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Posted: Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 4:36 AM HST

Federal judge finds Honolulu liable for clean water violations

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ U.S. District Judge David Ezra has found the city of Honolulu liable for 297 violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The Sierra Club, Hawaii Thousand Friends and Our Children's Earth Foundation filed suit over the discharge of millions of gallons of raw sewage into streets, streams, channels, waterways and private homes over a nine-year period. The city was preparing a statement in response to the judge's order, which was filed Monday. The spills came from sewer collection systems and wastewater treatment plants at Sand Island, Honouliuli and elsewhere on Oahu. The case now moves into the penalty phase. The Clean Water Act authorizes injunctive relief and fines of up to $32,500 per violation. (Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved)