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U.S. Department of Justice

NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

AT TACOMA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

STATE OF WASHINGTON , )

PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS, and )

MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE, ) Civil No. C06-5072RJB

)

 Plaintiffs, )

 ) CONSENT DECREE

v. )

)

RYDER SYSTEM INC., a Florida )

Corporation, )

)

Defendant. )

__________________________________________)

I. INTRODUCTION

The United States, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(“NOAA”) and the United States Department of the Interior; the State of Washington (the “State”)

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U.S. Department of Justice

NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 2

through the Washington State Department of Ecology; the Puyallup Tribe of Indians; and the

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), have filed a complaint in this case against

defendant Ryder System Inc. (“Defendant”) pursuant to Section 107 of the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA), 42

U.S.C. § 9607; the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), chapter 70.105D RCW; Section 311 of the

Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. § 1321; and Section 1002(b)(2)(A) of the Oil Pollution Act of

1990 (OPA), 33 U.S.C. § 2702(b)(2)(A). This Consent Decree (the “Decree”) addresses the claims

asserted in the Complaint against Defendant for Natural Resource Damages (as defined below) in the

Commencement Bay Environment (as defined below).

II. RECITALS

A. The United States Department of Commerce, acting through NOAA; the United

States Department of the Interior; the Washington State Department of Ecology on behalf of the

State of Washington; the Puyallup Tribe of Indians; and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (collectively,

the “Trustees” and, individually, a “Trustee”), under the authority of Section 107(f) of CERCLA, 42

U.S.C. § 9607(f), Section 1006(b) of OPA, 33 U.S.C. § 2706(b), and 40 C.F.R. Part 300, subpart

G, serve as trustees for Natural Resources for the assessment and recovery of damages for injury to,

destruction of, and loss of Natural Resources under their trusteeship.

B. Investigations conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency

(“EPA”), the Trustees, and others have detected hazardous substances in the sediments, soils and

groundwater of the Commencement Bay Environment, including but not limited to arsenic, antimony,

cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, zinc, bis(2ethylhexyl)phthalate,

hexachlorobenzine, hexachlorobutadiene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (“PAHs”), and

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Overall, the Trustees have documented the presence of over 30

hazardous substances in the marine sediments of Commencement Bay’s Hylebos Waterway.

C. The Trustees began assessing Natural Resource Damages in the Commencement Bay

Environment in October 1991 by finding that hazardous substances had been released into the

Commencement Bay Environment; that public trust Natural Resources had likely been injured by the

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NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 3

releases; that data sufficient to pursue a Natural Resource Damage assessment were available or could

likely be obtained at a reasonable cost; and that, without further action, implemented and planned

response actions would not adequately remedy the resource injuries. See Preassessment Screen of

Natural Resource Damages in the Commencement Bay Environment Due to Activities Taking Place

In and About the Commencement Bay/Nearshore Tideflats (CB/NT) Superfund Site (October 29,

1991). The Trustees notified representatives of known potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) of

their intent to conduct a damage assessment. The Trustees subsequently entered into a Funding and

Participation Agreement for Phase 1 of the Commencement BayWide Natural Resource Damage

Assessment, dated February 10, 1993, with several of the major PRPs. The Trustees published a

report on the results of Phase 1 of the damage assessment process in June 1995. The PRPs did not

participate in subsequent stages of the damage assessment, and the Trustees continued the process

independently. The Trustees have now completed a series of studies during Phase 2 of the damage

assessment, focusing on impacts of contaminants on marine sediments, benthic organisms, flatfish and

salmonids. Results of those studies were published in a series of reports, consisting of

Commencement Bay Natural Resource Trustees, 1996, Hylebos Waterway Data and Data Analysis

Report; Collier, T.K., L.L. Johnson, M.S. Myers, C.M. Stehr, M.M. Krahn, and J.E. Stein, 1998, Fish

injury in the Hylebos Waterway in Commencement Bay, Washington; Mary R. Arkoosh, Ed Casillas,

Tracy K. Collier, Margaret M. Krahn and John E. Stein, 1998, Effects of Chemical Contaminants

from the Hylebos Waterway on Disease Resistance of Juvenile Salmon; Ed Casillas, BichThuy L.

