Paul Diodati told The Standard-Times, "I don't think it's a matter of a single organization or agency to make the call," but rather a collaborative decision.

"The commonwealth has been down the road several times in recent years, entering lawsuits against the federal government," he said. The results, he said, have been mixed.

State Rep. William M. Straus, D-Mattapoisett, chairman of the Environmental and Natural Resources Committee, met with Diodati on Thursday afternoon along with Mary Griffin, commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game, and David Cash, assistant secretary of Environmental and Energy Affairs, to talk about the state's intentions.

In mid-May, Gov. Deval Patrick told The Standard-Times the decision was in the hands of Attorney General Martha Coakley, but since then the consensus has been that Coakley's role will be to proceed as directed by the client in the issue, which would be Diodati's department.

Patrick told The Standard-Times at the time of his visit that he had told Coakley, "I think it's a good idea" that the state join New Bedford and Gloucester in the lawsuit.

Read the full story in SouthCoastToday.com