Document: 547 U.S. 370 (2006) S. D. WARREN CO. v. MAINE BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION et al. No. 04-1527. Supreme Court of United States. Argued February 21, 2006. Decided May 15, *371 William J. Kayatta, Jr., argued the cause for petitioner. With him on briefs was Matthew Manahan. G. Steven Rowe, Attorney General Maine, respondents. brief Maine Board Environmental Protection were Paul Stern, Deputy General, and Carol A. Blasi Gerald Reid, Assistant Attorneys General. Richard Lazarus, Daniel *372 H. Squire, Ethan Shenkman, Sean Mahoney, Ronald Shems filed a American Rivers as respondents under this Court's Rule 12.6. Jeffrey P. Minear States amicus curiae urging affirmance. Solicitor Clement, Wooldridge, Hungar, Greer Goldman, Ellen Durkee, John L. Smeltzer, Ann R. Klee.[*] *373 JUSTICE SOUTER delivered opinion Court.[] The issue in case is whether operating dam to produce hydroelectricity "may result any discharge into navigable waters" If so, federal license § 401 Clean Water Act requires state certification that water protection laws will not be violated. We hold does raise potential discharge, approval needed. I Presumpscot River runs through southern from Sebago Lake Casco Bay, course its 25 miles petitioner, Warren Company, operates several hydropower dams generate electricity paper mill. Each creates pond, which funnels "power canal," turbines, back riverbed, passing around section river just below impoundment. It undisputed since 1935, has needed operate dams, currently within authority Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Power Act. 16 C. §§ 817(1), 792; see also Public Utility 210, 49 Stat. 846. FERC grants these licenses periods up 50 years, 799, *374 after review looks environmental issues well rising demand power, 797(e). Over 30 years ago, Congress enacted specific provision licensing an activity could "discharge" waters; conditioned State may originate it violate certain quality standards, including those set by State's own laws. See Quality Improvement 1970, 103, 84 108. Today, requirement can found Act, 86 877, 33 1341: "Any applicant or permit conduct . water[s] shall provide permitting agency originates ." 1341(a)(1). provided forth effluent limitations other limitations, monitoring requirements necessary assure comply with [§§ 1311, 1312, 1316, 1317] appropriate law such certification, become condition subject provisions section."[1] 1341(d). In 1999, sought renew five hydroelectric dams. applied certifications Department *375 (the responsible what have come known "401 certifications"), but application protest, claiming do "discharge into" triggering 401. issued required maintain minimum stream flow bypassed portions allow passage various migratory fish eels. When eventually licensed did so conditions, continued deny need certification. After appealing unsuccessfully Maine's administrative appeals tribunal, Protection, suit Cumberland County Superior Court. That court rejected Warren's argument discharges, Judicial affirmed. 2005 ME 27, 868 A.2d 210. granted certiorari, 546 933 (2005), now affirm well. II dispute turns meaning word "discharge," key 401.[2] no definition term, provides "[t]he term `discharge' when used without qualification includes pollutant, pollutants."[3] 1362(16). define pollutant" pollutants" "any addition pollutant waters point source." *376 1362(12). But presumably broader, else superfluous, neither defined statute nor art, we are left construe "in accordance ordinary natural meaning." FDIC Meyer, 510 471, 476 (1994). applies water, commonly means "flowing issuing out," Webster's New International Dictionary 742 (2d ed. 1954); ibid. ("[t]o emit; give outlet to; pour forth; as, Hudson discharges bay"), sense consistently been intended prior cases. See, e. g., Marsh Oregon Natural Resources Council, 490 360, 364 (1989) (describing dam's "`multiport' structure, levels"); Arizona California, 373 546, 619, n. (1963) (Harlan, J., dissenting part) (quoting congressional testimony regarding who "`take out discharged reservoir'"); Arizona, 295 174, 181 (1935) ("Parker Dam intercept at Boulder Dam"). fact, understanding accepted all Members sitting our only focused PUD 1 Jefferson Cty. Washington Dept. Ecology, 511 700 At Washington's impose rates dam, posing question presented, said this: "There petitioners obtain pursuant Petitioners concede that, minimum, project two possible dischargesthe release dredged fill material during construction project, end *377 tailrace electricity." Id., 711. Pud claimed imposing exceeded prevent degradation quality, parties questioned water" ambit Ibid. And although made mention adding anything majority's use phrase drew criticism dissent, specifically noted [Clean Act] plain suggests `a flowing out,' `something emitted.'" 725 (opinion Thomas, J.) Ninth Collegiate 360 (1991)). resort common usage 401, alone, Agency (EPA) each regularly read having thus covering releases EPA, Standards Handbook 7.6.3, p. 7-10 1994) ("EPA identified permits and/or authorize activities waters[, including] projects Act"); FPL Hydro LLC, 111 ¶ 61,104, 61,505 (2005) (rejecting, recent adjudication, "used nothing more than shorthand expression `discharge pollutants'").