Document: 495 U.S. 490 110 S.Ct. 2024 109 L.Ed.2d 474 CALIFORNIA, Petitionerv.FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, et al. No. 89-333. Argued March 20, 1990. Decided May 21, Rehearing Denied June 28, See 497 1040, 3304. Syllabus Pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA), respondent Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a license authorizing operation in California of hydroelectric project, which draws, and releases mile later, water from Rock Creek drive its generators. After considering project's economic feasibility environmental consequences, FERC set an interim "minimum flow rate" that must remain bypassed section stream thus remains unavailable The State Water Resources Control Board (WRCB) state permit conformed FERC's minimum requirements, but reserved right different permanent ones. When WRCB later considered draft order requiring rates well excess rates, licensee petitioned for declaration possessed exclusive jurisdiction determine rates. ordered comply with federal permit's concluding task setting such rested within jurisdiction. It reasoned was integral planning licensing process under FPA, giving effect competing requirements would interfere balancing considerations vest States veto power over projects inconsistent as interpreted First Iowa Hydro-Electric Cooperative v. FPC, 328 152, 66 906, 90 L.Ed. 1143. adopted higher intervened seeking rehearing order. denied request, concluded sought impose conflicting reaffirmed conclusion it had Court Appeals affirmed, FPA § 27—which saves supersedure "laws . relating control, appropriation, use, or distribution used irrigation municipal other uses, any vested acquired therein" construed Iowa, did not preserve State's regulate pre-empted WRCB's rate requirements. Held: flows cannot be given allowed supplement Pp. 496-507. (a) Were meaning 27 pre-emptive matters first impression, argument requirement might relate use encompassed by generation protection fish—could said present close question. However, has previously 27, holding is limited laws uses same nature, primary, if exclusive, reference proprietary rights. Such rights are implicated instant case. California's request interpretation repudiated misconceives deference accord longstanding well-entrenched decisions, especially those interpreting statutes underlie complex regulatory regimes. There been no sufficient intervening change law, indication proved unworkable fostered confusion inconsistency warrants departure established precedent. reading endorsed, see FPC Oregon, 349 435, 75 832, 99 1215, decision employed approval range cases. In addition, Congress amended elaborate reaffirm understanding establishes broad paramount role. 496-500. (b) narrow dictum, necessary Court's 9(b)—which governs submission agency evidence compliance law—did require licensees obtain demonstrate law prerequisites obtaining permit, rather merely authorized actions consistent permit. A have "saved" created concurrent authorities subject matter. 500-503. (c) Although United States, 438 645, 98 2985, 57 1018, 8 Reclamation 1902—which similar to, served model for, manner more generous States' powers than bears quite indirectly, at best, upon FPA's interpretation. Act, advert purport interpret held simply requires Secretary Interior governing reclamation projects. purpose, structure, legislative history two show envisioned considerably broader active oversight role hydropower development Act. Even saving clauses were properly viewed isolation remainder their respective Acts, explicitly directs "shall proceed conformity [state] laws," language counterpart crucial 8. 503-505. (d) Section 27's does abandonment interpretation, because natural statutory failed displace providing contrary interpretation; expressly found support 27; only tangentially related issue hand; strong interests adherence Iowa. 505-596. (e) conditions pursuant pre-empt conflict authority balance struck condition. 506-507. 877 F.2d 743 (CA9 1989), affirmed. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Roderick E. Walston, San Francisco, Cal., petitioner. Stephen L. Nightingale, Washington, D.C., respondents. Justice O'CONNOR 1 This case concerns overlapping regulation project located near stream. seeks ensure operators maintain flowing sufficient, judgment, protect stream's fish. Government claims federally licensed powerplant maintain. Each side argues position ch. 285, 41 Stat. 1063, amended, 16 U.S.C. 791a seq. (1982 ed.), and, particular, We granted certiorari resolve these claims. 2 * lies confluence South Fork American River one river's tributaries, Creek. runs through managed land California. draws generators then river, slightly less where drawn. govern 3 1983, (FPA Act), project. Keating, 23 ¶ 62,137. 4(e) empowers licenses "necessary convenient development, transmission, utilization across, along, from, streams jurisdiction." 797(e) ed.). 10(a) also authorizes deems best suited public waters. 803(a) Congress' subsequent amendments provisions direct consider on fish wildlife "power purposes." Electric Consumers Protection 1986, Pub.L. 99-495, 100 1243, §§ 797(e), 803(a)(1). 1983 after consequences. part trout stream, required 11 cubic feet per second (cfs) during September 15 cfs year. 62,137, 63,204. submit studies recommending rate, consulting agencies. Ibid. 1985, submitted report adopt Department Fish Game (CDFG) recommended significantly 4 applied permits, 1984 App. 65-67. 1987 60 30 year, Limited Partnership, 38 61,240, p. 61,772 (1987). licensee, claimed render economically infeasible. 5 1987, directing order, Id., 61,774. 10(a); "would Commission's licensing" 1143 (1946). FERC, 61,773. directed Administrative Law Judge hold hearing appropriate proposals arguments CDFG, staff, 20 entire 63,019 Four days declaratory contained 73. seek provided 61,198 6 Ninth Circuit affirmed denying rehearing. ex rel. (1989). That court, too, governed case; rates; certiorari, 493 991, 537, 107 535 (1989), we now affirm. II 7 1935, 49 803, 863, clearly intended power. delegation predecessor however, hardly determines extent exercise powers, affecting parties' dispute regarding latter turns principally provides clearest how allocate Government. provides: "Nothing this chapter shall intending affect way therein." 821 (1982). 9 petitioner's based statute's could As petitioner argues, plausibly thought "relat[e] uses," namely "presumption against finding pre-emption areas traditionally regulated States" " 'with assumption historic police superseded unless clear manifest purpose Congress.' ARC America Corp., 93, 101, 1661, 1665, 104 86 quoting Rice Santa Fe Elevator 331 218, 230, 67 1146, 1152, 91 1447 (1947); 653-663, 2990-2995, 1018 (1978) (tracing traditional exploitation water). Just courts may find measures absence so intended, they give full considered, preserve, coordinate our scheme. 10 But impression. Forty-four years ago, since guided allocation follows: "The protecting supersedure, nature. therefore phrase 'any therein' further emphasizes application property nothing paragraph suggest scope words 'other uses.' Those words, confined nature U.S., 175-176, 917 (emphasis added). 12 reservation congressional scheme divide "in fields 'saved' let legislation take course." 176, S.Ct., 917. 13 decline late date revisit disturb forth prudently concedes, Tr. Oral Arg. 7, 's encompass issue: neither reflect nor establish "proprietary rights" "rights supra, 917; Fullerton Board, Cal.App.3d 590, 153 Cal.Rptr. 518 (1979); accord, Trout, Inc. 816, 672 (1979). Instead, requests repudiate Iowa's FPA. Adherence precedent is, usual case, cardinal guiding principle adjudication, "[c]onsiderations stare decisis special force area here, unlike context constitutional implicated, free alter what done." Patterson McLean Credit Union, 491 164, 172-173, 2363, 2370, 105 132 Cf. id., 173, 2371. endorsed 1215 (1955); cf. Niagara Mohawk 347 239, 74 487, 666 (1954), both addressing contexts. See, e.g., New England Co. Hampshire, 455 331, 338, n. 6, 102 1096, 1100, 71 188 (1982); Escondido Mut. La Jolla Band Mission Indians, 466 765, 773, 2105, 2110, 80 753 (1984); City Tacoma Taxpayers Tacoma, 357 320, 334, 78 1209, 1217, 1345 (1958); Pacific Gas & Conservation Development Comm'n, 461 190, 223, 34, 103 1713, 1732, 752 (1983). By recommendations agencies while final (including terms recommendations), 803(a)(1)-(3) (FERC wildlife, agencies), 803(j)(1)-(2) agencies, findings adopts recommendations); Square D Frontier Tariff Bureau, Inc., 476 409, 424, 106 1922, 1930, 413 (1986) ("We reluctant reject presumption [of precedent] seen careful, intense, sustained attention"). 