Eberhart, Frank C. Sommers, Tracy K. Collier, Margaret M. Krahn and John E. Stein, 1998, Effects

of Chemical Contaminants from the Hylebos Waterway on Growth of Juvenile Chinook Salmon; and

Ed Casillas, BichThuy L. Eberhart, Tracy K. Collier, Margaret M. Krahn and John E. Stein, 1998,

Exposure of Juvenile Chinook Salmon to Chemical Contaminants Specific to the Hylebos Waterway.

Based on this research, the Plaintiffs and Defendant (collectively, the “Parties” and, individually, a

“Party”) agree that no further Natural Resource Damage assessment is required to effectuate the

purposes of this Consent Decree, with respect to Defendant.

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U.S. Department of Justice

NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 4

D. Plaintiffs have filed a complaint (the “Complaint”) pursuant to section 107 of

CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9607; MTCA, chapter 70.105D RCW; CWA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; and

OPA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 2701 et seq., seeking recovery from Defendant of damages for injury to,

destruction of, and loss of Natural Resources resulting from releases of hazardous substances into

the Commencement Bay Environment, including the costs of assessing the damages.

E. Plaintiffs allege in the Complaint that Defendant owns or in the past owned and/or

operated real property or facilities, identified by the Trustees as the CENEX AG site, from which

storm water, surface water runoff, wastewater, other process discharges, and/or groundwater have

flowed to the Commencement Bay Environment. Plaintiffs also allege that investigations by EPA and

others have detected concentrations of hazardous substances in soils, groundwater and sediments on

or in those properties or facilities. Some of these hazardous substances are found in the sediments

of the Commencement Bay Environment.

F. Plaintiffs further allege that hazardous substances have been or are being released to

the Commencement Bay Environment from properties or facilities owned and/or operated by

Defendant through direct discharge, surface water runoff, groundwater and seeps, and that those

hazardous substances have caused injury to, destruction of and loss of Natural Resources in the

Commencement Bay Environment under Plaintiffs' trusteeship, including fish, shellfish, invertebrates,

birds, marine sediments, and resources of cultural significance. Plaintiffs further allege that each of

them and the public have suffered the loss of Natural Resource services (including ecological services

as well as direct and passive human use losses) as a consequence of those injuries.

G. Plaintiffs allege that the Defendant is (a) the owner and/or operator of a vessel or a

facility; (b) a person who at the time of disposal or release of any hazardous substance owned or

operated any facility at which such hazardous substances were disposed of; (c) a person who by

contract, agreement, or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter

for transport for disposal or treatment, of hazardous substances owned or possessed by such person,

by any other party or entity, or otherwise generated any hazardous substance disposed of or treated,

at any facility or incineration vessel owned or operated by another party or entity and containing such

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NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 5

hazardous substances; and/or (d) a person who accepts or accepted any hazardous substances for

transport to disposal or treatment facilities, incineration vessels or sites selected by such person from

which there is a release or a threatened release of a hazardous substance that causes the incurrence

of response costs within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 9607 and RCW 70.105D.040.

H. Defendant denies all the allegations of the Complaint.

I. Although the Trustees have initiated but not yet completed a Natural Resource

Damage assessment for the Commencement Bay Environment, the Trustees have developed and

analyzed information sufficient to support a settlement that is fair, reasonable and in the public

interest. 

J. To facilitate resolving Natural Resource Damage claims, the Trustees developed a

proposed allocation of Hylebos Waterway Natural Resource Damages liability among Hylebos

Waterway PRPs solely for settlement purposes. Relying upon the results of the damage assessment

studies, remedial investigations, regulatory standards, and scientific literature, the Trustees first

developed an estimate of the amount of injury to Natural Resources that had occurred as a result of

releases of hazardous substances to the Hylebos Waterway. The Trustees quantified the effects of

the injuries in terms of the losses of ecological services over affected areas of the waterway and over

time, discounted to the current year. The Trustees used the term discounted ecological service acreyears (DSAYs) to describe both the scale of the injuries, and the amount of habitat restoration they

are seeking to compensate for the injuries. For the Hylebos Waterway, the Trustees are seeking to

recover from all PRPs funds, property and/or in-kind services needed to generate habitat restoration

sufficient to compensate for the loss of 1526.77 DSAYs.

