Document: 384 U.S. 224 86 S.Ct. 1427 16 L.Ed.2d 492 UNITED STATES, Appellant,v.STANDARD OIL COMPANY. No. 291. Argued Jan. 25, 1966. Decided May 23, Nathan Lewin, Washington, D.C., for appellant. Earl B. Hadlow, Jacksonville, appellee. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The question presented decision is whether statutory ban on depositing 'any refuse matter any kind or description'1 in a navigable water covers discharge commercially valuable aviation gasoline. 2 Section 13 Rivers and Harbors Act provides: 3 'It shall not be lawful to throw, discharge, deposit * description whatever other than that flowing from streets sewers passing therefrom liquid state into United States *.' 33 U.S.C. § 407 (1964 ed.). 4 indictment charged appellee, Standard Oil (Kentucky), with violating by allowing discharged St. Johns River 'refuse matter' consisting 100-octane Appellee moved dismiss indictment, and, purposes motion, parties entered stipulation fact. It states gasoline was it only because shut-off valve at dockside had been 'accidentally' left open. 5 District Court dismissed view phrase does include oil. appealed directly this under Criminal Appeals (18 3731 ed.)). We noted probable jurisdiction. 382 807, 68, 15 57. 6 This case comes us time Nation's history when there greater concern ever over pollution—one main threats our free-flowing rivers lakes as well. crisis we face respect would not, course, warrant manufacturing offenses where Congress has acted nor stretching language criminal field meet strange conditions. But may said rule strict construction, cannot provide substitute common sense, precedent, legislative history. construe vacuum. Nor can read Baron Parke2 pleading. 7 words are description.' v. Republic Steel Corp., 362 482, 491, 80 884, 889, 903, provision related legislation dealing 'forbids narrow, cramped reading' 13. recognized if were waste oil within meaning but concluded statute 'valuable' oil.3 That 'a partial defeat its purpose. 8 useable industrial standards same deleterious effect waterways. In either case, presence harbors both menace navigation pollutant. seems administrative construction 13, Solicitor General advising basis prosecution approximately one-third pollution cases reported Department Office Chief Engineers. codified pre-existing statutes: 9 An 1886 (24 Stat. 329) made unlawful empty ballast, stone, slate, gravel, earth, slack, rubbish, wreck, filth, slabs, edgings, sawdust, slag, cinders, mill-waste kind, New York Harbor'—which plainly includes pre-discharge material. 10 1888 (25 209) 'to prevent obstructive injurious deposits' Horbor adjacent waters banned 'refuse, dirt, ashes, mud, sand, dredgings, sludge, acid, streets, sewers, state'—which also (Emphasis added.) 11 1890 (26 453) emptying refuse, which tend impede obstruct nevigation.' Here materials included. 12 1894 (28 363) prohibited deposits appropriated money improvements, 'ballast, state.' included predischarge Acts 1888, then, dealt specifically Harbor; scope latter considerably broader, covering did kind.' paralleled earlier enactments pertaining York, applying their terms waterways throughout Nation. 14 1899 now before no more an attempt consolidate these prior one. indeed stated sponsor Senate 'in accord statutes existence, scattered beginning down through end' (32 Cong.Rec. 2296), reflecting merely '(v)ery slight changes remove ambiguities.' Id., p. 2297. From examination statutes, several points clear. First, antecedent, applicable Harbor,4 drew distinction between valueless substances. Second, enumerated substances, some well have commercial value covered To specific, ashes acids they remaining value. Third, applied substances Since those value, ejusdem generis require limiting category lacking Fourth, coverage diminished codification 1899. use term 'refuse' serves place lengthy list found catch-all 1890. demonstrates without contradiction intended codify substantive change Acts. philosophy antecedent laws clearly embodied present law. plain 'serious injury' watercourses (S.Rep.No. 224, 50th Cong., 1st Sess., 2) sought remedied caused part obstacles impeded pollution—'the sawmill streams' (ibid.) injury channels 'deposits steamboat oysters, rubbish vessels.' Ibid. obviously exhaustive pollutants. broad inclusive: whatever.' Only one exception stated: 'other state, States.' More comprehensive difficult select. word stand alone; 'of whatever,' apart noted. And, reasons already stated, must give reflect codification's antecedents. 17 Second Circuit Ballard Co., 195 F.2d 369 (L. Hand, Augustus Harrie Chase, JJ.) held causing good spill watercourse violated setting, court, 'is satisfied anything become waste, however useful been.'5 371. There nothing deserving label spilled river. 18 sense matter. all foreign pollutants 'flowing state' watercourse. 19 reading keeping teaching Holmes 'river amenity, treasure.' State Jersey 283 336, 342, 51 478, 479, 75 L.Ed. 1104. reads charitably supra, admonished. 20 pass quality pollutant, quantity proof necessary support conviction what scienter requirement imposes, questions restricted appeal.6 21 Reversed. 22 HARLAN, whom BLACK STEWART join, dissenting. 23 Had majority judging content confine itself relevant rules law leave policies affecting proper conservation Congress, I think today's eventuated differently. best Government's reach s 1899, 30 1152, ed.), laid, uncertain. calls play traditional penal strictly construed. my application requires dismissal indictment. I. 24 forbids kinds As notes, statutes. revamping discussed length floor House Congress; informed provisions existing law, substance. 