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

Notice is hereby given that on July 29, 1999, a proposed First

Amended Consent Decree (``Decree'') in United States of America and the

State of Georgia v. The City of Atlanta, Georgia, Civil Action No.

1:98-CV-1956-TWT was lodged with the United States District Court for

the Northern District of Georgia. This Decree represents a settlement

of claims against the City of Atlanta, Georgia under Section 309(b) and

(d) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1319(b) and (d).

The settlement is entitled First Amended Consent Decree. However,

while it imposes additional burdens on the parties, it does not change

any of the obligations set forth in the Consent Decree entered by the

Court on September 24, 1998.

Under this settlement between United States, the State and the

City, the City will be required to undertake extensive rehabilitation

to its sewer collection system and its wastewater treatment facilities.

The consent decree also provides for the recovery of civil penalties of

$700,000 to be paid by the City. The penalty shall be paid as follows:

within sixty (60) days after the Decree is entered by the Court, the

City shall pay $125,000 to the United States, and $125,000 to the State

of Georgia, on or before the one (1) year anniversary of the Date of

Entry of the Decree, the City shall pay $125,000 to the United States

and $125,000 to the State of Georgia. The City shall also pay the State

$100,000 within sixty (60) days of the date of entry, along with

$100,000 on or before the one (1) year anniversary of the Decree.

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

days from the date of this publication comments relating to the

proposed First Amended Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to

the Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources

Division, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530, and should refer

to United States of America and State of Georgia v. City of Atlanta,

Georgia, Civil Action No. 1:98-CV-1956-TWT, D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-4430.

The proposed Decree may be examined at the Office of the United

States Attorney, Northern District of Georgia, 1800 United States

Courthouse, 75 Spring Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30335 and at

Region 4, Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, Water Programs

Enforcement Branch, Water Management Division, Atlanta Federal Center,

61 Forsyth Street 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 Decree may be obtained in person

or by mail from the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW, 3rd

Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In requesting a copy, please enclosed a

check in the amount of $37.75 (25 cents per page reproduction cost)

payable to the Consent Decree Library.

Joel Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural

Resources Division.

[FR Doc. 99-21557 Filed 8-18-99; 8:45 am]

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