No. 25-908

The Glynn Environmental Coalition, Inc., et al. v. Sea Island Acquisition, LLC

Lower Court: Eleventh Circuit
Docketed: 2026-02-02
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-appeal citizen-suit clean-water-act federal-court jurisdictional-determination permit-waiver
Key Terms:
Environmental SocialSecurity
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Is a Clean Water Act permittee's waiver of 'any challenge' to the jurisdictional status of a wetland 'in any Federal court' limited to government suits to enforce permit conditions, thereby allowing jurisdictional challenges in suits by states and private citizens under the Act's citizen suit provision?

Question Presented (from Petition)

The Clean Water Act generally prohibits filling in wetlands that qualify as “waters of the United States.” See 33 U.S.C. § 1311(a). Landowners who want to confirm whether wetlands on their property fall within that definition may obtain an “approved jurisdictional determination” from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is subject to judicial review. 33 C.F.R. § 331.2; see U.S. Army Corps of Eng’rs v. Hawkes Co., 578 U.S. 590, 597-99 (2016). Landowners may also, however, forego that process and simply seek a permit from the Corps based on a “preliminary jurisdictional determination.” See 33 U.S.C. § 1344(a); 33 C.F.R. § 331.2. Those who do agree that “all wetlands and other water bodies on the site affected in any way by that activity are jurisdictional waters of the United States” and that accepting the permit “precludes any challenge to such jurisdiction . . . in any administrative or judicial compliance or enforcement action, or in any administrative appeal or in any Federal court.” Pet. App. 9a. The question presented is: Is a Clean Water Act permittee’s waiver of “any challenge” to the jurisdictional status of a wetland “in any Federal court” limited to government suits to enforce permit conditions, thereby allowing jurisdictional challenges in suits by states and private citizens under the Act’s citizen suit provision?

Docket Entries

2026-01-26
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 4, 2026)
2025-12-08
Application (25A582) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until January 26, 2026.
2025-12-03
Application (25A582) to extend further the time from December 29, 2025 to January 26, 2026, submitted to Justice Thomas.
2025-11-18
Application (25A582) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until December 29, 2025.
2025-11-12
Application (25A582) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from November 27, 2025 to January 26, 2026, submitted to Justice Thomas.

Attorneys

The Glynn Environmental Coalition, Inc., et al.
Kevin K. RussellRussell & Woofter LLC, Petitioner
Kevin K. RussellRussell & Woofter LLC, Petitioner