U.S. AND STATE OF LOUISIANA ANNOUNCE
CLEAN WATER ACT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF NEW IBERIA

WASHINGTON, D.C.- A comprehensive Clean Water Act settlement with the city of New Iberia, Louisiana was announced today by the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of Louisiana, on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). Under the settlement, the city is constructing a new sewage treatment plant expected to cost $30 million and has agreed to perform an extensive characterization, evaluation, and rehabilitation of the city’s collection system designed to eliminate sewage overflows, estimated to cost up to $20 million over the next 10 years.

The United States and the State of Louisiana filed a civil complaint against the city for violations under the Clean Water Act in June 2004. The consent decree, lodged today in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in Lafayette, represents the combined efforts of the United States and the State of Louisiana.

“This joint enforcement action will bring long-term significant improvement to New Iberia’s sewer system,” said Kelly A. Johnson, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This demonstrates the effectiveness of federal and state agencies working together to achieve compliance with our environmental laws.”

Under the proposed consent decree, the city is building a new treatment plant, which will have substantially greater hydraulic capacity and replace the antiquated Admiral Doyle treatment plant. The city has agreed to expedite the elimination of certain high priority sewer overflows from the system. In addition, it will share in the cost associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of an equalization basin for the Tete Bayou sewage treatment plant. The consent decree also requires the city to adopt a plan for identifying and eliminating illegal storm water connections on private property to the publicly owned or operated collection system; implement a maintenance program for the collection system to provide for the proper operation and maintenance of equipment; and develop and implement an emergency response plan to adequately protect the health and welfare of persons in the event of any sanitary sewer overflows. The city will pay a civil penalty of $235,000 for past effluent and sewer overflow violations, one half of which will be paid to the United States and half of which will be paid to the state.

“This agreement allows the community of New Iberia to move forward toward our goal of a cleaner, healthier environment for its residents,” EPA Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division Director John Blevins said. “The commitments made by New Iberia ensure the community will achieve compliance with environmental standards.”

“We deeply appreciate the efforts of the parties in arriving at this settlement. It takes leadership and vision to address the complex environmental problems facing us today,” said U.S. Attorney Donald W. Washington. “The steps we take now to improve or stabilize our environment translate into improving the quality of life for future generations.”

“This settlement will provide for the construction and installation of a new wastewater facility and infrastructure to serve the current and future needs of the New Iberia area,” said Dr. Harold Leggett, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Compliance, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. “This agreement was developed through the cooperation of local, state and federal officials and will help New Iberia achieve compliance as soon as possible.”

In the past, the United States has reached similar agreements with numerous municipal entities across the country including New Orleans; Baton Rouge; Monroe, Louisiana; Mandeville, Louisiana; Birmingham; Atlanta; Knoxville; Miami; Toledo; Cincinnati; Baltimore; and Los Angeles.

The proposed consent decree with the city of New Iberia is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval before becoming effective.

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