Opinion ID: 490091
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: This Court Lacks Jurisdiction to Consider EDF's Petition

Text: 21 EDF claims that the passage of section 3004(u) requires certain changes in the EPA groundwater monitoring regulations. Generally, these regulations are designed to determine if an owner or operator must take corrective action for a release of a contaminant from a regulated unit into the surrounding groundwater system. As currently written, these regulations require only that the background wells of monitoring systems not be[ ] affected by leakage from a regulated unit. 40 C.F.R. Sec. 264.97(a)(1) (1986). EDF argues that, in light of the section 3004(u) duty to take corrective action for releases not only from regulated--i.e., hazardous waste--management units but also for releases from solid waste--i.e., non-regulated--management units, the groundwater monitoring procedures must be modified to enable the Agency to determine that groundwater is not being contaminated by either regulated or non-regulated units. 22 Whatever the merits of EDF's contention, its suit is not properly before us at this time. Our jurisdiction in these cases stems from section 7006(a)(1) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6976(a)(1) (1982), which grants exclusive jurisdiction to this court for petition[s] for review of action of the Administrator in promulgating any regulation, or requirement under [the Act]. We also have jurisdiction to review any action of the EPA denying any petition for the promulgation, amendment or repeal of a regulation under [the Act]. Id. EDF's claim is that the EPA should have promulgated a rule which, up until now, it has not promulgated. It cannot sensibly be seen as challenging the regulations actually promulgated in the Final Rule. The details of a groundwater monitoring program are a matter to be resolved through the use of the Agency's expertise in selecting the appropriate method of ascertaining compliance with statutory and regulatory norms. No specific method is mandated by the Act or by the 1984 Amendments. Indeed, EDF has petitioned the Agency to promulgate regulations implementing new groundwater monitoring procedures, but the EPA has not yet acted on its petition. See Request for Stay Pending Judicial Review or for Reconsideration, reprinted in Addendum A to Brief for the Respondent. When the Agency acts on the petition, either EDF can seek judicial review of the Agency's decision to deny its petition, or, if the Agency promulgates new regulations relating to groundwater monitoring, EDF might be able to seek judicial review of those regulations at that time. At this juncture, however, judicial review would be premature. 23 Of course, the Agency may not unreasonably delay in ruling on EDF's petition. Under our decision in Telecommunications Research & Action Center v. FCC, 750 F.2d 70 (D.C.Cir.1984), EDF may pursue an action in this court to compel the Agency to act on its petition. However, this is not the suit that EDF has brought before us, and we express no opinion on the merits of any such claim. At this point, we have no jurisdiction to entertain EDF's petition.