[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 57176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22589]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean
Water Act
On September 9, 2013, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed
consent decree with the United States District Court for the District
of South Carolina in the lawsuit entitled United States and State of
South Carolina v. City of Columbia, Civil Action No. 3:13-2429-TLW.
The consent decree resolves allegations by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control against the City of Columbia
(``Columbia''), in a complaint filed together with the consent decree,
of violations of Sections 301 and 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.
1311 and 1342, and Sections 48-1-50 and 48-1-90(A)(1) of the South
Carolina Pollution Control Act, at Columbia's sanitary sewer system and
wastewater treatment plant.
Under this settlement between the United States, the State, and
Columbia, Columbia is required to implement programs for sewer
management, operation and maintenance, including: a sewer overflow
response plan, a contingency emergency response plan, a staff training
program, an information management system, a capacity assurance program
to address insufficient capacity areas during peak flow times, a sewer
mapping program, a fats, oils, and grease management program, a
transmission system operation and maintenance program, a gravity sewer
system operation and maintenance program, and a financial analysis
program to plan for sewer expenditures and upgrades.
Columbia will also complete several capital improvement projects
already underway and will implement a comprehensive sewer assessment
program to analyze its sanitary sewer system infrastructure and
prioritize infrastructure projects. It will then undertake
infrastructure rehabilitation, along with developing a hydraulic model
of the system to plan for future needs.
The consent decree also provides for the payment of a civil penalty
of $476,400, to be divided evenly between the United States and the
State. Additionally, Columbia will spend $1.0 million on a Supplemental
Environmental Project (``SEP'') to restore segments of three streams
within the sewer system's service area: the lower reach of Rocky
Branch; a segment of Smith Branch; and a segment of Gills Creek.
The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on
the consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and
should refer to United States v. City of Columbia, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-
1-1-09954. 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:
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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, D.C. 20044-7611
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During the public comment period, the consent decree may be
examined and downloaded at this Department of Justice Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. We will provide a paper copy
of the consent decree 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 $26.00 (25 cents per page
reproduction cost) for the consent decree alone or $56.25 for the
consent decree and appendixes, payable to the U.S. Treasury.
Henry Friedman,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-22589 Filed 9-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P