U.S. Supreme Court weighs important environmental case from Hawaii

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks up the steps to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., June 21, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday wrestled over whether a wastewater treatment plant in Hawaii is subject to a federal water law in an important environmental case, with justices on both sides of the ideological divide appearing to be search for a compromise.

In a case that could limit the scope of a landmark law aimed at curbing water pollution, the nine justices heard a one-hour argument in an appeal by Maui County of a lower court ruling siding with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund in its 2012 lawsuit accusing local officials of violating the 1972 Clean Water Act.