Associated Press - November 18, 2009 7:35 PM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a North Texas water district that claimed it had the right to buy billions of gallons of water in Oklahoma.

U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton on Wednesday granted a motion by Attorney General Drew Edmondson to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Tarrant Regional Water District.

The district's lawsuit argued that Oklahoma's moratorium on out-of-state water sales was unconstitutional, and it asked the judge to order the state to allow the district access to waters within Oklahoma's borders.

Edmondson said Heaton ruled that the ban didn't violate the U.S. Constitution.

However, Heaton disagreed that a new state law effectively repealed the moratorium, rendering the lawsuit moot. He said the district can amend its complaint on those grounds.

The district said in a statement that it intends to do so.

Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com

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