Justice department to enforce Okmulgee sewer system overhaul

(Okmulgee-AP) -- City officials in Okmulgee expect to be told today that the U-S Justice Department will take over enforcement of overhauling the city's sewage system. The department wants to prevent more sewage discharges into a stream the flows through a national wildlife refuge.

The Daily Oklahoma reports that City Manager Beverly Rogers will ask the City Council to approve spending $215,000 on improvements at the sewage plant. The city has until January 15th to start making several improvements or face a possible $25,000 a day fine.

Federal officials say the discharge of sludge and untreated sewage in September killed thousands of fish and affected wildlife for years to come.