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4 To 8 Million Sewage Plant Disks In NH River

HAMPTON, N.H. (AP) -- The latest estimate of how many plastic disks were washed out of a New Hampshire wastewater treatment plant into the Merrimack River has grown to between four million and eight million.

Officials originally said hundreds of thousands of the 2-inch wide disks were swept downriver from the Hooksett treatment plant after heavy rains earlier this month.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports that MA lawmakers want NH to pay for clean up.

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On Wednesday, Department of Environmental Services spokesman Jim Martin said the latest estimate is four million to eight million disks out of approximately 39 million were released. The disks are used to promote growth of bacteria that feeds on waste.

Officials say the disks, which washed ashore in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, pose little health risk. They are seeking volunteers to help clean up the disks along New Hampshire's beaches on Thursday.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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