[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 191 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51659-51660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26192]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5902-9]


Proposed Administrative Settlements Under Section 122(h)(1) of 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Act; In Re: Brockton Gas Works I Superfund Site, Brockton MA; Brockton 
Gas Works II Superfund Site, Brockton, MA; and Taunton Gas/Rogers Ave. 
Superfund Site, Taunton, MA

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed cost recovery agreements and request for 
public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
enter into three separate cost recovery settlement agreements to 
address claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 
9601 et seq. This document is being published to inform the public of 
the proposed settlements and of the opportunity to comment. The 
settlements are intended to resolve liability under CERCLA of the Bay 
State Gas Company for costs incurred by EPA in initiating and 
overseeing removal actions at the following three Superfund Sites: 
Brockton Gas Works I in Brockton, Massachusetts; Brockton Gas Works II 
in Brockton, Massachusetts; and Taunton Gas/Rogers Ave. in Taunton, 
Massachusetts.

DATES: Comments must be provided on or before November 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region I, JFK Federal Building, 
Mailcode RCH, Boston, Massachusetts 02203, and should refer to: The 
Agreement for Payment of Response Costs Re: (a) Brockton Gas Works I 
Superfund Site, Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S. EPA Docket No. CERCLA-I-
97-1076; (b) Brockton Gas Works II Superfund Site, Brockton, 
Massachusetts, U.S. EPA Docket No. CERCLA-I-97-1077; or (c) Taunton 
Gas/Rogers Ave. Superfund Site, Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S. EPA Docket 
No. CERCLA-I-97-1078.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Hennessy, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, J.F.K. Federal Building, Mailcode HBR, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02203, (617) 573-5701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Comprehensive

[[Page 51660]]

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as 
amended (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., notice is hereby given of 
three proposed cost recovery settlement agreements under section 
122(h)(1) of CERCLA concerning the following three Superfund Sites: (a) 
Brockton Gas Works I in Brockton, Massachusetts; (b) Brockton Gas Works 
II in Brockton, Massachusetts, and (c) Taunton Gas/Rogers Ave. in 
Taunton, Massachusetts. EPA Region I approved the settlements, subject 
to review by the public pursuant to this document. The Bay State Gas 
Company of Westborough, Massachusetts, has executed signature pages for 
each settlement, committing the company to participate in the 
settlements. Under each of the proposed settlements, the Bay State Gas 
Company will pay money to the EPA Hazardous Substance Superfund to 
reimburse EPA for response costs that EPA incurred while initiating and 
overseeing removal actions at the three Sites. Bay State Gas Company 
will pay $230,710 to reimburse EPA for response costs at the Brockton 
Gas Works I Site, $169,582 to reimburse EPA for response costs at the 
Brockton Gas Works II Site, and $154,708 to reimburse EPA for response 
costs at the Rogers Ave. Site. EPA believes the settlements are fair 
and in the public interest.
    EPA is entering into these agreements under the authority of CERCLA 
section 122(h)(1) which provides EPA with authority to consider, 
compromise, and settle a claim under section 107 of CERCLA for costs 
incurred by the United States if the claim has not been referred to the 
U.S. Department of Justice for further action. EPA has not sought U.S. 
Department of Justice approval of these settlements because the 
response costs do not exceed $500,000 for any one Site. EPA will 
receive written comments relating to these settlements for thirty (30) 
days from the date of publication of this document.
    A copy of the proposed administrative settlement may be obtained in 
person or by mail from Catherine S. Smith, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, JFK Federal Building, Mailcode SES, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02203, (617) 565-4873.
    The Agency's response to any comments received will be available 
for public inspection with the Docket Clerk, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region I, JFK Federal Building, Mailcode RCH, 
Boston, Massachusetts (U.S. EPA Docket Numbers CERCLA-I-97-1076, 
CERCLA-I-97-1077, or CERCLA-I-97-1078.

    Dated: September 25, 1997.
Harley F. Laing,
Director, Office of Site Remediation and Restoration.
[FR Doc. 97-26192 Filed 10-1-97; 8:45 am]
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