Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_17-cv-02185/USCOURTS-caed-2_17-cv-02185-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 30:181 Environment: Review of Agency Action

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEVILS GARDEN PRESERVATION 

GROUP et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

U.S. FOREST SERVICE et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:17-cv-02185-MCE-KJN

ORDER

Through this action, Plaintiffs assert four claims for relief against Federal 

Defendants for violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), 5 U.S.C. § 701 et 

seq., and the Mandamus and Venue Act (“MVA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1361.1 First Amended 

Complaint, ECF No. 84. On October 9, 2019, this Court issued a Supplemental Pretrial 

Scheduling Order, which requires that non-expert discovery be completed within one 

year of the order, and that dispositive motions be filed within 180 days after the close of 

discovery. ECF No. 83. Presently before the Court is Federal Defendants’ Motion to 

Modify the Court’s Scheduling Order, which Plaintiffs oppose.

2

 ECF Nos. 88, 92. For 

1

“[T]he Supreme Court has construed a claim seeking mandamus under the MVA, ‘in essence,’ 

as one for relief under § 706 of the APA.” Indep. Min. Co. v. Babbitt, 105 F.3d 502, 507 (9th Cir. 1997).

2 Defendant-Intervenors filed a Response in Support of Federal Defendants’ Motion and request 

that they submit their briefs one week after Federal Defendants pursuant to previously agreed upon 

schedules. ECF No. 89.

Case 2:17-cv-02185-MCE-KJN Document 101 Filed 03/02/20 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

the reasons set forth below, Federal Defendants’ Motion is GRANTED.3

Judicial review of agency decisions is governed by the APA, which limits the 

scope of the Court’s review to the administrative record available to the agency at the 

time of the challenged decision, unless certain exceptions apply. See Animal Def. 

Council v. Hodel, 840 F.2d 1432, 1436 (9th Cir. 1988) (permitting discovery beyond the 

administrative record only when certain exceptions apply); Lands Council v. Powell, 395 

F.3d 1019, 1030 (9th Cir. 2005) (“These limited exceptions operate to identify and plug 

holes in the administrative record.”). Here, the modified schedule proposed by Federal 

Defendants follows the standard procedure in APA cases and Plaintiffs have not 

presented any arguments persuading the Court to deviate from this procedure. 

Therefore, Federal Defendants’ Motion is GRANTED, and the Court adopts the following 

modified schedule:

1. Federal Defendants lodge supplemental administrative record – 90 days

2. Plaintiffs file motion to supplement or complete record (if any) – 30 days

3. If not, Plaintiffs file opening motion for summary judgment – 30 days

4. Federal Defendants file combined cross-motion and response brief – 30 days

5. Defendant-Intervenors file combined cross-motion and response brief – 7 days

6. Plaintiffs file combined response and reply brief – 15 days

7. Federal Defendants file reply brief – 15 days

8. Defendant-Intervenors file reply brief – 7 days

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: March 2, 2020

3 Because oral argument would not be of material assistance, the Court ordered this matter 

submitted on the briefs. E.D. Local Rule 230(g).

Case 2:17-cv-02185-MCE-KJN Document 101 Filed 03/02/20 Page 2 of 2