Delaware officials filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday over the Corps' plan to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel without obtaining state permits. In a 20-page complaint filed in federal court in Wilmington, the state asked for a declaration that the Corps' decision violates state and federal law and a preliminary injunction to halt the dredging until the Corps obtains Delaware permits.

Citing federal authority over navigation along the river, the Army is expected to begin the work by January within Delaware, which has already rejected one permit request and is considering another. The First State has long had environmental concerns, as has New Jersey, mostly over where tons of dug up sludge will go.