Oklahoma v. EPA
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma v. EPA.
The Supreme Court reviewed whether the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) disapprovals of state implementation plans (SIPs) for Oklahoma and Utah under the Clean Air Act were locally or regionally applicable actions. The Court determined that these disapprovals are indeed locally or regionally applicable and should be reviewed in a regional Circuit. This decision reversed the Tenth Circuit's ruling, which had deemed the EPA's actions nationally applicable.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Oklahoma v. EPA.
The Court held that EPA's disapprovals of the Oklahoma and Utah SIPs are locally or regionally applicable actions reviewable in a regional Circuit.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Oklahoma v. EPA. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Administrative Law is relevant to Oklahoma v. EPA
The case primarily involves the interpretation of the Clean Air Act and the limits of EPA's authority in determining the venue for judicial review, which falls under administrative law.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Held: EPA's disapprovals of the Oklahoma and Utah SIPs are locally or regionally applicable actions reviewable in a regional Circuit.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to Oklahoma v. EPA
The case involves determining the appropriate venue for judicial review of EPA actions, which is a matter of judicial review.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)EPA asserted in the rule that its disapprovals would be reviewable only in the D. C. Circuit as either nationally applicable actions or, alternatively, as locally or regionally applicable actions falling within the 'nationwide scope or effect' exception.
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Why State–Federal Power is relevant to Oklahoma v. EPA
The case involves the allocation of authority between state and federal governments regarding state implementation plans under the Clean Air Act.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Each State submitted a state implementation plan (SIP) detailing how it would comply with the CAA's 'Good Neighbor' provision.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Oklahoma v. EPA that support the summary and concepts above.
EPA's disapprovals of the Oklahoma and Utah SIPs are locally or regionally applicable actions reviewable in a regional Circuit.
Section 7607(b)(1) makes the CAA's framing of the relevant 'action' controlling, regardless of how EPA chooses to package its decisions in the Federal Register.
EPA's omnibus rule makes clear that its SIP disapprovals were based on 'a number of intensely factual determinations' particular to each State.
