Supreme Court Finds EPA Not Above the Law

Western Caucus Chairmen Congratulate the Sacketts on Their Historic Supreme Court Victory

Washington, DC, March 21, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Senate Western Caucus Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statements in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling today in the case Sackett v. EPA:

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Senate Western Caucus Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statements in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling today in the case Sackett v. EPA:

“I would like to congratulate Mike and Chantell on their historic victory today.  I would also like to thank to them for their courage and resolve in seeing this case through until the end.  Unfortunately, it is not always easy for ordinary citizens to fight back when the federal government overreaches its authority.  However, today, the Sacketts and the Supreme Court once again reaffirmed that the EPA is not above the law,” said Pearce.

“Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what the Sacketts, Congress and Westerners have stated all along – there are limits to the EPA’s authority.  This decision delivers a devastating blow to the Obama Administration’s ‘War on Western Jobs.’  This victory by one western couple against a massive Washington bureaucracy will inspire others to challenge this Administration’s regulatory overreach,” said Barrasso.

Mike and Chantell are small business owners from Priest Lake, ID.  They wanted to build a family home near Priest Lake.  After following all the proper local permitting requirements, they received their building permit in 2007 and began work on their home.  Soon thereafter, the EPA ordered the Sacketts to stop their work, restore the land, and apply for a federal wetlands permit if they wished build there, or face thousands of dollars in fines.  Even though there is no standing water on their property, the Sacketts were provided no recourse to appeal this order.  The Sacketts ultimately filed suit against the EPA for denying them due process; the case was argued before the Supreme Court in January 2012 and decided unanimously in their favor today.

Mike and Chantell Sackett testified before the Joint Congressional and Senate Western Caucus hearing in Washington DC on February 28, 2012.  See testimony below:

Sackett Case (03/21/12 12:30 PM PST)

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