[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21150-21151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08219]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Proposed Amendment to Consent Decree Under
the Clean Water Act
On April 4, 2013, the Department of Justice lodged with the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia a proposed
Second Amendment to the Consent Decree previously entered in United
States and Commonwealth of Virginia v. Hampton Roads Sanitation
District, Civil Action No. 2:09-cv-481 (``Second Amendment'').
Hampton Roads Sanitation District (``HRSD'') and the Localities \1\
are evaluating the potential benefits and feasibility of
regionalization and consolidation of the Localities' sewage collection
systems under a single regional entity, HRSD. Presently, HRSD generally
owns and operates the large interceptor force mains and related pumping
stations, as well as the sewage treatment plants, and the Localities
generally own and operate the local sewage collection lines, many of
which are gravity lines, and associated pumping stations. The proposed
Second Amendment provides that the Regional Wet Weather Management
Plan, originally due on November 26, 2013, will be due no later than
October 1, 2016, so that HRSD and the Localities will have time to
evaluate and, if appropriate, to implement the transfer of Locality
sewer systems to HRSD. The proposed Second Amendment also sets forth a
phased sequence and schedule for the decision-making process of HRSD
and the Localities as they consider regionalization and consolidation
of the Localities' sewage collection systems under a single regional
entity, HRSD, and for the transfer of Locality assets should
regionalization proceed.\2\ Finally, HRSD commits in the Second
Amendment to implement an additional 18 capital projects, with an
estimated cost of approximately $60 million, to continue to improve
local water quality notwithstanding the extension.
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\1\ The Localities are the thirteen municipal and county
governments that collect and convey wastewaters to the HRSD system
for further conveyance and treatment at the HRSD sewage treatment
plants.
\2\ The Localities are not parties to the consent decree and are
not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court. It is anticipated that
HRSD and the Localities will evaluate jointly the consolidation of
the sewer systems, pumping stations, and other appurtenances, and
that each Locality will need to elect to transfer assets to HRSD as
part of any regionalization process.
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The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on
the proposed Second Amendment. Comments should be addressed to the
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division,
and should refer to United States et al. v. Hampton Roads Sanitation
District, D.J. Ref. No.90-5-1-1-09125. All comments must be submitted
no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this
notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by mail:
[[Page 21151]]
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To submit comments: Send them to:
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By email.......................... [email protected].
By mail........................... Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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During the public comment period, the proposed Second Amendment may
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. We will provide a paper copy
of the Second Amendment upon written request and payment of
reproduction costs. Please mail your request and payment to: Consent
Decree Library, U.S. DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-
7611.
Please enclose a check or money order for $ 3.25 (25 cents per page
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.
Robert Brook,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-08219 Filed 4-8-13; 8:45 am]
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