June 22, 2006
On behalf of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), the firm’s Environmental Department has negotiated the largest clean water act settlement of its kind in history. Under the June 22 settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, charges sought of over $200 million in civil penalties were reduced to just $1 million. Also, in a proposed consent decree filed in federal court in Puerto Rico, PRASA has agreed to devote $1.7 billion to upgrade sewage treatment facilities throughout Puerto Rico. After complex negotiations, PRASA and the EPA will work in close cooperation to implement these improvements over 15 years. Additionally, the Department of Justice did not pursue individual indictments in this matter. Partner E. Donald Elliott, a former General Counsel of EPA, led the Willkie team in this matter. Willkie’s Environmental Department was recently ranked among the very best by Chambers USA (2006).