TRENTON – The U.S. Supreme Court's decision today to overturn Chevron v. NRDC has been met with concern by New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. He stated that the ruling in Loper Bright v. Raimondo threatens national efforts to improve and protect public health and the environment.
"Turning its back on decades of precedent, the majority decision in Loper Bright v. Raimondo disrespects and undermines the scientists, technical experts, and other public servants responsible for reducing pollution and improving the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we live upon," LaTourette remarked.
For 40 years, the Chevron doctrine has supported federal environmental and other agencies in accomplishing important work assigned to them due to their expertise. "Where those statutes have left open some questions, our federal courts have rightfully deferred to the expertise of responsible agencies in implementing the law," he noted.
LaTourette emphasized that this balance recognized that judges and legislators cannot be expected to serve as climate scientists or environmental engineers. "Today’s majority decision upends this balance on the federal level, which needlessly casts doubt on subject matter experts and could delay or jeopardize public health and environmental protections that all of our fellow Americans deserve," he concluded.
