[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17400-17401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8643]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

    Under 28 CFR Sec.  50.7, notice is hereby given that on March 13, 
2003, a proposed Consent Decree in United States v. Puerto Rico 
Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, et al., Civil Action No. 01-1709 (JAF), 
was lodged with the United States District Court for the District of 
Puerto Rico.
    In this action the United States sought civil penalties and 
injunctive relief for the defendants' alleged discharges of untreated 
sewage from 471 pump stations throughout the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico and for the alleged failure to report certain discharges in 
violation of section 301(a) and 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 
1311(a) and 1342. The proposed Consent Decree provides for the payment 
of a $1 million civil penalty by PRASA and Compa[ntilde]ia de Agusa de 
Puerto Rico, its former operator by contact, as well as the performance 
of a Supplemental Environmental Project (``SEP'') by PRASA. The SEP is 
valued at $1 million and is designed to improve drinking water quality 
for certain communities which are not presently hooked up to PRASA 
water filtration systems. The proposed Consent Decree also requires 
PRASA and its current operator by contract, ONDEO de Puerto Rico, to 
develop and implement an EPA-approved system-wide operation and 
maintenance and spill response and cleanup plan for all pump stations 
owned by PRASA, as well as to perform

[[Page 17401]]

specific remedial actions at designated pump stations.
    The Department of Justice will receive for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publciaton comments relating to the Consent 
Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, 
Environment and Natural Resources Division, PO Box 7611, U.S. 
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and should refer to 
United States v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, et al., 
Civil Action No. 01-1709 (JAF), D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-06475/1.
    The Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the United 
States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Federal Office 
Building, Room101, Carlos E. Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 
00918, and at U.S EPA Region II, Caribbean Environmental Protection 
Division, 1492 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 207, San Juan, Puerto Rico 
00907. During the public comment period, the Consent Decree may also be 
examined on the following Department of Justice Web site, http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html. A copy of the Consent Decree may also be 
obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library, PO Box 7611, U.S. 
department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611 or by faxing or e-
mailing a request to Tonia Fleetwood ([email protected]), fax 
no. (202) 514-0097, phone confirmation number (2020 514-1547. In 
requesting a copy from the Consent Decree Library, please enclose a 
check in the amount of $12.25 (for a copy without appendices) or $18.25 
(for a copy with appendices) (25 cents per page reproduction cost), 
payable to the U.S. Treasury.

Catherine R. McCabe,
Deputy Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 03-8643 Filed 4-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M