Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-04503/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-04503-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:7413(b) Clean Air Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AGENCY,

Plaintiff,

COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER

ENVIRONMENT, 

Intervenor Plaintiff,

 v.

PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC,

Defendant. /

No. C 09-4503 SI

ORDER GRANTING IN PART MOTION

BY COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER

ENVIRONMENT FOR PERMISSIVE

JOINDER OF BAY AREA AIR QUALITY

MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND JACK

BROADBENT AS DEFENDANTS

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20, Intervenor plaintiff Communities for a Better

Environment (“CBE”) has moved to permissively join as defendants the Bay Area Air Quality

Management District (“BAAQMD” or “Air District”) and Jack Broadbent, in his official capacity as Air

Pollution Control Officer of the Air District. Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7-1(b), the Court VACATES

the May 14, 2010 hearing on the motion. The case management conference scheduled for 3:00 pm on

May 14, 2010 remains on calendar.

 CBE contends that joinder is appropriate because CBE’s proposed claims against these new

defendants arise out of the same transactions and occurrences as CBE’s claims against PG&E. CBE’s

claims against PG&E (as well as the EPA’s claims against PG&E) allege that PG&E is in violation of

the Clean Air Act because PG&E failed to comply with the preconstruction requirements of the

Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) program in PG&E’s construction and operation of the

Gateway power plant. CBE alleges that the Air District issued a PSD permit to PG&E’s predecessor

Case 3:09-cv-04503-SI Document 46 Filed 05/12/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 The EPA states that it does not object to joinder at this time, but that it reserves it rights and

does not waive any future arguments, claims, or actions relating to BAAQMD’s participation in this

case.

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in interest, Mirant Delta, LLC, in July 2001 for a power plant designed for the same site where the

Gateway plant now operates; that Mirant’s PSD permit expired; and that PG&E , the new owner of the

plant, finished construction and began operating the power plant without a new PSD permit to replace

the expired permit. CBE’s proposed new claims against BAAQMD and Mr. Broadbent allege that the

Air District has a duty to administer the PSD program consistent with the Clean Air Act, and that despite

the expiration of the Mirant permit, the Air District purported to renew the permit in 2005 and 2007 in

violation of the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

The EPA1

 and PG&E do not oppose the joinder of BAAQMD and Mr. Broadbent, but they both

express concern that CBE’s proposed amended complaint goes beyond the scope of the underlying

lawsuit by alleging violations of the Clean Air Act, and seeking relief with regard to, facilities other than

the Gateway power plant. The EPA and PG&E assert that the potential breadth of CBE’s claims will

complicate and delay this litigation and result in time consuming, expensive and unnecessary discovery.

The Court finds that the concerns raised by the EPA and PG&E are valid, and that it is

appropriate to limit CBE’s claims against the new defendants to those involving PG&E’s Gateway

power plant. As so limited, the Court finds that the proposed claims against BAAQMD and Mr.

Broadbent arise out of the same transactions and occurrences as the underlying claims, and CBE’s

motion for permissive joinder is GRANTED IN PART. (Docket No. 33). CBE shall file a first

amended complaint in intervention, limited to claims regarding the Gateway power plant, no later than

May 17, 2010. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 12, 2010 

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:09-cv-04503-SI Document 46 Filed 05/12/10 Page 2 of 2