Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act
| Citation | 86 FR 73806 |
| Record Number | 2021-28197 |
| Published date | 28 December 2021 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Justice Department |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 73806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28197]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act
On December 22, 2021, the Department of Justice filed a complaint
in, and simultaneously lodged a Consent Decree with, the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in the matter
of United States of America, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Department of Environmental Protection v. Bucks County Water and Sewer
Authority, Civil Action No. 21-cv-557 (E.D. Pa.).
The Complaint alleges that the Bucks County Water and Sewer
Authority (the ``Authority'') violated its National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System permits, the Clean Water Act, and the Pennsylvania
Clean Streams law by failing to prohibit unpermitted discharges in the
form of sanitary sewer overflows (``SSOs'') and failing to properly
operate and maintain its system.
The proposed Consent Decree seeks to resolve the alleged claims in
the complaint. The Parties' express purpose entering into this Consent
Decree is for the Authority to take all measures necessary to comply
with the Clean Water Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
and the Clean Streams Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
and to ensure compliance with any applicable permits issued to
Defendant concerning the proper operation and maintenance of the
Authority's waste water treatment plants and collection systems. The
proposed Consent Decree establishes injunctive relief measures to
achieve the above purposes, and secures a civil penalty in the amount
of $450,000.
The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on
the proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division,
and should refer to United States of America, and the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection v. Bucks County
Water and Sewer Authority, Civil Action No. 21-cv-557 (E.D. Pa.)., D.J.
Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-10715. All comments must be submitted no later than
thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice. Comments
may be submitted 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 amendments 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 amendments 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 $26.50 (25 cents per page
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.
Jeffrey Sands,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-28197 Filed 12-27-21; 8:45 am]
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