14 Petitioner asks fundamentally restructure highly long-enduring regime, implicating considerable reliance participants process. measured marks adjudication issues. Co., 1930 (for determinations, 'it important applicable rule settled right. commonly true, even error matter serious concern, correction can legislation,' Burnet Coronado Oil 285 393, 406, 52 443, 447, 76 815 (1932) (Brandeis, dissenting)). should disregard discussion dictum. true immediate concern 9(b) law.1 determined 163-164, 167, 177, 911-912, 913, 918. 167-169, 177-179, 913-914, 918-919. was, conclusion. Like involved control particular condition securing diverted "returned nearest practicable place without being materially diminished quantity polluted rendered deleterious life," Code 7771 (1939), provision "strik[e] heart project." 166-167, 170-171, 912-913, 914-915. that, absent express command, read with, conflicted otherwise 912-913 ("If required, there justification petitioner, permit"); Only sustain 9(b). Had sought, issue, made issued, supported license. related, general, rationale necessarily construction 27. framed whether "the very placed discretion Commission." 165, 912 (footnote citing omitted). rejected possibility mandating divided "a dual system involving integration futile duplication matter." 171, 915; 174, 916 (no "divided subject"); 181, 920 (comprehensive "leave[s] room need controls"). reflected authority. 913-914; 168, 913 ("Where supersedes government suggestion authority"). view, relevant than, exist jurisdiction, secure 913-914. preserved defined sphere. 175-178, 917-918. accommodated underlying To reach 9(b), consistently sphere not, "saving" subject." 916. Constricting rights, leaving sphere, accomplished goal. immediately extended illustrates relation between sections. Before distinguishing 9(b)'s regulation, concluded: 17 "[Section 27] thoroughly jurisdictions strengthens willing 18 course, remaining field correspondingly. 19 (1978), construing 1902,2 abandon reasons 8, some overrules repudiates cast embodies conception tension 1902; interpret, laws, directives, supra. Also, examined statute before sources construe clause. 649-651, 653-670, 674-675, 2988-2989, 2990-2998, 3000-3001. indicate, Compare 4, 9, 10, codified, 797, 802, 171-174, 179-181, 911, 915-916, 918-920, 1902 1, 2, 32 388, 43 391, 411 663-670, 2995-2998. Acts resulting schemes, significant differences them. referring contains explicit direction Interior, carrying out laws." 383 650, 664-665, 2988, 2995-2996, difference stems roles assumed actor each 8's directive Secretary. executing analogous directives respecting projects, 672-674, 2999-3001; similarly, directives. An additional textual refers "water irrigation" "other essential argument. Laws controlling indicated, 917, indicate treatment do implicate 21 Given provisions, come surprise refer either Since decided continued cite approval. 2110; 34; 6. believe disavow 22 Finally, us section. Whatever usefulness source aid. If fails supporting definition already little reason overturn decision. Patterson, 172-174, 2370-2371 (reviewing most likely prompt overruling decision). Indeed, both. 179, tangential hand parse again erred meaning, statute. Adhering conclude in-stream measure "pre-empted actually conflicts when impossible stands obstacle accomplishment purposes objectives Congress." Silkwood Kerr-McGee 464 238, 248, 615, 621, 443 (1984) (citations 10(a), license, including flow, feasible, development. (1987); 62,137 (1983); Allowing embodied determination. indicated comprehensive authority, agree allowing challenged intent "constitute approved FERC." F.2d, 749; 164-165, 911-912. 24 For foregoing reasons, 25 Affirmed. 802(a)(2) (formerly 802(b) ed.)), "(a) applicant commission— "(2) Satisfactory complied proposed respect bed banks diversion, engage business developing, transmitting distributing power, chapter." 1902, 390, 372, part: "[N]othing Territory irrigation, thereunder, herein landowner, appropriator, user in, interstate waters thereof. ."

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