October Term 2006 · Docket 05-1120
Can states force the EPA to regulate car emissions?
Massachusetts and other states ask the Court to compel the EPA to set limits on vehicle greenhouse gases. The EPA argues Congress did not grant it that power.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Justice Scalia questioned the link between car emissions and state injury.
Justice Kennedy asked if proving global warming is necessary for standing.
The EPA argued Congress did not authorize greenhouse gas regulation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether the EPA must regulate carbon dioxide from cars. The states claim this pollution harms them. The agency says its law does not cover this issue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 29, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Massachusetts wants the Court to order the EPA to set car emission limits.
The EPA wants the Court to dismiss the case for lack of standing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
What each side says
Massachusetts argues the EPA has the legal duty to regulate vehicle emissions.
The EPA argues Congress did not grant it authority to regulate greenhouse gases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if only new cars would be affected by new rules.
Justice Kennedy asked if the Court must decide global warming to find injury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-11
Why it matters
This dispute determines if the EPA controls vehicle pollution. It shapes federal environmental regulation power. It affects state climate protection efforts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
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 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-11
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 25, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
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.