In federal court, environmental groups challenge Bow coal plant’s cooling systems

A trial in a lawsuit against the only coal plant currently operating in New England began Monday in federal court in Concord.

The lawsuit, brought by the Sierra Club and the Conservation Law Foundation, is a citizen’s enforcement case under the Clean Water Act, which turns 50 this week. Though laws and permits are usually enforced by the government, that act allows citizens to bring up a case in federal court to enforce standards that state or federal officials haven’t.

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