Opinion ID: 158093
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Agency Enforcement and Administration

Text: -26- The fourth and final factor in the ripeness analysis asks whether the resolution of the issues will promote effective enforcement and administration by the agency. We agree with the Government’s assessment that judicial review of the MMS letter, which we have concluded does not constitute final agency action, would cause substantial disruption to the administrative process. See Appellees’ Br. at 18. As noted above, Plaintiffs’ allegation of harm–that they are illegally forced to retain records for a period beyond the six-year period stated in 30 U.S.C. § 1713(b)–is the type of obligation which accompanies many audits and investigations under FOGRMA. If such an allegation of harm was sufficient to justify review of an agency’s decision to initiate an audit and request documents, “courts would constantly be reviewing such decisions,” CEC Energy, 891 F.2d at 1111, and the MMS’ ability to conduct audits would be unreasonably hampered. Cf. Abbott Lab., 387 U.S. at 148 (noting that ripeness doctrine is intended to prevent courts from unnecessarily intervening in administrative decisionmaking). Additionally, because further agency action is needed to enforce the administrative subpoena, we think that any action by the courts at this stage would impede the agency’s ability to pursue the prescribed administrative processes.