October Term 2019 · Docket 18-260
Does groundwater count as a direct discharge under the Clean Water Act?
County of Maui argues groundwater breaks the link to pipes. Hawaii Wildlife Fund says the pipes still cause the pollution.
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
Maui's counsel argued the case is about how to regulate, not whether to regulate. He stated the discharges are already covered by other programs.
The Fund's counsel argued the Clean Water Act prohibits unpermitted additions. He stated the prohibition is not limited to direct flows.
Justice Ginsburg noted the well is the source of pollution. She suggested it should be the object of regulation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-28 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 52-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 54-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether the Clean Water Act covers pollutants that travel through groundwater before reaching the ocean. Maui says the law only covers direct discharges. The Fund says the law covers any point source that causes pollution to reach navigable waters.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 40-18
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 30-32
What each side wants
Maui wants the Court to hold that groundwater breaks the direct link between the pipe and the ocean. It seeks to avoid a federal point source permit for these discharges.
The Fund wants the Court to hold that the pipes cause the pollution. It seeks to require a federal point source permit for the discharges.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 40-18
What each side says
Maui argues the Clean Water Act requires a direct discharge. It claims groundwater acts as a separate conveyance. This breaks the legal link between the pipe and the ocean.
The Fund argues the Clean Water Act prohibits unpermitted additions from point sources. It claims the word directly is not in the statute. The pipes are the source of the pollution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 40-18
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if ending a pipe near the ocean avoids regulation. He noted the water would still drip into the ground and reach the ocean.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if groundwater intervention removes point source jurisdiction. He sought to clarify the test for means of conveyance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-28 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 52-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 54-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-50
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal water pollution controls. It determines whether states must regulate discharges that travel through groundwater. The outcome shapes environmental protection standards for coastal communities nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 40-18
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 10, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-28 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 52-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 54-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-50
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 23, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 12-36 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 12-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 54-28 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 54-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 40-18
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.