32 2296—2297 (1899). fact based two very similar appropriation act provided first national anti-obstruction provision, 26 453: 25 'Sec. 6. cast, empty, unlade, cause, suffer, procure thrown, emptied, unladen, out ship, vessel, lighter, barge, boat, craft, shore, pier, wharf, furnace, establishments, mills whatever, port, road, roadstead, harbor, haven, river, A later statute, 1894, 28 363, somewhat similarly: 27 'That place, deposit, process manner, harbor river States, improvement relies primarily Act, contending applicability kind' surely encompass even though valuable. Further, notes (ante, 228) modeled after federal Harbor, 209. Under Harbor still remains books, 441 et seq. prosecutions accidental sustained. Colombo, Cir., 42 211. background thought reinforce type fall statute's purview. enactment codification, concludes broader predecessor should govern. 29 Whatever might about how properly interpret especially, books last 67 years, guide determination case. extent differences Acts, necessarily resolved which, while embodying essential thrust appears favored restrictive Act. Moreover, questionable Court's speculation nature, explicit unambiguous. purpose essentially eliminate obstructions interference public works projects. enactment, like preexisting codify, minor section attached major together measures sunken wrecks,1 trespassing sites,2 improperly constructed bridges, piers, structures.3 These rendered rivers, appropriating funds improve, being obstructed factories ships.4 course true, observes, 'oil oil,' ante, 226, spillage substantially 'deleterious waterways' wholesale inquiry admittedly important concerns control, Congress' enacting quite desire halt imposition penalties obstructing harbors. 31 eschews everyday matter'—waste, trash, debris, garbage, see Webster's International Dictionary, 3d ed.—and adopts instead approach altogether, gives tortured meaning. declares, point, 'The watercourse.' Ante, 230. Thus, dropping pure appear misdemeanor. At time, endorse Circuit's narrower refers material, valuable, becomes unsalvageable introduced water. pp. 229-230. On approach, depend each instance prospective estimate salvage costs. Such strained definitions clear ordinary English hardly commend themselves, least raise serious doubts II. Given reckon canon will narrowly See II Hale, Historia Placitorum Coronae 335 (1736); Wiltberger, Wheat. 76 95, 37. underlying maxim various. likely originally adopted order spare people effects exceedingly harsh penalties. Hall, Strict Liberal Construction Penal Statutes, 48 Harv.L.Rev. 748, 750 (1935). Even rationale force defendant natural person,5 say particularly compelling maximum penalty subject fine $2,500. 411 ed.) contemporary notion notice is, activities. Again, however, justify narrow basis. spilling something do legally proscribed statute. dangers penalizing who innocently pouring waters, such conduct Florida misdemeanor poisonous substance liable affect health persons, fish, live stock *,' Fla.Stat. Ann., 387.08 (1960 F.S.A., evidently reaches dumping And Florida's nuisance likewise seem make actionable equity. See, e.g., Ferry Pass Inspectors' & Shippers' Assn. Whites Assn., 57 Fla. 399, So. 643, L.R.A., N.S., 345. Finally, earlier, 229, n. 5, decisions lower courts For justification persuasive instance. 34 further reason seemingly straight-forward straightforward way. McBoyle 340, 816, making crime move stolen 'motor vehicle' interstate commerce apply airplane. too precise clarity required due warning line permissible wrougful conduct, could stealing aircraft unlawful. Nevertheless, declared 'Although carefully consider text he murders steals, reasonable fair given world understand, intends certain passed.' U.S., 27, S.Ct., 341. policy thus expressed play: civilized expected government express reasonably understand. expression practical discretion prosecuting authorities, imposes minimal, any, requirement.6 35 area local traditionally regulated primary activity,7 restrict confines language. If Federal Government finds sufficient obstruction introduction nonrefuse easy enact appropriate regulatory legislation.8 directed specific types pollution, remedies devised ensure compliance. Indeed, enacted 1924 deal coastal vessels, 43 605, §§ 433, 434 36 conclude attempted oblivious importance preserving beauties utility country's rivers. simply take find it. affirm judgment man whose 'fault almost superstitious reverence dark technicalities special pleading.' XV Dictionary National Biography, 226 (Stephen Lee ed. 1937—1938). followed Delvalle, 45 F.Supp. 746, said: usable constitute violation statute.' pertained York. remain 441—451 unintentionally (The Albania, 727) negligently discharged. instant below 3, against stream authority. unreported 1922 (United Crouch), holding inapplicable polluting nonobstructing Pollution 1924, 604, 431 passed. S.Rep.No.66, 68th Sess.; H.R.Rep.No.794, Sess. vessels inland waters; explicitly provides repeal modify manner laws. 437 'Having placed court upon Sherman jurisdiction appeal exhausted. liberty objections arise trial merits charge. settled particular review here confined propriety construction.' Borden 308 188, 206—207, 60 182, 192, 84 181. 15, 409 14, 408 12, 1151, 406 presented, considering predecessors representations Army Engineers streams. fairways harbors, injured steam-boat S.Rep.No.224, (1888). H.R.Rep.No.1826, 55th 3—4 proposition 'pollution' independently 'obstruction.' minimum sentence individual convicted $500 days' imprisonment, insignificant accidentally agreement imposes. granted Petrillo, 332 1, 1538, 91 1877; 181, today intimates views question. Besides adverted Fla.Stat.Ann., city Jacksonville ordinances generally fire prevention, Ordinance Code 19—4.1 19—4.24 (1958 Supp.), disposal 21—12 supply, 27—52 (1953 Code). message President new anti-pollution legislation, Preservation Our Natural Heritage—Message H.Doc.No.387, 89th 2d Cong.Rec., Feb. 1966, 3519—3522.

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