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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) JUNE 27, 1995
OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 1-9210 95-4035997
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
10889 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90024
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(310) 208-8800
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On June 27, 1995, Occidental Petroleum Corporation
announced that it has entered into a tentative settlement of
administrative proceedings brought by the U.S. Department of
Energy against its OXY USA Inc. (formerly Cities Service)
subsidiary. The administrative proceedings relate to OXY
USA's purchases and sales of crude oil from October 1979
through January 1981, preceding the acquisition of that
company by Occidental.
The settlement is for $275 million. $100 million will
be paid when the settlement agreement becomes final, and the
remainder will be paid in five equal annual payments of
$35 million plus interest at the rate of 7.6 percent. The
settlement agreement involves no admission by OXY USA that
it violated DOE regulations.
Occidental said that it expects reported earnings in
the second quarter of 1995 to be approximately equal to its
reported earnings in the first quarter of 1995 after taking
into account the impact of the addition to the reserves
established for this case. Occidental also said that it
still expects to meet its goal of paying down at least $1
billion of debt over the next two years.
Notice of the settlement will be published in the
Federal Register and interested parties will have at least
30 days to comment on it. DOE will be free to take final
action thereafter.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(C) EXHIBITS
Exhibit 99.1 Consent Order, dated June 27,
1995, between Occidental Petroleum
Corporation, including OXY USA
Inc., and the United States
Department of Energy.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: June 30, 1995 Donald P. de Brier
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Donald P. de Brier, Executive Vice President
and General Counsel
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBITS
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99.1 Consent Order, dated June 27, 1995, between
Occidental Petroleum Corporation, including OXY
USA Inc., and the United States Department of
Energy.
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EXHIBIT 99.1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
__________________________________
)
CONSENT ORDER )
)
WITH )
)
OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION )
__________________________________)
I. Introduction
101. This Consent Order is entered into between Occiden-
tal Petroleum Corporation ("Occidental"), including its wholly owned
subsidiary OXY USA Inc. ("OXY") (formerly Cities Service Oil and Gas
Corporation, successor in interest to Cities Service Company ("Cit-
ies Service")), and the United States Department of Energy ("DOE").
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Consent Order settles and
finally resolves all civil and administrative claims and disputes,
whether or not heretofore asserted, between the DOE, as hereinafter
defined, and Occidental, as hereinafter defined, relating to
Occidental's compliance with the federal petroleum price and alloca-
tion regulations, as hereinafter defined, during the period October
1, 1979, through January 27, 1981 (all the matters settled and re-
solved by this Consent Order are referred to hereinafter as "the
matters covered by this Consent Order"). This Consent Order does
not affect the Consent Order between Cities Service and DOE dated
October 31, 1979, which, except as otherwise provided therein,
covered the period August 19, 1973, through September 30, 1979.
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II. Jurisdiction, Regulatory Authority and Definitions
201. This Consent Order is entered into by the DOE pursu-
ant to the authority conferred upon it by Sections 301 and 503 of
the Department of Energy Organization Act ("DOE Act"), 42 U.S.C.
7151 and 7193, Executive Order No. 12009, 42 FR 46267 (1977);
Executive Order No. 12038, 43 FR 4957 (1978); and 10 CFR 205.l99J.
202. For purposes of this Consent Order, the phrase
"federal petroleum price and allocation regulations" means all
statutory requirements and administrative regulations and orders
regarding the pricing and allocation of crude oil, refined petroleum
products, natural gas liquids, and natural gas liquid products,
including the entitlements and mandatory oil import programs,
administered by the DOE. The federal petroleum price and allocation
regulations include (without limitation) the pricing, allocation,
reporting, certification, and recordkeeping requirements imposed by
or under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970, the Emergency
Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, the Federal Energy Administration
Act of 1974, the DOE Act, any and all amendments to said acts,
Presidential Proclamation 3279, all applicable DOE regulations
codified in 6 CFR parts 130 and 150 and 10 CFR parts 205, 210, 211,
212, and 213, and all rules, rulings, guidelines, interpretations,
clarifications, manuals, decisions, orders, notices, forms, and
subpoenas relating to the pricing and allocation of petroleum
products. The provisions of 10 CFR 205.l99J and the definitions
under the federal petroleum price and allocation regulations shall
apply to this Consent Order except to the extent inconsistent
herewith. Reference herein to "DOE" includes, besides the Depart-
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ment of Energy, the Cost of Living Council, the Federal Energy
Office, the Federal Energy Administration, the Office of Special
Counsel, the Economic Regulatory Administration and all agencies
succeeding to the DOE's authority to administer or enforce the
federal petroleum price and allocation regulations. References in
this Consent Order to "Occidental" shall include: (1) Occidental
Petroleum Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and its and
their predecessors, including Cities Service Company and Cities
Service Oil and Gas Corporation, and their subsidiaries and affili-
ates, (2) all of Occidental's petroleum-related activities, whether
as a refiner, producer, operator, working interest or royalty
interest owner, reseller, retailer, natural gas processor, or
otherwise, and (3) Occidental's present and former directors,
officers and employees.
