Judge throws out Asian carp lawsuit

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and four other states to prevent the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

From MPR News:

U.S. District Judge John Tharp said Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania could try a different legal argument, but for now he said Congress -- not the courts -- should take action.

Attorney General Lori Swanson said the dismissal is disappointing. She said she and the other attorneys general are discussing whether to re-file the lawsuit, appeal, or take a different route.

The lawsuit was filed in 2009 because the states felt the threat of Asian carp in the Great Lakes should not get caught up in congressional gridlock, she said.

We'll look at the other options the states might have going forward.

READ MORE: MPR News Primer: Invasive species (MPR News)

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