⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Center for Biological Diversity v. EPA — 9th Cir. (argued August 12, 2026)

No. 25-2738 Argued August 12, 2026 Published August 14, 2026; updated August 18, 2026

The Ninth Circuit reviews EPA's 2026 Pesticide General Permit, which covers certain pesticide discharges where EPA is the permitting authority. The Center for Biological Diversity challenges the permit, arguing that EPA let most covered operators avoid notices and annual reports and chose visual monitoring that may miss delayed harm. EPA says it reasonably limited reporting to larger dischargers, weighed the burden of collecting more information, and added water-quality safeguards to pesticide-label requirements.

Center for Biological Diversity v. EPA (No. 25-2738) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 12, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/12/25-2738.mp3
Argument listing — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-2738&hearingDate=2026-08-12
Opinion search — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/decisions/opinions/
Appellate docket mirror — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-2738
Filed petition for review:https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/environmental_health/pdfs/04.30.2025-EPA-Pesticide-general-permit-Petition-for-Review.pdf
Center's case announcement:https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-challenges-epas-failure-to-protect-people-wildlife-from-pesticides-applied-to-water-2025-05-01/
2026 Pesticide General Permit — EPA:https://www.epa.gov/npdes/pesticide-permitting-2026-pesticide-general-permit
2026 permit fact sheet — EPA:https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-12/2026-pgp-factsheet.pdf
NPDES overview — EPA:https://www.epa.gov/npdes/about-npdes
5 U.S.C. § 706 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:5%20section:706%20edition:prelim)
Motor Vehicle Manufacturers v. State Farm — GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-463/pdf/USREPORTS-463-29.pdf
Allison LaPlante — Center for Biological Diversity:https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/staff/

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