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South Carolina Coastal Conservation League v. United States Army Corps of Engineers — 4th Cir. (argued September 10, 2026)

No. 25-1797 Argued September 10, 2026 Published September 10, 2026

The Fourth Circuit considers whether the Army Corps of Engineers adequately proved that a permit allowing one hundred eighty one acres of wetlands to be filled for the Cainhoy development near Charleston reflects the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative. The conservation groups say the Corps never established why a smaller footprint would be impracticable. The federal defendants and developers respond that the Corps considered fourteen alternatives and reasonably rejected the groups' Dover Plan as impracticable.

South Carolina Coastal Conservation League v. United States Army Corps of Engineers (No. 25-1797) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, argued September 10, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/25-1797-20260910.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/oral-argument/oral-argument-audio-files
Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/cal/internetcalSept102026.pdf
Brief index — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/DataBriefs.aspx?CASENUM=25-1797
District court summary-judgment order — Google Scholar:https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2476216991648329104
Earlier opinion in the same litigation — Fourth Circuit via GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ca4-24-01942/pdf/USCOURTS-ca4-24-01942-0.pdf
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca4/25-1797
Catherine Wannamaker — Southern Environmental Law Center:https://www.selc.org/staff/catherine-wannamaker/
M. Rhett DeHart — Womble Bond Dickinson:https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/insights/news/102nenq/best-lawyers-honors-490-womble-attorneys-across-2026-editions
Clean Water Act citizen-suit provision — U.S. Code via GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/33/1365
Administrative Procedure Act review — U.S. Code via GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/5/704

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