Court Holds Citizens Cannot Sue for Violations of Section 404 Permits under Clean Water Act

| June 18, 2012

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the Clean Water Act does not allow citizen suits to enforce the conditions of a § 404 Permit.  See Atchafalaya Basinkeeper v. Chustz, No. 11-30471 (5th Cir. Apr. 25, 2012).

Supreme Court Holds That Pre-Enforcement Judicial Review of EPA Administrative Orders Is Allowed

| March 26, 2012

The Supreme Court of the United States has just unanimously ruled that administrative orders issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) under section 319 of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) are “final agency actions” subject to judicial review under the Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”). Sackett v. United States EPA, 566 U.S. ____ (2012).

Court Must Hear Citizen Suit Case to Force River Clean Up under Administrative Consent Order

| November 30, 2011

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently held that the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey could not abstain from hearing a citizen suit case brought under both the federal Clean Water Act and the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and which sought an injunction requiring the defendant [...]