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USDOL/OALJ Reporter Administrative Review Board 200 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC 20210
ARB CASE NO. 97-035
In the Matter of:
PATRICK STUDER,
v.
>RUSSELL STOVER CANDIES, INC.,
BEFORE: THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BOARD1
AND DISMISSING COMPLAINT This case arises under the Clean Air Act (CAA), 42 U.S.C. § 7622 (1988). The parties submitted a Confidential Settlement Agreement and General Release to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) seeking approval of the settlement and dismissal of the complaint. The ALJ issued a Recommended Order of Dismissal on December 23, 1996 approving the settlement. The request for approval is based on an agreement entered into by the parties, therefore, we must review it to determine whether the terms are a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of the complaint. 29 C.F.R. § 24.6. Macktal v. Secretary of Labor, 923 F.2d 1150, 1153-54 (5th Cir. 1991); Thompson v. U.S. Dep't of Labor, 885 F.2d 551, 556 (9th Cir. 1989); Fuchko and Yunker v. Georgia Power Co., Case Nos. 89-ERA-9, 89-ERA-10, Sec. Order, Mar. 23, 1989, slip op. at 1-2. Review of the agreement reveals that it may encompass the settlement of matters under laws other than the CAA. See Settlement Agreement ¶ 9. As stated in Poulos v. Ambassador Fuel Oil Co., Inc., Case No. 86-CAA-1, Sec. Order, Nov. 2, 1987, slip op. at 2:
[Page 2] We have therefore, limited our review of the agreement to determining whether the terms thereof are a fair, adequate and reasonable settlement of Complainant's allegation that Respondent violated the CAA. The Board requires that all parties requesting settlement approval of cases arising under the CAA provide the settlement documentation for any other alleged claims arising from the same factual circumstances forming the basis of the federal claim, or to certify that no other such settlement agreements were entered into between the parties. Biddy v. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, ARB Case Nos. 96-109, 97-015, Final Order Approving Settlement and Dismissing Complaint, Dec. 3, 1996, slip op. at 3. Accordingly, the parties have certified that the agreement constitutes the entire and only settlement agreement with respect to the complainant's claims. We find that the agreement, as so construed, is a fair, adequate, and reasonable settlement of the complaint. Accordingly, we APPROVE the agreement and DISMISS THE COMPLAINT WITH PREJUDICE. See Settlement Agreement ¶ 5.
SO ORDERED.
DAVID A. O'BRIEN
KARL J. SANDSTROM
JOYCE D. MILLER
1 On April 17, 1996, a Secretary's Order was signed delegating jurisdiction to issue final agency decisions under this statute to the newly created Administrative Review Board. 61 Fed. Reg. 19978 (May 3, 1996). Secretary's Order 2-96 contains a comprehensive list of the statutes, executive order, and regulations under which the Administrative Review Board now issues final agency decisions. Final procedural revisions to the regulations implementing this reorganization were also promulgated on that date. 61 Fed. Reg. 19982.
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