. However, no documents, records, or other information created or

generated pursuant to the requirements of the Consent Decree shall be withheld on the grounds

that they are privileged. If a claim of privilege applies only to a portion of a document, the

document shall be provided to DTSC in redacted form to mask the privileged information only. 

The City of Chico shall retain all records and documents it claims to be privileged until DTSC

has had a reasonable opportunity to dispute the privilege claim and any such dispute has been

resolved in the City of Chico’s favor.

13. NOTIFICATION

13.1. Notification to or communication between the parties to this Consent

Decree as required or provided for in this Consent Decree shall be addressed as follows:

As to DTSC:

Jim Tjosvold

Chief, Northern California Central Cleanup Operations Branch

Department of Toxic Substances Control

8800 Cal Center Drive

Sacramento, CA 95826-3200

Attn: Donald Mandel, Project Manager for Chico Central Plume

facsimile: (916) 255-3696

Judith Tracy, Esq.

Office of Legal Counsel

Department of Toxic Substances Control

1001 "I" Street

P.O. Box 806

Sacramento, CA 95812

facsimile: (916) 323-5542

Timothy E. Sullivan, Esq.

Deputy Attorney General

California Department of Justice

1515 Clay Street, 20th Floor

P.O. Box 70550

Oakland, CA 94612-0550

facsimile: (510) 622-2270

As to the City of Chico:

Community Services Director

City of Chico

411 Main Street

P.O. Box 3420

Chico, CA 95927

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13.

Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

City Attorney

City of Chico

411 Main Street

P.O. Box 3420

Chico, CA 95927

Francis M. Goldsberry II

Goldsberry, Freeman & Guzman, LLP

777 12th Street, Suite 250

Sacramento, CA 95814

As to CNA:

Gwen Brathwaite

CNA

1249 South River Road

P.O. Box 2002

Cranbury, NJ 08512

facsimile: (609) 655-6609

13.2. Upon 10 days notice to the other party, a party to this Consent Decree

may substitute another person for an addressee named above to receive notifications or

communications as required or provided for in this Consent Decree.

14. MODIFICATION OF CONSENT DECREE

This Consent Decree may only be modified upon the written agreement of DTSC and

the City of Chico and the approval of the Court, or upon order of the Court after noticed motion

by a party to this Consent Decree.

15. APPLICATION OF CONSENT DECREE

This Consent Decree shall apply to and be binding upon DTSC, the City of Chico, CNA

as to sections 5.2(a) and (b) only, and each of their respective successors and assigns. The

provisions of this Consent Decree shall inure to the benefit of DTSC, the City of Chico, and

each of their respective successors and assigns. The provisions of this Consent Decree shall

also inure to the benefit of the officers, directors, employees and agents of the City of Chico, in

their capacities as such. 

16. AUTHORITY TO ENTER

Each signatory to this Consent Decree certifies that he or she is fully authorized by the

party he or she represents to enter into this Consent Decree, to execute it on behalf of the party

represented, and legally to bind that party.

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Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

17. INTEGRATION

This Consent Decree, including the exhibits and other materials incorporated herein by

reference, constitutes the entire agreement between DTSC and the City of Chico and may not be

amended or supplemented except as provided for in this Consent Decree.

18. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION

The Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purpose of enforcing the terms

of this Consent Decree.

19. EXECUTION OF DECREE

This Consent Decree may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall

be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

20. INTERPRETATION

California law governs the interpretation of this Consent Decree. This Consent Decree

shall be deemed to have been drafted equally by all parties hereto.

21. ATTORNEYS FEES AND COSTS

As to each other, each party to this Consent Decree shall bear its own costs, attorneys' fees,

expert witness fees and all other costs of litigation. This paragraph shall have no effect on the

parties’ right to recover these fees or costs from any other party.

22. APPROVALS OF PARTIES

Plaintiff DTSC consents to this Consent Decree by its authorized representative as

follows:

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF 

TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL

Dated: 7/31/07 /s/ James Tjosvold 

James Tjosvold

Chief, Northern California-Central Cleanup

 Operations Branch

California Department of Toxic

Substances Control

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Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

City of Chico consents to this Consent Decree by its authorized representative as follows:

CITY OF CHICO

Dated: 7/23/07 /s/ Gregory T. Jones 

Gregory T. Jones

City Manager

CNA consents to this Consent Decree by its authorized representative as follows:

CNA

Dated: 8/14/07 By: Michael Sehr Its: Senior Vice President 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Dated: 7/27/07 

EDMUND G. BROWN JR.

Attorney General of the State of California

TOM GREENE

 Chief Assistant Attorney General

THEODORA BERGER

 Senior Assistant Attorney General

SALLY KNOX

 Supervising Deputy Attorney General

ROSE B. FUA

Deputy Attorney General

 By /s/ Timothy E. Sullivan 

 TIMOTHY E. SULLIVAN

Deputy Attorney General

Attorneys for Plaintiff California Department

of Toxic Substances Control

Dated: 7/31/07 

 By: /s/ Francis M. Goldsberry II 

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY II

FRANCIS M. GOLDSBERRY III

Goldsberry, Freeman & Guzman, LLP 

Attorneys for City of Chico, California

Dated: 7/23/07 

 By: /s/ David R. Frank 

DAVID R. FRANK

City Attorney

City of Chico

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Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Case No. CIV. S-02-0442 LKK DAD

IT IS SO ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED:

Dated: January 8, 2008.

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