Allison Rumsey Discusses SCOTUS' Wastewater Permit Ruling in Law360

Allison Rumsey, co-chair of the firm's Environmental Practice Group, was quoted in the Law360 article, "3 Takeaways From The High Court's SF Water Permit Ruling." The piece discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a wastewater permit challenge brought by San Francisco.

Rumsey noted that the ruling suggests a majority of justices will require federal agencies to be highly specific in permit requirements to avoid misunderstandings and violations when there's a question of how much authority a law gives a federal agency to control pollution. "The regulated community has to understand clearly how they're being regulated and what they need to do to be in compliance," she explained.

According to Rumsey, the decision "is going to be narrower enforcement actions by EPA, and it's going to be easier for the regulated community to understand what it is they have to do." However, she added, "What you really need is Congress to go back and have a look at how to make the Clean Water Act better."

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