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

In accordance with Departmental policy, 28 CFR 50.7, notice is

hereby given that a consent decree in United States v. John L. Conner,

Jr., et al., Civil Action No. B-C-97-85 (E.D. Ark.), was lodged with

the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

on December 19, 1997.

The proposed consent decree would resolve the United States'

allegations in the above-referenced enforcement action that Defendants

have violated Sections 301 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.

1311 and 1344, by unlawfully discharging dredged or fill material into

approximately 70 acres of waters of the United States at twelve

different sites in Jackson, Woodruff and Lawrence Counties.

The proposed consent decree would require Defendants: (1) To pay a

$400,000 civil penalty; (2) to restore the three largest violation

sites, which total approximately 50 acres; (30) to create approximately

85 acres of wetlands; and (4) to preserve 100 acres of forested land,

95 of which are currently wetlands. The decree would also permanently

enjoin Defendants from discharging dredged or fill materials into

waters of the United States without an applicable permit.

The Department of Justice will accept written comments relating to

the proposed consent decree for thirty (30) days from the date of

publication of this notice. Comments should be addressed to the

Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division,

U.S. Department of Justice, Attention: Wendy L. Blake, Environmental

Defense Section, P.O. Box 23986, Washington, D.C. 20026-3986, and

should refer to United States v. Conner et al., DJ Reference No. 90-5-

1-4-385.

The proposed consent decree may be examined at either the Clerk's

Office, United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas,

Room 402, 600 West Capitol Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, or at the

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

20005. Requests for a copy of the consent decree may be mailed to the

Consent Decree Library at the above address and must include a check in

the amount of $20.25.

Letitia J. Grishaw,

Chief, Environmental Defense Section, Environment and Natural Resources

Division, United States Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 98-1994 Filed 1-27-98; 8:45 am]

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