Ecolex Logo
El portal del
derecho ambiental
Resultados de la búsqueda » Jurisprudencia

S. D. Warren Co. v. Maine Board of Environmental Protection et al.

País/Territorio
Estados Unidos de América
Tipo de la corte
Nacional - corte superior
Fecha
May 15, 2006
Fuente
UNEP, InforMEA
Nombre del tribunal
Supreme Court of the United States
Sede de la corte
Washington D.C.
Juez
Roberts, J.
Stevens, J.
Scalia, A.
Kennedy, A.
Souter, D.
Thomas, C.
Ginsburg, R.
Breyer, S.
Alito, S.
Número de referencia
No. 04-1527
Idioma
Inglés
Materia
Agua
Palabra clave
Normas sobre calidad del agua Producción de energía hidroeléctrica Presa
Resumen
This case dealt with the definition of the term “discharge” according to the Clean Water Act. Petitioner Warren Co. asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to renew federal licenses for five of the hydroelectric dams it operated on a Maine river to generate power for its paper mill. Each dam impounded water, which was then run through turbines and returned to the riverbed, passing around a section of the river. The Clean Water Act requires state approval of “any activity” “which may result in any discharge into the Nation’s navigable waters.” FERC licensed the dams only subject to compliance with those certifications, which required Warren to maintain a minimum stream flow and to allow passage for certain fish and eels. Under protest, Warren applied for water quality certifications from respondent Maine Board of Environmental Protection pursuant to §401 of the Clean Water Act. Warren filed suit claiming that its dams did not result in a “discharge” under §401. The Supreme Court analyzed the term “discharge” and concluded that when applied to water, discharge commonly meant “flowing or issuing out”. The Environmental Protection Agency and FERC had regularly read “discharge” to cover releases from hydroelectric dams. Consequently, it held that because a dam raised a potential for a discharge, §401 was triggered and state certification was required.
Texto completo
04-1527.ZO.html