US Justice Department sues Idaho city over water pollution

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The federal authorities is suing a small Idaho city close to Grand Teton Nationwide Park for dumping poisonous waste from its sewage remedy plant right into a stream that feeds a number of scenic rivers within the area.

The lawsuit from the U.S. Division of Justice was filed in Idaho’s U.S. District Court docket on Monday. The federal authorities contends town of Driggs violated the Clear Water Act by dumping effluent with an excessive amount of e. coli and ammonia or in any other case violated wastewater allow guidelines greater than 2,600 instances during the last seven years.

The effluent was launched into Woods Creek, which flows into the Teton River, Henry’s Fork, the Snake and Columbia Rivers on its method to the Pacific Ocean. The Teton River and Henry’s Fork are renown fly fishing areas, drawing anglers from all over the world. The violations, if confirmed, might put town of about 2,100 folks on the hook for greater than $160 million in fines.

In written assertion, town of Driggs stated the lawsuit was a constructive growth as a result of it can enable the EPA and metropolis officers to work collectively to give you options.

“Though it appears scary to be sued by the Division of Justice, it’s truly a chance to obtain help and assets,” from the federal authorities, Driggs Mayor August Christensen wrote within the assertion.

The town’s lawyer, Sam Angell, stated the lawsuit is a “procedural step” within the means of reaching a settlement settlement with the federal company.

Driggs’ wastewater remedy facility treats sanitary waste and sewage from a number of small communities within the area. The power has failed to fulfill federal requirements for years, and in 2018 town and the Environmental Safety Company reached a authorized settlement that Driggs would improve the plant to come back into compliance with wastewater guidelines inside two years.

That didn’t occur, nevertheless, triggering the federal lawsuit. The Division of Justice is asking a choose to wonderful town, order it to adjust to the Clear Water Act and different federal air pollution guidelines.