Opinion ID: 461081
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Guidelines unduly restrict the state's statutory rights.

Text: 40 Nevada challenges two clauses in the Guidelines. These declare that duplication of data collection efforts and associated activities should be minimized to the maximum extent practicable and avoided if at all possible, and that Nevada may receive funding to run independent tests on DOE data, where the need for such independent testing can be justified. The first clause minimizes primary data collection by the state; the second clause requires DOE approval before a state may obtain funding for any tests--even though those tests are confined to primary data already collected by DOE. 41 This interpretation of a state's statutory rights is unduly restrictive. Section 116(c)(1)(B)'s mandatory language provides that the Secretary shall make grants to each state ... to engage in any monitoring, testing, or evaluation activities with respect to site characterization. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10136(c)(1)(B) (emphasis added). As the legislative history indicates, these grants extend[ ] to all activities undertaken under this subtitle, H.R.Rep. No. 785, 97th Cong., 2d Sess. 72 (1982); the House reports impose no limitation on the state's funding of the type adopted in the Guidelines. See H.R.Rep. No. 491, Pt. 1, 97th Cong., 2d Sess. 55 (1982), reprinted in 1982 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 3792, 3821. See also Sec. 117(c)(8), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10137(c)(8) (state may conduct reasonable independent monitoring and testing of activities on the repository site pursuant to a written agreement during the site characterization stage). 42 By minimizing independent collection of primary data, and then restricting state tests of primary data that DOE has collected, the Phase III Guidelines eviscerate the independent oversight role that Congress envisioned for the states. Permitting DOE to guard the chicken coop alone would violate the statutory finding that state participation and oversight of DOE is essential in order to promote public confidence in the safety of disposal of [nuclear] waste. Sec. 111(a)(6), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10131(a)(6). 43 The Secretary's construction of Sec. 116(c)(1)(B) is inconsistent with the statutory mandate and a frustration of congressional policy. See Louisiana-Pacific Corp., 754 F.2d at 1447. Consistent with its duties under a consultation-cooperation agreement, see Sec. 117(b) & (c)(8), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10137(b) & (c)(8), DOE must fund relevant site characterization activities which are reasonable, scientifically justifiable, and performed by demonstrably competent contractors, and which would not unreasonably interfere with or delay DOE's own activities. 44