Document: 425 U.S. 662 96 S.Ct. 1806 48 L.Ed.2d 284 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR the ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE et al., Petitioners,v.FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION. FEDERAL COMMISSION, Petitioner, v. al. Nos. 74-1608, 74-1619. Argued Feb. 25, 1976. Decided May 19, Syllabus The National Association for Advancement of Colored People and various other organizations petitioned Federal Power Commission (FPC) to issue a rule "requiring equal employment opportunity nondiscrimination in practices its regulatees." FPC refused, holding that it had no jurisdiction such rule. On petition review, Court Appeals, while agreeing lacked power prescribe personnel detail act upon complaints, held does have "power take into account, performance regulatory functions, including licensing rate evidence regulatee is demonstrated discriminator relations." Held: 1. authorized consider consequences discriminatory on part regulatees only insofar as are directly related FPC's establishment just reasonable rates public interest. To extent illegal, duplicative, or unnecessary labor costs demonstrably product regulatee's can be been quantified by judicial decree final action an administrative agency should disallow them. Pp. 666-669. 2. asserted duty advance interest, however, not afford any basis prohibiting from engaging practices, references "public interest" Act Natural Gas require promote orderly production plentiful supplies electric energy natural gas at rates, do constitute directive seek eradicate discrimination. 669-671. 172 U.S.App.D.C. 32, 520 F.2d 432, affirmed. Drexel D. Journey, Washington, C., F.P.C. Howard A. Glickstein, Nat. Ass'n Mr. Justice STEWART delivered opinion Court. 1 this case what extent, if any, Commission, functions under Act, 41 Stat. 1063, amended, 16 U.S.C. § 791a Et seq. (Power Act), 52 821, 15 717 (Gas has authority prohibit regulatees. 2 * In 1972 (NAACP) several proposed would required regulated companies adopt affirmative programs combat discrimination given person who believed himself subjected company right file complaint with Commission.1 3 refused rule, so because "the purposes Acts economic regulation entrepreneurs engaged resource developments. So considered, we find necessary nexus between those aspects our activities procedures utility systems which regulate, justify (adopting petitioners' rule)." 40, 44. 4 Appeals District Columbia Circuit agreed was without . receive adjudicate them, punish infractions practices." 35, 435. court held, Ibid. 5 Because doubt Commission's recognition account even narrower sense described above, vacated order remanded case. Id., 47, F.2d, 447. NAACP each certiorari, granted both petitions scope deal regulates. 423 890, 186, 46 122. II 6 question presented whether elimination society important national goal. It clearly is. Congress could authorize could. simply did grant authority. Two possible statutory bases advanced conclusion must concern itself regulates.2 7 first these legislative command establish "just reasonable" transmission sale energy, 824d(a), transportation gas, 717c(a), and, consequently, allow will prevent consumers being charged illegal costs.3 second broader notes found business transmitting selling ultimate distribution affected interest," 824(a), transporting 717(a). From Acts,4 argued advancing interest general, thus promulgate rules since ending 8 basically accepted arguments: 9 "The task protecting consumer against exploitation alternativelyescribed seeing illegitimate passed along consumer. Costs incurred reason choosing practice racial within reach responsibility. Without attempting exhaustive enumeration costs, identify least following indicative arguably range concern: (1) duplicative form back pay recoveries employees proven they were discriminatorily denied advancement, (2) losing valuable government contracts terminated discrimination, (3) legal proceedings either two categories, (4) strikes, demonstrations, boycotts aimed (5) excessive prospective force discriminated against, (6) inefficiency among minority demoralized barriers their fair treatment promotion. 10 "Obviously very definite easily ascertainable questionable virtually unquantifiable. problem how see borne arise number different contexts, certificate proceedings. We therefore attempt all ways may 'regulate' leaving instance itself." U.S.App.D.C., 44, 444 (footnote omitted). 11 necessarily endorsing specific identification "arguably within" "range concern," agree basic branch charging based costs. For example, when complies backpay award resulting finding violation Title VII Civil Rights 1964, 42 2000e seq., pays twice work performed once. amount award, therefore, disallowed cost ratemaking proceeding. 12 similar attorneys' fees, consideration matters, treat treats unnecessary, told counsel during oral argument routinely Labor Relations Board unfair practice. governing principle area practices. 