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 proposed Final Consent Decree in United States v.

William J. Hall, et al., Civil No. 2:97-0169-12 (D.S.C.), was lodged

with the United States District Court for the District of South

Carolina on July 20, 1998. The proposed Decree concerns alleged

violations of sanctions 301(a) and 404 of the Clean Water Act, 33

U.S.C. Secs. 1311(a) and 1344, resulting from Defendants' unauthorized

excavation, mechanized land-clearing and filling activities in

approximately 30.7 acres of wetlands. The violations occurred primarily

in connection with Defendants' construction of a private, dirt airstrip

for personal use and a hanger/equipment storage facility in palustrine-

forested wetlands near the Town of Ravenel, in Charleston County, South

Carolina.

The proposed Final Consent Decree would require the payment of a

$120,000 civil penalty and implementation of a Corps-approved

restoration and mitigation plan. The plan would provide for the

restoration, enhancement and preservation of all the impacted wetlands

except for approximately 6.0 acres near the hanger building. Additional

acreage would be preserved in mitigation for the unrestored area.

The U.S. Department of Justice will receive written comments

relating to the proposed Consent Decree for a period of thirty (30)

days from the date of publication of this notice. Comments should be

addressed to R. Emery Clark, Assistant United States Attorney, District

of South Carolina, 1441 Main Street, Suite 500, Columbia, SC 29201, and

should refer to United States v. William J. Hall, et al., Civil No.

2:97-0169-12 (D.S.C.).

The proposed Final Consent Decree may be examined at the Clerk's

Office, United States District Court for the District of South

Carolina, Charleston Division, Hollings Judicial Center, Meeting and

Broad Streets, Charleston, South Carolina 29401.

Letitia J. Grishaw,

Chief, Environmental Defense Section, Environment and Natural Resources

Division, United States Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 98-24449 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]

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