Opinion ID: 413378
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Final Actions

Text: Section 120(e) provides: 155 [a]ny action pursuant to this section, including any objection of the Administrator under the last sentence of subsection (b) [allowing the Administrator to impose substitute noncompliance penalties upon disapproval of a penalty assessed under a state scheme] shall be considered a final action for purposes of judicial review of any penalty under section 307 of this Act. 156 The EPA regulation, 40 C.F.R. Sec. 66.81 (1981), implementing this section defines the procedures that must be followed to obtain action EPA considers administratively final. These procedures provide that final actions by the Administrator may not be reviewed until judicial review of the penalty eventually imposed is sought. Petitioners argue that this regulation limits the jurisdiction of the federal courts and exceeds the Administrator's authority. 157 Although section 120(e) is not worded as clearly as possible, the intent of Congress does appear to have been to allow judicial review only after a final decision on penalties. The final clause of section 120(e) states that it is for purposes of judicial review of any penalty. This interpretation also follows from Congress' clear intent to see that penalties were swiftly assessed and collected. With this in mind we affirm EPA's regulation as a reasonable effort at implementing section 120(e).