{"argument_date":"2012-12-04T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-12-04T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","paragraphs":["The county argued the water flow is natural and not a pollutant discharge.","The council argued the sewer system creates a discharge that requires a permit.","questions_asked_by_justices"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 39-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 39-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"}]}],"caption":"Los Angeles County Flood Control Dist. v. Natural Resources Council, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.920123Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.957133Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Los Angeles County seeks to avoid a permit for stormwater flowing from its sewer system into the ocean. The Natural Resources Defense Council argues the flow requires a permit.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 39-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 39-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-12-04T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/11-460.html","primary_docket":"11-460","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:32:07.885823Z","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 case tests whether stormwater leaving a municipal sewer system counts as a pollutant discharge. The county argues the flow is natural and needs no permit. The council argues the flow is a discharge requiring a permit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 39-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 39-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 2012."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 45-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The county wants the Court to reject the permit requirement for its stormwater flow.","The council wants the Court to uphold the permit requirement for the stormwater flow."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 39-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 39-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The county argues the water flow is natural and not a pollutant discharge.","The council argues the sewer system creates a discharge that requires a permit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 39-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 39-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if the sewer system remains active.","Chief Justice Roberts asked why monitoring stations sit where they do."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when cities must permit stormwater entering waterways. It shapes how municipalities manage urban runoff and water quality."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 39-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 39-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-11"}]},{"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 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 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21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-460-los-angeles-county-flood-control-dist-v-natural-resources-council-inc","term":"2012","title":"Does stormwater from a city sewer system count as a pollutant discharge?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 39-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 39-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-460.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}