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Consent Decree Approval Recommendation
Consent Decree Approval Recommendation
the Attorney General of the United States, acting at the request of the United States
Modification to the 2011 Consent Decree, Oct. 21, 2020 (ECF 61-1) (hereinafter,
“MCD”) signed by the United States and the State of Georgia (collectively,
“Plaintiffs”), and the Defendant, DeKalb County (the “County”) (collectively, “the
of the proposed Modification, with minor revisions to its Paragraphs 13 and 14, by
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MCD, would contain two subparagraphs 65(e). See Consent Decree, Dec. 20, 2011
consistent with the goals of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et
seq.
collect and transmit sewage to wastewater treatment facilities for treatment.1 Under
wastewater from the WCTS that reach waters of the United States or the State, and
1
“WCTS” means all wastewater collection and transmission systems, including all
pipes, lift stations, Force Mains, Gravity Sewer Lines, manholes and other
appurtenances thereto which are owned or operated by the County, except for those
portions of a system or systems for which another entity is legally responsible for
maintenance. See CD at 17.
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discharges, including Spills, overflows of the WCTS, and building backups, that
may or may not reach waters of the United States or State. CD at 15-17. The
WCTS has continued to experience many Spills, even after entry of the Consent
Decree. MCD at 6.
B. Plaintiffs’ Complaint
This case began in 2010 with a Complaint, which asserted two claims under
the CWA with regard to the WCTS: (1) unauthorized discharges of untreated
sewage to waters of the United States, and (2) violations of the County’s National
provisions. Complaint, Dec. 13, 2010 (ECF 1). The State of Georgia, by and
through the Attorney General of Georgia, acting at the request of the Georgia
asserted similar state claims under the Georgia Water Quality Control Act
In 2010, the Parties signed the Consent Decree, which was entered by the
Court on December 20, 2011.2 See Opinion and Order, Dec. 20, 2011 (ECF 38)
2
In April 2011, South River Watershed Alliance (“SRWA”) filed a motion to
intervene in this action, which the Court granted. See SRWA Motion to Intervene,
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(resulting in a June 20, 2020 deadline) by which the County was to assess and
rehabilitate all Priority Areas of the WCTS. CD ¶35(i). The Priority Areas total
Apr. 7, 2011 (ECF 6); Opinion and Order Granting Motion to Intervene, May 11,
2011 (ECF 12). In its Order, the Court stated that given SRWA’s representations
that it did not anticipate engaging in discovery or motions practice and would not
use such tactics to delay entry of the Decree, it was unnecessary at that time to
place restrictions on SRWA’s participation in the action, but that Plaintiffs and
Defendant could revisit this issue if SWRA’s conduct warrants it. Opinion and
Order (ECF 12) at 5. SRWA objected to the Decree with regard to its concerns
about the Fats, Oils, and Grease Management Program, and the Court entered the
Decree over SRWA’s objection. See SRWA’s Mem. in Opp. to CD, Nov. 7, 2011
(ECF 29-1) at 7; Order Granting Motion to Enter CD, Dec. 12, 2020 (ECF 38).
3
The CMOM programs in the Consent Decree at Section VI include: a
Contingency and Emergency Response Plan; a Fats, Oils, and Grease Management
Program; a Sewer Mapping Program; a Maintenance Management System
Program; a Collection and Transmission Systems Training Program; a Flow and
Rainfall Monitoring Program; a Hydraulic Model; a Financial Analysis Program;
and an Infrastructure Acquisitions Program.
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WCTS.4 The Consent Decree further included an Ongoing Sewer Assessment and
The Consent Decree provided for a civil penalty of $453,000 split evenly
between the United States and the State, and a stream cleanup Supplemental
(SEP) (ECF 39-1). The County paid the penalty and performed the SEP.
the Parties, and material changes must be approved by the Court. CD ¶105.
D. Procedural History
at 6. The Parties held their first meeting to negotiate a modification to the Consent
Decree in April 2019. On July 10, 2020, the Parties informed the Court that an
appropriate officials, public notice and comment, and court approval. Joint Status
4
DeKalb Co. Dep’t of Watershed Mgmt. Annual Report #9 at 9 available at
https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/sites/default/files/users/user3551/DeKalb%20Co
unty%202020%20Annual%20Report%20No%209.pdf (last visited July 13, 2021).
