US Supreme Court Say No to Emergency Measures to Fight Invasive Asian Carp

 

The legal problems that the Asian carp is causing are almost as great as the environmental problems.

The Asian carp is about to invade the US Great Lakes and everyone agrees that if that occurs, the region’s environment and economy will be in big trouble because the carp likely will devastate native fish species.

However, when a number of Midwestern states asked the US Supreme Court to force the Army Corps of Engineers to install nets that would block the carp from reaching the Great Lakes, the justices said no, taking the side of businesses that argued that the nets would seriously harm commercial barge and pleasure boat traffic.

Both sides have a point, and Earth Preservers’ point in telling you about this situation is that sometimes an environmental issue can not be resolved in a court of law – at least not easily.

Since the Supreme Court decision, the Corps, which previously had said it would take years to come up with a solution, has worked out a number of possible solutions. It plans to let Congress decide which one to implement.

Based on its ability to get anything done quickly, you have to wonder whether Congress will act in time.

To learn more, read this article from the Wall Street Jourrnal.