Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-03198/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-03198-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gina McCarthy
Defendant
Sierra Club
Plaintiff

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United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SIERRA CLUB, et al.,

 Plaintiffs, 

 v. 

GINA MCCARTHY, in her official capacity as 

Administrator of the United States 

Environmental Protection Agency,

 Defendant. 

Case No.: 14-CV-05091 YGR

And consolidated case 14-cv-3198-YGR 

ORDER GRANTING IN PART MOTIONS AND 

CROSS-MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Plaintiffs Sierra Club and Wild Earth Guardians (“Plaintiffs”) filed a Clean Air Act citizen 

suit to compel Defendant Gina McCarthy, in her official capacity as Administrator of the United 

States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to undertake mandatory duties for which 

statutory compliance deadlines had passed. (Sierra Club v. McCarthy, 14-cv-5091-YGR, 

complaint filed November 18, 2014 [“the ‘5091 Action”].)1

 Specifically, Plaintiffs sought an order 

 1

 On July 15, 2014, Plaintiff Sierra Club filed a complaint against EPA alleging in Claim 1 

that Tennessee had not submitted a 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) element of a 2008 ozone National Ambient 

Air Quality Standards Infrastructure State Implementation Plan, and in Claim 2 that EPA had failed 

to take Final Action on the States Infrastructure State Implementation Plan Submittals for the States 

of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, 

Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South 

Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia as required. See 42 U.S.C. § 7410(k)(2) - (4). (Sierra 

Club v. McCarthy, 14-cv-3198-YGR [“the ‘3198 Action”].) 

The Court consolidated the ‘5091 Complaint and the ‘3198 Complaint for decision on May 

7, 2015. (See Docket in ‘5091 Action at Dkt. No. 38.) 

The parties have submitted a proposed form of Partial Consent Decree on the ‘3198 

Action’s Claim 2. (See Docket in ‘3198 Action at Dkt. No. 49.) Thus, the only remaining claim at 

issue in the ‘3198 Action is against the state of Tennessee for the identical Good Neighbor SIP 

violation alleged against 25 other states in the ‘5091 Action. 

Case 4:14-cv-03198-YGR Document 51 Filed 05/07/15 Page 1 of 7
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United States District Court 

Northern District of California 

that EPA be required to fulfill certain non-discretionary duties under 42 U.S.C. section 

7410(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), referred to as the “Good Neighbor” provisions, 

with respect to the states of Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, 

Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. 

On January 16, 2015, in the ‘5091 Action, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, 

seeking entry of an order declaring that EPA had failed to make the required finding of failure to 

submit a Good Neighbor State Implementation Plan (or “SIP”) for the 2008 ozone National 

Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”), and order EPA to do so within thirty days. (‘5091 

Action, Dkt. No. 21.) Previously, on January 5, 2015, Plaintiff Sierra Club had moved for 

summary judgment in the now-related and consolidated ‘3198 Action on Claim 1 therein, seeking 

the identical relief with respect to the state of Tennessee. (‘3198 Action, Dkt. No. 35.) EPA, in its 

cross-motion and response to those motions, conceded liability but argued that it would need ninety 

days to comply with those mandatory duties. 

Having carefully considered the arguments and papers submitted, and in light of the parties’ 

substantial agreement as to the facts herein, the Court finds that there is no triable issue of material 

fact and GRANTS IN PART Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment in the ‘5091 Action and in the 

‘3198 Action and ORDERS that EPA comply with its statutory obligations under 42 U.S.C. section 

7410(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with respect to the states of Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, 

Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New 

Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, 

and West Virginia no later than June 30, 2015. 

Case 4:14-cv-03198-YGR Document 51 Filed 05/07/15 Page 2 of 7
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United States District Court 

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I. STATUTORY OVERVIEW OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT

Under the CAA, EPA is required to set the NAAQS for certain pollutants, including ozone. 

42 U.S.C. § 7409(a). Within three years of promulgating the ozone NAAQS, the CAA requires 

each state to submit a SIP that provides for the “implementation, maintenance, and enforcement” of 

the standard. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(1). Each SIP is required to contain a “Good Neighbor” 

provision, which prohibits the state from emitting air pollutants which will contribute significantly 

to nonattainment, or interference with maintenance in other states. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). 

