Save Our Springs v. Babbitt

27 F. Supp. 2d 739, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23264, 1997 WL 1049564
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedMarch 25, 1997
Docket7:96-cv-00168
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 27 F. Supp. 2d 739 (Save Our Springs v. Babbitt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Save Our Springs v. Babbitt, 27 F. Supp. 2d 739, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23264, 1997 WL 1049564 (W.D. Tex. 1997).

Opinion

ORDER

BUNTON, Senior District Judge.

BEFORE THE COURT, in the above-captioned cause of action, are the parties’s cross motions for summary judgment. The parties have thoroughly briefed the issues currently before the Court. After considering the parties’ arguments and the material contained in the Administrative Record as a whole, the Court enters its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. This citizen enforcement action was filed by Plaintiffs Save Our Springs and Dr. Mark Kirkpatrick on October 29, 1996, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531, et seq. The action challenges Defendant Bruce Babbitt’s, Secretary of the Department of the Interior (Secretary), decision to withdraw the proposed listing of the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea, sosorum). This action, for judicial review of a final agency action, is governed by the Administrative Procedures Act. 5 U.S.C. §§ 552, et seq. Plaintiffs served notice of intent to sue on the Secretary on July 26, 1996.

2. The Barton Springs salamander (“salamander”) is a small, aquatic salamander that evolved in isolation from other salamander species. It lives at Barton Springs Austin’s Zilker Park and is found naturally nowhere else in the world. 61 Fed.Reg. 46609. The salamander is a neotenic, meaning it does not metamorphose into an adult terrestrial form like other amphibians and retains its bright red external gills throughout its life. It remains in and reproduces in the aquatic form, and cannot escape any adverse conditions in Barton Springs. The salamander depends on a constant supply of clean, flowing water from Barton Springs. 61 Fed.Reg. 46608. “The very restricted range of the Barton Springs salamander makes this species especially vulnerable to acute and/or cumulative groundwater contamination.” Id. at 46615.

3. Captive breeding of the species has not been successful. Captive propagation of the salamander has been initiated at the Dallas Aquarium in Texas and at the National Biological Service’s Midwest Science Center in Missouri. Although each facility has had one successful spawning, hatching success was less than eight percent. Id. at 46609.

4. On December 30, 1982, the Department of Interior recognized that information then available indicated that the Barton Springs salamander might be endangered or threatened, and listed the species as a “category 2” candidate for listing. 47 Fed.Reg. 58454, 58455.

5. On January 22, 1992, Dr. Mark Kirkpatrick, a Professor of Zoology at the University of Texas at Austin, and Barbara Mahler, a doctoral candidate in geology at the University of Texas researching pollutant transport in limestone aquifers, petitioned the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to list the Barton Springs salamander as endangered and to designate critical habitat for the species. 59 Fed.Reg. 7970.

6. The filing of the petition triggered a duty for the Secretary to “make a finding as to whether the petition presented] substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action [might be] warranted,” and “[t] o the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the petition” to publish this finding in the Federal Register. 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(3)(A).

7. On December 11, 1992, more than three hundred days later, the Secretary “determined that the petition presented information on threats indicating that the requested action may be warranted” and published no *742 tice of this determination in the Federal Register. 57 Fed.Reg. 58779. The Secretary was then required, not later than January 22, 1993, to determine whether listing of the species was warranted. 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(3)(B). The Secretary missed this deadline. On February 17, 1994, more than twelve months after he was required by statute to act, the Secretary issued a Proposed Rule to list the salamander as “endangered” under the ESA. 59 Fed.Reg. 7968. The Proposed Rule listed the primary threat to the salamander as “contamination of the waters that feed Barton Springs due to the potential for catastrophic events (such as petroleum or chemical spills) and chronic degradation resulting from urban activities.” Id. The Secretary also expressed concern over “disturbances to the salamander’s surface habitat and reduced groundwater supplies resulting from increased groundwater withdrawals.” Within a year of publication of the Proposed Rule, the Secretary then had a legal duty to make a final determination about the species. The Secretary could find that the species was endangered and list the species, that it was not endangered and withdraw the listing, or determine that there was substantial scientific disagreement regarding the sufficiency or accuracy of information about the species and extend the deadline for six months. 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(6). The Secretary “extended” the deadline for six months.

8. Kirkpatrick and Mahler sued Babbitt to compel him to make this decision. See Save Our Springs Legal Defense Fund v. Babbitt, MO-95-CA-230 (“SOS I").

9. This Court found that the Secretary violated his nondiscretionary duty to act within the twelve month period when he missed the deadline. See SOS I (on or about November 27,1995). This Court ordered the Secretary to act and he appealed that decision claiming that the listing moratorium that went into effect after he was to make his final decision but before the Court ordered him to act prevented him from taking any listing action. While that appeal was pending, the President waived the listing moratorium and the ease was returned to this Court for further proceedings.

10. On remand, this Court again found the Secretary violated the provisions of the ESA and ordered him to make a final listing decision by August 30, 1996. On June 24, 1996, the Service reopened the comment period to ascertain whether any additional regulatory protection was offered by the State. That comment period was closed by Order of this Court on July 10,1996. On the date the comment period closed, there was no additional regulatory protection offered by the State of Texas.

11. During the six month extension period biologists for the USFWS were preparing the final rule listing the salamander as endangered. A.R.-75 at 80. The biologists that prepared the final rule recommended that the usual thirty-day delay between the date of publication and its effective date be waived. The final rule was approved by the Southwest Regional Office of USFWS on or about August 8, 1996, and forwarded to Washington D.C. for final approval. A.R. - B81.

12. On June 24, 1996, representatives from the State of Texas met with officials from the Department of the Interior to discuss the Conservation Agreement. This is the only record on any meetings or discussion about the Conservation Agreement.

13.

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Bluebook (online)
27 F. Supp. 2d 739, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23264, 1997 WL 1049564, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/save-our-springs-v-babbitt-txwd-1997.