Document ID: EPA_FRDOC_0001-29117
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Proposed CERCLA Administrative Settlement Agreement: Removal Action by Prospective Purchaser and Proposed CERCLA Administrative Cost Recovery Settlement: Wells G and H Superfund Site, Woburn, MA
Posted Date: 2022-12-29T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80183-80184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28310]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[CERCLA 01-2022-0056 and 01-2022-0057; FRL-10526-01-R1]

Proposed CERCLA Administrative Settlement Agreement for Removal 
Action by Prospective Purchaser and Proposed CERCLA Administrative Cost 
Recovery Settlement: Wells G&H Superfund Site, Woburn, Massachusetts

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed settlement; request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given by EPA Region 1 of a proposed 
settlement comprised of two administrative agreements, an 
administrative Settlement Agreement under Section 122(h)(1) of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 
(``CERCLA'') (``122(h) Agreement''), In the Matter of: Wells G&H 
Superfund Site, Woburn, MA: Olympia Nominee Trust et al., EPA Region 1, 
CERCLA Docket No. 01-2022-0057, and an Administrative Settlement 
Agreement for Removal Action by Prospective Purchaser (``PPA''), In the 
Matter of: Wells G&H Superfund Site, Woburn, MA: IV5 60 Oympia Ave LLC 
et al., EPA Region 1, CERCLA Docket No. 01-2022-0056.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by January 30, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to RuthAnn Sherman, Senior 
Enforcement Counsel, Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (04-2), Boston, MA 
02109-3912, (617) 918-1886, [email protected], and should 
reference the Wells G&H Superfund Site, U.S. EPA Docket Nos: CERCLA 01-
2022-0056 and CERCLA 01-2022-0057.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the proposed settlement may 
be obtained from RuthAnn Sherman, Senior Enforcement Counsel, Office of 
Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region I, 5 
Post Office Square, Suite 100 (04-2), Boston, MA 02109-3912, telephone 
number: (617) 918-1886, email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA and the respective nonfederal 
parties have signed these agreements and the settlement has been 
approved by the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the 
United States Department of Justice. The settlement is for recovery of 
response costs and performance of a response action related to two 
parcels totaling 21.3 acres (the ``Property''), located within the 330-
acre Wells G&H Superfund Site, in Woburn, Massachusetts (the ``Site''). 
Under the 122(h) Agreement, three current and former owners and 
operators of the Property (collectively, ``Olympia'') will pay $1.2 
million in reimbursement of past response costs paid by the United 
States in connection with an ongoing removal action at the Property, 
started by Olympia approximately 18 years ago. Under the PPA, two non-
liable prospective purchasers will enhance and accelerate the removal 
action, including the cleanup of trichloroethylene in soils and 
volatile organic compounds in groundwater, pay 80% of EPA's future 
oversight costs, and pay 100% of the United States' other future 
response costs. The prospective purchasers in the PPA are: IV5 60 
OLYMPIA AVE LLC and IV5 60 OLYMPIA AVE LAND LLC; and the Settling 
Parties in the 122(h) Agreement are: Olympia Nominee Trust, Olympia 
Aberjona, LLC, and Juniper Development Group LLC. The settlement has 
been approved by the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of 
the United States Department of Justice. For 30 days following the date 
of publication of this notice, the United States will receive

[[Page 80184]]

written comments relating to the settlement. The United States will 
consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent 
to this settlement if comments received disclose facts or 
considerations which indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, 
improper, or inadequate. The United States' response to any comments 
received will be available for public inspection at the Environmental 
Protection Agency--Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, 
MA 02109-3912.
    This proposed settlement comprised of two administrative agreements 
concerning the Wells G&H Superfund Site, located in Woburn, Middlesex 
County, Massachusetts, is made in accordance with the authority of the 
Attorney General to compromise and settle claims of the United States, 
consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
and Liability Act (CERCLA).
    For 30 days following the date of publication of this notice, the 
United States will receive written comments relating to the settlement. 
The Effective Date of the PPA is the date upon which both of the 
following events have occurred: (a) EPA issues written notice to 
Purchaser that the public comment period has closed and the United 
States, after review of and response to any public comments received, 
has determined not to withhold its consent or seek to modify the 
Agreement; and (b) Purchaser has executed the Prospective Purchaser 
Agreement; and (3) Purchaser has closed on the purchase of the property 
at the Site. Upon the Effective Date of the PPA, the Settling Parties 
under the 122(h) Agreement shall pay the $1.2 million in past response 
costs.

    Dated: December 22, 2022.
Bryan Olson,
Director, Superfund and Emergency Management Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-28310 Filed 12-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P