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Report, July 10, 2020 (ECF 53).5 At the time the MCD was lodged with the Court
in October 2020, the United States informed the Court that, before seeking entry of
Notice was published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2020. 85 Fed.
Reg. 68094 (Oct. 27, 2020). A thirty-day public comment period began on the date
the notice was published in the Federal Register and ran through November 26,
2020. In response to a request by a member of the public, the comment period was
extended through December 4, 2020. 85 Fed. Reg. 74388 (Nov. 20, 2020). During
this time, a copy of the proposed Modification was available on the DOJ website.
The comments (assembled in Attachments 2.a. and 2.b. hereto) are from
5
SRWA was not involved in the Parties’ settlement negotiations. (MCD at 8). This
is consistent with caselaw that holds there is no obligation to include an intervenor
in private settlement negotiations. United States et al. v. Lexington- Fayette Urban
County Gov’t, Civil Action No. 06-386-KSF, 2007 WL 2020246 at *4 (E.D. Ky.
July 6, 2007).
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individuals and community interest groups, including SRWA and the DeKalb
of the public comments on the lodged Modification, the United States has
determined that entry of the Modification remains warranted and moves the Court
for entry of the Modification as revised, seeking the Court’s approval that it is fair,
reasonable, and consistent with the CWA. As discussed below, the comments do
improper, or inadequate. The State joins in the motion to enter the Modification.
A. Injunctive Relief
The Modification provides for: (1) the extension of the deadline for
PASARP completion and the addition of interim deadlines; (2) the implementation
6
Pursuant to the privacy provision of Appendix H of the Civil Local Rules of
Practice of Northern District of Georgia, home addresses listed in the comments
have been redacted to provide only the city and state.
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the completion and use of a dynamic hydraulic model for evaluating the capacity
and rehabilitation needs of the WCTS; and (5) an increase in the County’s existing
reporting obligations.
half (7 ½) years, until December 20, 2027, to achieve compliance with the
PASARP. The Modification cites reasons for the County’s failure to meet the
original June 20, 2020 deadline, including past County mismanagement and the
3, 5-6.
Interim milestones have been added for the PASARP, requiring yearly work
on minimum linear footage of pipes, broken out by four project categories: simple
pipe review, simple pipe rehabilitation, complex pipe design, and complex pipe
throughout the system are identified for completion by December 31, 2021. MCD
App’x E at 4-7.
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The initial PFL, which lists areas known to have experienced repeated SSOs
since the December 2011 effective date of the Consent Decree, through June 30,
2020, identifies 103 priority work projects, 48 of which are in Priority Areas
identified under the PASARP and 55 of which are not in PASARP Priority Areas.
MCD App’x F (Priority Fix List) (ECF 61-4). Fifty percent of these locations must
be fixed within two years of entry of the Modification. MCD ¶8, adding CD ¶35(j).
The rest of these locations must be fixed within four years of the Modification
entry, with the exception of specific locations identified in a carveout that may be
eligible for an extension. Id. Under the carveout, the County may submit requests
to EPA/EPD for extensions for 21 specific locations listed in the Modification that
are particularly complex and may require more time for completion. Id. Any such
locations must nonetheless be fixed no later than December 20, 2027. Id.
The Modification provides for the addition to the PFL of locations that
experience two or more SSOs from specified causes in a rolling 12-month period,
and for deadlines for those to be fixed. Id. Based on recent SSOs, over 30
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additional locations would be added to the PFL and need to be fixed within 4 years
the CAP, to manage proposed new sewer connections or increases in flow from
(Capacity Assurance Program) (ECF 61-2) (hereafter “MCD App’x D”). The CAP
capacity-limited areas and use a credit banking system to allow limited growth,
at § 5. Also, if the County meets the two-year deadline to fix half of the initial PFL
locations by two years from the date of entry of the Modification, certain banking
providing the County additional incentive to meet its PFL deadlines. MCD App’x
D at § 5.3.7. If the County misses any subsequent PFL deadline, the ratios revert
be used with the CAP. MCD at 7 and ¶4, modifying CD ¶29(b). The Parties
consider a dynamic model to be more accurate than the static model that the
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allow EPA and EPD to more closely monitor the County’s compliance with the
Consent Decree. The Quarterly SSO Reports have been expanded to include more
information on SSOs and to include information with respect to the PFL. MCD ¶9,
modifying CD ¶56(a). The Semi-Annual and Annual Reports have also been
rehabilitation requirements, and the Annual Reports also now require information
about PFL fixes. MCD ¶10, modifying CD ¶56(c). To allow increased judicial
oversight, the Modification requires the County to file all future Quarterly SSO
Reports and Semi-Annual Reports with the Court. MCD ¶10, modifying CD
¶57(e).
