Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02090/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02090-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:7604 Clear Air Act (Emission Standards)

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NO. C-05-2090 SC 

STIPULATED MOTION TO EXTEND 

CONSENT DECREE DEADLINE

RONALD J. TENPAS

Acting Assistant Attorney General

NORMAN L. RAVE, JR.

Trial Attorney

U.S. Department of Justice

Environment and Natural Resources Division

P.O. Box 23986

Washington, D.C. 20026-3986

Tel: (202) 616-7568

Fax: (202) 514-8865

Attorneys for Defendants 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE, ) Case No. C 05 2090 SC

)

Plaintiff, ) STIPULATED MOTION TO

) EXTEND CONSENT 

v. ) DECREE DEADLINE

)

) August 17, 2007

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL ) 10:00 AM

PROTECTION AGENCY, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

 )

In accordance with Paragraph 7 of the Consent Decree in this case, Plaintiff

Environmental Defense and defendants United States Environmental Protection Agency

and Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator United States Environmental Protection Agency,

(collectively “EPA”) jointly stipulate to this motion to extend the deadlines in Paragraphs

4 and 5 of the Consent Decree (as modified by previous extensions) by four months and

six months, respectively, so that the Parties can expeditiously complete negotiations on

an alternative resolution to this matter that includes a revised consent decree. In the

event that the parties do not file a notice of lodging of a revised consent decree by

Case 3:05-cv-02090-SC Document 38 Filed 08/16/07 Page 1 of 5
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NO. C-05-2090 SC 

STIPULATED MOTION TO EXTEND 

CONSENT DECREE DEADLINE - 2 -

November 5, 2007, the deadlines in Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Consent Decree (as

modified by previous extensions) would be extended by three months and five months,

respectively. In support of this motion, the Parties state as follows:

1. This action concerns a petition submitted by Environmental Defense to

EPA asking EPA to list diesel engine exhaust as a hazardous air pollutant under section

112(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7412(b)(3). On February 15, 2006, the Court

entered a Consent Decree that establishes deadlines for EPA to respond to that petition. 

Paragraph 7 of the Consent Decree provides that the deadlines in Paragraphs 4 and 5 of

the Consent Decree may be extended for a period greater than 60 days with approval of

the Court and that such approval may be granted upon stipulation of the parties.

2. The parties have previously agreed to extend the Consent Decree

deadlines on a number of occasions to provide an opportunity for the parties to discuss, in

meetings and conference calls, an alternative resolution. These discussions have

advanced significantly over the past two months. The Consent Decree, as modified,

currently requires EPA to either deny the petition or propose to grant it by September 5,

2007. DE 35. If EPA proposes to grant the petition, the Consent Decree currently

requires EPA to take final action to grant or deny the petition by October 3, 2007. Id. In

granting the last requested extension, the Court stated, “LAST EXTENSION to be

granted by the Court, without a Court Hearing.” Id.

3. The parties have been diligently exploring a potential long-term solution

to the issues addressed in this litigation. Such a solution would require revisions to the

Consent Decree, and those revisions, if finalized, after public review and approval by this

Court, should eliminate the need for any additional extensions of the deadlines in

Case 3:05-cv-02090-SC Document 38 Filed 08/16/07 Page 2 of 5
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NO. C-05-2090 SC 

STIPULATED MOTION TO EXTEND 

CONSENT DECREE DEADLINE - 3 -

Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Consent Decree. The parties have made substantial progress

over the last several weeks toward an agreement and are optimistic that we can resolve

this matter amicably through revisions to the Consent Decree. However, the next

deadline under the Consent Decree is September 5, 2007, which does not allow the

parties sufficient time to complete their on-going settlement negotiations and obtain the

necessary approvals from management at EPA and the Department of Justice. 

4. Accordingly, the parties have stipulated to a four month and six month

extension of the deadlines in Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Consent Decree, respectively. If

the Parties’ attempt to reach a long-term solution turns out not to be successful, then the

Parties stipulate that a three month and five month extension of the deadlines shall apply.

5. Consistent with the Court’s order of July 11, 2007, we have scheduled a

hearing for August 17, 2007, concerning this stipulated motion for extension. While we

fully understand the Court’s desire for a hearing given the prior extensions, we

respectfully request that the Court grant this joint stipulation without a hearing so that the

parties can devote their limited resources to reaching a final agreement on an alternative

resolution and preparing a revised consent decree for lodging with this court . 

Accordingly, pursuant to Paragraph 7 of the Consent Decree, defendants EPA and

plaintiff Environmental Defense hereby stipulate, subject to approval by the Court, to an

extension of the deadline in Paragraph 4 of the Consent Decree for EPA to sign either a

proposal to grant plaintiffs’ petition to list diesel emissions as a hazardous air pollutant or

a final denial of the petition from September 5, 2007, to January 7, 2008, and to an

extension of the deadline in Paragraph 5 of the Consent Decree for EPA to sign a final

determination if it proposes to grant the petition from October 3, 2007 to April 2, 2008,

Case 3:05-cv-02090-SC Document 38 Filed 08/16/07 Page 3 of 5
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NO. C-05-2090 SC 

STIPULATED MOTION TO EXTEND 

CONSENT DECREE DEADLINE - 4 -

provided the parties file a notice of lodging of a revised consent decree by November 5,

2008. If the parties do not file a notice of lodging of a revised consent decree by

November 5, 2007, defendants EPA and plaintiff Environmental Defense hereby stipulate,

subject to approval by the Court, to an extension of the deadline in Paragraph 4 of the

Consent Decree for EPA to sign either a proposal to grant plaintiffs’ petition to list diesel

emissions as a hazardous air pollutant or a final denial of the petition from September 5,

2007, to December 4, 2007, and to an extension of the deadline in Paragraph 5 of the

Consent Decree for EPA to sign a final determination if it proposes to grant the petition

from October 3, 2007 to March 3, 2008. 

Respectfully submitted on this 15th day of August, 2007.

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NO. C-05-2090 SC 

STIPULATED MOTION TO EXTEND 

CONSENT DECREE DEADLINE - 5 -

 Respectfully submitted,

RONALD J. TENPAS

Acting Assistant Attorney General

 /s/Mark A. Rigau 

NORMAN L. RAVE, JR.

MARK A. RIGAU

Trial Attorneys

United States Department of Justice

Environment and Natural Resources Division

P.O. Box 23986

Washington, D.C. 20026-3986

Tel: (202) 616-7568

Fax: (202) 514-8865

Counsel for Defendants

 /s/Reed Zars 

REED ZARS

910 Kearney Street

Laramie, Wyoming 82070

Tel: (307) 745-7979

Fax: (307) 745-7999

Counsel for Plaintiff

IT IS SO ORDERED

_______________________

Samuel Conti

United States District Judge

8/16/07

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

I

A

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Samuel Conti

Case 3:05-cv-02090-SC Document 38 Filed 08/16/07 Page 5 of 5