Friends of Willow Lake, Inc. v. State, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Division of Aviation & Airports

280 P.3d 542, 2012 Alas. LEXIS 103, 2012 WL 2947638
CourtAlaska Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 20, 2012
DocketNo. S-14018
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 280 P.3d 542 (Friends of Willow Lake, Inc. v. State, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Division of Aviation & Airports) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Alaska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Friends of Willow Lake, Inc. v. State, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Division of Aviation & Airports, 280 P.3d 542, 2012 Alas. LEXIS 103, 2012 WL 2947638 (Ala. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION

WINFREE, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

After the State of Alaska issued a plan for summer-use rules at Willow Lake, which the State operates as a float plane facility, a nonprofit corporation brought suit against the State and a float plane operator, alleging: (1) the State's plan was unconstitutional, improperly issued, and preempted by federal navigable water and aviation laws; and (2) the float plane operations created a public nuisance. The superior court granted summary judgment on the basis that the corporation lacked standing to bring its claims, but further concluded that the use plan was properly issued and not preempted by federal navigable water law. We affirm the superior court's ruling that the use plan was not a regulation required to be promulgated under formal administrative procedures. But because the corporation had associational standing and there was insufficient development of the record for the preemption ruling, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

Willow Lake is located west of the Parks Highway, across the highway from the Willow Airport. The State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT & PF) manages Willow Lake as a float plane facility. BAL, Inc., {/b/a Willow Air, uses Willow Lake for commercial flight operations.

In October 2005 DOT & PF held a public meeting to address concerns between lakefront (riparian) property owners and aircraft operators, specifically Willow Air. In October 2007 another public meeting was held to present findings from a Willow Lake noise study assessing aircraft noise and potential mitigation measures.

In a November 2007 letter, a DOT & PF commissioner expressed regret that "a local level resolution" had been unsuccessful and indicated that a use plan "must be developed and implemented to allow everyone the enjoyment [of] using the Lake that they have experienced over the years." The commissioner stated that DOT & PF would not terminate commercial air operations or designate runways on the lake, the latter requiring adherence to federal airport criteria and the purchase of lands and buildings to create unobstructed runway safety areas. But he [545]*545indicated DOT & PF intended to permit public use of the lake as long as it did not compromise aircraft safety.

In January 2008 DOT & PF held a public meeting to review a draft Willow Lake Use Plan (WLUP). Later that month DOT & PF distributed a letter stating the WLUP would not be necessary "[ilf there is agreement and satisfaction on both sides as to using the lake and everyone agrees to maintain vigilance, eooperation, and self enforcement." DOT & PF required the working plan, if one could be agreed on, to be presented by March 2008; otherwise a written plan would be necessary and the public would be "given an opportunity to develop the written plan that takes into consideration both user categories." A private working plan was not presented, and DOT & PF eventually issued a final WLUP in April 2008.

The WLUP sets forth summer-use rules for Willow Lake's recreational and aircraft users. Recreational users are required to look for and avoid aircraft and advised to avoid the lake's center, where aircraft take off and land. Aircraft users are prohibited from operating in a particular area of the lake, and also are prohibited from operating within 100 feet of the shore unless taxiing, preparing to take off, landing, or staying within a designated warm-up area. The WLUP also recommends that aircraft take off towards the south, if possible, and to otherwise take off and land in a "generally northerly/southerly direction."

Friends of Willow Lake, Inc. (FOWL) is a non-profit corporation "formed [in June 2008] for the express purpose of protecting the interest of the users of Willow Lake." FOWL's stated purpose is "to promote the preservation and protection of common access, property rights and multi-use, including aviation activities, of Willow Lake." Its members are Alaska residents and Willow Lake users. Some members own riparian property on Willow Lake, but FOWL itself does not.

In September 2008 FOWL filed suit against DOT & PF and Willow Air, alleging: (1) the WLUP violated the Alaska Constitution, was improperly issued, and was preempted by federal navigable water and aviation laws; and (2) Willow Air's use of high-performance propellers on its aircraft, with DOT & PFs authorization, created a public nuisance. FOWL sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

DOT & PF moved for summary judgment, seeking declarations that: (1) it had authority to promulgate the WLUP; and (2) FOWL lacked standing to bring suit. Willow Air moved to dismiss the suit on the basis that FOWL was not the real party in interest. FOWL opposed the motions.

The superior court granted DOT & PE's summary judgment motion and Willow Air's motion to dismiss on the basis that FOWL lacked both interest-injury and citizen-taxpayer standing. The court also concluded that the rulemaking requirements of the Alaska Administrative Procedure Act (APA) were not applicable to the WLUP because the plan was discretionary action and "a common sense exercise of [DOT & PFs] authority on its own terms which [did] not add new requirements to the already existing law." The court further ruled the WLUP "would not be void by virtue of the U.S. Coast Guard inland navigation rules because the Coast Guard does not consider Willow Lake a navigable water." -It later awarded DOT & PF and Willow Air Alaska Civil Rule 82 attorney's fees and costs.

FOWL appeals, arguing the superior court erred in: (1) ruling FOWL lacked standing; (2) concluding the WLUP was properly issued; (8) concluding Willow Lake was not under Coast Guard jurisdiction; and (4) awarding attorney's fees and costs against it. FOWL also argues the WLUP conflicted with and was preempted by the Federal Aviation Act, an issue the superior court did not address. Because the parties did not address associational standing in the superior court or in their briefs to us, we asked for supplemental briefing on that issue.

III STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review a grant of summary judgment de novo, with the facts reviewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving [546]*546party.1 A grant of summary judgment is affirmed "when there are no genuine issues of material fact, and the prevailing party ... [is] entitled to judgment as a matter of law."2 Issues of standing are questions of law that we review de novo.3 We review de novo questions of statutory construction,4 including "whether an agency action constitutes a 'regulation' that must be promulgated in compliance with the APA.5 Whether a particular body of water is a navigable water of the United States is a question of federal law,6 which we review de novo.7

IV. DISCUSSION

A. Associational Standing

1. Overview

"Standing is a rule of judicial self-restraint based on the principle that courts should not resolve abstract questions or issue advisory opinions."8 However, "[the concept of standing has been interpreted broadly in Alaska," 9

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Bluebook (online)
280 P.3d 542, 2012 Alas. LEXIS 103, 2012 WL 2947638, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/friends-of-willow-lake-inc-v-state-department-of-transportation-alaska-2012.