Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00607/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00607-0/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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SJVUAPCD 

1990 E. Gettysburg 

Fresno, CA 93726 

(559) 230-6033 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

FRESNO DIVISION

LATINO ISSUES FORUM, MEDICAL )

ADVOCATES FOR HEALTHY ) Case No.

AIR, and SIERRA CLUB, )

) 1:05cv-607 OWW DLB 

 Plaintiffs, )

 ) 

v. ) CONSENT DECREE 

 ) 

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY UNIFIED AIR )

POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT, )

 )

 Defendant. )

) 

WHEREAS, on January 20, 2005, plaintiffs Latino Issues Forum, Medical Advocates for 

Healthy Air, and Sierra Club served on defendant San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution 

Control District a notice of intent to file a federal Clean Air Act citizen suit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 

§ 7604(b) (“60-day notice”) listing seven rules contained in defendant’s federally approved 2003 

San Joaquin Valley Plan to Attain Federal Standards for Particulate Matter 10 Microns and 

Smaller (“PM-10 Plan”). A true and correct copy of said 60-day notice is attached hereto and 

incorporated herein as Exhibit 1; 

WHEREAS, since the serving of said 60-day notice, defendant has adopted two of the 

rules listed as overdue; 

PHILIP M. JAY, DISTRICT COUNSEL #086174

CATHERINE TOGNAZZINI, Ass’t District Counsel #226957 

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY UNIFIED AIR 

POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT 

1990 E. Gettysburg 

Fresno, California 93726 

Telephone: (559) 230-6033 / Facsimile: (559) 230-6061

Attorneys for Defendant 

Case 1:05-cv-00607-OWW -DLB Document 11 Filed 07/01/05 Page 1 of 6
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SJVUAPCD 

1990 E. Gettysburg 

Fresno, CA 93726 

(559) 230-6033 

WHEREAS, plaintiffs filed a complaint in this matter on May 5, 2005 against defendant; 

WHEREAS, in their complaint, plaintiffs allege that defendant violated the Clean Air Act, 

42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq., including 42 U.S.C § 7604(a) & (g), by failing to adopt four specific 

pollution control rules by the dates contained in its federally-approved PM-10 Plan; 

WHEREAS, plaintiffs and defendant (“parties”) agree that this Court has jurisdiction to 

enter this Consent Decree, and have agreed to enter into this Consent Decree without any 

admission or adjudication of any issue of fact, law, liability, or remedy; 

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the parties, the public, and judicial economy to resolve 

these claims without further litigation; 

WHEREAS, plaintiffs have agreed to enter into this Consent Decree in order to achieve 

the emissions reductions associated with four specific pollution control rules without the delay 

associated with litigating these claims, and remained concerned about the future implementation 

of the PM-10 Plan; and 

WHEREAS, the Court finds and determines that this settlement represents a just, fair, 

adequate and equitable resolution of the claims resolved herein: 

NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that: 

1. No later than December 31, 2005, defendant shall adopt in final form District Rule 

4307, or an equivalent measure, to reduce oxides of nitrogen (“NOx”) from small boilers, steam 

generators, and process heaters as required by District’s 2003 PM-10 Plan. The rule shall both 

become effective and be submitted by defendant to the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) 

for review and submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) as a revision to 

the California State Implementation Plan (“SIP”) no later than January 31, 2006. 

2. No later than December 31, 2005, defendant shall adopt in final form District Rule 

4309, or an equivalent measure, to reduce NOx from commercial dryers as required by District’s 

2003 PM-10 Plan. The rule shall both become effective and be submitted by defendant to CARB 

for review and submission to EPA as a revision to the SIP no later than January 31, 2006. 

3. No later than December 31, 2005, defendant shall adopt in final form District Rule 

4903, or an equivalent measure, to reduce NOx from residential space heaters as required by 

Case 1:05-cv-00607-OWW -DLB Document 11 Filed 07/01/05 Page 2 of 6
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SJVUAPCD 

1990 E. Gettysburg 

Fresno, CA 93726 

(559) 230-6033 

District’s 2003 PM-10 Plan. The rule shall both become effective and be submitted by defendant 

to CARB for review and submission to EPA as a revision to the SIP no later than January 31, 

2006. 

4. No later than December 31, 2005, defendant shall adopt in final form a District 

Rule (yet to be numbered), or an equivalent measure, to reduce NOx from industrial, commercial, 

and institutional water heaters as required by District’s 2003 PM-10 Plan. The rule shall both 

become effective and be submitted by defendant to CARB for review and submission to EPA as a 

revision to the SIP no later than January 31, 2006. 

5. For purposes described in paragraphs 1 through 4 above, “equivalent measures” 

refers to new substitute rules, measures, or programs that achieve the same or greater reductions 

in pollutants. 