III. Facts
The stipulated facts upon which this Consent Order is
based are as follows:
301. During the period covered by this Consent Order,
Occidental was a "refiner", "producer" and "reseller" as those terms
are defined in the federal petroleum price and allocation regula-
tions and was subject to the jurisdiction of the DOE.
302. On October 31, 1979, Cities Service and the DOE
entered into a Consent Order which settled all claims and disputes
against Cities Service by the DOE, except as otherwise provided
therein, for the period August 19, 1973, through September 30, 1979,
with respect to the statutory and regulatory petroleum programs
administered and enforced by the DOE and its predecessor agencies.
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303. Following the 1979 Consent Order, the DOE audited
Cities Service's compliance with the federal petroleum price and
allocation regulations for the period after September 30, 1979. As
a result, the DOE raised certain issues with respect to certain
related purchases and sales of crude oil in which Cities Service
sold price-controlled crude oil to resellers and purchased exempt-
certified crude oil from those resellers. The DOE initiated formal
enforcement action alleging that these transactions violated certain
provisions of the federal petroleum price and allocation regula-
tions. Occidental maintains, however, that Cities Service's conduct
with respect to these transactions was in all respects lawful and in
accordance with the federal petroleum price and allocation regula-
tions. The DOE and Occidental have each asserted its belief that
its respective legal and factual positions regarding such transac-
tions are meritorious. These positions were emphasized in the
intensive review and exchange of information conducted during the
audit, during litigation of those issues, and during the settlement
negotiation process. Neither DOE nor Occidental disavows any posi-
tion taken with respect to such matters. However, in order to avoid
the expense of further protracted and complex litigation and the
disruption of its orderly business functions, Occidental has agreed
to enter into this Consent Order, which, among other things, re-
solves both the principal and interest component of the claims that
the DOE has asserted against Cities Service and/or Occidental in
connection with the above-described transactions. The DOE believes
this Consent Order constitutes a satisfactory resolution of the
matters covered herein and is in the public interest.
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IV. Remedial Provisions
401. In full and final settlement of all matters covered
by this Consent Order and in lieu of all other remedies which have
been or might be sought by the DOE against Occidental for such
matters under 10 CFR 205.1991 or otherwise, Occidental and OXY shall
be jointly and severally liable to pay to the DOE two hundred seven-
ty-five million dollars ($275,000,000.00), plus interest, in the
manner specified in paragraphs 402, 403, 404, and 405.
402. On or before the thirtieth (30th) day following the
Effective Date of this Consent Order, either Occidental or OXY shall
make an initial payment to the DOE of one hundred million dollars
($100,000,000.00). The date of such payment is designated, for
purposes of this Consent Order, as the Initial Payment Date.
403. On or before each of the first five anniversaries of
the Initial Payment Date, either Occidental or OXY shall pay to DOE
an amount equal to thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000.00),
plus interest at the rate of seven and six-tenths percent (7.6%),
compounded quarterly, accrued on such payment from the Initial
Payment Date to the date of such payment. If any anniversary of the
Initial Payment Date is not a business day, the payment shall be due
on the first business day following such anniversary.
404. Payments received after the due date shall include
additional interest, calculated at the rate of 7.6 percent per annum
for the first fifteen (15) days after the due date and 15.2 percent
per annum thereafter.
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405. The payments pursuant to paragraphs 402 through 404
shall be made by wire transfer in accordance with instructions
furnished to Occidental and OXY by the DOE in a timely manner.
406. Inasmuch as this Consent Order settles both the
principal and interest portions of all claims made by the DOE
against Occidental, the principal portion of the payments made
pursuant to paragraphs 402 through 404 shall be deemed to be a
payment of principal and interest in the same ratio that the princi-
pal portion of the DOE's claim in the proceeding styled In the
Matter of OXY USA Inc., Case No. LRO-0003, currently pending before
the Office of Hearings and Appeals ("OHA"), bears to the interest
portion of the DOE's claim in that case as of the Effective Date.
