October Term 2022 · Docket 21-454
Does the Clean Water Act cover wetlands near navigable waters?
The Sacketts seek to build on land near a wetland. The EPA says the law protects that wetland.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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 significant nexus test is overly broad.
Mr. Fletcher stated that all parties agree some wetlands are protected.
Justice Kagan noted dictionaries define adjacency as proximity, not touching.
Justice Thomas questioned if purely intrastate waters count as navigable.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 121, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 121, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Sacketts want to build a house. The EPA says the Clean Water Act protects the nearby wetland. The Court must define the term adjacent wetlands.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 121, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 121, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-35
What each side wants
The Sacketts want to build their house without federal restrictions.
The EPA wants to enforce the Clean Water Act on the wetland.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 121, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 121, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-37
What each side says
The Sacketts argue the significant nexus test is too broad.
The EPA argues the statute explicitly includes adjacent wetlands.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 121, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 121, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-37
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked why the statutory requirement is not met here.
Justice Kagan asked if adjacent wetlands must physically touch the water.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-45
Why it matters
This case defines federal power over wetlands. It determines who controls land near water. It affects property rights nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 121, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 121, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-37
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 13-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-45
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 121, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 121, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 121, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 121, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.