The California Coastal Commission has denied San Diego's request to keep running the region's main sewage treatment plant below federal pollution standards.
The commission voted Thursday at its monthly meeting, against the recommendations of its staff, state water-quality regulators and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The decision could put the city of San Diego on the hook for a $1.5 billion upgrade to its Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The city would probably have to raise sewer rates to pay for fixing the plant that treats sewage from 2.2 million people from San Diego and surrounding cities.
San Diego city officials plan to appeal to the Secretary of Commerce for a third waiver from the Clean Water Act.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
