August 2023 | Volume 15, Issue 1

Read the United States Environment Protection Agency’s formal response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA.

Today, in response to the Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan issued the following statement:

“As a public health agency, EPA is committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of race, the money in their pocket, or community they live in, have access to clean, safe water. We will never waiver from that responsibility.

I am disappointed by today’s Supreme Court decision that erodes longstanding clean water protections. The Biden-Harris Administration has worked to establish a durable definition of ‘waters of the United States’ that safeguards our nation’s waters, strengthens economic opportunity, and protects people’s health while providing the clarity and certainty that farmers, ranchers, and landowners deserve. These goals will continue to guide the agency forward as we carefully review the Supreme Court decision and consider next steps.

In 1972, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress passed the Clean Water Act, giving EPA and Army Corps implementation responsibilities. In doing so, our nation’s leaders recognized that protecting our nation’s waters is vital to ensuring a thriving economy and agricultural sector, to sustaining diverse ecosystems, and to protecting the water our children drink.

Over the past 50 years, we have made transformational progress—rivers that were once on fire have been restored and now sustain vibrant communities in every corner of the country. A common sense and science-based definition of ‘waters of the United States’ is essential to building on that progress and fulfilling our responsibility to preserve our nation’s waters—now and for future generations.”