FORT SMITH -- The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved nearly $50 million for consent decree mandated improvements to the city's sewer system Tuesday.

According to a city news release Wednesday, the project will include 75,350 linear feet of pipe, as well as seven design agreements for 52,000 linear feet of pipe and 200 manholes in future projects.

Fort Smith entered into the consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency and the state Division of Environmental Quality in 2015. The city agreed to repair and upgrade its sewer system after decades of sewage runoff into local waterways, including the Arkansas River.

The city agreed to spend more than $200 million over 12 years to upgrade its sewer collection and treatment. The original decree deadline

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