Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

Under 28 CFR 50.7, notice is hereby given that on July 24, 1997, a

proposed consent decree in United States versus City of Palmetto,

Florida, et al., Civil Action No. 96-613-CIV-T-25E, was lodged with the

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa

Division.

In this action, the United States sought civil penalties and

injunctive relief under sections 301(a) and 309 (b) and (d) of the

Clean Water Act (the ``Act''), 33 U.S.C. 1311(a) and 1319 (b) and (d),

for violations of effluent limits set forth in the NPDES permit issued

to the City of Palmetto, Florida, and for unpermitted discharges from

the City's wastewater treatment plant to Terra Ceia Bay. Under the

proposed consent decree, the City will implement a sewage collection

system maintenance program to prevent future violations of the Act and

will pay a civil penalty of $65,000. In addition, the City will perform

a Supplemental Environmental Project (``SEP'') valued at approximately

$535,000, which consists of the expansion and acceleration of a project

that will divert treated wastewater to beneficial reuse.

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 versus City of Palmetto, Florida, et al., D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-

1-4210.

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

United States Attorney, Middle District of Florida, Robert Timberlake

Bldg., 500 Zack Street, Room 400, Tampa, Florida 33602; the Region IV

Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, Atlanta Federal Center,

61 Forsythe St., S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3104; 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 20005. In requesting a copy of the

proposed decree and attachments, please refer to the referenced case

and enclose a check in the amount of $8.50 (25 cents per page

reproduction costs) payable to the Consent Decree Library.

Joel M. Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 97-20196 Filed 7-30-97; 8:45 am]

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