Opinion ID: 781047
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ripeness and Mootness

Text: 40 In addition to standing, the DEC raises related but analytically distinct ripeness and mootness concerns. The DEC claims that (1) NYPIRG's appeal is not ripe because the EPA is still evaluating New York's compliance and has not finally determined whether a NOD should issue; and (2) NYPIRG's appeal is moot because the DEC has committed to correct, and has corrected, the deficiencies in New York's program. 41 The ripeness requirement prevents a federal court from entangling itself in abstract disagreements over matters that are premature for review because the injury is merely speculative and may never occur, depending on the final administrative resolution. Dougherty v. Town of N. Hempstead Bd. of Zoning, 282 F.3d 83, 90 (2d Cir.2002) (citing Abbott Labs. v. Gardner, 387 U.S. 136, 148, 87 S.Ct. 1507, 18 L.Ed.2d 681 (1967)). We see little reason to question the ripeness of the EPA's decision not to issue a NOD. To be sure, in denying the NOD, the EPA did imply that it would reevaluate the DEC's compliance at some point in the future. But this was merely the consequence of the EPA's interpretation, challenged by NYPIRG, that, when it is alerted to deficiencies in a state-run Title V program, the CAA confers discretion whether to issue a NOD. The existence of such discretion poses a purely legal question of statutory interpretation that is properly before the court and is ripe for review. See Natural Res. Def. Council v. EPA, 22 F.3d 1125, 1133 (D.C.Cir.1994) (per curiam). 42 The DEC also contends that NYPIRG's claims were mooted by the DEC's letter of commitment which brought the program into compliance by identifying both the actual changes made by the State as well as the changes it intended to make. Laidlaw sets forth the appropriate standard for evaluating such mootness claims. Ordinarily, the Court noted, a party's voluntary cessation of allegedly unlawful conduct... does not suffice to moot a case. 528 U.S. at 174, 120 S.Ct. 693. Accordingly, a party claiming that its voluntary compliance moots a case bears the formidable burden of showing that it is absolutely clear the allegedly wrongful behavior could not reasonably be expected to recur. Id. at 190, 120 S.Ct. 693. 43 Attempting to meet this burden, the DEC points to the implementation of a number of the changes promised in its letter of commitment. Although indicative of a degree of good faith, we nevertheless conclude that the DEC has not carried the formidable burden of making absolutely clear, id. at 190, 120 S.Ct. 693, that the problems identified both by NYPIRG and the EPA could not reasonably be expected to recur. Id. at 193, 120 S.Ct. 693 (citing United States v. Concentrated Phosphate Export Ass'n, 393 U.S. 199, 203, 89 S.Ct. 361, 21 L.Ed.2d 344 (1968)).