Ecolex Logo
Le portail au
droit de l'environnement
Résultats de la recherche » Jurisprudence

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

Pays/Territoire
États-Unis d'Amérique
Type de cour
Nationale - cour supérieure
Date
Mai 15, 2006
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Nom du tribunal
Supreme Court of the United States
Siège de la cour
Washington D.C.
Juge
Roberts, J.
Stevens, J.
Scalia, A.
Kennedy, A.
Souter, D.
Thomas, C.
Ginsburg, R.
Breyer, S.
Alito, S.
Numéro de référence
No. 04-1527
Langue
Anglais
Sujet
Eau
Mot clé
Production d'énergie hydroélectrique Barrage Normes de qualité de l'eau
Résumé
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.
Texte intégral
04-1527.ZO.html