States Won’t Adequately Protect Wetlands After Ruling, Groups Say

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA threatens businesses, drinking water, and stream water quality throughout the US, law professors and business leaders told House Democrats Wednesday.

The May ruling, which lifts Clean Water Act protections of many wetlands across the US, leaves it to the states to protect many wetlands previously protected as waters of the US, or WOTUS, said James McElfish, a professor emeritus at the Environmental Law Institute.

McElfish spoke at a roundtable on the effects of the Sackett ruling held by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Democrats.

The ruling in Sackett v. EPA effectively eliminates ...