Clean Water Act

Our lawyers provide formal and informal agency advocacy related to major EPA regulations and policies. Examples include impaired waters/Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) regulations, general permit requirements for industrial storm water discharges, and NPDES regulations regarding concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and pesticide application. We have also advocated favorable EPA and Army Corps of Engineers policies, as well as provided U.S. Supreme Court amicus briefings on the scope of CWA jurisdiction over "navigable waters" and the exemption from dredge and fill permitting for farming, silviculture, and ranching activities.

We litigate against and in defense of EPA regulations such as the Phase II storm water regulations, NPDES rules regarding CAFOs and pesticide application, and general permitting for construction-related storm water discharges. We also defend against administrative and judicial enforcement actions and citizen suits alleging unpermitted discharges or permit violations. Successful outcomes include defending a major municipal wastewater treatment facility operator in a CWA criminal enforcement action, resulting in a deferred prosecution agreement that preserved the company’s government contracting ability. While representing the National Association of Home Builders in litigation brought by environmentalists challenging EPA's general permit for storm water discharges, we successfully moved for dismissal of those claims.