October Term 2003 · Docket 02-626
Does moving water via pumps require a federal permit?
The Miccosukee Tribe argues the Clean Water Act mandates permits for water movement. The Water Management District claims simple water transfer needs no permit.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
The Tribe asserts the Clean Water Act requires permits for pollutant additions.
The District contends its pumps only move water between locations.
The United States supports the District's position on water control facilities.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Clean Water Act. It asks if moving water counts as adding pollutants. The outcome defines federal regulatory reach over water infrastructure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-1
What each side wants
The Tribe seeks a mandatory federal permit for water movement.
The District seeks a ruling that simple water transfer needs no permit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
What each side says
The Tribe argues moving water constitutes adding pollutants to navigable waters.
The District argues pumps merely relocate water without adding pollutants.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
What the justices asked
Does the Clean Water Act define water movement as a pollutant addition?
Do water control facilities require section 402 permits under federal law?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-1
Why it matters
This dispute defines federal authority over water management. It determines if states must obtain permits for basic water infrastructure. The result shapes environmental regulation standards nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-1
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 45-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 49-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 3-43
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.