TWO PRIVATE CITIZEN GROUPS, NRDC AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, FILED SUIT AGAINST THE BETHLEHEM STEEL CORP. THE SUIT ALLEGED NPDES PERMIT EFFLUENT VIOLATIONS AT THE CORP.'S SPARROWS POINT FACILITY. AFTER THE GROUPS AND THE CORPORATION REACHED A TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MOVED TO INTERVENE BECAUSE THE COMPANY WOULD NOT HAVE PAID A PENALTY UNDER THE PROPOSED DECREE, JUST FUNDED AN TRUST FUND FOR EMVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. AFTER NEGOTIATION AMONG ALL PARTIES, A REVISED CONSENT DECREE WAS AGREED UPON.