Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Water Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Water

Act

Consistent with Departmental policy, 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby

given that a proposed consent decree in United States v. Puerto Rico

Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, Civil Action No. 92-1511 (SEC), was

lodged on September 28th, 1995 with the United States District Court

for the District of Puerto Rico. Defendant Puerto Rico Aqueduct and

Sewer Authority (``PRASA'') is the owner and operator of water

filtration plants throughout Puerto Rico. In operating nine of these

facilities, (La Plata Aibonito, Aguas Buenas, El Yunque, Guaynabo,

Enrique Ortega, Ponce Nueva, Lajas, Sergio Cuevas, and Miradero), PRASA

violated its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

(``NPDES'') permits issued pursuant to the Clean Air Act.

Under the terms of the proposed decree, PRASA will pay the United

States a civil penalty in the sum of $200,000. PRASA further agrees to

construct necessary sludge facilities to achieve compliance for eight

of its plants. In addition, PRASA will increase its credit line by $25

million to be used solely for similar capital improvements at 74 other

water treatment plants throughout Puerto Rico. PRASA also agrees to

remain in compliance with the Clean Air Act and is subject to

stipulated penalties for any such violation.

The Department of Justice will receive, for a period of thirty (30)

days from the date of this publication, comments relating to the

proposed consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant

Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division,

Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer to United

States v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, D.J. reference #90-

5-2-1-1-3696.

The proposed consent decree may be examined at the Office of the

United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Federal Office

Building, Carlos E. Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico; the Region

II Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway Avenue,

New York, New York; and at the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street,

NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 624-0892. A copy of the

proposed consent decree may be obtained in person or by mail from the

Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC.

In requesting a copy, please enclose a check in the amount of $2.75 (25

cents per page reproduction costs), payable to the Consent Decree

Library.

Joel M. Gross,

Acting Chief, Environment Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 95-25706 Filed 10-16-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410-01-M