Judge Orders Lake Superior Ballast Water Checks

Ramsey County District Court Judge Kathleen Gearin ordered the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to begin regulating ballast water discharged by ships in Lake Superior to stop the entry of invasive species. Gearin's ruled Tuesday that the MPCA has known for years that ballast discharge introduces invasive species. Judge Gearin said she does not believe the agency has handled the issue with the urgency that the danger demands. Gearin ruled that the agency must treat discharge as water pollution and by October 1st, all ships carrying ballast water must have Clean Water Act permits before discharging the water.