| ConservAmerica General Counsel Brent Fewell released the following statement today following the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the plaintiff in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “In today’s ruling, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed the federal government had overreached in asserting jurisdiction over the Sackett’s property. Although divided on their rationale, the Justices’ ruling is a victory for the rule of law and provides greater clarity to landowners, industry, and farmers who have had to deal with regulatory overreach and uncertainty for the last several decades. The decision is consonant with how Congress in 1972 intended the Clean Water Act to work, creating a bright line between federal and state jurisdiction. This decision no doubt increases the critical importance of stewardship at the local and state level and how wetlands and other critical water resources are best managed. It is also why ConservAmerica had called on the Biden Administration to pause its rulemaking until after the Supreme Court acted.” Today’s ruling narrows the scope of federal regulation over Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. More from ConservAmerica on Sackett v. EPA: Supreme Court to Take Up Case That Would Limit Scope of Wetlands Regulation EPA Should Pause WOTUS Rulemaking Until Supreme Court Hears Sackett v. EPA ConservAmerica Calls on EPA, USACE to Suspend WOTUS Rulemaking Until Court Decision Clean Water Act Marks 50 Years Regulatory Certainty Needed to Calm the Waters ConservAmerica Encouraged by Senate’s Passage of WOTUS Joint Resolution ConservAmerica is a nonprofit organization that advocates for market-based solutions to conservation, environmental, and energy challenges. Visit us at ConservAmerica and follow us on Twitter @ConservAmerica and Facebook. CONTACT: [email protected]. |
