[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 68490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26967]



[[Page 68490]]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Air 
Act and EPCRA

    On December 9, 2019, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Eastern 
District of California in the lawsuit entitled United States and San 
Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District v. Kern Oil & 
Refining Co., Civil Action No. 2:19-cv-02460-KJM-CKD.
    This case involves claims for alleged violations of Section 111 of 
the Clean Air Act (``CAA''), 42 U.S.C. 7411 and Section 313 of the 
Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. 11023 
(``EPCRA''), with respect to Kern Oil's petroleum refinery 
(``Facility'') located in Bakersfield, California. The complaint seeks 
injunctive relief and civil penalties stemming from Kern Oil's failure 
to meet new source performance standards monitoring and reporting 
requirements under the CAA and failure to meet hazardous substance 
reporting requirements under EPCRA. The settlement requires Kern to pay 
a civil penalty of $500,000 that will be divided evenly with the United 
States and San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District 
and requires Kern Oil to comply with all monitoring and reporting 
requirements and other injunctive relief geared towards ensuring the 
Facility remains in compliance with the law. Additionally, the 
settlement requires Kern Oil to perform two supplemental environmental 
projects, estimated to cost at least $100,000 each, for which Kern Oil 
will purchase and operate for five years an infrared gas-imaging camera 
and purchase emergency responder equipment for the Kern County Public 
Health Services Department and the Kern County Fire Department.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
should refer to United States, et al. v. Kern Oil and Refining Co., 
D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-10464/1. All comments must be submitted no later 
than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice. 
Comments may be submitted either by email or by mail:

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         To submit comments:                     Send them to:
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By email............................  [email protected].
By mail.............................  Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
                                       DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
                                       Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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    During the public comment period, the Consent Decree may be 
examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. We will provide a paper copy of 
the Consent Decree upon written request and payment of reproduction 
costs. Please mail your request and payment to: Consent Decree Library, 
U.S. DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611.
    Please enclose a check or money order for $11.75 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Lori Jonas,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-26967 Filed 12-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-15-P