The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday sharply limited the federal government's authority to police water pollution into certain wetlands, the second decision in as many years in which a conservative majority narrowed the reach of environmental regulations.
The outcome could threaten efforts to control flooding on the Mississippi River and protect the Chesapeake Bay, among many projects, wrote Justice Brett Kavanaugh, breaking with the other five conservatives.
Kennedy's opinion covering wetlands that have a "significant nexus" to larger bodies of water had been the standard for evaluating whether permits were required for discharges under the 1972 landmark environmental law. Opponents had objected that the standard was vague and unworkable. "The Supreme Court ripped the heart out of the law we depend on to protect American waters and wetlands. The majority chose to protect polluters at the expense of healthy wetlands and waterways. This decision will cause incalculable harm. Communities across the country will pay the price," Bapna said in a statement.
Damien Schiff, who represented the Sacketts at the Supreme Court, said the decision appropriately narrowed the reach of the law. "Courts now have a clear measuring stick for fairness and consistency by federal regulators. Today's ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers," Schiff said in a statement issued by the property rights-focused Pacific Legal Foundation.
Kavanaugh and the court's three liberal justices charged that their colleagues had rewritten that law. In both cases, she noted, the court had appointed "itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy." Kagan was joined in what she wrote by her liberal colleagues Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hay River, N.W.T., residents allowed to return Thursday as wildfire burns nearbyResidents of the town of Hay River are to be allowed to return to the Northwest Territories community Thursday, even as a wildfire continues to burn on the nearby K'atl'odeeche First Nation reserve.
Read more »
Rain returns Thursday afternoon
Read more »
Thursday Bantering: Bits of Jays StuffWe have a day game tonight. I wasn’t looking ahead and missed this. The good part is I had a workout with a friend yesterday, and I’m extremely sore this morning, so sitting and watching the game...
Read more »
Two men attack homeless person who allegedly harassed woman, court toldTwo men who Calgary police originally alleged committed a hate\u002Dmotivated attack on a homeless man have pleaded guilty reduced charges.
Read more »
B.C. port expansion threatens endangered orcas, claims court challengeControversial port expansion at Roberts Bank faces judicial review after environmental groups claim it will jeopardize endangered killer whale population.
Read more »
Appeal court rejects police officer's bid to have sexual harassment lawsuit reinstatedAlberta Court of Appeal denies Const. Kim Prodaniuk application to have her sexual harassment dispute litigated in court.
Read more »