Notice of Lodging of Joint Stipulation Pursuant to the Clean Water Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Joint Stipulation Pursuant to the Clean

Water Act

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

given that a proposed joint stipulation in United States v. Puerto Rico

Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, Civil Action No. 83-0105(cc), was lodged

on October 7, 1996 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 sewage treatment

plants throughout Puerto Rico. In operating thirty-one of these

facilities, PRASA violated its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination

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

Under the proposed joint stipulation, PRASA commits to a study to

determine which of the thirty-one wastewater plants still subject to

the 1985 Order will require advanced wastewater treatment (``AWT'') in

order to achieve compliance with final NPDES permit limitations and for

those plants so requiring AWT, a compliance schedule for construction

of facilities. In addition, PRASA will pay the United States $375,000

in penalties, thus resolving all outstanding United States claims for

stipulated penalties for PRASA's violations of the 1985 Order up

through March 1996. PRASA also agrees to remain in compliance with the

Clean Water Act and is subject to stipulated penalties for any

violations of the proposed joint stipulation.

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

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

proposed joint stipulation. Comments should be addressed to the

Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources

Division, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, and should

refer to United States v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority,

D.J. reference #90-5-1-1-1793.

The proposed joint stipulation 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,

N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005, (202) 624-0892. A copy of the

proposed joint stipulation may be obtained in person or by mail from

the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, N.W., 4th Floor, Washington,

D.C. In requesting a copy, please enclose a check in the amount of

$3.75 (25 cents per page reproduction costs), payable to the Consent

Decree Library.

Joel M. Gross,

Chief, Environment Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 96-28156 Filed 11-1-96; 8:45 am]

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