The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of San Francisco, allowing the city to maintain its sewage discharge practices. Justice Alito stated that the EPA's imposition of vague water quality standards under the Clean Water Act imposed unwarranted uncertainty and potential penalties for the city, which had complied with existing regulations. The ruling raises questions about environmental protections in California, as state officials argued that reduced federal oversight might jeopardize coastal water quality and public health.
When a permit contains such requirements, a permittee that punctiliously follows every specific requirement in its permit may nevertheless face crushing penalties if the quality of the water in its receiving waters falls below the applicable standards,
Determining what steps a permittee must take to ensure that water quality standards are met is the EPA's responsibility.
The case would "affect the State's ability to protect the San Francisco Bay, the coastal waters, and public health in California."
Limiting federal oversight could weaken protections for coastal waters.
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