407. Payments made pursuant to this Consent Order shall
be distributed by the DOE pursuant to the special refund procedures
prescribed by 10 C.F.R. Part 205, Subpart V.
V. Issues Resolved
501. All pending and potential civil and administrative
claims, whether or not known, demands, liabilities, causes of action
or other proceedings by the DOE against Occidental regarding
Occidental's compliance with and obligations under the federal
petroleum price and allocation regulations during the period covered
by this Consent Order, whether or not heretofore raised by an issue
letter, Notice of Probable Violation, Notice of Proposed Disallow-
ance, Proposed Remedial Order, Remedial Order, actions in court or
otherwise, are resolved, extinguished and released as to Occidental
by this Consent Order. This Consent Order, however, does not
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resolve, extinguish, release or otherwise affect DOE's claims
against any other party.
502. (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, compliance
by Occidental with this Consent Order shall be deemed by the DOE to
constitute full compliance for administrative and civil purposes
with all federal petroleum price and allocation regulations for
matters covered by this Consent Order. In consideration for perfor-
mance as required under this Consent Order by Occidental, the DOE
hereby releases Occidental completely and for all purposes from all
administrative and civil judicial claims, demands, liabilities or
causes of action, including, without limitation, claims for civil
penalties that the DOE has asserted or might otherwise be able to
assert against Occidental before or after the date of this Consent
Order for alleged violations of the federal petroleum price and
allocation regulations with respect to matters covered by this
Consent Order. The DOE will not initiate or prosecute any such
administrative or civil judicial matter against Occidental or cause
or refer any such matter to be initiated or prosecuted, nor will the
DOE or its successors directly or indirectly aid in the initiation
of any such administrative or civil judicial matter against Occiden-
tal or participate voluntarily in the prosecution of such actions.
The DOE will not assert voluntarily in any administrative or civil
judicial proceeding that Occidental has violated the federal petro-
leum price and allocation regulations with respect to the matters
covered by this Consent Order or otherwise take any action with
respect to Occidental in derogation of this Consent Order. However,
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nothing contained herein shall preclude the DOE from defending the
validity of the federal petroleum price and allocation regulations.
(b) This Consent Order settles and finally resolves all
aspects of Occidental's potential liability to the DOE under the
federal petroleum price and allocation regulations, including but
not limited to its capacity as an operator or working interest or
royalty interest owner of a crude oil producing property. In
addition, if Occidental was the operator of a property that produced
crude oil for all or part of the period covered by this Consent
Order, the DOE shall not initiate or prosecute any enforcement
action against any person for noncompliance with the federal petro-
leum price and allocation regulations during such period relative to
such property. Otherwise, the DOE reserves the right to initiate
and prosecute enforcement actions against any person other than
Occidental for noncompliance with the federal petroleum price and
allocation regulations, including suits against operators for
overcharges for crude oil when Occidental is a working interest or
royalty interest owner in such crude oil production. In that
connection, Occidental and the DOE agree that the amount paid to the
DOE pursuant to this Consent Order is not attributable to
Occidental's activities as a working interest or royalty interest
owner on properties on which it is not the operator. Furthermore,
Occidental and the DOE agree that the Consent Order and the payments
hereunder do not resolve, reduce or release the liability of any
other person for violations on properties of which (but only for the
times during which) Occidental is or was a working interest or
royalty interest owner (and not the operator) or affect any rights
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or obligations between Occidental and the operator or any other
working interest or royalty interest owner.
(c) The DOE will not seek or recommend any criminal fines
or penalties based on information or evidence presently in its
possession for the matters covered by this Consent Order, provided,
however, that nothing in this Consent Order precludes the DOE from
(l) seeking or recommending such criminal fines or penalties if
information subsequently coming to its attention indicates, either
by itself or in combination with information or evidence presently
known to DOE, that a criminal violation may have occurred, or (2)
otherwise complying with its obligations under law with regard to
forwarding information of possible criminal violations of law to
appropriate authorities. Nothing contained herein may be construed
as a bar, estoppel or defense against any criminal or civil action
brought by an agency of the United States other than the DOE under
(i) Section 210 of the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 or (ii)
any statute or regulation other than the federal petroleum price and
allocation regulations. Finally, this Consent Order does not
prejudice the rights of any third party or Occidental in any private
action, including an action for contribution by or against Occiden-
tal.