6. The parties also agree that in the event plaintiffs file a Clean Air Act citizen suit 

regarding District’s 2003 PM-10 Plan commitment to adopt Rule 9510, “Indirect Source 

Mitigation Program,” plaintiffs will file a new 60-day notice under 42 U.S.C. § 7604(b). 

7. Any provision of this Consent Decree may be modified by the Court upon the 

motion of any party to this Consent Decree and consideration of any response by a non-moving 

party if the party seeking modification demonstrates that such modification is consistent with law 

and in the public interest, or if all parties agree to the modification. 

8. Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed to bind the United States in any 

manner. 

9. All submissions that this Consent Decree requires the defendant to make to CARB 

shall be submitted contemporaneously to the undersigned counsel for plaintiffs. 

10. Plaintiffs’ claims shall be dismissed with prejudice and this Consent Decree shall 

terminate when defendant has executed its obligations under Paragraphs 1-4, and plaintiffs have 

received a check resolving their claim for costs and attorneys fees pursuant to Paragraph 11. 

Within 30 days of the last of these events, plaintiffs shall file with the Court a motion to dismiss 

their complaint with prejudice. If plaintiffs fail to do so, defendant may file such a motion and, 

Case 1:05-cv-00607-OWW -DLB Document 11 Filed 07/01/05 Page 3 of 6
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SJVUAPCD 

1990 E. Gettysburg 

Fresno, CA 93726 

(559) 230-6033 

absent any dispute over the completion of defendant’s obligations, plaintiffs shall not oppose the 

dismissal of this action with prejudice. 

11. Pursuant to section 304(d) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7604(d), defendant 

agrees to pay plaintiffs Thirty-five Thousand Eight Hundred Fifteen Dollars ($35,815.00) as their 

costs of this litigation, including attorneys fees. This amount constitutes full satisfaction of any 

remaining claims for attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by plaintiffs during the course of this 

litigation. Plaintiffs reserve the right to seek additional reasonable fees and costs, which plaintiffs 

may incur in enforcing this Consent Decree, should defendant fail to comply with the actions 

required herein. No later than thirty days after entry of this Consent Decree, defendant shall mail 

a check payable to Earthjustice in the amount of Thirty-five Thousand Eight Hundred Fifteen 

Dollars ($35,815.00) to Earthjustice, c/o Deborah Reames, 426 17th Street, Fifth Floor, Oakland, 

California 94612. 

12. Plaintiffs reserve all rights and remedies, which may pertain to defendant’s failure 

to comply with any of the requirements of this Consent Decree. Plaintiffs reserve the right to 

contest any action the EPA may take (or not take) when it reviews the rules that defendant is 

obligated to submit to CARB under this Consent Decree for incorporation into the SIP. Except 

as provided expressly herein, nothing in this Consent Decree shall constitute a release or waiver of 

any claim plaintiffs may have against the defendant relating to compliance with the Clean Air Act. 

13. The parties agree and acknowledge that before this Consent Decree can be 

finalized and entered by the Court, plaintiffs shall submit this Consent Decree, once lodged with 

the Court, to the Attorney General and the EPA Administrator for a 45-day review period 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 7604(c). The parties reserve the right to withdraw their consent to entry 

of this Consent Decree if the United States notifies this Court in writing that it opposes entry of 

this Consent Decree. The parties agree not to oppose entry of this Consent Decree or to 

challenge any provision of this Consent Decree unless the United States notifies the Court in 

writing that it opposes entry of this Consent Decree. 

Case 1:05-cv-00607-OWW -DLB Document 11 Filed 07/01/05 Page 4 of 6
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SJVUAPCD 

1990 E. Gettysburg 

Fresno, CA 93726 

(559) 230-6033 

14. The undersigned representatives of each party certify that they are fully authorized 

by the party or parties they represent to consent to the Court’s entry of the terms and conditions 

of this Decree, subject to the provisions in Paragraph 13. 

IT IS SO ORDERED this 1st day of July 2005. 

 /s/ OLIVER W. WANGER 

 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 

 

Case 1:05-cv-00607-OWW -DLB Document 11 Filed 07/01/05 Page 5 of 6
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SJVUAPCD 

1990 E. Gettysburg 

Fresno, CA 93726 

(559) 230-6033 

FOR THE PLAINTIFFS: 

 Dated: May _5_, 2005 

 /s/ George M. Torgun 

 DEBORAH S. REAMES 

 GEORGE M. TORGUN 

Attorneys for plaintiffs Latino Issues Forum, Medical 

Advocates for Healthy Air, and Sierra Club 

FOR THE DEFENDANT: 

 Dated: May _5_, 2005 

 /s/ Philip M. Jay (as authorized on May 4, 2005)

 PHILIP M. JAY 

District Counsel for the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air 

Pollution Control District 

Case 1:05-cv-00607-OWW -DLB Document 11 Filed 07/01/05 Page 6 of 6