National News

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Resolve Groundwater Fight. “The Trump administration is pushing the Supreme Court to review what could be the most consequential environmental case of the term: a broiling Clean Water Act debate. The Justice Department yesterday recommended the high court decide whether the landmark environmental law applies to pollution that travels through groundwater before reaching federally regulated water. Two recent circuit court decisions say yes, but critics think that approach vastly expands the statute. EPA is reviewing a standing position that favored the broader interpretation of the law. According to yesterday's DOJ brief, the agency is expected to take action ‘within the next several weeks.’ The closely watched legal dispute could redefine the scope of the Clean Water Act and affect permitting across the country.” [E&E News, 1/4/19 (=)]