Protect Our Communities Foundation v. Black

240 F. Supp. 3d 1055, 2017 WL 882278, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31541
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedMarch 6, 2017
DocketCase No.: 14cv2261 JLS (JMA)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 240 F. Supp. 3d 1055 (Protect Our Communities Foundation v. Black) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Protect Our Communities Foundation v. Black, 240 F. Supp. 3d 1055, 2017 WL 882278, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31541 (S.D. Cal. 2017).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT . AND GRANTING FEDERAL AND INTERVENOR DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

(ECF No. 59, 61, 64)

Hon. Janis L. Sammartino, United States District Judge

Presently before the Court are Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, (“Pis.’ MSJ”) (ECF No. 59), Intervenor Defendants Tule Wind, LLC and Ewiiaa-paayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians’ (“Non-Federal Defendants”) Joint Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, (“Non-Fed, Defs.’ MSJ”) (ECF No. 61), and Federal Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment;1 (“Fed Defs.’ MSJ”) (ECF No. 64). Also before the Court are various responses and replies—Plaintiffs’ Combined Opposition to Defendants’ Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment and Reply in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, (“Pis.’ Opp’n & Supp.”) (ECF Nos. 66, 67 (same document)); Federal Defendants’ Reply in Support of Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Fed. Defs,’ Reply”) (ECF No.’ 74); and Intervenor Defendants Tule Wind, LLC’s and Ewiiaa-paayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians’ Joint Reply in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, (“Non-Fed. Defs.’ Reply”) (ECF No. 75)—as well as Plaintiffs’ Notice of Supplemental Authority Bearing on the Parties’ Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment, (“Suppl.' Auth. No[1059]*1059tice”) (ECF No. 68), and the relevant Administrative Record, (see ECF No. 72); The Court held oral argument on- February 16, 2017, (ECF No. 78), and thereafter took the matter under submission.

Because (1) the Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”) permissibly relied on the 2011 Environmental Impact Statement • (“EIS”), which it helped prepare; (2) the 2011 EIS rigorously considered Tule Phase II’s potential risk to golden eagles; and (3) no new information or developments triggered NEPA’s supplementation requirements, the Court concludes that BIA validly exercised its discretion in approving Tule Phase II. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motions for Summary Judgment and DENIES Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment.

BACKGROUND

1. Factual Background2

Tule Wind LLC plans to construct a number of wind turbines in southeastern San Diego County. (Pis.’ MSJ 5.) The project consists of two phases. Phase I involves sixty-five turbines on federal land in the McCain Valley, and Phase II comprises twenty turbines on land held in trust for the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians (the “Tribe”) on ridgelines above the McCain Valley. (Id. at 6-6.) The Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) approved Phase I in 2011. (Id. at 7-8.) This lawsuit pertains to BIA’s approval of Phase II.

In 2011—prior to approval of either phase—BLM issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) and its implementing regulations. (Id. at 7.) BIA served as a cooperating agency on the EIS, which therefore permitted BIA to “use the EIR/EIS for [its own] approval processes” and “for consideration of [its own] required discretionary actions.” (Tule 61-62.) Specifically, “portions of the Tule Wind Project will occur on lands under the jurisdiction of’ ■distinct agencies, such that neither BLM nor BIA could independently authorize (or decline to authorize) the entirety of the Project. (Id.) “The BIA has jurisdiction over tribal lands and has a role in the approval of leases of tribal lands[,]” (id. at 105454), and therefore was the agency charged with discretionary consideration of Phase II.

The 2011 EIS provided that “[construction of [Phase II] would occur at those turbine locations that show reduced risk to the eagle population following analysis of detailed [eagle] behavior studies....” (Id. at 624.) Ultimately, “all, none or part of the second portion of the-product would be authorized” pursuant to “the discretion of ... the appropriate land management entity.” (Id,) Exercise of discretion was in turn controlled by “final criteria- determining risk ... to eagles” as “determined by ... the appropriate land management agency, in consultation with the required resource agencies, tribes, and other relevant permitting entities.” (Id.) “Turbine locations exceeding acceptable risk levels to golden eagles based on these final criteria [were] not [to] be authorized for construction.” (Id.)

After the 2011 EIS, BIA continued to review the specifics of Phase II, collecting eagle telemetry data, creating and revising an Avian and Bat Protection Plan (“ABPP”), and opening several documents to public and agency comment. (See id. at [1060]*1060105454.) During this time, both the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) and the California Department of Fish and Game (“CDFG”) sent formal memoranda to BIA determining that “construction and operation of Phase II ... has a high potential to result in injury or mortality of golden eagles ... and the loss of golden eagle breeding territories.” (E.g., id. at 106445, 111547.) FWS specifically noted that “Phase II of this project represents a high risk for golden eagle mortality and ‘disturbance!,]’ ” (id. at 106447), that “[t]he conditions outlined in the [current] Draft ... as presented would not likely meet the conservation standard of’ relevant federal law, and that BIA’s current risk characterization “could represent an underestimate of predicted” eagle deaths. (Id. at 106446-48.) Additionally, both FWS and CDFG recommended project modifications. (Id. at 111549 (“[T]he [CDFG] recommends the BIA remove turbines H-l and H-2 as part of the Reduced Ridgeline Project.”); id. at 106447 (“[FWS presents] [a] range of options to minimize risk to eagles ..., including curtailment of some turbines during a portion of the breeding season and the elimination of all turbines with the exception of the six turbines proposed on State lands.”); id. at 106446. (“[FWS] recommend[s] the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the project proponent considers a different turbine siting design or moving the project to another location to minimize and avoid eagle take.”).)

Although BIA ultimately adopted several eagle-specific mitigation measures in authorizing Phase II, (id. at 105481-85), it did not agree with or adopt all' of FWS’s or CDFG’s recommendations, (e.g., id. at 107519, 105481-82, 105492-93). BIA instead determined that the adopted mitigation “scenario significantly reduces potential ‘take’ of golden eagles during operation for the life of the Proposed Action[,]” (id. at 105482), and that therefore Phase II “would not create significant impacts after the implementation of mitigation measures contained in th[e] ROD and the acquisition of all permits required by law.” (Id. at 105454.) In authorizing Phase II, the BIA considered the EIS-, the “overall administrative record,” and “BIA’s mission to foster economic development for tribes.” (Id.)

II. Procedural History

The Protect Our Communities Foundation and another plaintiff litigated the propriety of BLM’s approval of Phase I in a separate action before this Court. See Protect Our Communities Found. v. Jewell, No. 13CV575-JLS (JMA), 2014 WL 1364453 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 25, 2014).

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Bluebook (online)
240 F. Supp. 3d 1055, 2017 WL 882278, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31541, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/protect-our-communities-foundation-v-black-casd-2017.