October Term 2011 · Docket 10-1062
Can the EPA issue compliance orders before a final enforcement action?
The Sacketts argue EPA compliance orders are final agency actions. The EPA argues they are not.
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
Mr. Schiff argued the Sacketts' takings claim is not ripe.
He cited Riverside Bayview regarding permit applications.
Mr. Stewart argued compliance orders do not alter the legal regime.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Sacketts want the Court to declare EPA compliance orders final agency actions. They argue this allows immediate judicial review. The EPA wants the Court to declare these orders non-final. They argue this delays review until enforcement actions begin.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-13
What each side wants
The Sacketts want immediate judicial review of the EPA compliance order.
The EPA wants to delay judicial review until it files an enforcement action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-5
What each side says
The Sacketts argue the compliance order is a final agency action under the APA.
The EPA argues the compliance order is not a final agency action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-5
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked about the scope of the holding.
Justice Scalia compared compliance orders to routine inspections by fire marshals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Why it matters
This case determines when property owners can challenge EPA orders. It affects the timing of judicial review for environmental compliance. It shapes the balance between agency authority and property rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-5
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 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
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 49-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-5
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.