Ruling: Clean Water Rule Cases To Be Heard In District Courts

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that district courts across the country should be the first to hear the cases regarding the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The ruling also calls into question the validity of the Sixth Circuit’s nationwide stay of the Clean Water Rule, potentially opening the door to implementation of the 2015 Clean Water Rule pending litigation in the district courts.

“Clean, healthy rivers and streams are vital for wildlife—and for our nation’s quality of life,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Although today’s decision may draw out the timeline for judicial review of this important rule, we are confident the courts will ultimately uphold the basic substance of the rule, as it is based on sound science and clear legal precedent.

“We urge the Trump administration to protect clean water and create certainty for stakeholders by swiftly moving to defend and implement the smart, targeted protections of the rule. The Clean Water Rule is still the law of the land and is still the best way to protect our nation’s waters, while respecting private property rights. We will continue to fight to defend clean water in the courts, the agencies, and in Congress."

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