Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Envtl. Prot. Agency

369 F. Supp. 3d 128
CourtCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
DecidedMarch 27, 2019
DocketCivil Action No. 17-1270 (ABJ)
StatusPublished

This text of 369 F. Supp. 3d 128 (Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Envtl. Prot. Agency) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Envtl. Prot. Agency, 369 F. Supp. 3d 128 (D.C. Cir. 2019).

Opinion

AMY BERMAN JACKSON, United States District Judge *132Plaintiff, the Center for Biological Diversity, submitted a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, seeking records related the agency's revisions to the aquatic life water quality criteria for the heavy metal cadmium in 2015 and 2016. Compl. [Dkt. # 1] ¶ 1. Thereafter, plaintiff filed this lawsuit, arguing, among other things, that the agency unlawfully withheld certain records under FOIA Exemption 5, and failed to reasonably segregate and produce non-exempt information. Id. ¶¶ 48-73. The agency moved for summary judgment, and plaintiff opposed the motion and filed its own motion for summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, the Court will grant EPA's motion for summary judgment and it will deny plaintiff's cross-motion.

BACKGROUND

The Clean Water Act and Cadmium Report

Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1314(a)(1), directs the EPA to "develop and publish water quality criteria that reflect the latest scientific knowledge" on the effects of pollutants in bodies of water. Decl. of Kathryn Gallagher [Dkt. # 15-2] ("Gallagher Decl.") ¶ 4. EPA publishes the numeric concentration of pollutants that will protect against unacceptable adverse ecological effects to aquatic life, as well as "specific recommendations on the duration and frequency of any exceedance of those numeric concentrations that would remain protective." Id. Under Section 304(a)(1), the EPA's water quality criteria serve as non-binding recommendations to states and tribes that are responsible for adopting standards to protect the bodies of water under their jurisdiction. Id.

On December 1, 2015, EPA announced the release of a draft report revising the aquatic life water quality criteria for cadmium "to reflect the latest scientific information, and current EPA policies and methods." 80 Fed. Reg. 75097 (Dec. 1, 2015). The notice in the Federal Register marked the beginning of a public comment period for "scientific views on the draft." Id. According to EPA, cadmium is "a relatively rare, naturally occurring metal" which is known for its industrial uses in the "manufacturing of batteries, pigments, plastic stabilizers, and metal coatings, alloys and electronics." Id. at 75098. "Chronic exposure [to cadmium] leads to adverse effects on growth, reproduction, immune and endocrine systems, development and behavior in aquatic organisms." Id.

Plaintiff submitted a public comment urging the agency to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) prior to taking any action. Ex. A to Decl. of Brett Hartl [Dkt. # 16-5] at 1-2. EPA reviewed and responded to public comments, including plaintiff's, prior to releasing the final report.1 Gallagher Decl. ¶ 7. The agency declined to follow plaintiff's recommendation of coordinating with FWS and NMFS. EPA Response at 17. The draft report also underwent an internal *133EPA review and external peer review process. Gallagher Decl. ¶ 7

On April 4, 2016, EPA announced the publication of the final report titled Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria Cadmium - 2016 ("Final Cadmium Report"). 81 Fed. Reg. 19176 (Apr. 4, 2016).2 This marked the culmination of the agency's internal and external peer review process. Gallagher Decl. ¶ 7. In the final report, EPA explained that it revised the cadmium water quality criteria based on "data that have become available since 2001." Final Cadmium Report at xii. The 700-page report, including references, provides a detailed analysis of the scientific models applied, the effects of cadmium on specific aquatic organisms, the national criteria for cadmium, and an appendix of the unused data with an explanation for why certain data was excluded. See generally Final Cadmium Report.

The FOIA Request

On April 5, 2016, plaintiff submitted a FOIA request to the EPA seeking "all records relating to the revised water quality criteria for cadmium, docket EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0753." Gallagher Decl. ¶ 2. On January 4, 2017, the agency issued its "Final Release" letter informing plaintiff that it had identified 654 responsive documents, of which 280 were withheld in their entirety, 87 were released with redactions, and 287 were released in full. Attach. I to Gallagher Decl. [Dkt. # 15-2]. The agency withheld some of the information pursuant to FOIA Exemption 5. Id. ; Gallagher Decl. ¶ 20.

Plaintiff filed a timely administrative appeal, and the agency subsequently released more records and revised some of its redactions. Decl. of Brett Hartl [Dkt. # 16-4] ("Hartl Decl.") ¶ 17; Gallagher Decl. ¶ 11. After plaintiff filed this suit on June 28, 2017, the agency released additional records, and on December 18, 2017, defendant supplied plaintiff with a Vaughn Index of its withholdings and redactions. Gallagher Decl. ¶ 15.

The parties met and conferred, and they agree that there are 67 records that remain in dispute in this matter. Gallagher Decl. ¶ 19; Pl.'s Statement of Material Facts As To Which There Is No Genuine Issue [Dkt. # 16-2] ("Pl.'s SOF") ¶ 26. Of the 67 records that remain in dispute, 34 have been withheld in full and 33 in part pursuant to the deliberative process privilege of FOIA Exemption 5, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(5). See Ex. C to Gallagher Decl. [Dkt. # 15-2] (" Vaughn Index").

On March 16, 2018, defendant moved for summary judgment, Def.'s Mot. for Summ. J. [Dkt. # 15]; Def.'s Mem.

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Bluebook (online)
369 F. Supp. 3d 128, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ctr-for-biological-diversity-v-us-envtl-prot-agency-cadc-2019.