[4] is, course, entirely *378 correct cautioning us because EPA formally settled definition, even reasoning, expressions command deference Gonzales Oregon, 243, 258 ("Chevron deference. accorded merely ambiguous official involved"); Skidmore Swift & Co., 323 134, 140 (1944). way confirms everyday term. III makes three principal arguments reading differently way. find none availing. A first involves interpretive canon think place here. canon, noscitur sociis, reminds "a company keeps," Gustafson Alloyd 513 561, 575 (1995), invoked string statutory terms raises implication "words grouped list should given related meaning," Dole Steelworkers, 494 26, 36 (1990) (internal quotation marks omitted); Beecham States, 368, 371 (1994) ("That items share attribute counsels favor interpreting possessing well"). *379 claims 502(16) pollutants." emphasizes "include[d]" terms, themselves require "addition" pollutants water. Since pure simple keeping one pollutants, says standing alone must something foreign flows. adds there above concludes turbines cannot river.[5] problem purports extrapolate feature amounts single item (discharge plus plural variant involving pollutant). Beecham, supra, 371. seems assume pairing broad narrow shrinks one, general usage; giving example convert express inclusion restrictive equation, sociis help absent some sort gathering *380 extrapolate. go saying uncritical rules especially risky making complicated like where technical definitions worked great effort legislative process. Cf. Rep. 92-911, 125 (1972) ("[I]t extremely important [§ 402] know careful recommended. Of particular significance [are] words pollutants'"). B Regardless, should, must, way, South Fla. Management Dist. Miccosukee Tribe, 541 95 (2004). point. addressed 402 sections interchangeable, they serve different purposes language reach them. Section recast pre-existing meant "continu[e] act thereby source State." 92-414, 69 (1971). Its reach, requiring time federally "may" ("discharge" being qualifiers here), 1341(a)(1), object comprehends maintaining 1, supra. historical parallel record it, too, consolidate ease administration predecessor regulatory schemes, 124-125. contrasts focus. establishes called National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, 1342(a). *381 here pollutant," narrower pump between canal impoundment produced 402, U.S., 102-103, shared view if volumes "simply parts same body, pumping constitute `addition' pollutants," id., 109. concerned had (phosphorous substance issue) pollutant"; matter addition. sum, added order implicate explain suffices 401.[6] *382 C third avoiding relies Act's history, history actually goes against position. "includes" spacious connotation, simply books inadvertently failed attempt deal "thermal discharges." As describes recognized "heat harmful most `pollutants,' dissipates quickly bodies receiving waters," Legislative History Pollution Control Amendments 1972 (Committee Print compiled Senate Committee Works Library Congress), Ser. 93-1, 273 (1973) (remarks Clark), proposed regulate thermal less stringently others. They offered amendment exclude wanted ensure remained scope include them expressly "discharge." 1069-1070, 1071. read, discharge." omitted reference discharge," today. 1972, 502(16), 887. reasons once abandoned special treatment struck discharge" 1362(16) carelessly "includes." *383 Thus, argues, reason describing acts extend beyond kind mentioned;[7] terminology reflects 402. This might lawyer's argument. about impetus behind rework speculation, though, say description mere inattention, Part IV implausible speculation that. confine moment strictly drafting thing clear included subclass would stronger For something, heat, 3, Had examples lengthened least short series stands, however, cited demonstrates rejection created theory, moreover, unintended consequence underscoring probably distinguished deliberately, separate places ends. hypothesizes attempted tinker assumption Congress's *384 motives fine-tunes definitions, tends purpose mind. Bates 522 23, 29-30 (1997) (if "Congress omits another generally presumed intentionally purposely disparate exclusion" omitted)). fail their terms.[8] miss forest trees. *385 passed "restore chemical, physical, biological integrity Nation's 1251(a); U. S., 714, "national goal" achieve "water propagation fish, shellfish, wildlife recreation water," 1251(a)(2). To this, stop controlling "addition deals "pollution" generally, 1251(b), mean "the man-made man-induced alteration biological, radiological 1362(19). risk inherent limiting releasing turbines. itself admits "can changes movement, flow, circulation caus[ing] absorb oxygen passable boaters fish." Brief Petitioner 23. amici alert chemical modification caused "immediate impact aquatic organisms, rely dissolved breathe." Trout Unlimited Amici Curiae 13; also, Wildlife Federation 6 (explaining air mix turbine, nitrogen dissolves potentially lethal fish). Then findings led appeal: "The long stretches bed essentially dry unavailable habitat indigenous populations organisms; blocked eels *386 sea-run spawning nursery eliminated opportunity fishing river, prevented recreational access river." re L-19713-33-E-N etc. (2003), App. Pet. Cert. A-49. Changes fall legitimate business, system respects States' concerns. 