A Deep Dive into the County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund Supreme Court Decision

NCBA Environmental Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart discusses the EPA announcement to rescind Trump administration guidance interpreting the County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund Supreme Court decision. In this case, the Supreme Court found that the Clean Water Act may be applied to “indirect” discharges from point sources to Waters of the United States, including discharges through groundwater, if they are “functionally equivalent” to direct discharges. While Trump’s guidance created flexibility for most agricultural operations, Hart discusses why EPA’s announcement is concerning for the cattle industry and explains how NCBA will continue to advocate for the needs of farmers and ranchers moving forward.