On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exceeded its authority under the Clean Water Act, complicating efforts to regulate water pollution. The case centered on San Francisco managing raw sewage discharges during heavy rainfall. Justice Alito's majority opinion stated that cities cannot be held responsible for the water quality of bodies like the Pacific Ocean into which discharges occur. This ruling aligns with a series of decisions by the conservative majority that have limited environmental protections, despite a dissenting view from one conservative justice who sided with the liberal justices.
The Supreme Court's decision impacts the ability of environmental regulators to impose strict water pollution control measures, emphasizing a stricter interpretation of the Clean Water Act.
Justice Alito stated that the EPA could not hold local governments accountable for maintaining water quality, marking a significant shift in pollution regulation.
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