City and County of San Francisco v. EPA
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in City and County of San Francisco 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 City and County of San Francisco v. EPA.
The Supreme Court reviewed a case involving the City and County of San Francisco's challenge to the EPA's authority under the Clean Water Act. The Court examined whether the EPA could impose 'end-result' requirements in NPDES permits, which hold permittees accountable for water quality outcomes. The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit's decision, finding that such requirements exceed the EPA's statutory authority.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA.
The Court held that Section 1311(b)(1)(C) does not authorize the EPA to include 'end-result' provisions in NPDES permits.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Administrative Law is relevant to City and County of San Francisco v. EPA
The case addresses the constitutional limits on the EPA's authority to impose 'end-result' requirements in permits, which involves the scope of agency power.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Held: Section 1311(b)(1)(C) does not authorize the EPA to include 'end-result' provisions in NPDES permits.
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Why Nondelegation is relevant to City and County of San Francisco v. EPA
The decision involves interpreting the statutory limits of EPA's authority, which relates to the nondelegation doctrine concerning Congress's delegation of power to agencies.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Determining what steps a permittee must take to ensure that water quality standards are met is the EPA's responsibility, and Congress has given it the tools needed to make that determination.
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Why State–Federal Power is relevant to City and County of San Francisco v. EPA
The case implicates the balance of power between federal regulatory authority and state compliance with water quality standards.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Government's interpretation would undo what Congress plainly sought to achieve when it scrapped the WPCA's backward-looking approach.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA that support the summary and concepts above.
Section 1311(b)(1)(C) does not authorize the EPA to include 'end-result' provisions in NPDES permits.
Determining what steps a permittee must take to ensure that water quality standards are met is the EPA's responsibility.
The Government's interpretation would undo what Congress plainly sought to achieve when it scrapped the WPCA's backward-looking approach.
