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Sierra Club Lawsuits

Dirty Nationwide Dredge-and-Fill Permits Rejected

Case Updates:

January 1, 2004

In late November, 2003, a federal court rejected industry attempts to weaken nationwide dredge-and-fill permits for development projects, mining and other environmentally-damaging activities. Under the Clean Water Act, the discharge of dredged or fill material into U.S. waters requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. In 2000 and again in 2002, the Corps revised and reissued numerous “nationwide permits” that allow categories of activities to go forward without individual review and approval. Industry sued to weaken these permits, seeking to gain broader blanket authorization to harm wetlands and streams. The Club intervened and helped turn back the suit. “The court decision is a major victory for America's wetlands and streams, but we still have a long way to go to halt the rubber-stamping of activities that destroy these resources," said Robin Mann with Sierra Club. "We must ensure that these critical resources are afforded the protections intended under the Clean Water Act."

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