Redefining EPA Authority—San Francisco v. EPA

Redefining EPA Authority—San Francisco v. EPA

From Environmental Law Explored: A Podcast SEERies by ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources

May 5, 2025 · 37 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the Supreme Court's decision in San Francisco v. EPA and its implications for environmental regulation.

Join Tim Kelly (Hausfeld) and Misha Tseytlin (Troutman Pepper Locke) as they unpack the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA . The ruling struck down the EPA's use of "end-result" requirements in NPDES permits, ruling that the Clean Water Act (CWA) does not authorize the agency to impose permit conditions that hold dischargers responsible for overall water quality in receiving waters. The decision has significant implications for municipal wastewater treatment, regulatory enforcement, and the scope of the EPA's authority under the CWA. In this episode, they explore: The legal reasoning behind the Court's decision, including highlights from the majority and dissenting opinions The implications for municipal wastewater treatment plants, particularly those operating combined sewer systems How the decision impacts the EPA's regulatory powers and enforcement strategies What this means for the future of Clean Water Act litigation and the evolving role of state environmental agencies Whether you're a legal practitioner, environmental policy expert, or simply interested in water law, this episode offers valuable insight into a pivotal case…

People in this episode

Guests: Tim Kelly, Misha Tseytlin

Topics covered

  • EPA authority
  • Clean Water Act
  • Supreme Court decision
  • municipal wastewater treatment
  • regulatory enforcement
  • environmental law

Keywords

  • EPA
  • Clean Water Act
  • Supreme Court
  • wastewater treatment
  • regulatory powers
  • environmental agencies
  • NPDES permits

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EPA, City and County of San Francisco, Clean Water Act, Troutman Pepper Locke, Hausfeld

More episodes of Environmental Law Explored: A Podcast SEERies

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Environmental Law Explored: A Podcast SEERies podcast page.