Opinion ID: 72034
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: MCEAA's Asserted Bases for Relief

Text: On February 13, 2009, MCEAA timely filed a petition to appeal the STB's Decision, naming the STB and FWS as respondents. At issue is whether the STB, in granting the § 10502 exemption, reached an arbitrary and capricious conclusion that the activity that it was authorizing was not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of habitat of such species. 16 U.S.C. § 1536(a)(2). Also at issue is whether the FWS, with which the STB was required to consult in rendering decision under § 7, id., complied with its own § 7 obligations by concurring in the STB's determination that no such jeopardy was likely to occur. MCEAA's chief argument is that the STB and FWS should have assessed the potential for jeopardy posed by the entire 1,760-acre tract, not just the proposed rail and Phase One area. MCEAA also contends that the analysis that the STB conducted failed to assess the effects of noise and vibration on the warbler population; gave inadequate consideration to the threats posed to karst invertebrates; and improperly relied on certain unenforceable mitigation conditions. Also pending is MCEAA's motion to supplement the administrative record with material that it contends the STB and FWS should have considered before rendering their decisions.