[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81857-81862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32908]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On December 23, 2015, the Department of Justice lodged two proposed 
consent decrees with the United States District Court for the District 
of Puerto Rico in the lawsuit entitled United States v. The 
Municipality of San Juan, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and 
Environmental Resources, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation 
and Public Works, the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority, 
and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Civil Action No. 3:14-cv-1476-CCC.
    One proposed consent decree resolves the United States' claims 
against the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental 
Resources (``DNER'') under the Clean Water Act (``CWA''), 33 U.S.C. 
1251-1387, concerning CWA violations at three of its storm water pump 
stations located within San Juan. The proposed consent decree requires 
DNER to apply for a permit and implement a Storm Water Management 
Program, to undertake certain capital and operation improvements to its 
pump stations, and to provide financial support for investigations and 
work performed in the pump station service areas. The proposed consent 
decree resolves only the violations alleged against DNER in the 
Complaint through the date of lodging of the consent decree and does 
not resolve claims against the other Defendants. Due to financial 
challenges currently facing the Commonwealth, no civil penalties for 
past violations will be recovered under this consent decree.
    The second proposed consent decree resolves the United States' 
claims against the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public 
Works (``DTPW'') and the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation 
Authority (``HTA'') under the CWA, concerning CWA violations throughout 
their storm sewer systems located within San Juan. The proposed consent 
decree provides for injunctive relief to be implemented in a two-stage, 
multi-phased approach including the study and repair of their MS4s, in 
addition to other infrastructure and operational improvements. The 
proposed consent decree resolves only

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the violations alleged against DTPW and HTA in the Complaint through 
the date of lodging of the consent decree and does not resolve claims 
against the other Defendants. Due to financial challenges currently 
facing the Commonwealth, no civil penalties for past violations will be 
recovered under this consent decree.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed consent decrees. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division 
and should refer to United States v. The Municipality of San Juan, D.J. 
Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-09551. 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, DC 20044-7611
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    During the public comment period, the proposed consent decrees 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 proposed consent decrees 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 $10.25 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) for a copy of the DTPW/HTA proposed consent decree 
and $9.25 for a copy of the DNER proposed consent decree (copies of the 
appendices attached to the consent decrees are not included in this 
amount) payable to the United States Treasury.

Maureen Katz,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P

Appendix

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[FR Doc. 2015-32908 Filed 12-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-C