Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01513/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01513-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 899
Nature of Suit: Other Statutes - Administrative Procedure Act/Review or Appeal of Agency Decision
Cause of Action: 05:702 Administrative Procedure Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE 

OF PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT 

WORKS, and CENTRAL VALLEY 

CLEAN WATER ASSOCIATION,

Plaintiffs,

v.

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL 

PROTECTION AGENCY; JARED 

BLUMENFELD, REGIONAL 

ADMINISTRATOR, UNITED STATES 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY, REGION IX; and DOES 1 to 

10,

 Defendants.

No. 2:14-cv-01513-MCE-DAD

ORDER

Through the motion presently before this Court, the National Association of Clean 

Water Agencies (“NACWA”) seeks leave to file an amicus brief in support of Plaintiffs’ 

Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief (“Complaint”). According to 

NACWA’s proposed brief, it is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of 

publicly owned wastewater and stormwater utilities across the United States. NACWA

claims its members include nearly 300 municipal clean water agencies nationwide --

Case 2:14-cv-01513-MCE-DB Document 87 Filed 04/13/16 Page 1 of 3
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including 29 in California – that own, operate, and manage publicly owned treatment 

works, wastewater sewer systems, stormwater sewer systems, and water reclamation 

districts. NACWA alleges those agencies handle all aspects of wastewater collection, 

treatment and discharge. 

Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleges that, on March 17, 2014, Defendants illegally and 

improperly approved the California Regional Water Quality Control Board’s request to 

use a newly formulated technology for testing water toxicity. That decision approved the 

new procedure, which was called the two-concentration Test of Significant Toxicity 

(“TST”), as an Alternative Test Procedure (“ATP”) for determining compliance with the 

Clean Water Act. NACWA requests permission to file an amicus brief on grounds that it 

can provide useful information to the Court in describing how the TST procedure is 

scientifically unsound, improper in light of the procedural requirements for establishing 

test methods under the Administrative Procedure Act, and endangers NACWA members’

compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. NACWA argues 

that it can provide a broader nationwide perspective than Plaintiffs on the issues already 

raised regarding TST.

Whether to permit an amicus filing rests solely within this Court’s discretion, with 

“great liberality” typically exercised in permitting amicus curiae briefing in the context of a 

pending case. In re Roxford Foods Litig., 790 F. Supp. 987, 997 (E.D. Cal. 1991). 

Given that liberal standard, and after considering the merits of NACWA’s position and 

the government’s opposition, the Court exercises its discretion in favor of permitting the

requested amicus filing. NACWA’s Motion for Leave to File Amicus Brief (ECF No. 66) is 

accordingly GRANTED.1 NACWA is ordered to file its proposed amicus brief forthwith. 

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 1 Having determined that oral argument would not be of material assistance, the Court ordered this 

matter submitted on the briefs in accordance with Eastern District of California Local Rule 230(g).

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The government’s response, if any, to the amicus brief shall be filed not later than thirty 

(30) days after this order is electronically filed and shall not exceed twelve (12) pages in 

length, a limitation consistent with the 12-page size of NACWA’s amicus filing. No reply 

will be permitted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 12, 2016

Case 2:14-cv-01513-MCE-DB Document 87 Filed 04/13/16 Page 3 of 3