The Supreme Court's decision is the latest in which conservative justices have reined in pollution control efforts.

The justices ruled that the agency cannot impose generic prohibitions against violating water quality standards.

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act by imposing unclear water quality standards on San Francisco, siding with the city in its appeal of a lower court ruling.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that EPA cannot enforce requirements in wastewater permits that “do not spell out what a permittee must do or refrain from doing,” in a majo