(PRC Patterson Superfund Removal Site); Notice of Proposed Administrative Settlement Pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as Amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:

Notice, request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Action (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of an proposed Administrative Order on Consent (“AOC,” Region 9 Docket No. 2000-15) pursuant to Section 122(h) of CERCLA concerning the PRC Patterson Superfund Removal Site (the “Site”), located in Patterson, California. The respondents to the AOC include all parties that participated or cooperated in the removal action to the satisfaction of EPA, except Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Atlantic Richfield Company, which are negotiating individual settlements in recognition of their distinct commitments at the Site. Through the proposed AOC the respondents will complete the removal action addressing certain above ground storage tanks at the Site. The AOC provides the respondents with a covenant not to sue and contribution protection for matters addressed in the AOC. To date, EPA has incurred approximately $900,000.00 in response costs related to the Site; however, EPA's response costs incurred at the Site are less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total costs of the response action at the Site. EPA is waiving all claims for recovery of its response costs against the respondents consistent with EPA's established policy regarding allocation of “orphan shares,” which are those of potentially responsible parties that are insolvent or defunct. EPA anticipates recovery of all or a significant portion of its costs from other potentially responsible parties at the Site. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this Notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the proposed AOC. The Agency's response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at EPA's Region IX offices, located at 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California 94105.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before September 17, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

The proposed AOC may be obtained from Danielle Carr, Hearing Clerk, telephone (415) 744-1389. Comments regarding the proposed AOC should be addressed to Danielle Carr (ORC-3) at 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California 94105, and should reference the PRC Patterson Superfund Removal Site, and Region IX Docket No. 2000-15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

J. Andrew Helmlinger, Office of Regional Counsel, (415) 744-1325, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.