Opinion ID: 167714
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: 34 Under the APA, we will set aside a final agency action only if it is arbitrary, capricious, otherwise not in accordance with law, or not supported by substantial evidence. Am. Colloid Co. v. Babbitt, 145 F.3d 1152, 1154 (10th Cir.1998). Our review is highly deferential. Valley Cmty. Pres. Comm'n v. Mineta, 373 F.3d 1078, 1084 (10th Cir.2004). Our duty is to ascertain whether the agency examined the relevant data and articulated a rational connection between the facts found and the decision made. Cliffs Synfuel Corp. v. Norton, 291 F.3d 1250, 1257 (10th Cir. 2002) (internal quotation marks omitted). We must determine whether the agency's decision was based on a consideration of the relevant factors and whether there has been a clear error of judgment. Marsh v. Oreg. Natural Res. Council, 490 U.S. 360, 378, 109 S.Ct. 1851, 104 L.Ed.2d 377 (1989) (internal quotation marks omitted). 35 While our review is deferential, our inquiry must be searching and careful. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Courts defer to the evaluations of agencies when the evidence presents legitimately conflicting, qualified views because an agency must have discretion to rely on the reasonable opinions of its own qualified experts even if, as an original matter, a court might find contrary views more persuasive. Id. However, the agency action may be overturned 36 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. 37 Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43, 103 S.Ct. 2856, 77 L.Ed.2d 443 (1983); see Thomas Brooks Chartered v. Burnett, 920 F.2d 634, 644 (10th Cir.1990) (applying this standard of review).