Center alleges freeway project is violating Clean Water Act

The Center for Justice’s Spokane Riverkeeper project is alleging that the state Department of Transportation has violated the Clean Water Act during construction of the North Spokane freeway. The group filed a complaint on Thursday with the department that argues that the state has ignored its permit to build the corridor by allowing untreated storm water to flow into Deadman Creek, which flows into the Little Spokane River. The group also alleges that the state has not adequately implemented a required storm water protection plan. “It has nothing to do with stopping the project,” said Rick Eichstaedt, who leads the Riverkeeper project. “This is about making sure that as it’s being built, it’s not going to trash our local streams.” Mike Frucci, Department of Transportation assistant regional administrator for project development, said he had not yet seen the complaint and would examine the accusations to provide a response.