Judge dismisses wild rice suit

MINNEAPOLIS — A judge has dismissed a Chamber of Commerce lawsuit that challenged Minnesota's water quality standards for protecting wild rice.

Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan says the state's wild rice rule is legally valid. She says it doesn't violate due process, it's not unconstitutionally vague, and it's not being applied arbitrarily or capriciously. And she says it's consistent with the federal Clean Water Act.

Minnesota law limits sulfate discharges into wild rice waters to 10 milligrams per liter. An advisory group to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is studying whether that standard should be revised.

Attorney Paula Maccabee of the environmental group WaterLegacy hails the ruling. She says it means any changes to the standard must be based on science, not politics.

Chamber officials say they're still reviewing the decision.

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