Opinion ID: 212355
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: It is well settled that Congress has exercised broad regulatory authority over rail transportation. Island Park, LLC v. CSX Transp., 559 F.3d 96, 102 (2d Cir. 2009). Congress chose to vest the STB with exclusive jurisdiction over transportation by rail carriers, and it is uniquely qualified to determine whether state law is preempted by Section 10501(b). Green Mountain R.R. Corp. v. Vermont, 404 F.3d 638, 639-43 (2d Cir.2005) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The STB asks that we join the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in finding that its determinations regarding the scope of its exclusive jurisdiction are entitled to deference pursuant to Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984). See, e.g., Bhd. of Locomotive Eng'rs v. United States, 101 F.3d 718, 726 (D.C.Cir.1996). We need not decide if the STB's determination here is entitled to Chevron deference, however, because we reach the same result applying the less deferential standard of review set forth in Skidmore v. Swift & Co., 323 U.S. 134, 140, 65 S.Ct. 161, 89 L.Ed. 124 (1944). See Wong v. Doar, 571 F.3d 247, 259 (2009) (declining to determine whether an agency ruling is subject to Chevron or Skidmore deference when the agency's ruling withstands scrutiny under either standard). As to the application of Section 10501 to the facts as determined by STB, the parties agree that under the Administrative Procedure Act, this Court cannot set aside the STB's decision unless it is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law, 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A), or unsupported by substantial evidence. 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(E); see also N. Am. Freight Car Ass'n v. Surface Transp. Bd., 529 F.3d 1166, 1170-71 (D.C.Cir.2008). An agency also acts in an arbitrary and capricious manner if the agency departs from its own precedent without a reasoned explanation. Borough of Columbia v. Surface Transp. Bd., 342 F.3d 222, 229 (3d Cir. 2003).