[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 31922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13602]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean 
Water Act

    On May 27, 2015, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the District 
of Puerto Rico in the lawsuit entitled United States v. F&R Contractors 
Corp. and F&R Contractors LLC, Civil Action No. 3:15-cv-01666.
    This settlement resolves the United States' allegations that 
Defendants F&R Contractors Corp. and F&R Contractors LLC violated the 
Clean Water Act (``Act'') and its implementing regulations and permits 
at three construction sites in Puerto Rico operated by the Defendants. 
The United States' claims against Defendants allege the: (1) Discharge 
of stormwater pollutants to waters of the United States without the 
requisite National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, in 
violation of Section 301 of the Act; and (2) failure to implement the 
conditions of the Federal Construction General Permit, issued pursuant 
to Section 402 of the Act, for the discharge of stormwater pollutants 
from construction sites. This settlement is binding on both Defendants 
and F&R Construction Group, Inc., a voluntary party to the proposed 
Consent Decree (collectively, ``the Settling Parties'').
    The proposed Consent Decree will require the Settling Parties to 
implement comprehensive injunctive relief to ensure compliance with the 
Clean Water Act and applicable permit requirements at all construction 
sites operated by the Settling Parties. The injunctive relief includes 
creating key company-wide and site-specific staffing positions to 
oversee and implement a stormwater compliance program, adopting 
companywide practices to hold pre-construction meetings and 
inspections, and providing comprehensive stormwater compliance training 
for employees and contractors with operational responsibilities at a 
construction site. The Settling Parties will also pay a $500,000 civil 
penalty.
    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. F&R Contractors Corp. and F&R 
Contractors LLC, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-09628. 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 Justice Department Web site: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. 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 $27.25 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury. For a paper 
copy without the exhibits and signature pages, the cost is $15.50.

Maureen M. Katz,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-13602 Filed 6-3-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-15-P