The U.S. Supreme Court has placed new restrictions on the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction over wetlands in favor of Idaho landowners.
Key ruling details: The court was unanimous in finding that the Idaho family’s land was not subject to the Clean Water Act, but split 5-4 on the new test determining which wetlands are covered.
* The new test holds that only wetlands with a continuous surface connection to a body of water are subject to the Clean Water Act.
Potential repercussions: Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that the new test will leave some previously regulated wetlands unprotected, with significant consequences for water quality and flood control in the United States.
Additional ruling: In a second opinion, the court unanimously ruled in favor of a Minnesota resident whose home was seized by Hennepin County for failure to pay taxes, finding that her Fifth Amendment rights were violated due to lack of proper compensation.
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