Opinion ID: 75949
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ability of the Existing Parties to Represent SeFPC's Interest

Text: 63 As discussed supra, the proposed intervenor has a minimal burden of showing that the existing parties cannot adequately represent its interest. Trbovich, 404 U.S. at 538 n. 10, 92 S.Ct. 630 (1972). SeFPC argues that the Corps cannot adequately represent its interest because it believes that the Corps has been illegally diverting water at Lake Lanier for the allegedly unauthorized use of water supply since 1986 — and, as noted above, has sued the Corps in another proceeding over the water diversions. Thus, it contends that the Corps cannot be expected, in this proceeding, to protect SeFPC's interest in ensuring the continued production of hydropower at Lake Lanier in accordance with SeFPC's view of the congressionally mandated project purposes. 64 Georgia replies that, whatever the relationship between the Corps and SeFPC in other contexts, in this proceeding their positions are identical: they both believe that Georgia's water supply request should be denied. As SeFPC notes, however, agreement on that conclusion does not mean that the Corps and SeFPC have identical positions or interests. The Corps seeks to protect its decision making process, whereas SeFPC seeks to protect the economic and statutory interests of its members. We do not believe that a federal defendant with a primary interest in the management of a resource has interests identical to those of an entity with economic interests in the use of that resource. See, e.g., Sierra Club, 18 F.3d at 1207-08. Accordingly, we believe that SeFPC has met its light burden of showing that the Corps will not adequately represent its interests. 65