Supreme Court Rules EPA Wastewater Regulations Too Vague

The justices sided with San Francisco, finding 5–4 that the EPA violated the Clean Water Act.

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito in Washington on Oct. 7, 2022. Alex Wong/Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5–4 on March 4 that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) wastewater discharge permitting system violates federal law.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA. The opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch.