Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

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Published

November 21, 2025

Issuing agencies

Justice Department

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 52706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20477]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean 
Water Act

    On November 18, 2025, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
consent decree with the United States District Court for the Middle 
District of Pennsylvania in the lawsuit entitled Lower Susquehanna 
Riverkeeper Association et al. v. Hanover Foods Corporation, Civil 
Action No. 1:21-cv-01600-JPW.
    This is a civil action initiated by the Lower Susquehanna 
Riverkeeper Association against Hanover Foods Corporation 
(``Hanover''), involving claims under the Clean Water Act (``CWA'') and 
The Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law (``PCSL''). The United States, on 
behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection 
(``PADEP''), were granted intervention in this case on October 1, 2025. 
The United States' and PADEP's complaint-in-intervention also brings 
claims under the CWA and the PCSL based on similar and overlapping 
alleged violations. These include violations of effluent limits, other 
discharge limitations, and operation and maintenance requirements in 
Hanover's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit at its 
food-processing and canning facility in Hanover, York County, 
Pennsylvania. The complaint-in-intervention seeks civil penalties and 
injunctive relief for Hanover's alleged violations.
    The consent decree, which would resolve all plaintiffs' claims, 
requires the Defendant to pay a $1,150,000 civil penalty, which will be 
split evenly between the United States and PADEP. The Defendant has 
also agreed to implement measures to bring Hanover's facility into 
compliance, improve its operational practices, and prevent future 
violations.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Acting 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
and should refer to Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association et al. v. 
Hanover Foods Corporation, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-12557. All comments 
must be submitted no later than thirty (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............................  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#73030611101c1e1e161d075e1616005d161d0117330600171c195d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="89f9fcebeae6e4e4ece7fda4ececfaa7ece7fbedc9fcfaede6e3a7eee6ff">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
By mail.............................  Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
                                       DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
                                       Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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    Any comments submitted in writing may be filed by the United States 
in whole or in part on the public court docket without notice to the 
commenter.
    During the public comment period, the consent decree may be 
examined and downloaded at this Department of Justice website: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees">https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees</a>. If you require assistance 
accessing the consent decree, you may request assistance by email or by 
mail to the addresses provided above for submitting comments.

Jason Dunn,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2025-20477 Filed 11-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P


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