1251(b) ("It policy recognize, preserve, protect primary responsibilities rights prevent, reduce, eliminate pollution"); 1256(a) (federal funds efforts pollution); 1370 (States standards stricter ones). essential scheme preserve address range pollution, Senator Muskie explained floor proposed: "No polluter able hide excuse violation standard[s]. No make major investments facilities providing assurance facility standards. pollution control confronted fait accompli industry built plant consideration requirements." 116 Cong. Rec. 8984 (1970). These very power enforce law," 1341(d), conditions *387 Reading preserves apparently intended. judgment therefore ordered. NOTES [*] Briefs reversal Augusta, Georgia, George Somerville; Edison Electric Institute Fisher, M. Adamson, Edward Comer, Kristy N. Bulleit, James Hancock, Wasserstrom; Association Home Builders Virginia Albrecht, Karma B. Brown, Kathy Robb, Duane Desiderio, Thomas Jon Ward; England Legal Foundation Martin Newhouse, Andrew Grainger, Michael E. Malamut; Salt Project Agricultural District Weldon, Lisa McKnight. affirmance York Eliot Spitzer, York, Caitlin Halligan, Robert Easton, Peter Lehner, Gregory Silbert, Tierney, Rob McKenna, Washington, Brian Faller Ron Lavigne, Roberto Sánchez Ramos, Secretary Justice Puerto Rico, Susan Shinkman, respective follows: David W. Márquez Alaska, Terry Goddard Bill Lockyer Blumenthal Connecticut, Carl Danberg Delaware, Mark Bennett Hawaii, Madigan Illinois, Miller Iowa, Stumbo Kentucky, Charles Foti, Louisiana, Joseph Curran, Maryland, F. Reilly Massachusetts, Cox Michigan, Mike Hatch Minnesota, Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon Missouri, McGrath Montana, Chanos Nevada, Kelly Ayotte Hampshire, Harvey Jersey, Patricia Madrid Mexico, Roy Cooper North Carolina, Drew Edmondson Oklahoma, Hardy Myers Patrick Lynch Rhode Island, Henry Mc-Master Lawrence Long Dakota, Summers Tennessee, Shurtleff Utah, Sorrell Vermont, Darrell V. McGraw, West Virginia, Peggy Lautenschlager Wisconsin; Friends Everglades Childe; Former Administrators Dreher, Jennifer Chavez, Howard I. Fox; Hoopa Valley Tribe Schlosser, Ullman, Raas; Indians Florida Dexter Lehtinen, Claudio Riedi, Sonia Escobio O'Donnell, Enrique Arana; K. Mears; Dougherty; Riverine Scientists Roos-Collins Malloch; Jeffords Mr. Jeffords, pro se. Benjamin Sharp, Guy Martin, Karen McGaffey Western Urban Coalition curiae. [] Scalia joins IIIC opinion. [1] statutes cross-referenced performance, toxic 1317. before, "state adopted 303 [of 1313,] among `other limitations' compliance process." 700, 713 [2] disputes [3] "pollutant" "dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, wastes, materials, radioactive wrecked discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt industrial, municipal, agricultural waste water." 1362(6). [4] document counterexample EPA's position regard. Memorandum Klee, Counsel, al., Regional Administrators, "Agency Interpretation Applicability Transfers" (Aug. 5, 2005), available http://www.epa.gov/ogc/ documents/water_transfers.pdf (as visited Apr. 13, 2006, Clerk file). memorandum Warren, however; interprets construes which, below, implies alone. memorandum, declares "[i]t `addition.'" 18. [5] note assertion "[a]n fundamental characteristic 11, 215. then held add "los[es its] status States" diverted becomes redeposited river. A.2d, 216 (emphasis deleted). disagree agree denationalize national exerting private over Chandler-Dunbar 229 53, (1913) ("[T]hat running capable ownership inconceivable"). though judgment, reasoning. [6] fact conceded pumped polluted transform analysis centered Before Miccosukee, transferring connected constituted "addition." odds statute, transfer constitutes Likewise, persuaded claim "into" somehow Reply 1-2 ("However lone itself, complete waters' entails introduction waters"). force escapes us, easily refer poured implying hitherto unencountered mixture made. Indeed, preposition connoting analogy Warren. 110 ("[I]f takes ladle soup pot pours pot, `added' pot" brackets [7] hesitant follow logic completion covers mentions, pollutants. [8] briefly disregarding relying 511(c)(2) 1371(c)(2). addresses intersection Policy 1969 (NEPA), 42 4321 seq. NEPA "imposes procedural agencies focus undertake analyses proposals actions." Transportation Citizen, 752, 756-757 authorizes "authorized limitation established chapter adequacy 401]." 1371(c)(2)(A). argues cover preclude duplicative nonpollutant discharges. overlooks identifying agency, certified. Whether described, always, "author[ity] ibid.) it. disturbed holding certifications. still deemed "review"

Category: 7