B. Civil Penalty
to pay, an additional civil penalty which addresses the County’s failure to comply
with the original Consent Decree and also the prohibited Spills from its WCTS
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C. Stipulated Penalties
provisions for which stipulated penalties may be assessed if they are violated. The
increases include the notable doubling of stipulated penalties for failure to meet the
PASARP deadline and more than doubling the stipulated penalties for Spills. MCD
failure to comply with the PASARP interim deadlines and the PFL project
deadlines, for each new sewer service connection or increase in flow from an
CAP, and for inaccurate reporting of particular items in the County’s Quarterly
erroneously contains two subparagraphs 65(d): the first applies to Spills over
10,000 gallons, and the second is for failure to timely submit Quarterly, Semi-
Annual, and Annual Reports. The parties intended the Modification to increase
stipulated penalties in the first subparagraph 65(d), related to Spills over 10,000
7
The revisions also increase the number of pages of the Modification. Plaintiffs
have not refiled the Appendices to the Modification with Attachment 1 because the
revisions do not affect the Appendices.
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Attachment 1 at 32-34.
ARGUMENT
evaluate whether the decree is fair, reasonable, and lawful, and in accord with
public policy and the public interest. Stovall v. City of Cocoa, Fla., 117 F.3d 1238,
1240, 1242, 1244 (11th Cir. 1997).8 District courts “should approve consent
8
See also United States v. City of Miami, 664 F.2d 435, 441, n.13 (5th Cir. 1981)
(quoting Cotton v. Hinton, 559 F.2d 1326, 1330 (5th Cir. 1977)). In Bonner v. City
of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc), the Eleventh Circuit
adopted as binding precedent all decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed down
prior to October 1, 1981.
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contrary to public policy.” Id. at 1240; see also United States v. Georgia-Pacific
Corp., 960 F. Supp. 298, 299 (N.D. Ga. 1996) (“[T]he court should approve of the
settlement if it determines that the settlement is fair and reasonable, and resolves
cases, this standard is often framed in terms of whether the consent decree is fair,
reasonable, and consistent with the relevant statute’s goals. Id.; see also United
States v. Bay Area Battery, 895 F. Supp. 1524, 1528 (N.D. Fla. 1995).
settlement meets this standard. First, the court should be guided by the strong
440 F.2d 1213, 1215 (5th Cir. 1971) (“Settlement agreements are highly favored in
the law and will be upheld whenever possible…”); accord United States v.
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Gov’t, 591 F.3d 484, 491 (6th Cir. 2010); United
States v. Cannons Eng’g Corp., 899 F.2d 79, 84 (1st Cir. 1990); Aro Corp. v.
Allied Witan Co., 531 F.2d 1368, 1372 (6th Cir. 1976). Settlements conserve the
resources of the courts, the litigants, and the taxpayers and “should . . . be upheld
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statutory goals.” Kelley v. Thomas Solvent Co., 717 F. Supp. 507, 516 (W.D. Mich.
settlement to which the United States is a party “must be left, in the first instance,
to the discretion of the Attorney General.” United States v. Bechtel Corp., 648 F.2d
660, 666 (9th Cir. 1981); Bay Area Battery, 895 F. Supp. at 1528 (quoting Bechtel
environmental field.” United States v. Akzo Coatings of Am., Inc., 949 F.2d 1409,
1436 (6th Cir. 1991). Thus, where an agency committed to the furtherance of the
effecting a settlement in an area of complex legal and factual issues, and to the
9
See also, e.g., United States v. City of Jackson, Miss., 519 F.2d 1147, 1151 (5th
Cir. 1975) (observing that settlements “maximize[] the effectiveness of limited law
enforcement resources” by permitting government to obtain compliance without
lengthy litigation).
