Group claims Washington company polluting Columbia River

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A Portland, Oregon-based non-profit group called Columbia Riverkeeper has filed a federal lawsuit against a Washington state heavy equipment company claiming it's polluting the river with industrial waste.

The group claims Vancouver-based Electro Incorporated is violating its state-issued Industrial Storm water General Permit and the federal Clean Water Act.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma says Electro's facility discharges pollutants via storm water that ends up in the Columbia River. The lawsuit says the company has also violated monitoring requirements by failing to collect, analyze and discharge samples.

Electro's website says it specializes in machinery used in mining and forestry as well as offshore equipment. A message left with the company seeking comment was not immediately returned.