Dothan has reached a tentative settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal officials over sewage overflows and other permit violations.
The Dothan Eagle reported Tuesday that Dothan has agreed to pay $264,000 in penalties linked to violating the federal Clean Water Act. The settlement is awaiting final court approval. The penalties are part of an agreement among the U.S. Department of Justice, the State of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
The newspaper reports Dothan has spent millions to improve its sewer system since 2005 but has seen multiple raw sewage overflows in recent years.
EPA regional director Heather McTeer Toney said in a statement that the agreement is aimed at pushing other municipalities to prioritize correcting sewer issues and protecting citizens from exposure.