Last month the U.S. Supreme Court restricted federal jurisdiction over filling and altering wetlands. See Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 21-454 (U.S. May 25, 2023). The president promptly

Continue Reading Wetlands Regulation in Pennsylvania After ‘Sackett’ Ruling

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decided a case this week clarifying the limitation on a municipality’s ability to regulate wetlands and waterway construction more stringently than would the Department
Continue Reading Local Preemption and Wetlands in Massachusetts: An Update

On August 31, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the highest court in the Commonwealth) decided that the local conservation commission (and presumably the state) can sue a new owner of
Continue Reading Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Allows Enforcement to Require Removal of Unauthorized Wetlands Fill for Three Years After Each New Property Transfer

On May 31, 2016, in a unanimous ruling, the United States Supreme Court held that the Army Corps’ determination as to whether “protected waters,” subject to Clean Water Act regulations,
Continue Reading Supreme Court Allows Immediate Challenges to Army Corps’ Clean Water Act Determinations

The U.S. EPA and the U.S. Corps of Engineers have extended the comment period on the proposed joint guidance issued on May 2, 2011. The proposed guidance describes how the agencies will identify waters subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, expanding the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction under existing guidance.

Continue Reading EPA and Corps of Engineers Extend Comment Period for Revised Guidance on Identifying Waters Subject to the Clean Water Act