[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 64 (Thursday, April 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15919-15920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8532]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Extension of Period for Public Comment on Consent 
Decree Lodged in United States v. Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, 
No. 93-2527 (D.P.R.)

    Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Justice will 
continue to receive, until May 7, 1997, comments relating to the 
proposed consent decree in United States v. Puerto Rico Electric Power 
Authority, No. 93-2527. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, and should refer to 
United States v. Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, DOJ Ref. Number 
90-5-2-1-1750 (PREPA). The notice of lodging of this proposed consent 
decree was published at 62 FR 5249 (Feb. 4, 1997).
    The proposed consent decree may be examined at the Office of the 
United States Attorney, Degeteau Federal Building, 150 Chardon Avenue, 
Room 452, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918; the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region II Caribbean Environmental Protection 
Division, Centro Europa Building, 1492 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 417, 
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00907; the Region II Office of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, New York, New York 
10278; and the Consent Decree Library, 1120 G Street, Northwest, Fourth 
Floor, Washington, District of Columbia 20005, (202) 624-0892. Also, a 
summary of the consent decree may be examined at the locations 
previously listed. A copy of the proposed consent decree may be 
obtained in person or by mail from the Consent Decree Library. In 
requesting a copy of the consent decree, please refer to the case 
identified above and enclose a check, payable to the Consent Decree 
Library, in the amount of $35.75 for the consent decree only 
(reproduction costs at twenty-five cents ($.25) per page) or $67.50 for 
both the consent decree and all attachments and appendices to the 
consent decree (reproduction costs at twenty-five cents ($.25) per 
page). A copy of the consent decree summary may also be obtained in 
person or by mail from the Consent Decree Library. In requesting a copy 
of the consent decree summary, please refer to the case

[[Page 15920]]

identified above and enclose a check, payable to the Consent Decree 
Library, in the amount of $3.25 for the consent decree summary 
(reproduction costs at twenty-five cents ($.25) per page).
    The consent decree, which was lodged on January 10, 1997, with the 
United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, resolves 
the United States' claims against the Puerto Rico Electric Authority 
(``PREPA'') that are identified in a complaint filed on October 27, 
1993. In that complaint, the United States cited PREPA for violations 
of multiple federal and Commonwealth environmental statutes and 
regulations, including: (1) the air quality and emission limitations 
requirements of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 7401-7431; (2) the 
effluent limitations and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System requirements of Sections 301 and 402 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (the ``Clean Water Act''), 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1311, 
1342; (3) the oil pollution prevention requirements promulgated at 40 
C.F.R. Part 110 pursuant to Section 311 of the Clean Water Act; (4) the 
inventory reporting requirements for hazardous chemicals pursuant to 
Section 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community-Right-to-Know Act 
(``EPCRA''), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 11022; (5) the hazardous substance release 
reporting requirements promulgated at 40 C.F.R. Part 302 pursuant to 
Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
and Liability Act (``CERCLA''), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9603; (6) the hazardous 
substance release reporting requirements of Section 304 of EPCRA; and 
(7) the underground storage tank requirements promulgated at 40 C.F.R. 
Part 280 pursuant to Section 9003 of the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6991b. The United States sought civil 
penalties and injunctive relief for the violations alleged in the 
complaint.
    In the proposed consent decree, PREPA agrees to pay a civil penalty 
of $1.5 million; to implement environmental projects costing $3.5 
million; to spend $1 million to hire an Environmental Review Contractor 
to oversee and monitor PREPA's implementation and compliance with the 
proposed consent decree; and to undertake extensive injunctive relief 
designed to assure PREPA's compliance with environmental laws and 
regulations.
Bruce S. Gelber,
Deputy Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 97-8532 Filed 4-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-M