The U.S. Supreme Court appeared receptive to upholding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's right to place generic limits on ocean sewage discharge as San Francisco took its contentious battle to the high court.

The Supreme Court appeared ready in oral arguments Wednesday to restrict the EPA’s ability to set broad water quality standards for sewage and other systems as part of a challenge from San Francisco to the agency’s powers under the Clean Water Act.

Justice Clarence Thomas dissented while two other conservatives wrote that they may be sympathetic to the case were it to be brought after a lower court ruling.