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PRASA and U.S. Government Reach Settlement in Mayaguez Sewage Treatment Plant Case

Release Date: 08/04/1997
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(#97102) San Juan, P.R. -- The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewage Authority (PRASA) has agreed to make improvements at its Mayagüez Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant necessary to comply with its Clean Water Act permit. On behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Justice lodged a Consent Decree in U.S. District Court in the District of Puerto Rico on Friday, August 1 that settles a case filed in 1995 against PRASA alleging violations of its discharge permit at its sewage treatment plant in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

Under the Consent Decree, PRASA will pay $150,000 in civil penalties and contribute another $400,000 to the Mayagüez Watershed Initiative to identify and address non-point sources of pollution to the Mayagüez watershed and spend millions to construct facilities necessary to bring its Mayagüez Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant into compliance with its Clean Water Act permit.

The Consent Decree requires that the plant meet its discharge permit conditions by December 31, 2001. The Decree would also allow PRASA to obtain federal legislation by August 1, 1998 which would allow it to submit an application to EPA for a waiver from its permit limits and if EPA tentatively approves the application, would allow PRASA to discharge effluent from a deep water outfall. EPA has already denied PRASA's application under the Clean Water Act based on the existing outfall location, which is within Mayagüez Bay.

"This Consent Decree will ultimately result in improvements to water quality in Mayaguez Bay because it will require PRASA to stop discharging sewage treated at a primary level into the Mayaguez Bay," said Jeanne M. Fox, EPA Region 2 Administrator. "PRASA will either improve the treatment of the discharge to Mayaguez Bay or, if PRASA is able to get legislation and meet EPA's conditions for a waiver, it will remove the discharge from the bay altogether and move it to an outfall further out into the ocean where it will no longer impact Mayagüez Bay water quality."

The Consent Decree requires PRASA to construct all facilities necessary to bring the Mayagüez Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant into full compliance with its discharge permit. PRASA must begin construction of any needed facilities by August 1, 1999, and to meet the permit limits by December 31, 2001. The settlement also includes stipulated penalties if PRASA fails to comply with these and other deadlines.

The settlement will be subject to public comment for thirty days.

For more information contact:
Mary Mears, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3669 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: mears.mary@epamail.epa.gov