Legal Document

503 U.S. 429 112 S.Ct. 1407 118 L.Ed.2d 73 F. Dale ROBERTSON, Chief, United States Forest Service, et al., Petitioners,v.SEATTLE AUDUBON SOCIETY al. No. 90-1596. Argued Dec. 2, 1991. Decided March 25, 1992. Syllabus Respondent environmental groups filed separate lawsuits challenging proposed timber harvesting in certain forests managed by the Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These are home to northern spotted owl, an endangered species. Between them, two alleged violations five federal statutes. The lower courts preliminarily enjoined some challenged harvesting. In response this ongoing litigation, Congress enacted § 318 Department Interior Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1990, also known as Northwest Timber Compromise. Section both required expanded restrictions. Subsections (b)(3) (b)(5) prohibited altogether various designated areas, subsection (b)(6)(A) stated part that "Congress hereby determines directs management [of forests] according subsections . is adequate consideration for purpose meeting statutory requirements basis [the cases,]" which were identified name caption number. Both District Courts rejected respondents' claims violated Article III purporting direct results pending cases. Court Appeals reversed, holding provision unconstitutional under v. Klein, 80 (13 Wall.) 128, 20 L.Ed. 519, on ground directed a particular decision cases without repealing or amending statutes underlying litigation. Held: Subsection does not violate III. Pp. 437-441. (a) compelled changes law, old replacing legal standards original with those set forth (b)(5). Before its enactment, would fail only if none provisions formed lawsuits. Under (b)(6)(A), however, satisfied new provisions. Thus, (b)(6)(A)'s operation modified Moreover, there nothing purported any findings fact applications law fact. reserved judgment lawfulness sales law. It did instruct whether (b)(5); it could BLM lawful, because incorporated reference prohibitions imposed agreement yet existence when Compromise was enacted. 437-439. (b) three textual features cited respondents do support their argument rather than supplying inclusion preface that" undermine conclusion what directed—to agencies—was change Nor significant deemed compliance "mee[t]" requirements. Although have laws directly, enactment entirely statute through canon specific qualify general ones. Finally, subsection's explicit served identify 439-440. (c) Appeals' alternative effect implied modification substantive embedded appropriations measure merit. may amend so clearly, see, e.g., Will, 449 200, 222, 101 471, 484, 66 392, explicitly here. addition, having determined be unless previously existing court obligated impose saving interpretation long possible one. See NLRB Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., 301 1, 30, 57 615, 621, 81 893. 440-441. (d) Since applicable no reason address Klein. one amici—that even amended swept more, little broadly range at issue cases—was raised below, squarely considered Appeals, advanced P. 441. 914 F.2d 1311 (CA9 1990), reversed remanded. THOMAS, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Kenneth W. Starr, Washington, D.C., petitioners. Todd D. True, Seattle, Wash., respondents. Justice THOMAS 1 case we must determine 1990. 2 * This arises out challenges Federal Government's continuing efforts allow sale from old-growth Pacific Northwest. bird listed threatened Endangered Species Act 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 seq. (1988 ed. Supp. II), since June 55 Fed.Reg. 26114. Harvesting forests, say environmentalists, kill owls. Restrictions harvesting, respond local industries, devastate region's economy. 3 Petitioner Robertson Chief manages 13 national Oregon Washington contain owl. 1988, regional guide prohibit areas within forests. Seattle Audubon Society (joined other groups) Contract Loggers Association industry Western complaining respectively amendment afforded owl either too protection, much. statutes: Migratory Bird Treaty (MBTA), 40 Stat. 755, ch. amended, 703 II); National Environmental Policy 1969 (NEPA), 83 852, 42 4321 seq.; 1976 (NFMA), 90 2949, 1600 consolidated actions 163 sales. Soc. Robertson, 89-160 (WD Mar. 24, 1989). 4 Lujan Secretary Interior. (BLM), agency Department, several western Oregon. 1979 1983, developed plans permitted these others. 1987, Fish Wildlife executed prohibited. Also respondent Portland (among others) suit Oregon, four MBTA; NEPA; (FLPMA), 2744, 43 1701 Oregon-California Railroad Grant (OCLA), 50 874, 1181a. Twice, dismissed action. Twice before reversing (on grounds relevant here), Ninth Circuit appeal. Lujan, 884 1233, 1234 (1989), cert. denied, 494 1026, 110 1470, 108 608 (1990); Hodel, 866 302, 304, denied sub nom. Resource Council Soc., 492 911, 109 3229, 106 577 (1989). 