A judge has given the Ogeechee Riverkeeper additional time to explain why the Georgia Environmental Protection Division should stop pollutants from being discharged into the river.

Spalding County Superior Court Judge Chris Edwards announced the timeline after a hearing Tuesday. The judge gave lawyers for the EPD seven days after that to respond to the group.

The 1,000 member riverkeeper organization is asking the judge to order King America Finishing to shut down its fire-retardant operation at a plant in Screven County.

An estimated 39,000 fish died last year below the company's outfall pipe into the river. Inspections revealed the company had been discharging for five years from an unpermitted fire retardant line. Investigators said pollution was likely among several factors that weakened the fish.

Tags: Ogeechee River, fish kill, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Ogeechee Fish Kill, King America Finishing