[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 5839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02075]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On January 27, 2022, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
modification to the consent decree with the United States District 
Court for the District of New Jersey in United States v. Jersey City 
Municipal Utilities Authority, Civil Action No. 2:11-cv-04120 (D.N.J.).
    The United States filed this lawsuit in 2011 under the Clean Water 
Act (``Act''). The complaint sought injunctive relief and civil 
penalties for violations of the Act related to discharges of pollutants 
from Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority's (``JCMUA'') combined 
sewer system (``CSS'') through numerous outfalls into Penhorn Creek, 
the Hackensack River, Newark Bay, and the Lower Hudson River. The 
consent decree entered by the Court on September 27, 2011 provides for 
JCMUA to perform injunctive measures as described in the consent 
decree, to pay a civil penalty, and to perform a supplemental 
environmental project. The proposed modification to the consent decree, 
among other things: (1) Expands injunctive relief requirements to 
ensure that three projects under the consent decree--i.e., (a) repairs 
to the CSS to address flooding and sewer backups; (b) the cleaning and 
replacement as necessary of certain city sewer lines; and (c) 
improvements to pump stations--are completed in a manner necessary to 
bring the CSS into compliance with the Clean Water Act; (2) extends the 
time periods for JCMUA to complete these projects; and (3) creates a 
schedule for JCMUA to perform voluntary removal of numerous lead 
drinking water service lines.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the modification to the consent decree. Comments should be addressed to 
the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources 
Division, and should refer to United States v. Jersey City Municipal 
Utilities Authority, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-09499. All comments must be 
submitted no later than sixty (60) 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 modification to the 
consent decree may be examined and downloaded at this Justice 
Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. We 
will provide a paper copy of the proposed modification 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 $6.00 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Henry S. Friedman,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-02075 Filed 2-1-22; 8:45 am]
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