Opinion ID: 314947
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Irreparable Injury and Remedies.

Text: 48 A disturbing feature of this litigation arises in the context of making a determination of the consequences to the environment of not granting a preliminary injunction at this time. The building is already substantially complete. There are two explanations for this. First, at least from the record before us, the Postal Service went ahead with this project on I-3 zoning in the face of express disapproval from NCPC. It was only in mid-1972, after the first two phases of this project had been let out for construction, that NCPC approved the site boundaries. The Postal Service is not obligated by statute to follow the advice or recommendations of NCPC, but it is required to wait for those recommendations before starting construction. We are not sure this was done since NCPC based its input on the assumption that I-3 zoning would be abandoned, when in fact it was not. 49 On the other hand, MNCPC did not bring this litigation until late 1972 when the building was in an advanced stage of construction. To some extent this is understandable, since it might have been expected that the negotiations between NCPC and the Postal Service would result in a change of design, or boundaries, to solve anticipated adverse environmental effects. We remain troubled, however, by indications that the main concern, the over-riding issue, of MNCPC is social and economic rather than environmental. 50 In any event, we must face the reality that the building was substantially complete as of May 1973. It may be, therefore, that the only way that we could act to avoid potential damage to the environment would be to order that the building be dismantled, an extreme step to be taken by a court of equity, and a step only remotely possible or conceivable even if we had a full and adequate impact statement before us to review. See City of New York v. United States 4 E.R.C. 1646 (3-judge court 1972); compare EDF v. Corps of Engineers (Gillham Dam), 470 F.2d 289 (8th Cir. 1972). On the other hand, upon further consideration of this matter the district court may want stipulations on design modifications as a condition for not enjoining the project on the basis of the failure to write a detailed impact statement. 51 Equitable remedies depend not only on a determination of legal rights and wrongs, but on such matters as laches, good (or bad) faith, and most important an appraisal of the public interest. Virginian Ry., v. System Federation No. 40, 300 U.S. 515, 550, 57 S.Ct. 592, 81 L.Ed. 789 (1937). At present, the facts of this project are somewhat muddled, and there are cross-currents of equity. It may be that on remand the District Court can fashion a suitable decree, perhaps with the consent of the parties, by devising conditions for the project that ameliorate the run-off problems, even though it cannot technically be said they are devoid of all significance, and arrive at a disposition that best serves the public interest. 15