As the Supreme Court prepares to hear City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency on October 16, the implications are serious. Joshua Thompson, Senior Attorney and Director of the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Equality & Opportunity practice group, shed light on the potential ramifications on the show.

The EPA’s pollution permit for San Francisco’s wastewater discharges into the Pacific Ocean contains vague “narrative” limitations. These rules prohibit discharges that “cause or contribute to a violation of any applicable water quality standard,” but they lack clear standards. This opens the door for the federal government to decide what constitutes “too much” pollution.

If the Supreme Court backs the EPA, local governments could face fines for ambiguous regulations that leave them vulnerable to interpretation. This sets a dangerous precedent for federal overreach and raises concerns about accountability in environmental policy.

The Clean Water Act should protect our water resources, but cities need clarity to safeguard their communities effectively. The demand for specific rules from the EPA isn’t just reasonable; it’s necessary for fair governance.

Tune in to hear Joshua Thompson discuss the potential consequences of allowing vague regulations to dictate local compliance here. 

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