The CAA requires EPA to determine whether each SIP submitted is administratively complete. 42 

U.S.C. § 7410(k)(1)(B).

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

EPA promulgated a NAAQS for ozone on March 12, 2008. 73 Fed. Reg. 16436 (Mar. 27, 

2008). Each state was required to submit its SIP for the 2008 ozone NAAQS by March 12, 2011. 

42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(1). For states that failed to meet that deadline, EPA was required to issue a 

notice of failure to submit by the September 12, 2011. 

On October 17, 2012, this Court found that EPA failed to meet that deadline in violation of 

its nondiscretionary duties under the CAA. WildEarth Guardians v. Jackson, No. 11-CV-05651-

YGR, Order Granting In Part Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, and Granting Defendant’s 

Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, Dkt. No. 64 (Oct. 17, 2012). The Court also found that, for 

certain states which submitted an SIP after the deadline, EPA had failed to take final action by 

approving in full, disapproving in full, or approving in part and disapproving in part, within the 

time required by statute. Id. citing 42 U.S.C. § 7410(k)(2),(3). Therefore, this Court required EPA 

to issue findings that certain states had failed to submit SIPs for the 2008 ozone National Ambient 

Air Quality Standard by no later than January 4, 2013. 

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On January 4, 2013, pursuant to this Court’s order, EPA issued a finding that numerous 

states had failed to submit 2008 ozone SIPs except as to the “Good Neighbor” provisions found in 

42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). Findings of Failure To Submit a Complete State Implementation 

Plan, 78 Fed. Reg. 2882 (Jan. 15, 2013). EPA declined to make findings of failure to submit on the 

Good Neighbor provisions in reliance on its interpretation of the D.C. Circuit’s decision in EME 

Homer City Generation v. EPA, 696 F.3d 7, 31 (D.C. Cir. 2012), concluding that “a SIP cannot be 

deemed to lack a required submission or deemed deficient for failure to meet the 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) 

obligation until after the EPA quantifies that obligation.” Findings of Failure To Submit a 

Complete State Implementation Plan, 78 Fed. Reg. at 2884. 

Since then, the Supreme Court reversed the D.C. Circuit decision in Homer City, holding 

that the plain language of the Clean Air Act mandated that states submit Good Neighbor provisions 

within three years of EPA promulgating a NAAQS, and that EPA need not undertake any action to 

trigger this obligation. E.P.A. v. EME Homer City Generation, L.P., 134 S. Ct. 1584, 1600 (2014). 

In light of the Homer City opinion, on August 1, 2014, the D.C. Circuit vacated EPA’s January 4, 

2013 determination that it need not address the Good Neighbor provisions, and remanded the 

matter to EPA for further consideration. See Maryland v. EPA, 13–1070, Order, Dkt. No. 1505606, 

at 1 (D.C. Cir. Aug 1, 2014). Subsequent to the D.C. Circuit’s vacating EPA’s January 4, 2013 

determination, EPA has done nothing to cure its failure to address its Good Neighbor provision 

duties, despite requests for action by Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, the States of 

Maryland, Connecticut, and Delaware, and the District of Columbia. 

The following states have not submitted Good Neighbor provisions in compliance with 

section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), for the 2008 ozone 

NAAQS: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, 

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Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, 

North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, 

Washington, and West Virginia. EPA has not issued a finding of failure to submit a completed SIP 

as required under the CAA for any of these states. 

III. LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is proper where there is “no genuine issue as to any material fact and 

that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). 

When an agency fails to meet its statutorily mandated deadline, the district court has broad 

discretion to fashion an equitable remedy. Alaska Ctr. for Env’t v. Browner, 20 F.3d 981, 986 (9th 

Cir. 1994) (recognizing that “to bring about any progress toward achieving the congressional 

objectives of the [Clean Water Act], the EPA would have to be directed to take specific steps”). 

