[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 43183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21236]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act
Under 28 CFR Sec. 50.7, notice is hereby given that on August 1,
1997, a proposed consent decree in United States v. Puerto Rico
Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, et al., Civil No. 96-2489, was lodged
with the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
In this action, the United States sought civil penalties and
injunctive relief from the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority
(``PRASA'') because its Mayaguez Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
(``Mayaguez WWTP''), in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, continuously violated
the effluent limitations of its National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (``NPDES'') permit since 1987 and violated
monitoring and reporting requirements for nitrogen and sulfide since
1992. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a defendant in this action
pursuant to Section 309(e) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.
Sec. 1319(e). Mayaguezanos por la Salud y el Ambiente intervened as a
plaintiff in this action on April 8, 1997.
The consent decree resolves the United States' claims against
PRASA. PRASA will pay $150,000 in civil penalties. In addition, PRASA
will perform injunctive relief, including: (1) Constructing secondary
treatment facilities and any other treatment facilities necessary to
achieve compliance with NPDES Permit No. PR0023795 or its successor
permit or, if authorized by Congress and EPA, constructing facilities
to extend the discharge point for the Mayaguez WWTP from its present
location in Mayaguez Bay to a point farther out to sea; (2) complying
with interim effluent limitations; (3) limiting new sewer connections
to the Mayaguez WWTP; and (4) paying $400,000 over three years to the
Mayaguez Watershed Initiative in order to develop and implement a
comprehensive watershed management plan for the Mayaguez Watershed.
The Department of Justice will receive for a period of sixty (60)
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the consent
decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General
of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of
Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to United States v.
Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, et al., D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-
4233.
The consent decree may be examined at the Office of the United
States Attorney, District of Puerto Rico, Federal Office Building, 150
Carlos E. Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918; at the United
States Environmental Protection Agency--Region II, 290 Broadway, New
York, New York 10007; and at the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street
NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 624-0892. A copy of the
consent decree may be obtained in person or by mail from the Consent
Decree Library, 1120 G Street NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In
requesting a copy, please enclose a check in the amount of $8.00 (25
cents per page reproduction cost) payable to the Consent Decree
Library.
Bruce S. Gelber,
Deputy Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 97-21236 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M
