# Federal Register #2026-21003

DOJ Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Amendment to Akron Wastewater Consent Decree

**Buyer:** Department of Justice
**Posted:** October 14, 2026
**Respond By:** November 13, 2026
**Identifier:** 2026-21003

The Department of Justice is seeking public comment on a proposed amendment to the Clean Water Act consent decree for Akron’s wastewater system.
- **Government entities:** U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Environment and Natural Resources Division; the State of Ohio is involved in the underlying action, and the consent decree concerns the City of Akron, Ohio.
- **Proposed changes:** Replace a requirement to build a new treatment facility with performance criteria limiting untreated combined sewer overflow discharges and setting volumetric discharge limits.
- **Additional requirements:** Add monitoring, modeling, and reporting to assess compliance, and extend disinfection and dechlorination of certain discharges from six to eight months per calendar year.
- **OEMs, vendors, products, and quantities:** None identified; this is a request for public comment, not a procurement of products or services.

### Description

The Department of Justice lodged a proposed Fourth Amendment to the Consent Decree in United States v. City of Akron, Ohio, et al., concerning Clean Water Act violations related to Akron’s wastewater treatment facility and sewer system. The amendment replaces a construction requirement for a new treatment facility with performance criteria and adds monitoring, modeling, and reporting requirements. It also extends the period during which certain discharges must be disinfected and dechlorinated from six to eight months per calendar year. The notice opens a public comment period, with comments due no later than 30 days after publication.

[View original listing](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/14/2026-21003/notice-of-lodging-of-proposed-fourth-amended-consent-decree-under-the-clean-water-act)