(d) Occidental releases the DOE completely and for all
purposes from all administrative and civil judicial claims, liabili-
ties or causes of action that Occidental has asserted or may other-
wise be able to assert against the DOE relating to the DOE's admin-
istration of the federal petroleum price and allocation regulations,
except that nothing herein is intended to affect in any way any
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rights Occidental may have to receive a portion of the funds at
issue in (1) the proceeding originally styled The 341 Tract Unit of
the Citronelle Field/OXY USA Inc., OHA Case No. RF345-00021, and now
under review in Amoco Oil Co., et al. v. DOE, Civil Action No. H-94-
2423 (S.D. Tex., filed July 15, 1994), and R.H. Stechmann, et al. v.
DOE, Civil Action No. 94-0887-A-M (S.D. Ala., filed Nov. 17, 1994),
and (2) the proceeding pending before OHA styled Enron Corp./OXY USA
Inc., OHA Case No. RF340-00112. However, neither this release nor
any other provision of this Consent Order precludes Occidental from
asserting any factual or legal position or argument as a defense to
any action, claim, or proceeding brought by the DOE, the United
States, or any agency of the United States. Nor does it preclude
Occidental from asserting a defense, counterclaim or offset to any
action, claim or proceeding brought by any other person.
(e) Nothing in this Consent Order shall affect any rights
Occidental may have to challenge the DOE's failure or refusal to
produce documents in response to requests therefor that have been or
may in the future be made by Occidental or its attorneys pursuant to
the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 502, et seq. ("FOIA"),
except that Occidental hereby withdraws and waives its rights to
have documents produced in response to the following requests: (1)
the June 20, 1988 request submitted by Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin,
Krim & Ballon (Request No. 8872206R); (2) paragraph 2 of the March
22, 1993 request submitted by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
("Skadden") (Request No. 93032402R); (3) paragraphs 1, 3-8, 13-15
and 17-18 of the June 3, 1993 request submitted by Skadden (Request
No. 93060803RG); (4) the October 29, 1993 request submitted by
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Skadden (Request No. 93110217R); (5) the January 21, 1994 request
submitted by Skadden (Request No. 94012510X); and (6) the two Sep-
tember 19, 1994 requests submitted by Skadden (both designated
Request No. 94092001GC).
503. (a) Within five (5) days after the execution of the
Consent Order by both parties, the DOE and Occidental shall jointly
file written notification of the fact of such execution to the OHA.
In addition, if, by September 8, 1995, this Consent Order has
neither become effective nor has been withdrawn pursuant to Article
IX of this Consent Order, DOE and Occidental shall jointly file with
the OHA a request that OHA stay or otherwise defer consideration of
all further action in the proceeding styled In the Matter of OXY USA
Inc., Case No. LRO-0003, until such time as the Consent Order has
become effective or been withdrawn pursuant to Article IX. In addi-
tion, in the event that the plaintiffs in the actions in the United
States District Court for the District of the District of Columbia
styled State of Alabama, et al. v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commis-
sion, et al., Civil Action No. 94-0347-HHG, and Consolidated Edison
Co. of New York, Inc., et al. v. Hazel R. O'Leary, et al., Civil
Action No. 94-0352-HHG, take an appeal prior to the Effective Date
of this Consent Order from the decision filed by that court on June
8, 1995 dismissing their complaints, the DOE and Occidental shall,
within fifteen (15) days after the filing of such appeal or by July
7, 1995, whichever is later, jointly file with the appellate court
or courts written notification that this Consent Order has been
executed, which notice shall request that further proceedings on the
appeal be suspended until such time as this Consent Order has become
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effective or has been withdrawn pursuant to Article IX of this
Consent Order.
(b) Within fifteen (15) days after the Effective Date of
this Consent Order, Occidental and the DOE shall file or cause to be
filed appropriate pleadings and will take all other steps necessary
to withdraw all claims and dismiss with prejudice all proceedings
covered by this Consent Order then pending before OHA or any other
administrative tribunal, and to dismiss with prejudice any court
proceeding then pending involving an appeal from or seeking review
of a decision by the OHA, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
("FERC"), a federal district court or a federal court of appeals in
any such proceedings. With respect to the court cases referred to
in subparagraph (a) above, the requests to dismiss shall, in addi-
tion to other grounds for dismissal that might be applicable, recite
that the underlying claim that was the subject of the FERC orders
under review in those cases has been fully compromised and released
by this Consent Order.
504. Execution of this Consent Order constitutes neither
an admission by Occidental nor a finding by the DOE of any violation
by Occidental of any statute or regulation. The DOE has determined
that it is not appropriate to seek to impose civil penalties for the
matters covered by this Consent Order, and the DOE will not seek any
such civil penalties. None of the payments or expenditures made by
Occidental or OXY pursuant to this Consent Order are to be consid-
ered for any purpose as penalties, fines, or forfeitures or as
settlement of any potential liability for penalties, fines or
forfeitures.