K. Plaintiffs assert that hazardous substance releases to the Hylebos Waterway have

become dispersed and commingled to the extent that the effects of one PRP’s releases cannot be

readily distinguished from another’s. Plaintiffs further assert that the circumstances of the Hylebos

Waterway contamination make all PRPs who contributed to the contamination jointly and severally

liable for all injuries to Natural Resources that have resulted from the contamination. As a

consequence, Plaintiffs assert the right to recover for the loss of all 1526.77 DSAYs from any

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U.S. Department of Justice

NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 6

Hylebos Waterway PRP. Without prejudice to their position, and solely for purposes of facilitating

settlement with individual PRPs, the Trustees have developed a proposal for allocating liability for

the 1526.77 DSAYs among the PRPs. Independent consultants hired by the Trustees reviewed

existing information from the files of EPA, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and local

public libraries to allocate liability among the various Hylebos Waterway facilities that contributed

to the contamination.

L. To insure that all PRPs had an equal opportunity to be informed of and to offer their

views on the Trustees’ settlement proposal, in April 2002 the Trustees presented their report on the

proposed allocation to the public for notice and comment. The Trustees took comments for 60 days,

revised the report based upon the comments received, and made it available to PRPs in final form.

M. The Trustees’ report allocated liability for DSAY losses for settlement purposes

among the various industrial sites along the Hylebos Waterway. As a result of their allocation process,

the Trustees allocated a total of 0.426 DSAYs to Defendant. The Trustees also allocated a total of

$3,686.61 in damage assessment costs relating to the Hylebos Waterway to Defendant.

N. The Trustees quantified Natural Resource Damages in their Hylebos Waterway report

in terms of DSAYs in order to encourage settling parties to resolve their liability by constructing

habitat restoration projects. For parties who prefer settling on a cash-damages basis, the Trustees

reviewed data from existing restoration projects and estimated it would cost fifty-two thousand

dollars ($52,000.00) per DSAY if the Trustees themselves constructed the required restoration

projects. The cash damages equivalent of the 0.426 DSAYs allocated to Defendant totals

$22,152.00. When combined with the damage assessment costs allocated to Defendant, the dollar

value of the Trustees’ claim asserted against Defendant totals $25,838.61. The Trustees have agreed

to settle their Natural Resource Damage claims against Defendant associated with the

Commencement Bay Environment for cash payments totaling $25,838.61 in Natural Resource

Damages and damage assessment costs. Defendant has agreed to pay the Trustees the identified sum

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NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 7

in return for the Trustees’ covenants not to sue Defendant for Natural Resource Damages as provided

below in Paragraph 16. 

O. Defendant denies any liability to Plaintiffs arising out of the transactions or

occurrences alleged in the Complaint. 

P. Plaintiffs and Defendant agree, and this Court by entering this Decree finds, that this

Decree has been negotiated by the Parties in good faith; that settlement of this matter will avoid

prolonged and complicated litigation between the Parties; and that this Decree is fair, reasonable, and

in the public interest.

THEREFORE, with the consent of the Parties to this Decree, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED,

AND DECREED:

III. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§§ 1331, 1345 and 1367, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9607 and 9613(b) and 33 U.S.C. § 2717(b). The Court has

personal jurisdiction over the Parties. Solely for the purposes of this Decree and the underlying

Complaint, the Parties waive all objections and defenses that they may have to jurisdiction of the

Court or to venue in this District. The Parties may not challenge the terms of this Decree or this

Court's jurisdiction to enter and enforce this Decree.

IV. PARTIES BOUND

2. This Decree is binding upon the United States, the State, the Puyallup Tribe of

Indians, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and upon Defendant and their heirs, successors and assigns.

Any change in ownership or corporate or other legal status, including but not limited to any transfer

of assets or real or personal property, will in no way alter the status or responsibilities of Defendant

under this Decree.

V. DEFINITIONS

3. Unless otherwise expressly provided, terms used in this Decree that are defined in

CERCLA or in regulations promulgated under CERCLA have the meanings assigned to them in 

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NOAA GC - DOJ DARC

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 8

CERCLA or in such regulations. Whenever the terms listed below are used in this Decree or in any

attached appendix, the following definitions will apply:

a. “Commencement Bay Environment” means the waters of Commencement Bay,

State of Washington including the shoreline, intertidal areas, tributaries, drainage areas, estuaries and

bottom sediments lying south of a line drawn from Point Defiance to Dash Point. These waters

include the Thea Foss Waterway, Wheeler-Osgood Waterway, Middle Waterway, St. Paul Waterway,

Puyallup River from the mouth south to the present City limits, Milwaukee Waterway, Sitcum

