Opinion ID: 206190
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: Our review of the District Court's grant of summary judgment, including its legal determinations regarding Menkes's First Amendment and due process claims, is de novo. See Howmet Corp. v. EPA, 614 F.3d 544, 549 (D.C.Cir.2010). We review the District Court's denial of Menkes's request for additional discovery for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Deloitte LLP, 610 F.3d 129, 134 (D.C.Cir.2010). Within that abuse of discretion standard, however, we review whether the District Court applied the correct legal standard de novo. Id. Menkes's claim that the Coast Guard's interpretation of voluntary association in 46 U.S.C. § 9304 is at odds with the statute is reviewed under the two-part test enunciated by the Supreme Court in Chevron. See Chevron, 467 U.S. at 843-44, 104 S.Ct. 2778. As for Menkes's assertion that the Coast Guard violated the APA in its decisionmaking, the arbitrary and capricious standard governs review of all proceedings that are subject to challenge under the APA. See Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. v. FTC, 801 F.2d 417, 422 (D.C.Cir.1986). Thus, if an action is subject to review under the APA, it does not matter whether it is a formal or informal adjudication or a formal or informal rulemaking proceedingall are subject to arbitrary and capricious review under [5 U.S.C.] § 706(2)(A). HARRY T. EDWARDS & LINDA A. ELLIOTT, FEDERAL STANDARDS OF REVIEWREVIEW OF DISTRICT COURT DECISIONS AND AGENCY ACTIONS 167 (2007) (emphasis in original). Normally, an agency [action] would be arbitrary and capricious if the agency has relied on factors which Congress has not intended it to consider, entirely failed to consider an important aspect of the problem, offered an explanation for its decision that runs counter to the evidence before the agency, or is so implausible that it could not be ascribed to a difference in view or the product of agency expertise. Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n of the U.S., Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43, 103 S.Ct. 2856, 77 L.Ed.2d 443 (1983).