Supreme Court Limits EPA's Power to Address Water Pollution
Adam Liptak The New York Times
The question for the justices was how to determine which wetlands qualify as such waters. (photo: Erin Schaff/The New York Times)
26 May 23
The justices ruled that many wetlands are not covered by the Clean Water Act.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for five justices, held that the law covers only wetlands “with a continuous surface connection” to those waters.
The decision was a second major blow to the E.P.A.’s authority and to the power of administrative agencies generally. Last year, the court limited the E.P.A.’s power to address climate change under the Clean Air Act.
