[Federal Register: August 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 154)]
[Notices]
[Page 46889-46890]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11au05-108]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of a Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Water
Act
Notice is hereby given that a proposed Consent Decree in United
States of America, State of Maryland, Anacostia Watershed Society,
Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, Inc.,
Friends of Sligo Creek and Natural Resources Defense Council v.
Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission, was lodged on July 26, 2005,
with the United States District Court for the District of Maryland,
Northern Division.
In the United States' complaint filed in this matter, the United
States alleges violations of Sections 301 and 504 of the Clean Water
Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311, 1364, and in its complaint in intervention,
Maryland alleges violations of Sections 9-322 and 9-323 of the Maryland
Environment Article, and other State law, arising from unpermitted
discharges of wastewater from WSSC's sanitary sewer collection system
to various waters of the United States and the State. Four citizens
groups--the Anacostia Watershed Society, the Audubon Naturalist Society
of the Central Atlantic States, the Friends of Sligo Creek and the
Natural Resources Defense Council also intervened as co-plaintiff,
filing a complaint in intervention under the Clean Water Act's citizens
suit provision. The proposed Consent Decree would resolve all of the
claims alleged in the United States', Maryland's and the Citizens
Groups' complaints, and would result in the performance of injunctive
measures, the payment of a civil penalty of $1,100,000 (shared equally
by the United States and Maryland), and the performance of three
Supplemental Environmental Projects (``SEPs'') valued at no less than
$4,400,000. WSSC has estimated that the injunctive measures, which
include comprehensive inspection, rehabilitation, and repair
requirements for sewer lines, pump stations, and other system
components, and comprehensive changes in the operation and maintenance
of its collection system will add an additional $200,000,000 to the
funds already budgeted by WSSC for collection system
[[Page 46890]]
maintenance and repairs, over the 14-year schedule set forth in the
consent decree.
The Department of Justice will receive comments relating to the
proposed Consent Decree for a period of thirty (30) days from the date
of this publication. Comments should be addressed to the Acting
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division,
P.O. Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044 and
should refer to United States et al. v. Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission, DJ No. 90-5-1-1-07360.
The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at the office of the
United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, 36 S. Charles
Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, and at the Region 3 Office of
the Environmental Protection Agency, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
19103. During the public comment period, the decree may also be
examined on the following Department of Justice Web site, http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html.
A copy of the 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 (tonia.fleetwood@usdoj.gov), fax no. (202)
514-0097, phone confirmation number (202) 514-1547. In requesting a
copy from the Consent Decree Library, please enclose a check in the
amount of $38.25 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) payable to the
U.S. Treasury. The check should refer to United States et al. v.
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, DJ No. 90-5-1-1-07360.
Robert D. Brook,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 05-15868 Filed 8-10-05; 8:45 am]
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