29426 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 112 / Monday, June 10, 1996 / Notices

E. Protection of Civil Rights

Federal law prohibits discrimination based

on race or national origin by the federal, state

and local governments, or individuals against

American Indians in such areas as voting,

education, housing, credit, public

accommodations and facilities, employment,

and in certain federally funded programs and

facilities. Various federal criminal civil rights

statutes also preserve personal liberties and

safety. The existence of the federal trust

responsibility towards Indian tribes does not

diminish the obligation of state and local

governments to respect the civil rights of

Indian people.

Through the Indian Civil Rights Act,

Congress selectively has derived essential

civil rights protections from the Bill of Rights

and applied them to Indian tribes. 25 U.S.C.

§ 1301. The Indian Civil Rights Act is to be

interpreted with respect for Indian

sovereignty. The primary responsibility for

enforcement of the Act is invested in the

tribal courts and other tribal fora. In the

criminal law context, federal courts have

authority to decide habeas corpus petitions

after tribal remedies are exhausted.

The Department of Justice is fully

committed to safeguarding the constitutional

and statutory rights of American Indians, as

well as all other Americans.

F. Protection of Tribal Religion and Culture

The mandate to protect religious liberty is

deeply rooted in this Nation’s constitutional

heritage. The Department seeks to ensure that

American Indians are protected in the

observance of their faiths. Decisions

regarding the activities of the Department

that have the potential to substantially

interfere with the exercise of Indian religions

will be guided by the First Amendment of the

United States Constitution, as well as by

statutes which protect the exercise of religion

such as the Religious Freedom Restoration

Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom

Act, the Native American Graves Protection

and Repatriation Act, and the National

Historic Preservation Act.

The Department also recognizes the

significant federal interest in aiding tribes in

the preservation of their tribal customs and

traditions. In performing its duties in Indian

country, the department will respect and

seek to preserve tribal cultures.

IV. Directive to all Components of the

Department of Justice

The principles set out here must be

interpreted by each component of the

Department of Justice in light of its respective

mission. Therefore, each component head

shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure

that the component’s activities are consistent

with the above sovereignty and trust

principles. The component heads shall

circulate this policy to all attorneys in

Department to inform them of their

responsibilities. Where the activities and

internal procedures of the components can be

reformed to ensure greater consistency with

this Policy, the component head shall

undertake to do so. If tensions arise between

these principles and other principles which

guide the component in carrying out its

mission, components will develop, as

necessary, a mechanism for resolving such

tensions to ensure that tribal interests are

given due consideration. Finally, component

heads will appoint a contact person to work

with the Office of Tribal Justice in addressing

Indian issues within the component.

V. Disclaimer

This policy is intended only to improve the

internal management of the Department and

is not intended to create any right

enforceable in any cause of action by any

party against the United States, its agencies,

officers, or any person.

Dated: June 1, 1995.

Janet Reno,

Attorney General.

[FR Doc. 96–14513 Filed 6–7–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–01–M

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decrees

in Action To Recover Past Costs Under

the Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation, and Liability

Act

In accordance with Departmental

Policy, 28 CFR § 50.7, 38 FR 19029,

notice is hereby given that two Consent

Decrees in United States v. Cassidy, et

al., Civil Action No. 94–CV–71787–DT,

were lodged with the United States

District Court for the Eastern District of

Michigan on May 30, 1996.

The Consent Decrees resolve claims

brought by the United States pursuant to

the Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation and Liability

Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., against

Detrex Corp., Ford Motor Co., General

Motors Corp., PVS-Nolwood Chemicals,

Inc., Tronex Chemical Co., Van Waters

& Rogers, Inc., Ethone-OMI, Inc., Henkel

Corp., Chrysler Corp., General Electric

Co., and Carboloy, Inc. The complaint

alleges that the United States incurred

response costs in connection with a

release or threatened release of

hazardous substances from sites

operated by the ABC Barrel and Drum

Company at 14290 Birwood St. and 102

W. Lantz St. in Detroit, Wayne County,

Michigan. The complaint alleges that

the defendants were liable for such costs

as persons who arranged for the

disposal of hazardous substances at the

sites.

One of the Consent Decrees requires

Detrex Corp., Ford Motor Co., General

Motors Corp., PVS-Nolwood Chemicals,

Inc., Van Waters & Rogers, Inc., EthoneOMI, Inc., Henkel Corp., Chrysler Corp.,

General Electric Co., and Carboloy, Inc.

to pay $2,550,000 to the EPA Hazardous

Substances Superfund to settle the

claims asserted against them. Under this

Decree, the United States also covenants

not to sue and provides contribution

protection to three third party

defendants who settled with the

defendants for a total of $32,638: Martin

Marietta Magnesia Specialties, Inc.,

McKesson Corp., and Union Carbide

Corp. The Decree also restricts the

contribution rights of the settling

defendants and settling third parties.

The second Consent Decree that was

lodged requires Tronex Chemical

Company to pay $20,000, plus interest,

in four installments to the EPA

Hazardous Substance Superfund to

settle the claims asserted against it in

the Complaint.

The Department of Justice will receive

for thirty (30) days from the date of

publication of this notice written

comments relating to the Consent

Decrees. Comments should be addressed

to the Assistant Attorney General,

Environment and Natural Resources

Division, Department of Justice,

Washington, D.C. 20530, and should

refer to United States v. Cassidy, et al.,

DOJ Ref. No. 90–11–3–1060.

The Consent Decrees may be

examined at the Office of the United

States Attorney, Eastern District of

Michigan, 211 W. Fort St., Suite 2300,

Detroit, Michigan; at the Region V Office

of the Environmental Protection

Agency, 77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago,

Illinois; and at the Consent Decree

Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 4th Floor,

Washington, D.C., (202) 624–0892. A

copy of the proposed Consent Decrees

may be obtained in person or by mail

from the Consent Decree Library, 1120

G Street, N.W., 4th Floor, Washington,

D.C. 20005. In requesting a copy, please

refer to the referenced case and enclose

a check payable to the Consent Decree

Library in the amount of $10.75 ($.25

cents per page reproduction costs) for

the Consent Decree requiring the

$2,550,000 payment, and/or, $5.75 for

the Consent Decree involving Tronex

Chemical Company. Please specify

precisely which Decree is being

requested.

Bruce S. Gelber,

Deputy Chief, Environmental Enforcement

Section, Environment and Natural Resources

Division.

[FR Doc. 96–14472 Filed 6–7–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–01–M

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree

Pursuant to the Comprehensive

Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Act, (42

U.S.C. 9601–9675)

Notice is hereby given that a proposed

consent decree in United States v. David

B. Fisher, et al., Civil Action No. S92–

00636M, was lodged on May 22, 1996

with the United States District Court for