ON 7/15/98, REGION 5 REFERRED TO DOJ A PROPOSED CONSENT DECREE BY WHICH THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED PRPS WILL UNDERTAKE THE RD/RA AS SET FORTH IN JUNE 18, 1997, ROD AMENDMENT. THE PRPS WILL PAY ALL PAST COSTS, MINUS THE ORPHAN SHARE, AND ALL FUTURE COSTS UP TO $150,000 UNDER THE REDUCED OVERSIGHT INITIATIVE. THE CONSENT DECREE ALSO PROVIDES A DE MINIMIS COMPONENT BY WHICH N.L. INDUSTRIES WILL PAY A SUM OF $53,000. IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE COMMITMENTS, THE PRPS WILL RECEIVE A COVENANTNOT TO SUE FOR THE SITE WORK AND CONTRIBUTION PROTECTIONS. THIS CONSENT DECREE WAS ENTERED ON APRIL 12, 1999.