Supreme Court Unanimously Rules Against WOTUS… What Does That Mean?

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the U.S. Act, known as WOTUS.

In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that land owned by an Idaho family was not subject to the Clean Water Act.

All nine justices agreed the EPA’s expansive regulatory efforts violate the Clean Water Act. As Justice Samuel Alito puts simply in his Majority Opinion, he says the EPA’s interpretation of its powers went “too far.”

Although the court limited the EPA’s authority, the justices were split 5-4 on the court's new “test”, which states that only wetlands with a continuous surface connection to a body of water are covered by the law.

During a press briefing in Washington D.C., EPA Administrator Michael Regan says protecting wetlands is essential for maintaining water quality.

“There’s no doubt that we are very disappointed, but we’re going to take a closer look at what the ruling actually means.”

There’s a lot more to cover on this subject, so stay tuned for my upcoming shows to hear more about what this means for the west.