The federal government is suing the Scranton Sewer Authority claiming it dumped more than a billion gallons of raw sewage into the Lackawanna River last year.
The sewer authority, in the middle of multi-million dollar improvement projects, said the lawsuit is unfair.
Thousands of gallons of sewage are processed daily at the Scranton Sewer Authority's treatment plant off Cedar Avenue.
On Tuesday the Environmental Protection Agency filed a federal lawsuit alleging the sewer authority illegally dumped more than a billion gallons of raw sewage into the Lackawanna River last year.
A spokesman for the EPA said, "We've been working with them for several years to find a solution that is beneficial to both Scranton and the environment. Unfortunately this step is now necessary."
"We've taken substantive steps over the last several years to accomplish many of the items that they've asked us to accomplish. So we're a bit taken aback by their action at this point," said Gene Barrett, executive director of the Scranton Sewer Authority.
He said multiple improvements have been made to the 40-year-old plant to comply with federal regulations.
"We had to put in a new influent meter that monitors the amount of flow that comes in to the plant. We had to put in all new pumps, new grid systems. The current project is about $8 million out of a $25 million project that we've been working on," Barrett added.
The EPA wants the authority to pay fines that could add up to millions.
"We can't afford what they want us to do now let alone add fines to it," said Barrett.
"I think it's very counterproductive. It would be fair if they gave that money, paid the fines to the EPA and then the EPA would fund a program to help fix the problem," said Bernard McGurl of the Lackawanna River Corridor Association,the non-profit group that monitors river conditions. He hopes some good will come of the lawsuit. "I want to see a clean river. I think every citizen in the Lackawanna Valley wants to see a clean river."
The Scranton Sewer Authority plans to fight the EPA lawsuit but if forced to pay fines, that cost could eventually trickle down to customers.
The sewer authority, in the middle of multi-million dollar improvement projects, said the lawsuit is unfair.
Thousands of gallons of sewage are processed daily at the Scranton Sewer Authority's treatment plant off Cedar Avenue.
On Tuesday the Environmental Protection Agency filed a federal lawsuit alleging the sewer authority illegally dumped more than a billion gallons of raw sewage into the Lackawanna River last year.
A spokesman for the EPA said, "We've been working with them for several years to find a solution that is beneficial to both Scranton and the environment. Unfortunately this step is now necessary."
"We've taken substantive steps over the last several years to accomplish many of the items that they've asked us to accomplish. So we're a bit taken aback by their action at this point," said Gene Barrett, executive director of the Scranton Sewer Authority.
He said multiple improvements have been made to the 40-year-old plant to comply with federal regulations.
"We had to put in a new influent meter that monitors the amount of flow that comes in to the plant. We had to put in all new pumps, new grid systems. The current project is about $8 million out of a $25 million project that we've been working on," Barrett added.
The EPA wants the authority to pay fines that could add up to millions.
"We can't afford what they want us to do now let alone add fines to it," said Barrett.
"I think it's very counterproductive. It would be fair if they gave that money, paid the fines to the EPA and then the EPA would fund a program to help fix the problem," said Bernard McGurl of the Lackawanna River Corridor Association,the non-profit group that monitors river conditions. He hopes some good will come of the lawsuit. "I want to see a clean river. I think every citizen in the Lackawanna Valley wants to see a clean river."
The Scranton Sewer Authority plans to fight the EPA lawsuit but if forced to pay fines, that cost could eventually trickle down to customers.