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resolution of the United States' claims.”); see also Lexington-Fayette, 591 F.3d at
489 (holding that district court’s finding that the civil penalty in a CWA consent
decree could be better directed toward alleviating the conditions that violated the
CWA could not support the rejection of an otherwise proper settlement); United
(S.D. Ga. Nov. 27, 2019) (citing Cannons, 899 F.2d at 94 (“A district court, faced
with consent decrees executed in good faith and at arm’s length between the EPA
and counselled polluters, must look at the big picture, leaving interstitial details
settlement of claims and not a final disposition after trial on the merits. See Bragg
settlement, the court determines “not whether the settlement is one which the court
itself might have fashioned, or considers as ideal, but whether the proposed decree
Cannons, 899 F.2d at 84. The court does not have the power to itself modify a
settlement; it may only accept or reject the terms to which the parties have agreed.
See, e.g., Brooks v. Georgia State Bd. of Elections, 59 F.3d 1114, 1119-20 (11th
Cir. 1995) (finding “no authority for the proposition that a federal court may
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decree has been entered”); Williams v. City of New Orleans, 694 F.2d 987, 993
(5th Cir. 1982), aff'd on rehearing en banc, 729 F.2d 1554 (5th Cir. 1984).
settlement: it is fair, reasonable, and consistent with the CWA. Accordingly, the
the opinions of experienced counsel, and takes into account the possible risks
bargaining balance.” Id. at 86. In general, courts find procedural fairness where the
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settlement was negotiated at arm’s length among experienced counsel. See, e.g.,
United States v. Montrose Chemical Corp. of Cal., 50 F.3d 741, 746 (9th Cir.
[who] have hammered out an agreement at arm’s length and advocate its
embodiment in a judicial decree”); Cannons, 899 F.2d at 87; see also Akzo, 949
F.2d at 1435. Based on this standard, the Modification is fair, as it is the result of
represented by the Department of Justice and counsel for EPA, the State,
and the County represented by both in-house and outside counsel. See MCD at 8,
whether it was negotiated in good faith and is fair. See Akzo, 949 F.2d at 1435.
accountability: a party should bear the cost of the harm for which it is legally
responsible.” Cannons, 899 F.2d at 87. The proposed settlement reflects the
Parties’ careful and informed assessment of the merits of the Plaintiffs’ claims, the
costs, risks, and delays that litigation would entail and the benefits that will accrue
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ensures that immediate steps will be taken to fix operational and maintenance
deficiencies [at the facility], the environment will be protected and thus the
Agreement is fair in this respect.”); see also Akzo, 949 F.2d at 1436.
The Modification holds the County responsible for the alleged violations in
several ways. First, it must undertake extensive physical fixes. The Modification
calls for some quick, concrete steps, and long-term deadlines as well. Immediate
steps include several PASARP remedial projects due by the end of 2021, with half
of the initial PFL locations to be fixed within two years of the entry of the
Modification, and the bulk of the rest of the initial PFL locations within four years
complex initial PFL locations, and the final deadline for the PASARP work of
December 20, 2027. MCD ¶¶7(i), 8(j). The County has estimated that it will cost
Consent Decree.
$1,047,000. MCD ¶3. The proposed penalty is appropriate, given the County’s
years of numerous Spills and the circumstances leading to the County’s failure to
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the County to stipulated penalties, many of which are increased from those
14. Such penalties will serve as a deterrent against, and hold the County
accountable for, future violations. None of the public comments question the good
object to the size of the penalty. In light of the foregoing, the Modification is fair.
the goal of cleaning the environment and sufficiently compensates the public for
the alleged violations. See Georgia-Pacific, 960 F. Supp. at 299 (citing United
States v. Telluride Co., 849 F. Supp. 1400, 1402 (D. Colo. 1994)); District of
Columbia, 933 F. Supp. at 50 (citing Telluride, 849 F. Supp. at 1402); see also
Akzo, 949 F.2d at 1437 (An important criterion for the court to consider in
given the County’s late start in implementation, as well as the fact that the
assessment of the WCTS conducted pursuant to the Consent Decree revealed new
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challenges in areas not previously anticipated and that now require additional
attention. EPA, with the input of EPD, concluded that a revised PASARP deadline
The Modification also adds additional remedial work, such as the PFL, which will
require rehabilitation of recurring SSO locations where the SSOs stem from certain
causes regardless of whether they are located in Priority Areas, and thus the
modified schedule provides adequate time for the County in light of its now larger
scope of work.
