Washington, D.C., May 17, 2002--A federal register notice was published May 16, 2002, that gave notice of a proposed Consent Decree recently filed in the case of the United States, et al., v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland. In this action the United States sought injunctive relief and civil penalties against The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland for unpermitted discharges of sewage from its sanitary sewer system.
Under the terms of the proposed Consent Decree, Baltimore will implement and complete a comprehensive program of injunctive relief to meet specified milestone dates and subject to stipulated venalities. Under the terms of the Consent Decree, Baltimore will undertake construction projects that will help ensure that its collection system has adequate capacity to handle wastewater flows.
In addition, the Consent Decree requires Baltimore to undertake a comprehensive investigation of its
collection system to identify and correct deficiencies. The estimate of the cost of the injunctive relief program is $940 million. In addition, under the terms of the proposed Consent Decree, Baltimore will pay a civil penalty of $600,000 and perform a supplemental environmental
project of $2.7 million.
Baltimore will also complete the design for a biological nutrient treatment unit(s) at its Patapsco wastewater treatment plant.
The Department of Justice is accepting comments relating to the Consent Decree for the next thirty days. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, PO Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and should refer to United States, et al., v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Maryland, Civil Action No. 02-1524 JFM, D.J. Ref. 90-5-1-1-4402/1.
The Consent Decree may be examined at the Office of the United States Attorney, District of Maryland, 6625 U.S. Courthouse, 101 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, and at U.S. EPA Region 3, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. A copy of the Consent Decree may also be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree Library, PO Box 7611, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611 or by faxing a request to Tonia Fleetwood, fax no. (202) 514-0097, phone confirmation number (202) 514-1547. The cost is $25.25 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) as a check payable to the U.S. Treasury.
