Ballast water is sometimes blamed for introducing invasive species into new waterways — like the zebra mussel, which has cost the Great Lakes region billions of dollars.

Chicago's corporation counsel mailed a legal notice Monday informing Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel that the city intends to sue the company for federal Clean Water Act violations.

The federal regulation dictates which bodies of water are subject to federal clean water regulations. Indiana and several other states challenged the current interpretation of the rule.

President-elect Donald Trump says he wants to do away with unnecessary regulations, including the EPA's Waters of the U.S. rule.

Given the amount of time it takes to go through appeals court, it is unlikely that the case will make it to the Supreme Court before Justice Scalia is replaced.