BOSTON—A lawsuit charging the Massachusetts Highway Department with violating federal clean water laws by dumping polluted storm water into neighboring rivers and streams is heading to trial.
Environmental groups say the highway department failed to meet a requirement of the federal Clean Water Act to develop a plan for controlling and cleaning polluted water that flows off 4,000 miles of roads and bridges.
The Conservation Law Foundation and two other environmental groups filed the lawsuit in 2006.
They said as the case was being prepared last year, MassHighway resubmitted its plan and EPA ruled it deficient for a third time.
The lawsuit is heading to trial on Friday.
A spokesman for the department declined comment.
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