Back on August 29, 2023, U.S. EPA issued the rule to conform its regulations to the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA which significantly reduced the number of wetlands that are federally protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). (See, prior post discussing Sackett) The Court limited federal jurisdiction to only
404/401 permit
Deja Vue All Over Again- No Certainty on Federal Regulation of Waters of the United States
An Arizona federal court has vacated the Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). In the case of Pasqua Yaqui Tribe v. EPA, No. CV-20-00266 , the Court ruled that the Trump Administration’s regulatory effort to define the scope of the Clean Water Act (i.e. which rivers, streams and lakes are federally regulated) had “fundamental,…
Army Corps of Engineers Issues Regulatory Guidance in Response to Hawkes Case
On October 31, the Army Corps of Engineers ("ACOE") issued new guidance as to the types and prioritization of jurisdictional determinations (JDs). Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) 16-01 "Jurisdictional Determinations" has very little new guidance in reality. However, some key language in the RGL makes clear the real purpose behind the RGL.
What is…
U.S. Supreme Court Unanimously Tells EPA its Orders Can be Reviewed
On March 20, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the much anticipated decision in Sackett v. EPA. The Court rejected U.S. EPA’s claims that its administrative enforcement orders were not subject to pre-enforcement review. The Court’s decision provides a new tool to challenge EPA administrative compliance orders.
Synopsis of the Case
The Clean Water…