The court’s discretion is guided by Congress’ express intent. See Delaney v. EPA, 898 F.2d 687, 

695 (9th Cir. 1990) (disapproving of the extensions EPA gave to delinquent nonattainment areas to 

attain NAAQS because it contradicted Congress’ intent to achieve the NAAQS “as soon as 

possible”); Sierra Club v. Thomas, 658 F. Supp. 165, 172 (N.D. Cal. 1987) (“[I]f the statutory 

deadline has passed by the time the court issues its decree, the EPA remains obligated to issue 

regulations within the time frame mandated by Congress.”). 

The agency bears a heavy burden to show that such a statutory deadline cannot be met. 

Alabama Power Co. v. Costle, 636 F.2d 323, 359 (D.C. Cir. 1979). Mere apprehension that the 

agency cannot meet a deadline is not enough. Id. The agency can prove that a deadline is 

infeasible by demonstrating either: (1) the “budgetary” and “manpower” demands required are 

“beyond the agency’s capacity or would unduly jeopardize the implementation of other essential 

programs”; or (2) and agency’s need to have more time to sufficiently evaluate complex, technical 

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problems. Natural Res. Def. Council v. Train, 510 F.2d 692, 712 (D.C. Cir. 1974) (providing the 

possibility of an extension subsequent to the court-ordered deadline). 

IV. DISCUSSION

All parties agree that summary judgment is appropriate because there is no genuine dispute 

of material fact. EPA does not dispute Plaintiffs’ allegations that the requirements of the Good 

Neighbor provision are non-discretionary, and that EPA has not issued the required failure to 

submit findings as to the identified states’ SIPs. The only issue remaining for decision is what 

deadline the Court will impose for EPA’s compliance with its mandatory duty. Plaintiffs request a 

thirty-day deadline and EPA requests a ninety-day deadline. 

Plaintiffs argue that thirty days is appropriate for two main reasons: (1) making the failure 

to submit finding is a simple, rote task that does not involve any technical or policy judgments; and 

(2) EPA has been on notice that these findings are required since the EME Homer decision. EPA 

requests ninety days from the Court’s order to comply with the statutory requirements. EPA argues 

that a thirty-day deadline is infeasible because of other competing obligations that prevent it from 

streamlining the failure to submit findings. EPA claims that its other priorities include: (1) seventyeight upcoming air program projects listed on EPA’s Regulatory Agenda; (2) thirty-nine other 

deadlines; (3) a heavy workload related to its review and action on SIP submissions; (4) defending 

the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (the “Transport Rule”); and (5) responding to approximately 

sixty pending administrative petitions for reconsideration requesting that EPA reconsider numerous 

aspects of the Transport Rule. (Defendant’s Oppo. at 8–10.) 

The Court finds that it is reasonable for EPA to issue its failure to submit findings for the 

incomplete SIPs no later than June 30, 2015. Under the CAA, EPA must determine if the 

submitted SIP is administratively complete within 60 days. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(k)(1)(B) (“Within 60 

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days of the Administrator’s receipt of a plan or plan revision . . . the Administrator shall determine 

whether the minimum criteria . . . have been met.”). Moreover, EPA has known for quite some 

time which states failed to comply with the Good Neighbor provisions. EPA’s argument that 90 

days is the “most expeditious schedule under which EPA could sign a notice of making findings for 

failure to submit,” is belied by the fact that it has known that this action was required for over nine 

months. In this case EPA admits liability and offers no reason for its inaction. Accordingly, it is 

appropriate to require both expeditious and reasonable attention to this matter. 

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, it is ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment 

and Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment are GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN 

PART. Defendant EPA shall issue its failure to submit findings for the above mentioned twentyfive states that have failed to include a Good Neighbor provisions for the 2008 ozone NAAQS in 

their SIPs by June 30, 2015. 

No later than May 14, 2015, the parties shall submit a proposed form of judgment for the 

consolidated actions which addresses and incorporates both the June 30, 2015 deadline for 

compliance on the failure to submit 2008 ozone NAAQS Good Neighbor provisions decided 

herein, and the terms of the Partial Consent Decree submitted on April 22, 2015, in the ‘3198 

Action (‘3198 Action at Dkt. No. 49) in a single form of judgment covering all claims. 

This terminates Docket No. 21. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date: May 7, 2015 _______________________________________ 

 YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Case 4:14-cv-03198-YGR Document 51 Filed 05/07/15 Page 7 of 7