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Feds Join Sewer Suit Against Boston

BOSTON (AP) -- Federal investigators have joined a lawsuit against the Boston Water and Sewer Commission alleging the agency violated the Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage and pollutants into local waterways, including the Charles River.

The case was filed earlier this year by the Conservation Law Foundation and has been joined by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Attorney's office.

The suit alleges the discharges occurred through illegal sewer connections to the city's storm drain system and sanitary sewer overflows.

The suit alleges the sewage flowed into the Mystic, Charles and Neponset rivers and other waterways feeding Boston Harbor.

The commission declined comment on the lawsuit through a spokesman, but said it takes its role as an environmental steward seriously.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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