Court Rules Against Environmentlists
June 25, 2007
A split U.S. Supreme Court sided with a homebuilder group Monday in a disagreement with environmentalists.
The National Association of Homebuilders and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appealed a lower court decision that had sided with the Defenders of Wildlife and other environmental groups. At issue was the how water permits should be handled when endangered species may be at risk.
Writing for the 5-4 majority, Justice Samuel Alito said state water pollution permits take precedence over federal endangered species laws.