82 FR 22850 - Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 95 (May 18, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 95 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 22850]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10039]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean 
Water Act, Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

    On May 12, 2017, 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 United States v. Homeca 
Recycling Center Co., Inc., Civil No.: 17-1618. The United States filed 
this lawsuit under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
    Homeca Recycling Center Co., Inc. (``Homeca'') operates three scrap 
metal recycling facilities in Caguas, Playa Ponce, and Hormigueros, 
Puerto Rico. At these facilities it crushes vehicles and white goods 
for shipment to metal refineries. The complaint alleges that Homeca 
violated the above statutes by, among other things: (a) Allowing 
liquids from the vehicles to leak onto and contaminate the bare ground; 
(b) allowing these liquids to flow off-site and into United States 
waters during storm events; and (c) improperly managing motor vehicle 
air conditioner (``MVAC'') refrigerants. The complaint seeks civil 
penalties for these past violations.
    The proposed settlement requires Homeca to pay a $50,000 civil 
penalty and to establish and follow various practices that will ensure 
that it maintains compliance with the statutes and applicable 
regulations in the future. These include constructing bermed and 
covered concrete pads at its facilities, removing of all fluids from 
vehicles prior to crushing, implementing corrective action at its 
facilities, removing refrigerants from MVACs, and obtaining permit 
coverage under, and maintaining compliance with, a multi-sector general 
permit covering storm water discharges.
    The Consent Decree will resolve the claims of the United States for 
the violations alleged in the complaint through the date of lodging of 
the consent decree.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
and should refer to United States v. Homeca Recycling Center Co., Inc., 
Civ. No. 17-1618, D.J. Ref. No. 90-7-1-10023. All comments must be 
submitted no later than 30 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............................  [email protected].
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 proposed consent decree may 
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department Web site: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. We will provide a paper copy of 
the proposed consent decree upon written request and payment of 
reproduction costs. Please mail your request and payment to: Consent 
Decree Library, U.S. DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-
7611.
    Please enclose a check or money order for $7.00 (25 cents per page 
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.

Robert E. Maher, Jr.,
Assistant Section Chief, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
Environmental Enforcement Section.
[FR Doc. 2017-10039 Filed 5-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P