[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21150-21151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08219]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On April 4, 2013, the Department of Justice lodged with the United 
States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia a proposed 
Second Amendment to the Consent Decree previously entered in United 
States and Commonwealth of Virginia v. Hampton Roads Sanitation 
District, Civil Action No. 2:09-cv-481 (``Second Amendment'').
    Hampton Roads Sanitation District (``HRSD'') and the Localities \1\ 
are evaluating the potential benefits and feasibility of 
regionalization and consolidation of the Localities' sewage collection 
systems under a single regional entity, HRSD. Presently, HRSD generally 
owns and operates the large interceptor force mains and related pumping 
stations, as well as the sewage treatment plants, and the Localities 
generally own and operate the local sewage collection lines, many of 
which are gravity lines, and associated pumping stations. The proposed 
Second Amendment provides that the Regional Wet Weather Management 
Plan, originally due on November 26, 2013, will be due no later than 
October 1, 2016, so that HRSD and the Localities will have time to 
evaluate and, if appropriate, to implement the transfer of Locality 
sewer systems to HRSD. The proposed Second Amendment also sets forth a 
phased sequence and schedule for the decision-making process of HRSD 
and the Localities as they consider regionalization and consolidation 
of the Localities' sewage collection systems under a single regional 
entity, HRSD, and for the transfer of Locality assets should 
regionalization proceed.\2\ Finally, HRSD commits in the Second 
Amendment to implement an additional 18 capital projects, with an 
estimated cost of approximately $60 million, to continue to improve 
local water quality notwithstanding the extension.
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    \1\ The Localities are the thirteen municipal and county 
governments that collect and convey wastewaters to the HRSD system 
for further conveyance and treatment at the HRSD sewage treatment 
plants.
    \2\ The Localities are not parties to the consent decree and are 
not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court. It is anticipated that 
HRSD and the Localities will evaluate jointly the consolidation of 
the sewer systems, pumping stations, and other appurtenances, and 
that each Locality will need to elect to transfer assets to HRSD as 
part of any regionalization process.
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    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed Second Amendment. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
and should refer to United States et al. v. Hampton Roads Sanitation 
District, D.J. Ref. No.90-5-1-1-09125. 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:

[[Page 21151]]



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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 Second Amendment may 
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. We will provide a paper copy 
of the Second Amendment 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 $ 3.25 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Robert Brook,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-08219 Filed 4-8-13; 8:45 am]
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