[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84397-84398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24330]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean 
Water Act

    On October 15, 2024, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the District 
of Puerto Rico in the lawsuit entitled U.S. v. Municipality of Ponce, 
Puerto Rico, Case No. 3:24-cv-1478.
    The United States filed this lawsuit to seek civil penalties and 
injunctive relief for Ponce's violation of the Clean Water Act, 33 
U.S.C. 1251, et seq. (``Act'') in connection with the operation of its 
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (``MS4''). The United States 
alleges that Ponce: (i) discharged pollutants from its MS4 outfalls 
into U.S. Waters without a permit; and (ii) failed to comply with 
various requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System (``NPDES'') General Permit for Discharges from Small MS4s within 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Consent Decree resolves the claims 
in the complaint and requires Ponce to implement various injunctive 
measures that will prevent future unpermitted discharges from its Small 
MS4 and that will bring Ponce into compliance with its NPDES permit. 
The Consent Decree also requires Ponce to pay a $25,000 civil penalty, 
based on its limited ability to pay.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant

[[Page 84398]]

Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
should refer to U.S. v. Municipality of Ponce, Civil Action No. 3:24-
cv-1478 and D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-11715. All comments must be 
submitted no later than 45 days after the publication date of this 
notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by mail:

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         To submit comments:                     Send them to:
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By email............................  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d7d786f6e6260606863792068687e2368637f694d787e696267236a627b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1767627574787a7a7279633a727264397279657357626473787d39707861">[email protected]</span></a>.
By mail.............................  Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
                                       DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
                                       Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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    During the public comment period, the Consent Decree may be 
examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. If you require assistance 
accessing the Consent Decree, you may request assistance by email or by 
mail to the addresses provided above for submitting comments.

Eric D. Albert,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-24330 Filed 10-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P


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