Coalition Threatens St. Pete with Lawsuit over Sewage Spill

9/30/2016

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – A coalition of environmental groups is threatening to sue the city of St. Petersburg over a sewage spill.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that environmental nonprofits gave notice to the city Thursday that they will file a federal lawsuit under the Clean Water Act if the city doesn’t demonstrate that it’s serious about stopping future sewage spills.

Heavy rain during Hurricane Hermine overloaded the city’s sewer systems, sending millions of gallons of sewage to flow into streets and waterways.

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to investigate a sewage spill, and U.S. Rep. David Jolly has called for a federal environmental probe.