Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency Oral Argument

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, a case on the Clean Water Act and what is considered a federal wetland. The Sackett family has land near Priest Lake in Idaho, and the lake is federally protected. In 2007, the Sacketts obtained permits to build their home, and they added fill to the land. The EPA ordered them to stop construction because the Sacketts did not seek an EPA permit to remove land and add fill to what the EPA argues is property on a wetland “adjacent to” Priest Lake. The Sacketts complied and stopped construction, but filed suit. This dispute dates back more than 10 years, with this being the second time the Sackett’s case is before the Supreme Court. They argued that their property and any water under it has no continuous connection to Priest Lake and any water flowing from it. This was Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s first oral argument. close