T hi s di s pos i t i on i s notappr opr i a t e f orpubl i c a t i on a nd i s notpr e c e de nt * e xc e pta s pr ovi de d by 9th C i r . R . 36- 3. NOT F OR P UB L I CAT I ON UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS FOR T HE NI NTH CI RC UI T WI NN E MUC C A I ND I AN C OL ON Y; S HA R ON WAS S ON ; T HO MAS WAS S ON ; J UD Y R OJ O; E L VE R I NE CAST RO; PE TE R L I TS TE R; ST EP HEN E R I C KS ON ; KI M T OWNS E ND ; V I RG I N I A SA N CH EZ; J A CK M A LO TTE; A RV I LLA M A SCA REN A S; P AT R I C I A A XE L R OD , P l ai n t i ffs - A p p el l an t s, v. UN I T E D S T AT E S OF AME R I C A; R O B E R T M . G A T E S , S e c r e t a ry of the U ni t ed S t at es D epartm entof D ef ense ; L I N T O N B R O O K S , D i r e c t orof the N a t i ona l N uc l e a rS e c ur i ty A dm i ni s tr a t i on; J A M E S T E G N E L I A , D i r e c t orof the D efen se T h reatR ed u ct i o n A g en cy, D efen d an t s - A p p el l ees. N o. 09- 15176 D. C . No . 2 : 0 6 - c v - 0 0 4 9 7 - L DG P AL ME MOR AN DU M *

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e e s unde rthe E qua l A c c e s s t o J us t i c e A c t , 28 U. S . C . § 2 4 1 2 ( d ) ( 1 ) ( A) . We h a v e j u r i s d i c t i o n u n d e r2 8 U. S . C . § 1 2 9 1 a n d we a f f i r m. O nl y a “ pr e va i l i ng pa r ty ” i s e nt i t l e d t o a tt orne y ’ s f e e s unde rthe E A J A . 28 U . S . C . § 2 4 1 2 (d )(1 )(A ). “ [A ] l i t i g an tm u stm eettw o cri t eri a t o q u al i fy as a prevai l i ng party. F i rs t , he m ustac hi eve a‘ m at er i al al t er at i on of the l egal r e la tio n s h ip o f

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