Amendment of Montrose Chemical Corporation Site Listing.

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

      EPA is proposing today to add to the Montrose Chemical Corporation
  National Priorities Listing certain DDT-and PCB-contaminated sediments
  found on the seafloor off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in
  Southern California. EPA is also soliciting comments from the public on
  this proposal consistent with 40 CFR 300.425(d)(5)(i).
  ---
  
  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
  
  40 CFR Part 300
  
  [FRL-5878-4]
  
  
  National Priorities List for Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites,
  Proposed Rule
  
  AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  ACTION: Proposed rule; Amendment of Montrose Chemical Corporation Site
  Listing.
  
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  SUMMARY: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
  Liability Act of 1980 (``CERCLA'' or ``the Act'') requires that the
  National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
  (``NCP''), found at 40 CFR part 300, include a list of national
  priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous
  substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States.
  The National Priorities List (``NPL'') constitutes this list. The NPL
  is found in Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300.
      The principal mechanism for placing sites on the NPL is the Hazard
  Ranking System (HRS). Under the HRS various conditions at a site (for
  example, volumes of waste present or relative toxicity of pollutants)
  are assigned numerical values to develop a total score that measures
  the relative risk at a site compared with other sites. The HRS is found
  in Appendix A of 40 CFR part 300. A site with a total score in excess
  of 28.5 under the HRS is eligible for listing on the NPL.
      The NPL is intended primarily to guide the Environmental Protection
  Agency (``EPA'' or ``the Agency'') in determining which sites warrant
  further investigation to assess the nature and extent of public health
  and environmental risks associated with the site and to determine what
  CERCLA-financed remedial action(s), if any, may be appropriate.
      EPA is proposing today to add to the Montrose Chemical Corporation
  National Priorities Listing certain DDT-and PCB-contaminated sediments
  found on the seafloor off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in
  Southern California. EPA is also soliciting comments from the public on
  this proposal consistent with 40 CFR 300.425(d)(5)(i).
  
  DATES: Comments on this proposal must be submitted (postmarked) on or
  before October 20, 1997.
  
  ADDRESSES: By Mail: Mail original and three copies of comments (no
  facsimiles or tapes) to Docket Coordinator, Headquarters; U.S. EPA;
  CERCLA Docket Office (Mail Code 5201G); 401 M Street, SW; Washington,
  DC 20460; (703) 603-9232.
       By Overnight Mail: Send original and three copies of comments (no
  facsimiles or tapes) to Docket Coordinator, Headquarters; U.S. EPA;
  CERCLA Docket Office; 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway; Crystal Gateway #1,
  First Floor; Arlington, VA 22202.
      By E-Mail: Comments in ASCII format only may be mailed directly to
  SUPER- FUND.DOCKET@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV. E-mailed comments must be followed
  up by an original and three copies sent by mail or Federal Express.
      If you wish to view documents themselves, requests for appointments
  or copies of the background information from the public docket should
  be directed to:
      Docket Coordinator, Headquarters, U.S. EPA CERCLA Docket Office
  (Mail Code 5201G); Crystal Gateway #1, 1st Floor; 1235 Jefferson Davis
  Highway; Arlington, VA 22202. Phone: (703) 603-9232; Hours: 9:00 a.m.
  to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays. (Please
  note this is the viewing address only. Do not mail documents to this
  address.)
  
  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Douglas, NPL Coordinator, U.S.
  EPA Region 9, (415) 744-2343.
  
  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
  
  I. Introduction
  II. Contents of This Proposed Rule
  III. Executive Order 12866
  IV. Unfunded Mandates
  V. Effect on Small Businesses
  
  I. Introduction
  
      The Palos Verdes Shelf area that is subject to this rulemaking is
  an extremely important commercial and recreational fishing area and an
  area of high marine productivity that has become highly contaminated
  with
  
  [[Page 44431]]
  
  hazardous substances that have the potential to severely impact human
  health and the environment. This area has been the subject of intense
  investigation by federal agencies charged with protection of human
  health and the environment and has generated complex litigation.
      In view of the serious potential public health and environmental
  risks associated with this area, EPA is proposing to add the Palos
  Verdes Shelf contamination to the existing Montrose Chemical
  Corporation National Priorities Listing. A discussion of background on
  this issue follows.
  
  Statutory and Regulatory Background
  
      In 1980, Congress enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response,