City and County of San Francisco v. EPA
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of City and County of San Francisco v. EPA.
The Supreme Court reviewed a challenge by the City and County of San Francisco against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding 'end-result' requirements in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA). These requirements hold permittees responsible for the quality of water into which they discharge pollutants. The Court examined whether such provisions exceed the EPA's statutory authority, ultimately reversing the Ninth Circuit's decision.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA.
The Court held that Section 1311(b)(1)(C) of the Clean Water Act does not authorize the EPA to include 'end-result' provisions in NPDES permits.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Federalism is relevant to City and County of San Francisco v. EPA
The case involves the division of regulatory authority between federal and state governments under the Clean Water Act.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U. S. C. § 1251 et seq., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and authorized state agencies issue permits...
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA that support the summary and concepts above.
Section 1311(b)(1)(C) does not authorize the EPA to include 'end-result' provisions in NPDES permits.
The terms 'limitation,' 'implement,' and 'meet' in § 1311(b)(1)(C) suggest the EPA must set specific rules permittees must follow to achieve water quality goals.
The CWA imposes 'direct restrictions' on polluters rather than working backward from pollution to assign responsibility.