The other elements of the Modification are reasonable as well. The PFL is
expedited basis. The use of a dynamic hydraulic model with the CAP provides the
means for the County to determine if it has capacity to add additional sewage flow,
with a banking credit system that provides incentives for the County to quickly and
effectively rehabilitate its WCTS. The enhanced reporting by the County will
allow greater oversight. The civil penalty, and the increased stipulated penalties for
future violations that may occur, help to deter further violations and delays in
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benefits stemming from the injunctive relief will be immediately felt by its citizens
without the substantial expenditure of taxpayer and judicial resources that would
be necessitated by litigation.
several issues concerning the proposed Modification. None of the comments, either
the issue for this Court is not whether the Modification is the most favorable
CWA and serves the public interest. The role of the district court in reviewing an
Congress. See Georgia-Pacific, 960 F. Supp. at 299. When Congress enacted the
CWA, the stated objective was “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and
play an important part in achieving this goal because they “deter future violations”
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of the CWA. Lexington-Fayette, 591 F.3d at 487-488, citing Friends of the Earth,
Inc. v. Laidlaw Envtl. Servs. (TOC), Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 185 (2000). As stated in
Informed Citizens United, Inc. v. USX Corp., 36 F. Supp. 2d 375, 378 (S.D. Tex.
1999), “the fundamental purpose of the Clean Water Act is to prohibit the
Courts sometimes articulate this third prong of the motion to enter standard
as “consistent with the public interest.” See Georgia-Pacific, 960 F. Supp. at 299.
[t]he court should . . . bear in mind the flexibility of the public interest
inquiry: the court’s function is not to determine whether the resulting
array of rights and liabilities “is the one that will best serve society,"
but only to confirm that the resulting settlement is "'within the reaches
of the public interest.’”
United States v. Microsoft Corp., 56 F.3d 1448, 1460 (D.C. Cir. 1995) (emphasis
The Modification is in line with the goal of the CWA, as it imposes interim
deadlines for the PASARP, adds additional injunctive relief directed at SSOs with
the PFL, and provides for a more accurate dynamic hydraulic model of the WCTS
provides for a sizeable civil penalty for Spills through 2019, and increased
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the public. The citizens of DeKalb County will benefit from this settlement
identified on the PFL. The Modification sets the County on a well-defined path
toward compliance with the CWA and the GWQCA. The Modification more than
meets the requirement that it be “within the reaches of the public interest.” Id.
Modification.10 The public comment period affords an opportunity for the public to
point out facts and considerations indicating that the settlement is inappropriate,
available at pages 223-233 of Attachment 2.b. By its terms, the comment period
required by 28 C.F.R. 50.7 does not entail a question and answer session, but rather
10
Two commenters submitted comments which, while submitted shortly after the
public comment period expired, have been nevertheless considered as well.
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Attachment 4.
maintain that approval and entry of the Modification is warranted. The public
CONCLUSION
approved and entered by the Court, as it is fair, reasonable, and consistent with the
Attachment 1. The views of the commenters have been reviewed and considered.
None of the comments provides a basis to conclude that the proposed Modification
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I certify that the foregoing document has been prepared with one of the font and
point selections approved by the court in LR 5.1B: Times New Roman (14 point).
Respectfully submitted,
TODD KIM
Assistant Attorney General
Environment and Natural Resources Div.
U.S. Department of Justice
Paul Schwartz
Associate Regional Counsel
U.S. EPA, Region 4
Nathan Stopper
Associate Regional Counsel
U.S. EPA, Region 6
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Respectfully submitted,
Kurt R. Erskine
ACTING UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
Trishanda L. Treadwell
Trishanda L. Treadwell
Assistant United States Attorney
Georgia Bar No. 356896
Richard Russell Federal Building
75 Ted Turner Drive SW
Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: (404) 581-6000
Facsimile: (404) 581-6181
Email: [email protected]
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Respectfully submitted,
Christopher M. Carr
Attorney General
ROBIN LEIGH
Senior Assistant Attorney General
/s Christopher R. Held
CHRISTOPHER R. HELD
Georgia Bar No. 987847
Assistant Attorney General
40 Capitol Square SW
Atlanta, GA 30334-1300
Telephone: (404) 458-3569
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
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