13 As general proposition clear discretion decide approach problems through process rulemaking, individual adjudication, combination procedures. SEC Chenery Corp., 332 194, 202-203, 67 1575, 1580, 91 L.Ed. 1995, 2002. present practice, told, questions proceedings, detailed accounting Assuming continues ample whatever make inquiries determine racially §§ 717c(e), 717m; 824d(e), 824f. B 14 rejected criterion hold correct doing so. This Court's cases consistently use words statute broad license welfare. Rather, meaning legislation. Interstate Commerce responsible enforcing "designed better assure adequacy service," term 'public interest' concept criteria, but direct relation service, essential conditions economy efficiency, appropriate provision best facilities ." New York Central Securities Corp. United States, 287 12, 24-25, 53 45, 47-48, 77 138, 145-146. See also Haven Inclusion Cases, 399 392, 90 2054, 2078, 26 691, 720; Broadcasting Co. 319 190, 216, 63 997, 1009, 87 1344, 1362; Radio Comm'n Nelson Bros. Co., 289 266, 285, 627, 636, 1166, 1178. Thus, give content used Acts, look adopted. principal purpose encourage development electricity prices.5 While there undoubtedly subsidiary contained Acts,6 parties point nothing histories indicate one mind enacted but, rather, charge rates.7 17 useful again draw analogy federal law. No less than legislation defining earlier unmistakably defined free collective bargaining. Yet hardly supposed directing guided thereby instructed original over processing charges 18 agree, short, Accordingly, affirm judgment before us. 19 ordered. 20 Affirmed. 21 MARSHALL took decision cases. 22 POWELL, concurring. 23 Although I join Court, write briefly emphasize seems important. 24 quotes portion identifies six categories "costs" said concern." Ante, 667. correctly noted, unquantifiable." 25 explicitly endorse requires "demonstrably matters 668. implicit says, think identified (4), (5), resort wholly speculative assumptions unacceptable purposes. quite impossible, measure exactitude promotion." Nor likely (a utility) discrimination," 667, ever determined sufficient reliability. view inherently amorphous nature intervenors delay progress vain hope might, after protracted litigation, quantified. read requiring encumbering prescribed discretion. 27 Chief BURGER, concurring judgment. 28 though difficult understand why result reached determination. "ambiguous": 29 "We know lack relating 34, 434 (emphasis original). 30 context, fairly rejecting NAACP. particularly true auditing disallowing occasioned awards. 31 contrast standard called extensive industries subject jurisdiction. Under would, things, to: (a) enumerate unlawful practices; (b) written program filed Commission; (c) provide complaints Commission. 32 recognized far-reaching proposal put regulating everyday industries. intrusion imposition another layer same matter, inevitable potential conflict agencies.* If mandated duplicate regulation, result, however inefficient, none concern. But centralized responsibility Equal Employment Opportunity Judiciary orders diffused, congressional intent frustrated, commands voices bureaucracy, agonizingly long grinds more slowly. suggest, deny 444, thrust complex, volatile already assigned EEOC. 33 exists assume intended enmesh deeply confronted unprecedented proposal; appropriately refuse beyond jurisdiction; concluded respect, indicated probable 78 253, referred reproduced full appendix 48, 448. here interpretation. cross-petition certiorari Fifth Amendment briefs merits, constitutional hold, do, performing functions. See, E. g., Acker 298 426, 430-431, 56 824, 826-827, 80 1257, 1261; Cities Serv. FPC, 424 411 (CA10); Safe Harbor Water 179 (CA3). n. 5, Infra. 717b, 717f(a), 717n; 797(e), (g), 800(a), 803(i), 806, 815, 824a(a-c), (e), 824b(a-b), 824c(a). 717f(b-c), (e). 824a(a) (The "assur(e) abundant supply throughout States greatest economy"); Pennsylvania 343 414, 418, 72 843, 845, 1042, 1047 ("A major (Power) protect prices"); Hope 320 591, 610, 64 281, 291, 88 333, 349 "primary aim" "to hands companies"). S.Rep. No. 621, 74th Cong., 1st Sess., 17; Tennessee 371 145, 154, 83 211, 199, 205; Atlantic Rfg. Public Comm'n, 360 378, 388, 79 1246, 1253, 1312, 1319; Permian Basin Area Rate 390 747, 770, 1361, 312, 337. conservation, environmental, antitrust questions. 717s(a); 803(a), (h); Gulf Utilities 747; Udall 387 428. Communications adopted regulations dealing 47 C.F.R. 73.125, 73.301, 73.599, 73.680, 73.793 (1975). These justified enable FCC satisfy obligation 1934, 1064, 151 ensure licensees' programming reflects tastes viewpoints groups. Office Communication Church Christ FCC, 123 328, 359 994; Fed.Reg. 9960, 9962. nowhere needs rates. A former Assistant Secretary Treasury observed: proliferation controls has, perhaps inevitably, led internal conflicts. some cases, cross-purposes other. More serious frequent contradictions rulings agencies where little recourse." Weidenbaum, Wave Government Regulation Business, Business Society Review 81, 84 U. S. News & World Report, 10, 1976, p. 96. And Douglas reminded us: bureaucracy modern slow, lumbering, oppressive; omnipresent." Wyman James, 400 309, 335, 381, 395, 408, (1971) (dissenting opinion).

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