[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68727-68728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24898]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On November 9, 2022, the Department of Justice lodged a consent 
decree with the United States District Court for the Northern District 
of Ohio in United States and the State of Ohio v. The City of Elyria, 
Civil Action No. 22-cv-02026 (N.D. Ohio).
    The Complaint seeks civil penalties and injunctive relief for 
alleged violations of a prior Consent Judgment, the Clean Water Act, 
and Elyria's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. 
The violations relate to discharges of pollutants from Elyria's sewer 
system. Under the proposed Consent Decree, Elyria would implement an 
Integrated Wet Weather Control Plan to be completed by December 31, 
2044 that includes (1) increasing the capacity for treatment at the 
wastewater treatment plant; (2) enhancing primary treatment and 
installing high rate disinfection at the wastewater treatment plant; 
(3) completion of a relief sewer on the eastern side of the city; (4) 
constructing localized storage and lift stations to reduce overflows; 
and (5) various projects to reduce infiltration and inflow of storm 
water and other sources of water into the sanitary sewer system.

[[Page 68728]]

Much of the work is to be completed within the first 15 years. Taken 
together, these control measures are designed to prevent sewer 
overflows, prevent bypasses around Elyria's wastewater treatment plant, 
and mitigate harm from any bypasses that may occur. Under the Decree, 
Elyria would pay a $100,000 civil penalty to the United States and pay 
$100,000 into Ohio's Surface Water Improvement Fund.
    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 and the State of Ohio v. The City of 
Elyria, Ohio, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-2155/1. 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 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 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 $24.50 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Patricia Mckenna,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-24898 Filed 11-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P