[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40084-40085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16495]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Modification of Consent Decree Under the
Clean Water Act
Notice is hereby given that on June 29, 2012, a proposed
Modification of Consent Decree (``Modification'') in United States of
America v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, and The
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Civil Action No. 3:10-1365 (SEC) was
lodged with the United States Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
The Consent Decree requires the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer
Authority (``PRASA'') to, among other things, implement injunctive
relief measures at 126 water treatment plants (WTPs) over a 15 year
period throughout the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The injunctive
relief measures are to be implemented in three phases which include
short-term and mid-term remedial actions; as well as longer term
capital improvement projects. The details of the injunctive relief
measures were originally described in Paragraph 8 of the Consent
Decree, and Appendices C-E attached to the Consent Decree. To date,
PRASA has completed all of the short-term remedial measures required
under the Consent Decree. The Consent Decree also required PRASA to
comply with interim limits at certain WTPs, and the particular interim
limits were set
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forth in Appendix F attached to the Consent Decree.
The proposed Modification amends the Consent Decree by expanding
the scope and extending the deadline for completion of the mid-term
remedial measures as set forth in Paragraph 8. b. and Appendix D of the
Consent Decree. The original Consent Decree requires 148 mid-term
remedial measures to be completed by June 30, 2012. Pursuant to the
proposed Modification 232 mid-term remedial projects are required to be
completed under the following schedule: completion of 14 projects by
June 30, 2012; completion of 37 projects by October 31, 2012;
completion of 102 projects by December 31, 2012; completion of 72
projects by March 31, 2013; and completion of the remaining 7 projects
by June 30, 2013. The proposed Modification also calls for increased
reporting by PRASA on the status of the mid-term remedial measures, as
well as four meetings between EPA and PRASA between October 2012 and
May 2013 to discuss the progress of the remedial measures.
In addition, the proposed Modification revises Appendix F that sets
forth interim limits that apply for certain WTPs. Supplemental sampling
taken after entry of the Consent Decree indicates that revisions to
some of the interim limits, as originally listed in Appendix F, is
appropriate, and the proposed Modification replaces original Appendix F
with a revised Appendix F setting forth the modified interim limits for
certain WTPs.
The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30)
days from the date of this publication comments relating to the Consent
Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General,
Environment and Natural Resources Division, and either emailed to
[email protected] or mailed to P.O. Box 7611, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and should refer to
the matter as United States v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority
and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-08385/2.
The Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the United
States Attorney, Torre Chardon Suite 1201, 350 Carlos Chardon Avenue,
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, and at U.S. EPA CEPD office, City View
Plaza--Suite 7000, 48 Rd. 165 KM. 1.2, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
00968-8069. During the public comment period, the Consent Decree may
also be examined on the following Department of Justice Web site,
http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. A copy of the Consent
Decree may also be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library,
P.O. Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611 or
by faxing or emailing a request to ``Consent Decree Copy''
([email protected]), fax no. (202) 514-0097, phone confirmation
number (202) 514-1547. In requesting a copy from the Consent Decree
Library, please enclose a check in the amount of $27.75 (25 cents per
page reproduction costs of the Consent Decree) payable to the U.S.
Treasury or, if by email or fax, forward a check in that amount to the
Consent Decree Library at the stated address.
Ronald G. Gluck,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resource Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-16495 Filed 7-5-12; 8:45 am]
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