[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 57176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22589]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On September 9, 2013, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
consent decree with the United States District Court for the District 
of South Carolina in the lawsuit entitled United States and State of 
South Carolina v. City of Columbia, Civil Action No. 3:13-2429-TLW.
    The consent decree resolves allegations by the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of 
Health and Environmental Control against the City of Columbia 
(``Columbia''), in a complaint filed together with the consent decree, 
of violations of Sections 301 and 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 
1311 and 1342, and Sections 48-1-50 and 48-1-90(A)(1) of the South 
Carolina Pollution Control Act, at Columbia's sanitary sewer system and 
wastewater treatment plant.
    Under this settlement between the United States, the State, and 
Columbia, Columbia is required to implement programs for sewer 
management, operation and maintenance, including: a sewer overflow 
response plan, a contingency emergency response plan, a staff training 
program, an information management system, a capacity assurance program 
to address insufficient capacity areas during peak flow times, a sewer 
mapping program, a fats, oils, and grease management program, a 
transmission system operation and maintenance program, a gravity sewer 
system operation and maintenance program, and a financial analysis 
program to plan for sewer expenditures and upgrades.
    Columbia will also complete several capital improvement projects 
already underway and will implement a comprehensive sewer assessment 
program to analyze its sanitary sewer system infrastructure and 
prioritize infrastructure projects. It will then undertake 
infrastructure rehabilitation, along with developing a hydraulic model 
of the system to plan for future needs.
    The consent decree also provides for the payment of a civil penalty 
of $476,400, to be divided evenly between the United States and the 
State. Additionally, Columbia will spend $1.0 million on a Supplemental 
Environmental Project (``SEP'') to restore segments of three streams 
within the sewer system's service area: the lower reach of Rocky 
Branch; a segment of Smith Branch; and a segment of Gills Creek.
    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. City of Columbia, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-
1-1-09954. 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 Department of Justice Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. 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 $26.00 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) for the consent decree alone or $56.25 for the 
consent decree and appendixes, payable to the U.S. Treasury.

Henry Friedman,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and 
Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-22589 Filed 9-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P