{"argument_date":"2009-01-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-01-12T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Waldo argued Congress enacted an unqualified prohibition against operating new sources in violation of performance standards.","General Garre stated the expert agencies concluded mine tailings should be permitted by the Army Corps.","Mr. Olson emphasized Congress created two distinct, mutually exclusive permitting regimes for fill material and pollutants."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"}]}],"caption":"Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.616120Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Coeur Alaska seeks to bypass EPA effluent limits by classifying mine tailings as fill material under Army Corps jurisdiction.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-51"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-01-12T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/07-984.html","primary_docket":"07-984","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:46:25.623863Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The dispute centers on whether mine tailings constitute fill material or pollutants. Coeur Alaska argues the Army Corps regulates this discharge. Conservation groups argue the EPA must enforce strict effluent limits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-51"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Coeur Alaska wants the Army Corps to regulate the discharge as fill material.","Conservation groups want the EPA to enforce strict effluent limits on the discharge."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-51"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Coeur Alaska argues Congress created distinct permitting regimes for fill material and pollutants.","Conservation groups argue the discharge destroys the natural life of the water body."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-51"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if the natural life of the water body is destroyed during discharge.","Justice Kennedy asked if a single pipe discharge can be both fill and pollutant."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines which federal agency regulates mine tailings discharged into wetlands. The outcome defines the scope of EPA effluent limits versus Army Corps fill material rules. It sets the standard for environmental protection of natural water bodies during mining operations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-51"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-984-coeur-alaska-inc-v-southeast-alaska-conservation-council","term":"2008","title":"Does the Clean Water Act require EPA permits for mine tailings discharged into wetlands?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-984.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-51"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}