Waterway, Blair Waterway, and Hylebos Waterway. This area includes but is not limited to the

Commencement Bay Nearshore/Tideflats Superfund Site, as identified or amended by the EPA,

including the B&L Landfill, and areas affected by releases of hazardous substances within the

Commencement Bay Nearshore/Tideflats Superfund Site. 

b. “Commencement Bay Restoration Account” means the Commencement Bay

Natural Resource Restoration Account authorized by the Order Directing the Deposit of Natural

Resource Damages into the Registry of the Court in United States v. Port of Tacoma, No. C935462B

(W.D. Wash. Oct. 8, 1993) (attached as Appendix A).

c. “DSAYs” means discounted ecological service acre-years, the metric

established by the Trustees to determine the scale of Natural Resource Damages liability associated

with the Hylebos Waterway and the Natural Resource restoration efforts needed to compensate for

injury to, destruction or loss of Natural Resources giving rise to liability.

d. “Defendant” means Ryder System Inc.

e. “Natural Resource Damages” means damages, including costs of damage

assessment, recoverable under Section 107 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9607; Chapters 70.105D, 90.48

and 90.56 RCW; Section 311 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. § 1321; and Section

1002(b)(2)(A) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 33 U.S.C. § 2702(b)(2)(A), for injury to,

destruction of, or loss of Natural Resources resulting from releases of hazardous substances or

discharges of oil to the Commencement Bay Environment at or from sites along, adjacent to or

draining to the Hylebos Waterway. 

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7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

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CONSENT DECREE - Page 9

f. “Parties” mean the United States, the State of Washington, the Puyallup Tribe

of Indians, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Ryder System Inc.

g. “Plaintiffs” mean the United States, the State, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians,

and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

h. “Trustees” mean the United States Department of Commerce, acting through

NOAA; the Department of the Interior; the Washington State Department of Ecology, on behalf of

the State of Washington; the Puyallup Tribe of Indians; and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

4. The Complaint states claims upon which relief may be granted.

5. Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed as an admission of liability by the

Defendant for any claims or allegations made in the Complaint or in this Consent Decree.

6. This Consent Decree shall not be used as evidence in against any Party in any action

or proceeding other than an action or proceeding to enforce the terms of this Consent Decree.

VII. PAYMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGES 

AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT COSTS

7. Within 30 days of entry of this Decree, Defendant will pay to the Trustees $22,152.00

for Natural Resource Damages. This payment will be made by a certified check made payable to the

Clerk of the Court. This check will be deposited in the Commencement Bay Natural Resource

Restoration Account.

8. Within 30 days of entry of this Decree, Defendant will pay to the Trustees sums

totaling $3,686.61 in damage assessment costs. These sums shall be paid in the following amounts

and particulars:

Trustee: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Amount: $2,973.98

Trustee: U.S. Department of the Interior

Amount: $497.21

Payments to NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior shall be made by FedWire Electronic

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7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

(206) 526-6604

CONSENT DECREE - Page 10

Funds Transfer ("EFT") to the U.S. Department of Justice account in accordance with current EFT

procedures. Payment shall be made in accordance with instructions provided to Defendant by the

Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Washington. Any

payments received by the Department of Justice after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time shall be

credited on the next business day. Defendant shall provide at least five days notice to the Financial

Litigation Unit before making the transfer. 

Payments to the other Trustees shall be made by certified checks, bearing the notation “Ryder

System, Inc. - Commencement Bay Assessment Costs,” in the amounts indicated and made payable

and addressed as follows:

Trustee: State of Washington

Amount: $61.35

Payee: State of Washington/Department of Ecology

Address: State of Washington

Department of Ecology

Attention: Cashiering Section

P.O. Box 5128

Lacey, WA 98503-0210

Trustee: Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Amount: $140.36

Payee: Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Address: Mr. William Sullivan

Environmental Protection Department

Puyallup Tribe of Indians

2002 E. 28th Street

Tacoma, WA 98404

Trustee: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Amount: $13.71

Payee: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Address: Mr. Rob Otsea

Office of the Tribal Attorney

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

39015 172nd Avenue S.E.

Auburn, WA 98002

9. At the time of each payment Defendant will send notice that payment has been made

to the Trustees and DOJ in accordance with Section XIV (Notices and Submissions). Such notice

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CONSENT DECREE - Page 11

will reference Commencement Bay NRDA, DOJ case number 90-11-2-1049, and the civil action

number.

