Supreme Court to Hear EPA Cases, Upholds CPSC Structure

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear cases involving the EPA, focusing on which courts can review challenges to its actions under the Clean Air Act, including disputes from Oklahoma and Utah over smog plans, and oil refineries seeking ethanol blending exemptions. These cases raise questions about whether such challenges should be heard in regional courts or the D.C. Circuit, known for upholding federal policies. Separately, the Supreme Court declined to hear a conservative challenge to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) structure, which protects its commissioners from being removed by the president except for cause. This decision upholds a lower court ruling and maintains the CPSC’s independence despite arguments that it violates constitutional separation of powers. The Biden administration supported the decision, emphasizing the importance of the CPSC's autonomy in regulating consumer safety.