March 3, 2002 - The U.S. Supreme Court ended Virginia's efforts to limit garbage imports today by refusing to consider Virginia's appeal of last years 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling.

Without comment, the high court refused to consider Virginia's appeal.

The action ends a legal fight that began in 1999 when the Virginia General Assembly passed laws cracking down on trash imports from New York City and other out-of-state locations.

In 2001, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that laws limiting out-of-state waste, tightening restrictions on large trash-hauling trucks and banning garbage barges from three Virginia rivers are unconstitutional.

Those rulings in 2001 upheld a February 2000 decision by U.S. District Judge James Spencer, who found that each of the statutes violated either the commerce clause or the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The Virginia General Assembly, alarmed by Virginia's status as the second-biggest trash importer in the nation, passed the laws in 1999.


sources: A.P.

More info:

U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rules Virginia's Trash Laws are unconstitutional

Feb 03, 2000 - Federal Judge throws out Virginia Trash Laws/Virginia will Appeal the decision