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505. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, with
respect to the matters covered by this Consent Order, the DOE
reserves the right to initiate an enforcement proceeding or to seek
appropriate penalties for any newly discovered regulatory violations
committed by Occidental, but only if Occidental has knowingly con-
cealed material facts relating to such violations. The DOE also
reserves the right to seek appropriate judicial remedies, other than
full rescission of this Consent Order, for any knowing misrepresen-
tation of fact material to this Consent Order made by Occidental
during the course of the audit or the negotiations that preceded
this Consent Order.
VI. Recordkeeping, Reporting and Confidentiality
601. Occidental shall maintain such records as are neces-
sary to demonstrate compliance with the terms of this Consent Order.
Except for such records, Occidental is relieved of its obligation to
comply with the recordkeeping requirements of the federal petroleum
price and allocation regulations relating to the matters settled by
this Consent Order.
602. Occidental will not be subject to any audit re-
quests, report orders, subpoenas, or other administrative discovery
by DOE relating to Occidental's activities subject to such regula-
tions relating to the matters settled by this Consent Order.
603. The DOE shall treat all information provided to it
by Occidental pursuant to negotiations which were conducted with
respect to this Consent Order as confidential. Nothing herein shall
alter or modify in any way the parties' obligations regarding
confidentiality set forth in that Mediation Agreement between the
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DOE, Occidental and other parties entered into by the DOE and
Occidental on or about January 13, 1995. Nor shall anything herein
be deemed to waive or prejudice any right Occidental may have
independent of this Consent Order or such Mediation Agreement
regarding the disclosure of confidential information.
VII. Contractual Undertaking
701. It is the understanding and express intention of
Occidental and the DOE that this Consent Order constitutes a legally
enforceable contractual undertaking that is binding on the parties
and their successors and assigns. Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion herein, Occidental (and its successors and assigns) and the DOE
agree that the sole and exclusive remedy for a breach of this
Consent Order shall be the filing of a civil action in an appropri-
ate United States district court, and the DOE also reserves the
right to seek appropriate penalties and interest for any failure to
comply with the terms of this Consent Order. The DOE will undertake
the defense of the Consent Order, as made effective, in response to
any litigation challenging the Consent Order's validity in which the
DOE, the FERC or any of their officials or employees is named as a
party. Occidental agrees to cooperate with the DOE in the defense
of any such challenge. Nothing in this Consent Order shall be con-
strued as preventing Occidental from also participating as a party
in such defense.
VIII. Final Order
801. Upon becoming effective, this Consent Order shall
be a final order of the DOE having the same force and effect as a
remedial order issued pursuant to Section 503 of the DOE Act, 42
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U.S.C. 7193, and 10 CFR 2O5.l99B. Occidental hereby waives its
right to administrative or judicial review of this Order, but
Occidental reserves the right to participate in any such review
initiated by a third party.
IX. Effective Date
901. This Consent Order shall become effective as a
final order of the DOE on the date that notice to that effect is
published in the Federal Register (the "Effective Date"). Prior to
that date, the DOE will publish notice in the Federal Register that
it proposes to make this Consent Order final and, in that notice,
will provide not less than thirty (30) days for members of the
public to submit written comments. The DOE will consider all
written comments in deciding whether to adopt the Consent Order as a
final order, to withdraw agreement to the Consent Order, or to
attempt to renegotiate the terms of the Consent Order.
902. Until the Effective Date, the DOE reserves the
right to withdraw consent to this Consent Order by written notice to
Occidental, in which event this Consent Order shall be null and
void. If this Consent Order is not made effective on or before the
one hundred twentieth (120th) day following execution by Occidental,
Occidental may, at any time thereafter until the Effective Date,
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withdraw its agreement to this Consent Order by written notice to
the DOE, in which event this Consent Order shall be null and void.
I, the undersigned, a duly I, the undersigned, a duly autho-
authorized representative of rized representative of the Unit-
Occidental Petroleum Corpora- ed States Department of Energy,
tion and OXY USA Inc., hereby hereby agree to and accept on
agree to and accept on behalf behalf of the Department of Ener-
of Occidental Petroleum Cor- gy the foregoing Consent Order.
poration and OXY USA Inc. the
foregoing Consent Order.
Donald P. de Brier Eric J. Fygi
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Donald P. de Brier Eric J. Fygi
Executive Vice President Deputy General Counsel
and General Counsel U.S. Department of Energy
Occidental Petroleum
Corporation
Dated: June 27, 1995 Dated: June 27, 1995
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