California v. U.S. E.P.A.

360 F. Supp. 3d 984
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedDecember 21, 2018
DocketCase No. 18-cv-03237-HSG
StatusPublished

This text of 360 F. Supp. 3d 984 (California v. U.S. E.P.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
California v. U.S. E.P.A., 360 F. Supp. 3d 984 (N.D. Cal. 2018).

Opinion

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR., United States District Judge

Pending before the Court is a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs complaint,1 see Dkt. No.

*9871. ("Compl"), filed by Defendants-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Andrew R. Wheeler, in his official capacity as Acting Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (collectively, "EPA"),2 see Dkt. No. 28 ("MTD"). Briefing on this motion is complete. See Dkt. Nos. 48 ("MTD Opp."),3 65 ("MTD Reply"). The Court held a hearing on October 25, 2018. See Dkt. No. 69. Also pending before this Court is EPA's motion to stay proceedings through April 30, 2019, Dkt. No. 70 ("MTS"), briefing for which is also complete, see Dkt. Nos. 73 ("MTS Opp."),4 76 ("MTS Reply").5

For the reasons set forth below, the Court DENIES both motions.

I. BACKGROUND

The Clean Air Act ("CAA" or the "Act") "protect[s] and enhance[s] the quality of the Nation's air resources so as to promote the public health and welfare and the productive capacity of its population." 42 U.S.C. § 7401(b)(1).6 To that end, the Act directs the EPA Administrator to "publish ... a list of categories of stationary sources" that "in [the Administrator's] judgment ... cause[ ], or contribute[ ] significantly to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare." Id. § 7411(b)(1)(A). Once the agency includes a category of stationary sources in the list, the agency must "publish proposed regulations, establishing Federal standards of performance" for emission of pollutants from new or modified sources "within such category." Id. § 7411(b)(1)(B); see also id. § 7411(a)(2).

As relevant here, the Act also requires the regulation of "existing sources" that fall within the same category, provided that the emissions are not already covered by certain other CAA programs. See id. § 7411(d). Specifically, the CAA states that "[t]he Administrator shall prescribe regulations which shall establish a procedure similar to that provided by section 7410 of this title under which each State shall submit to the Administrator a plan [that] establishes standards of performance," and "provides for the implementation and enforcement of such standards of performance." Id. § 7411(d)(1). The Act further provides that the Administrator has authority to promulgate a federal implementation plan "in cases where [a] State fails to submit a satisfactory plan." Id. § 7411(d)(2); see also id. § 7410(c).

*988Consistent with the CAA's instruction, EPA promulgated regulations, which established deadlines for the implementation of emission guidelines. According to the regulations, once EPA published an emission guideline, each State to which the guideline pertained was required to "adopt and submit to the Administrator ... a plan" to implement the guideline "[w]ithin nine months." 40 C.F.R. § 60.23(a)(1). The agency then was required to "approve or disapprove" such implementation plans "within four months after the date required for submission of a plan or a plan revision." Id. § 60.27(b). Last, if states to which the guideline pertained did not submit an implementation plan or EPA disapproved of a submitted plan, the Administrator was required, "within six months after the date required for submission of a plan or plan revision, [to] promulgate [a federal plan]" to implement the guideline. Id. § 60.27(d).

On August 29, 2016, EPA promulgated a final rule related to Municipal Solid Waste ("MSW") landfills. Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills , 81 Fed. Reg. 59,276 (Aug. 29, 2016) ("Landfill Emissions Guidelines"). The Landfill Emissions Guidelines became effective on October 28, 2016. In turn, according to EPA's regulations:

1. States were required to submit implementation plans by May 30, 2017, see 40 C.F.R. § 60.23(a)(1) ;
2. EPA was required to approve or disapprove submitted plans by September 30, 2017, see 40 C.F.R. § 60.27(b) ; and
3. If either (i) states to which the guideline pertained did not submit implementation plans, or (ii) EPA disapproved a submitted plan, then EPA was required to promulgate a federal plan by November 30, 2017, see 40 C.F.R. § 60.27(d).

As of May 30, 2017, California and New Mexico submitted implementation plans as described by the regulations. Dkt. No. 58 ¶ 2. Arizona submitted an implementation plan on July 24, 2018. Id. To date, EPA has neither approved or disapproved of any submitted plans nor promulgated a federal plan. Id.

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Bluebook (online)
360 F. Supp. 3d 984, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/california-v-us-epa-cand-2018.