Opinion ID: 162578
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failed to take actual field data for developing the functional profile.

Text: 86 The Appellants contend that NEPA was violated by the Agencies' failure to develop functional profiles for each wetlands subclass within the affected region and to identify and collect field data on measurable ecological attributes. Aplt. Br. at 65. As discussed immediately above, the Agencies gave a rational explanation for not classifying the wetlands into subcategories. It would not be rational to require the Agencies to develop functional profiles for each subclass when they were not required to identify subclasses. See supra I.I.1. The Appellants' claim that the Agencies failed to identify and collect field data on measurable ecological attributes is contradicted by the record. IV Aplee. App. at 1378, 1379, 1380, 1557; III Aplee. App. at 1122.4. Additionally, we find it significant that the NAP states, The functional profile is based on the experience and expertise of the A-team [assessment team] and information collected from reference wetlands. 62 Fed.Reg. 33,607, 33,610 (June 20, 1997). 87