VIII. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CONSENT DECREE

10. Interest on Late Payments. If Defendant fails to make any payment under Paragraphs

7 and 8 by the required due date, interest shall be assessed at the rate specified for interest on

investments of the EPA Hazardous Substance Superfund established by 26 U.S.C. § 9507,

compounded annually on October 1 of each year in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a). The

applicable rate of interest is the rate in effect at the time the interest accrues. The rate of interest is

subject to change on October 1 of each year. Interest will continue to accrue on the unpaid balance

through the date of payment. 

11. Stipulated Penalties. 

a. If any amounts due under Paragraphs 7 and 8 are not paid by the required date,

Defendant will be in violation of this Decree and, as a stipulated penalty, in addition to the interest

required by Paragraph 10, will increase the financial contributions it makes under this Consent Decree

to fund habitat restoration actions by paying the Trustees $1,000 per violation per week that such

payment is late. After the second week that such payment is late, the stipulated penalty shall apply

to each additional day that the payment is late.

b. Stipulated penalties are due and payable within 30 days of the date of the

demand for payment of the penalties by the Trustees. All payments to the Trustees under this

Paragraph will be made by a certified check made payable to the Clerk of the Court. This check will

be deposited in the Commencement Bay Restoration Account.

c. At the time of each payment, Defendant will send notice that payment has been

made to the Trustees and DOJ in accordance with Section XIV (Notices and Submissions). This

notice will reference Commencement Bay NRDA, DOJ Case Number 90-11-2-1049, and the civil

action number.

d. Penalties will accrue as provided in this Paragraph regardless of whether the

Trustees have notified Defendant of the violation or made a demand for payment, but the penalties

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need only be paid upon demand. All penalties will begin to accrue on the day after payment is due

and will continue to accrue through the date of payment. Nothing in this Decree prevents the

simultaneous accrual of separate penalties for separate violations of this Decree. 

12. If Plaintiffs bring an action to enforce this Decree and prevail, Defendant will

reimburse Plaintiffs for all costs of such action, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees.

13. Payments made under this Section are in addition to any other remedies or sanctions

available to Plaintiffs by virtue of Defendant’s failure to comply with the requirements of this Decree.

14. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, Plaintiffs may, in their

unreviewable discretion, waive payment of any portion of the stipulated penalties that have accrued

pursuant to this Decree. Payment of stipulated penalties does not excuse Defendant from payment

as required by Section VII or from performance of any other requirement of this Consent Decree.

15. The Trustees may use sums paid as stipulated penalties under Paragraph 11 to pay

unreimbursed damage assessment costs and/or to fund or contribute to additional actions to restore

Commencement Bay Natural Resources.

IX. COVENANT NOT TO SUE BY PLAINTIFFS

16. Except as specifically provided in Section X (Reservations of Rights) below, Plaintiffs

covenant not to sue or to take administrative action against Defendant pursuant to Section 107(a) of

CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a); Chapters 70.105D, 90.48 and 90.56 RCW; Section 311 of the Clean

Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. § 1321; or Section 1002(a) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA),

33 U.S.C. § 2702(a), to recover Natural Resource Damages. This covenant not to sue will take effect

upon receipt by the Registry of the Court and by each of the Trustees of all payments required by,

Paragraphs 7 and 8 of Section VII. This covenant not to sue is conditioned upon the satisfactory

performance by Defendant of its obligations under this Decree. This covenant not to sue extends only

to Defendant and its heirs, successors, and assigns, and does not extend to any other 

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person. Compliance with this Decree shall satisfy any and all Natural Resource Damages obligations

of Defendant relating to the Hylebos Waterway.

X. RESERVATIONS OF RIGHTS

17. Plaintiffs reserve, and this Decree is without prejudice to, all rights against Defendant

with respect to all matters not expressly included within the Covenant Not to Sue by Plaintiffs in

Paragraph 16. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Decree, Plaintiffs reserve, and this Decree

is without prejudice to, all rights against Defendant with respect to:

a. liability for failure of Defendant to meet a requirement of this Decree;

b. liability for costs of response, as defined at 42 U.S.C. § 9601, incurred or to be incurred

by Plaintiffs.

c. liability for injunctive relief or administrative order enforcement under Section 106 of

CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9606, and

d. criminal liability to the United States or State.