5 103 745, popularly established comprehensive rules govern geographically temporally limited domain. By terms, applied "the thirteen [BLM] districts owls." 318(i). expired automatically September last day Fiscal Year except offered remain subject terms duration contracts. 318(k). 6 (a)(1) (a)(2) offer specified quantities affected lands end On hand, lands, expanding administrative then codifying them remainder fiscal year.1 (b)(1), (b)(2) (b)(4) criteria selection sites Service. (g)(1) provided limited, expedited judicial review individual 318. 7 controversy centers around first sentence part: 8 "[T]he section owls captioned Civil Assoc. 89-99 (order granting preliminary injunction) Manuel Jr., 87-1160-FR." 9 declined pass upon factual adequacy" documents produced 1988 1987 agreement.2 10 After enacted, defendants sought dismissal, arguing had temporarily superseded all plaintiffs' been based. plaintiffs resisted cases, Audubon, held "can read temporary laws." Nov. 14, construction, upheld constitutional therefore vacated injunction. Nonetheless, retained jurisdiction (if done 1990) later). likewise but action (without prejudice future arising after 1990). 87-1160, 1989 WL 155694 (Ore., 21, 11 ensuing appeals reversed. (1990). 318(b)(6)(A) "does not, plain language, repeal litigation," "directs reach result make connection [pending] cases." Id., 1316. Given interpretation, 519 (1872), construed prohibiting "direct[ing] case, litigation." F.2d, 1315. distinguished Court's Pennsylvania Wheeling Belmont Bridge Co., 59 (18 How.) 421, 15 435 (1856), permitting "amend ending 1315 (emphasis original). 12 remand, renewed claims. NFMA during 1990 order meet quota 318(a)(1). 18, May 1991). While proceedings ongoing, agencies jointly Circuit's unconstitutional. We granted certiorari, 501 ----, 111 2886, 115 1051 (1991), now reverse.3 II "management [Seattle ] [Portland ]." language "amend" "laws," "direct[ed]" "factual findings" "specific result[s]" laws. Petitioners interpret differently. They argue replaced (b)(5), directing standards. agree. 14 describe example. MBTA 703, makes unlawful "kill" "take" "migratory bird." adjudicating obliged meaning 2.4 question different prohibitions—those described If constitute to" regardless cause otherwise killing taking. Thus satisfy obligations ways: managing neither nor operated identically well NEPA, NFMA, FLPMA OCLA for" conclude contrast, same Its operation, think, find new, For expressly authorizing determination just MBTA, example, Indeed, lawful standards, n. supra. Respondents cite failed supply First, they emphasize imperative tone provision, "determine[d] direct[ed]" [only] courts." Brief 34. Petitioners, part, construe "a directive BLM." 30. think characterization correct. A binds executive officials who administer judges apply cases—even (as usually case) fails empty phrase like that." Here, see how undermines our alike—was 17 Second, modify appreciate significance observation. might obligation complying current Instead, deeming 2—a "modification" conclude, ones, Simpson States, 6, 15, 98 909, 914, 70 (1978). As explained above, each formulation identical task claims—determining currently written 18 made "statutory cases—namely, pertinent OCLA. named To extent adjudication effectively modifiying 19 alternative, "could not" measure. 1317. reasoning contains errors. although repeals implication especially disfavored context, TVA Hill, 437 153, 190, 2279, 2299, 117 (1978), nonetheless statute, clearly. See, 392 (1980). constituted intent clear, express. Third, became "saving interpretation," 1317, "possible" 893 (1937) ("[A]s between interpretations valid, duty adopt will save act"). occasion broad jurisprudence. Klein decisions Because need consider reading additionally Respondents' amicus Public Citizen proposition. contends prospectively applied, more broadly, theory below Accordingly, decline remanded further consistent opinion. 21 ordered. provided: "No pursuant occur [spotted habitat (SOHAs) Final Supplement Impact Statement Amendment Regional Guide—Spotted Owl accompanying Record Decision issued December 8, adjusted subsection: "(A) Olympic Peninsula Province, includes Forest, SOHA size 3,200 acres; "(B) Cascades Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan, Wenatchee, Gifford-Pinchot Forests, 2,600 "(C) Hood, Willamette, Rogue River, Deschutes, Winema, Umpqua 1,875 "(D) Coast Range Siuslaw 2,500 "(E) Klamath Mountain Siskiyou 1,250 acres. "(F) All guidelines contained Chief's adopted." Mangagement shall 22, agreement, said Wildlife. Not later thirty days Management, consulting high priority area sites, select additional twelve areas. No year 1990." entirety, "Without passing adequacy Guidelines Spotted Owl, 87-1160-FR. adopted States." ever enjoined, appears moot. decide remains live over still NFMA. bird" MBTA. CFR 10.13 (1991).

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