[Federal Register: April 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 70)]
[Notices]
[Page 17720]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ap02-100]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Revised Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree: Natural Resource
Damages Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
Notice is hereby given that on March 18, 2002, a proposed Consent
Decree: Natural Resource Damages (``Decree'') in United States and
State of Alaska v. Kuroshima Shipping, S.A. and Unique Trading Co.,
Ltd., Civil Action No. A02-0057 (JKS), was lodged with the United
States District Court for the District of Alaska.
In this action brought pursuant to Section 1002(b)(2)(A) of the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. 2702(b)(2)(A), the United States and
the State of Alaska sought natural resource damages, including the
reasonable costs of assessing those damages, arising out of the
November 26, 1997 grounding and subsequent discharge of oil from the M/
V Kuroshima in the area of Summer Bay, Unalaska Island, Alaska (``the
Kuroshima Spill''). The defendants are the owner and operator of the
vessel at the time of the incident. The federal and state natural
resource trustees, in consultation with the Qawalangin Tribe of
Unalaska, conducted an assessment of damage to natural resources and
loss of use of natural resources occasioned by the Kuroshima Spill and
have proposed a plan for restoring these natural resources and the loss
of their use by the public. That plan appears as Appendix A to the
Decree. The proposed Decree provides that defendants shall pay $644,017
to the natural resource trustees for their implementation of the
restoration plan and shall place another $9,000 in the registry of the
Court until the natural resource trustees determine whether that amount
is necessary for the field component of the restoration plan aimed at
restoring vegetation or may be returned to the defendants. The proposed
Decree requires that the defendants reimburse the natural resource
trustees in excess of $66,158.09 for damage assessment costs. In
exchange for these payments, the United States and the State of Alaska
covenant not to sue the defendants for natural resource damages arising
from the Kuroshima Spill.
The Department of Justice will accept comments relating to the
proposed Decree through April 29, 2002. Comments should be addressed to
the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources
Division, United States Department of Justice and sent to 801 B Street,
Suite 504, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3657. Comments should refer to
United States v. Kuroshima Shipping, S.A. et al., D.J. Ref # 90-5-1-1-
06147.
The Decree may be examined at the above address by contacting
Lorraine Carter at 907-271-5452. A copy of the Decree (minus Appendix
A) may be obtained by contacting Ms. Carter in writing at the address
above. In requesting a copy, please enclose a check in the amount of
$5.50 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) payable to the U.S.
Treasury. A copy of Appendix A may be obtained during the comment
period from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by
contacting Doug.Helton at 206-526-4563 or at Doug.Helton@noaa.gov.
Alternatively, Appendix A may be viewed at www.darcnw.noaa.gov/
kuro.htm.
Robert E. Maher, Jr.,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 02-8743 Filed 4-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M