Criminal investigation into S.C. sewage plant
By The Associated Press Thursday, December 04, 2008COLUMBIA, S.C. - Officials for the city of Columbia and a private wastewater treatment plant say a sewage spill over the summer is not at the heart of an investigation at the city’s plant.
State and federal health officials say they are searching Columbia’s sewage plant as part of a criminal investigation into improper record keeping.
Thom Berry with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control said officials executed a criminal search warrant at the plant around 8 a.m. Thursday.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirms the joint investigation. But the two spokespeople declined to say any more about it.
Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said officials are looking for testing results involving a company the city uses.
In July, state officials warned swimmers that a sewage spill was contaminating the Saluda River near Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. The president of the privately owned plant involved in that case says it’s unrelated to Thursday’s search.
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