[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 40963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14641]
[[Page 40963]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Settlement Pursuant to CERCLA; Administrative
Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for the Ross Adams Mine Site
Cleanup
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of settlement; comment request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 122(i) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended
(CERCLA), notice is hereby given that the USDA Forest Service is
seeking comments on the Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order
on Consent for Removal Action (``ASAOC'') for the Ross Adams Mine Site
(``the Site''). On January 17, 2020, the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Region 10 entered into an ASAOC
with Newmont USA Limited (``Newmont'') and Dawn Mining Company, LLC
(``Dawn''). The ASAOC provides for a comprehensive cleanup of the Ross
Adams Mine Site in southeastern Alaska.
DATES: Comments must be received, in writing, on or before August 7,
2020.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed
to Linda Riddle, Alaska On-Scene Coordinator, at USDA, Forest Service,
Alaska Regional Office, P.O. Box 21628, Juneau, AK 99802. Comments may
also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to
Linda Riddle at 907-586-7555. The ASAOC may be viewed at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd574452.
All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are
placed in the record and are available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect comments received at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd574452. Both the ASAOC and comments can be viewed and copied
at the Federal Building, 709 W 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801. Visitors
are encouraged to call ahead to Linda Riddle at 907-586-9379 to
facilitate entry to the building. The ASAOC and comments may also be
viewed and copied at Tongass National Forest, 648 Mission Street,
Federal Building, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591; Craig Ranger District, 504
9th Street, P.O. Box 705, Craig, AK 99921-9998; and to Thorne Bay
Ranger District, 1312 Federal Way, P.O. Box 19001, Thorne Bay, AK
99919-0001. Due to uncertainties caused by COVID-19, office hours and
staffing may vary and visitors are encouraged to call ahead to the
front desks of these offices. In Ketchikan the number is 907-225-3101;
in Craig the number is 907-826-3271; and in Thorne Bay the number is
907-828-3304. The front desk receptionist at each location will assist
callers.
The Forest Service will consider all comments received on the ASAOC
and may modify or withdraw its consent to the ASAOC if comments
received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the
settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning this
project may be obtained on the Tongass National Forest website at:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd574452.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in the 1950s, various mining
companies began extracting uranium ore at the Ross Adams Mine. In
recent decades, the mine was abandoned and has been releasing hazardous
substances, including radionuclides, into the environment. For over a
decade, the Forest Service has conducted a comprehensive investigation
at the Site, in cooperation with Newmont and Dawn, pursuant to the
Forest Service's authority under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. 9601.
For several years, the Forest Service, Newmont, and Dawn have been
negotiating the terms of a mutually acceptable cleanup process at the
Site.
The ASAOC requires Newmont and Dawn to perform a comprehensive
cleanup on site addressing all significant environmental contamination
at an estimated cost of $7.2 million. The proposed ASAOC will resolve
all CERCLA claims alleged by the Forest Service against Newmont and
Dawn.
Allen Rowley,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-14641 Filed 7-7-20; 8:45 am]
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