Opinion ID: 380807
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Environmental Considerations.

Text: 40 Both NARI and the National Insulation Transportation Committee (NITCOM), challenge ICC compliance with NEPA and the ICC's implementing regulations, 49 C.F.R. §§ 1108.1-.20 (1979). The ICC ordered stated: This decision will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or conservation of energy resources. 41 In SCRAP II, 422 U.S. 289, 95 S.Ct. 2336, 45 L.Ed.2d 191 (1975), the Court held that regardless of whether a general increase proceeding order was reviewable, ICC compliance with NEPA in the proceeding was reviewable. The Court reasoned that the ICC had made a final decision on environmental impact, and no relief for inadequate environmental consideration in that proceeding could be obtained by subsequent shipper complaints. Id. at 317-18, 95 S.Ct. at 2354, 2355. Because of the limited and nonfinal nature of a decision not to declare a general increase unlawful, and the more extensive ICC attention to environmental consequences of the commodity's rate structure in another proceeding, the Court held the environmental impact statement was sufficient even though it was quite limited. Id. at 322-28, 95 S.Ct. at 2356-2359. 42 NARI's challenge to treatment of environmental issues in this general increase proceeding ignores its own major contention on appeal: that the decision on recyclable rates here rested entirely on the decision in Ex Parte 319. The District of Columbia Circuit recently held that the ICC in Ex Parte 319 had sufficiently considered the impact of the recyclables rate structure upon environmental factors. NARI III, at 1345. Environmental consideration sufficient for that particularized investigation is, a priori, sufficient for the more limited and general action taken here in reliance on Ex Parte 319. 43 Unlike recyclables, insulating materials were not singled out for an arguably final decision on lawfulness, and thus the ICC decision as it affects them is merely a refusal to investigate. SCRAP II 's logic would indicate consideration of environmental issues in even such a limited decision is reviewable. The ICC has finally decided not to consider further the environmental consequences of its refusal to investigate; subsequent proceedings under sections 11701(b) and 10704(a) could not produce relief from inadequate consideration in that earlier proceeding. 44 However, the SCRAP II post-investigation decision not to declare a general increase unlawful required only a limited environmental assessment. Logically, an even more limited assessment should suffice for a refusal to investigate. The ICC made no attempt in this general proceeding to separately examine the rate structure of insulating materials. It therefore cannot be required to thoroughly examine, independently of the impact of the increases as a general matter, the separate environmental consequence of a particular commodity's increase. NITCOM does not relate its environmental allegation, increased air pollution from the increased rates for insulating materials, to the environmental consequences of the general and limited decision not to investigate the general increases. The issue could be specifically addressed in a proceeding under sections 11701(b) and 10704(a). We may not entertain the challenge at this juncture. 11 45 The petitions for review are ordered dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.