San Francisco, Supreme Court and EPA

Supreme Court sides with San Francisco, makes it harder for EPA to police sewage discharges
The Supreme Court's decision is the latest in which conservative justices have reined in pollution control efforts.
San Francisco v. EPA: Supreme Court Strikes Down EPA’s “End-Result” Permit Requirements
On March 4, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency, narrowing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to impose outcome-based permit conditions—termed “end-result” requirements by the Court—on entities discharging pollutants into U.
Supreme Court sides with San Francisco against EPA in landmark ruling
But over the past 50 years, some places have occasionally run afoul of the act. In San Francisco, the wastewater system discharges a mix of sewage and stormwater into the bay during major storms, often causing bacteria levels to exceed EPA regulatory standards .
Supreme Court strikes down EPA rules on discharge of water pollution
The justices ruled that the agency cannot impose generic prohibitions against violating water quality standards.
Supreme Court lets San Francisco discharge more raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean
The conservative Supreme Court aligned with liberal San Francisco on Tuesday, ruling that federal environmental regulators overstepped their authority by attempting to impose vague limits on how much raw sewage the California city may pump into the Pacific Ocean.
What a recent Supreme Court ruling could mean for the future of the Clean Water Act
In a narrow 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled to limit the EPA's authority to issue broad water pollution permits under the Clean Water Act.
San Francisco v. EPA: Impact on Clean Water Act Permittees
On Tuesday, March 4, the United States Supreme Court issued a major decision limiting the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency’s
Supreme Court rules for San Francisco, limits EPA’s power on stormwater discharges
The Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled for San Francisco in limiting the power of environmental regulators to prevent ocean discharges of polluted stormwater.
Opinion
Supreme Court saves San Francisco from the EPA
Conservatives on the Supreme Court have again rescued the nation from out-of-control bureaucrats inflicting prohibitive costs for negligible environmental benefit.
In San Francisco v. EPA, Supreme Court Continues Its "Righting" of the Clean Water Act
With its opinion in San Francisco v. EPA, the U.S. Supreme Court has again acted to "right" the implementation of the federal Clean Water Act
Supreme Court limits EPA authority in San Francisco sewage dispute
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the EPA overstepped by imposing vague sewage limits on San Francisco, curbing agency power ...
Supreme Court sides with San Francisco in raw sewage case, limits EPA ability to enforce Clean Water Act
In a case that centered on unusual alliances and unpleasant descriptions of raw sewage being released into San Francisco Bay ...
JD Supra3d
Supreme Court Decides City and County of San Francisco, California v. Environmental Protection Agency
On March 3, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court decided City and County of San Francisco, California v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 23-753, ...