Michigan asks Supreme Court to reconsider closing Chicago locks to prevent Asian carp invasion

Michigan renews push to close Chicago ship locks

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Michigan wants the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its refusal to close Chicago-area shipping locks in hopes of keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

State Attorney General Mike Cox says justices denied the request without knowing that scientists had detected genetic material from the carp in Lake Michigan for the first time.

Solicitor General Elena Kagan acknowledged that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers learned of the DNA find Jan. 15 but did not inform the high court until hours after the Jan. 19 ruling.

The Army Corps’ Chicago district, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and state attorney general’s office declined to comment.

Scientists say if the carp become established in the lakes, they could devastate the $7 billion fishing industry.