City of Philadelphia v. New Jersey
Opinion of the Court
This suit challenges the constitutionality of a New Jersey statute prohibiting any person from bringing into New Jersey “any solid or liquid waste which originated or was collected outside the territorial limits of the State," except garbage to be fed to swine. 1973 N. J. Laws, c. 363. The New Jersey Supreme Court held that the Act was not pre-empted by a federal statute addressing questions of waste disposal, the
On October 21, 1976, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 90 Stat. 2795, 42 U. S. C. § 6901 et seq. (1976 ed.), became law. The parties at the Court’s request supplemented their briefs to address the question of the impact of the new federal statute on the New Jersey Act. Appellants argue that the Federal Act displaces the New Jersey law, and appellees argue that it does not preempt or in any way undercut the validity of the New Jersey legislation. While federal pre-emption of state statutes is, of course, ultimately a question under the Supremacy Clause, U. S. Const., Art. VI, cl. 2, analysis of pre-emption issues depends primarily on statutory and not constitutional interpretation. Therefore, it is appropriate that the federal preemption issue be resolved before the constitutional issue of alleged discrimination against or undue burden on interstate commerce is addressed. We think it appropriate that we have the views of the New Jersey Supreme Court on the question whether or to what extent the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 pre-empts the New Jersey statute. The judgment of the New Jersey Supreme Court is therefore vacated, and the case is remanded for reconsideration in light of that Act.
So ordered.
Dissenting Opinion
join, dissenting.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U. S. C. § 6901 et seq. (1976 ed.), evidences a federal con
“It is the Committee’s intention that federal assistance should be an incentive for state and local authorities to act to solve the discarded materials problem. At this time federal preemption of this problem is undesirable, inefficient and damaging to local initiative.” Id., at 33.
In view of this express disclaimer, I do not understand how the Court can assume that pre-emption remains an open question.
We should decide this case on the merits and not burden the parties and the Supreme Court of New Jersey by a remand which unnecessarily creates delay, expense, and uncertainty.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CITY OF PHILADELPHIA Et Al. v. NEW JERSEY Et Al.
- Cited By
- 25 cases
- Status
- Published