APPENDIX A 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

I. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 1

II. MOTIONS ADDRESSED IN THIS ORDER.......................................................... 4

III. SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THIS ORDER........................................... 5

IV. FACTUAL BACKGROUND................................................................................... 7

A. Parties............................................................................................................. 7

B. Clean Water Act.............................................................................................. 8

C. Current factual circumstances......................................................................... 8

V. PROCEDURAL HISTORY.................................................................................... 9

A. US v. SFWMD, Case No. 88-1886................................................................ 10

1. 1992 Consent Decree.............................................................................. 11

2. Everglades Forever Act ........................................................................... 12

3. Amended Everglades Forever Act ........................................................... 13

4. The Phosphorous Rule ............................................................................ 14

B. 2009 Determination....................................................................................... 14

VI. RECENT PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND ........................................................ 17

A. April 14, 2010 Order...................................................................................... 17

B. Rule 60(b) Motion.......................................................................................... 18

C. Amended Determination ............................................................................... 18

D. December 17, 2010 hearing.......................................................................... 20

E. Rule 60(b) Motion in US v. SFWMD, Case No. 88-1886............................... 20

1. Special Master's Report........................................................................... 21

2. Hearing before Judge Moreno & Order on Rule 60(b)(5) Motion............. 22

VII. EPA RESPONSE TO FIRST SUA SPONTE ORDER ........................................ 24

VIII. PERMITTING BACKGROUND........................................................................... 26

A. Permit procedures......................................................................................... 27

B. State-issued permits ..................................................................................... 28

C. EPA-issued permits....................................................................................... 29

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D. Variance and immediate commencement of enforcement against 

FDEP ............................................................................................................ 29

IX. JURISDICTION .................................................................................................. 30

X. LEGAL STANDARD ........................................................................................... 31

XI. PARTIES' POSITIONS ON RULE 60(B) MOTION ............................................. 32

A. The EPA........................................................................................................ 32

B. Miccosukee Tribe .......................................................................................... 33

C. Friends .......................................................................................................... 34

D. FDEP ............................................................................................................ 34

E. New Hope ..................................................................................................... 34

XII. ANALYSIS.......................................................................................................... 35

A. The EPA's commitment................................................................................. 35

B. Whether the Amended Determination is mandatory...................................... 37

C. Necessity of immediate action....................................................................... 38

D. Effect of March 23, 2011 Order in Case No. 88-1886 ................................... 42

E. Amended Determination ............................................................................... 44

1. Water quality standard............................................................................. 46

2. Discharge limit – water quality based effluent limitation ("WQBEL")........ 47

F. Permitting authority ....................................................................................... 50

G. Failure to comply with April 14, 2010 Order .................................................. 54

1. Conform existing permits by November 2, 2010 ...................................... 55

2. Amend Phosphorus Rule by January 1, 2011.......................................... 56

H. Rule 60(b) Motion.......................................................................................... 57

1. Partial withdrawal of NPDES permitting program with a new 

injunctive provision that would apply after existing permits have 

been conformed....................................................................................... 57

2. Modify Findings of Fact "that appear to equate the 10 ppb water 

quality criterion for phosphorus in the Everglades with WQBELs"........... 58

3. Modify Attachments B and C "to more closely track the 2008 Order 

Granting Summary Judgment and the April 14 Order"............................. 59

I. Motion for Entry of an Order Declaring Permits Null And Void...................... 60

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J. Motion to Add SFWMD as a Party ................................................................ 63

1. SFWMD's response to Amended Determination...................................... 63

2. Applicable law.......................................................................................... 65

3. Analysis ................................................................................................... 65

K. Motion for Clarification of Compliance Order................................................. 67

L. Motion to Strike ............................................................................................. 71

XIII. CONCLUSION.................................................................................................... 72

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