XI. REOPENERS

18. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Consent Decree, the Plaintiffs reserve, and

this Consent Decree is without prejudice to, the right to institute proceedings against Defendant in

this action or in a new action for:

a. Claims based on a failure of Defendant to satisfy the requirements of this

Consent Decree; and

b. Additional claims for Natural Resource Damages if conditions, factors or

information in the Commencement Bay Environment, not known to the Trustees at the time of entry

of this Consent Decree, are discovered that, together with any other relevant information, indicates

that there is a threat to the environment, or injury to, destruction of, or loss of Natural Resources of

a type unknown, or of a magnitude significantly greater than was known, at the time of entry of this

Consent Decree, which is attributable to the Defendant.

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XII. COVENANT NOT TO SUE BY DEFENDANT

19. Defendant covenants not to sue and agrees not to assert any claims or causes of action

against the United States, the State, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

or their contractors or employees, for any civil claims or causes of action relating to Natural Resource

Damages.

XIII. EFFECT OF SETTLEMENT/CONTRIBUTION PROTECTION

20. Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed to create any rights in, or grant any

cause of action to, any person not a Party to this Consent Decree. Each of the Parties expressly

reserves any and all rights (including, but not limited to, any right to contribution), defenses, claims,

demands, and causes of action they each may have with respect to any matter, transaction, or

occurrence relating in any way to the Commencement Bay Environment against any person not a

Party hereto.

21. The Parties agree, and by entering this Consent Decree this Court finds, that

Defendant is entitled, as of the effective date of this Consent Decree, to protection from contribution

actions or claims as provided by CERCLA Section 113(f)(2), 42 U.S.C. § 9613(f)(2), and RCW

70.105D.040(4)(d) for Natural Resource Damages.

22. Defendant agrees that it will notify the Trustees and the United States in writing no

later than 60 days before bringing a suit or claim for contribution for Natural Resource Damages.

Defendant also agrees that it will notify the Trustees and the United States in writing within 10 days

of service of a complaint or claim upon Defendant relating to a suit or claim for contribution for

Natural Resource Damages. In addition, Defendant will notify the Trustees and the United States

within 10 days of service or receipt of any Motion for Summary Judgment and within 10 days of

receipt of any order from a court setting a case for trial for matters related to this Decree.

23. In any subsequent administrative or judicial proceeding initiated by the Plaintiffs for

injunctive relief, recovery of response costs, or other appropriate relief other than Natural Resource

Damages, Defendant shall not assert, and may not maintain, any defense or claim based upon the

principles of waiver, res judicata, collateral estoppel, issue preclusion, claim-splitting, or other

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defenses based upon any contention that the claims raised by the Plaintiffs in the subsequent

proceeding were or should have been brought in the instant case; provided, however, that nothing

in this Paragraph affects the enforceability of the covenants not to sue set forth in Paragraphs 16 and

19.

XIV. NOTICES AND SUBMISSIONS

24. Whenever notice is required to be given or a document is required to be sent by one

Party to another under the terms of this Decree, it will be directed to the individuals at the addresses

specified below, unless those individuals or their successors give notice of a change to the other

Parties in writing. Written notice as specified constitutes complete satisfaction of any written notice

requirement of the Decree for Plaintiffs and Defendant.

As to the United States and as to DOJ:

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section

Environment and Natural Resources Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 7611

Washington, D.C. 200447611

(DJ # 90-11-2-1049)

As to NOAA:

Robert A. Taylor

NOAA Office of General Counsel GCNR/NW

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 981150070

As to the United States Department of the Interior:

Jeff Krausmann

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

510 Desmond Dr. SE, Suite 102

Lacey, WA 985031263

As to the State:

Craig Thompson

Toxics Cleanup Program

State of Washington

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P.O. Box 47600

Olympia, WA 98504-7600

As to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians:

Bill Sullivan

Environmental Department

Puyallup Tribe of Indians

1850 Alexander Avenue

Tacoma, WA 98421

As to the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe:

Mr. Rob Otsea

Office of the Tribal Attorney

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

39015 172nd Avenue S.E.

Auburn, WA 98002

As to Defendant:

Richard W. Elliott

David J. Ubaldi

Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP

Suite 2300

777 108th Avenue NE

Bellevue, WA 980045149

XV. EFFECTIVE DATE

25. The effective date of this Consent Decree shall be the date upon which this Consent

Decree is entered by the Court, except as otherwise provided herein.

