[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