Opinion ID: 77243
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Citizen Enforcement

Text: 12 The Clean Air Act gives any person the authority to bring a civil action on his or her own behalf against any person . . . who is alleged to have violated . . . an emission standard or limitation under this chapter. 42 U.S.C. § 7604(a)(1). An emission standard or limitation is defined to include any other standard, limitation, or schedule established under any permit issued pursuant to [Title V] or under any applicable State implementation plan approved by the [EPA] Administrator. 42 U.S.C. § 7604(f)(4). Accordingly, citizens may sue to enforce the terms of a stationary source's Title V permit. 13 `[T]he citizen suit is meant to supplement rather than to supplant governmental action.' Am. Canoe Ass'n, Inc. v. City of Attalla, 363 F.3d 1085, 1089 n. 5 (11th Cir.2004) (quoting Gwaltney of Smithfield, Ltd. v. Chesapeake Bay Found., Inc., 484 U.S. 49, 60, 108 S.Ct. 376, 383, 98 L.Ed.2d 306 (1987)). As such, prior to initiating litigation, a citizen enforcer must notify the EPA, the alleged violator, and the relevant state agency of the citizen's intent to sue. 42 U.S.C. § 7604(b). The citizen enforcer may not sue until sixty days after sending the notice letters, and his lawsuit is barred if the [EPA] Administrator or State has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil action in a court of the United States or a State to require compliance with the standard, limitation, or order. 42 U.S.C. § 7604(b)(1)(B).