XVI. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION

26. This Court will retain jurisdiction over this matter for the purpose of interpreting and

enforcing the terms of this Decree. 

XVII. INTEGRATION/APPENDICES

27. This Decree and its appendices constitute the final, complete, and exclusive agreement

and understanding with respect to the settlement embodied in this Decree. The Parties acknowledge

that there are no representations, agreements, or understandings relating to the settlement other than

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those expressly contained in this Decree. No material modifications of this Decree may be made

unless the Parties agree in writing to the modification, and the Court approves the requested

modification. The following appendices are attached to and incorporated into this Consent Decree:

 Appendix A is the Order Directing the Deposit of Natural Resource Damages into the

Registry of the Court in United States v. Port of Tacoma, No. C935462B (W.D. Wash. Oct. 8,

1993).

XVIII. TERMINATION

28. This Decree shall terminate upon written notice, made in accordance with Section

XIV, by Defendant to all Plaintiffs that the payments required by Section VII have been made, and

subsequent written notice by the United States confirming the performance by Defendant of its

obligations under this Decree. Such notice by the United States shall be sent within ten (10) calendar

days of receipt by all Plaintiffs of the required payments and notice from Defendant. If the United

States fails to send such notice, this Decree shall terminate automatically on the eleventh day

following receipt by all Plaintiffs of the required payments and notice from Defendant. The following

provisions of this Decree shall survive termination: Section IX (“Covenant Not To Sue By

Plaintiffs”); XII (“Covenant Not To Sue by Defendant”); Section XIII (“Effect Of

Settlement/Contribution Protection”); Section X (“Reservation of Rights”) and Section XI

(“Reopeners”). 

XIX. LODGING AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

29. This Decree will be lodged with the Court for a period of not less than 30 days for

public notice and comment. The Plaintiffs each reserve the right to withdraw or withhold their

consent if the comments regarding the Decree disclose facts or considerations that indicate this

Decree is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. Defendant consents to the entry of this Decree

without further notice.

30. If for any reason this Court declines to approve this Decree in the form presented, this

agreement may be voided at the sole discretion of any Party, and the terms of the agreement may not

be used as evidence in any litigation between the Parties. 

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XX. SIGNATORIES/SERVICE

31. The Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division

of the United States Department of Justice and each undersigned representative of the State, the

Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Defendant certifies that he or she is

authorized to enter into the terms and conditions of this Decree and to execute and bind legally the

Party that he or she represents to this document.

32. Defendant agrees not to oppose entry of this Decree by this Court or to challenge any

provision of this Decree unless any Plaintiff has notified Defendant in writing that it no longer

supports entry of the Decree.

33. Defendant will identify on the attached signature page the name and address of an

agent who is authorized to accept service of process by mail on behalf of it with respect to all matters

relating to this Decree. Defendant agrees to accept service in that manner and to waive the formal

service requirements set forth in Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and any applicable

local rules of this Court, including but not limited to service of a summons. 

XXI. FINAL JUDGMENT

34. Upon approval and entry of this Decree by the Court, this Decree will constitute the

final judgment between and among the United States, the State, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and Defendant. The Court finds that there is no just reason for delay and

therefore enters this judgment as a final judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54 and 58. Subject to

Paragraph 12 of this Decree (enforcement), each Party shall bear its own costs, including attorneys’

fees, in the action resolved by this Decree.

IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 12th DAY OF MAY, 2006.

ARobert J. Bryan

United States District Judge 

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THE UNDERSIGNED PARTIES enter into this Consent Decree in United States, et al. v. Ryder

System, Inc.

FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Date: 1/23/06 s/ 

Sue Ellen Wooldridge

Assistant Attorney General

Environment and Natural Resources Division

U.S. Department of Justice

Washington, D.C. 20530

FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

Date: 9/5/05 S/__________________

Date : 8/31/05 S/_______________________

Assistant Attorney General

State of Washington

FOR THE PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS

Date: 9/7/05 _______________________

FOR THE MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE

Date: 11/4/05 _______________________

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FOR RYDER SYSTEM, INC.

Date: 9/16/05____________ s/_______________________

Agent authorized to receive service of process by mail on behalf of Ryder System, Inc. with

respect to all matters relating to this Decree:

Ryder System Inc.

Attn: Sanford J. Hodes, Esq.

3600 N.W. 82nd Avenue

Miami, FL 33166

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