Court Opinion

ID: 2662303
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-03 12:11:35.951525+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:58:30.633086
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                          FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

ILLINOIS COMMERCIAL FISHING
ASSOCIATION,

       Plaintiff,
                  v.                                    Civil Action No. 10-1642 (JEB)
KEN SALAZAR, in his official capacity as
Secretary of the United States Department
of the Interior, and U.S. FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE,

       Defendants.

                                MEMORANDUM OPINION

       The pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) is an endangered fish species that inhabits the

Missouri and Mississippi river basins.        It closely resembles the shovelnose sturgeon

(Scaphyrhynchus platorynchus), a more common fish that is not at risk of becoming endangered.

In 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a rule under the “similarity of appearance”

provisions of the Endangered Species Act, requiring the shovelnose sturgeon to be treated as a

“threatened” species in the geographic range where it coexists with the pallid sturgeon.

Commercial fishermen are accordingly prohibited from harming or killing shovelnose sturgeon

in those areas.

       Unhappy with such a restriction on its members’ ability to catch shovelnose sturgeon, the

Illinois Commercial Fishing Association, on behalf its membership and all similarly situated

individuals, filed this suit seeking to set aside the rule. The parties have now filed Cross-

Motions for Summary Judgment.        Because the rule complies with the requirements of the

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Endangered Species Act and is adequately supported by the administrative record, the Court will

grant Defendants’ Motion and deny Plaintiff’s.

I.      Background

        A. Statutory Background

        The Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-44, was enacted in 1973 “to provide a

means whereby ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may

be conserved” and “to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and

threatened species .…” 16 U.S.C. § 1531(b). Its passage marks Congress’s commitment “to halt

and reverse the trend toward species extinction, whatever the cost.” Tenn. Valley Auth. v. Hill,

437 U.S. 153, 184 (1978).

        Section 4 of the Act directs the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce

(depending on the species) to determine which species should be listed as “endangered” or

“threatened.” 16 U.S.C. § 1533(a)(1). A species is to be classified as “endangered” if it is “in

danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range ….” § 1532(6). If the

species “is likely to become … endangered … within the foreseeable future throughout all or a

significant portion of its range,” the Secretary should list it as “threatened.” § 1532(20).

        Endangered species are entitled to a number of legal protections under the Act, including

a prohibition on “take.” See §§ 1538(a)(1)(B)-(C). The Act defines to “take” as to “harass,

harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect” any endangered species or to

“attempt to engage in any such conduct.” § 1532(19); see also Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter

of Communities for a Great Or., 515 U.S. 687, 704 (1995) (ESA defines “take” in “the broadest

possible manner to include every conceivable way in which a person can ‘take’ or attempt to

‘take’ any fish or wildlife”).

                                                  2
       When a species is listed as “threatened,” the Act directs the Secretary to “issue such

regulations as he deems necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of such species.”

§1533(d). Under this provision, he is authorized to extend any prohibition that applies to

endangered species to any “threatened” species of fish or wildlife. Id.; see also § 1538(a)(1).

The Secretary of the Interior has promulgated a general regulation stating that, in the absence of

species-specific regulations, the prohibitions with respect to endangered wildlife shall apply to

all “threatened” wildlife within its jurisdiction. See 50 C.F.R. § 17.31(a). If, however, the

Secretary elects to create a special rule governing a particular threatened species, “all the

applicable prohibitions and exceptions” must be contained therein, as the general regulation will

not apply. See 50 C.F.R. § 17.31(c).

       Even if the Secretary determines after considering the relevant factors that a particular

species is neither threatened nor endangered, see 16 U.S.C. §§ 1533(a)(1)(A)-(E), he may

nonetheless treat it as such based on its similarity of appearance to a listed species. See §

1533(e). Specifically, Section 4(e) of the ESA authorizes the Secretary to treat any species as an

endangered species or threatened species if he finds that:

                   (A) such species so closely resembles in appearance, at
                   the point in question, a species which has been listed
                   pursuant to such section that enforcement personnel
                   would have substantial difficulty in attempting to
                   differentiate between the listed and unlisted species;

                   (B) the effect of this substantial difficulty is an additional
                   threat to an endangered or threatened species; and

                   (C) such treatment of an unlisted species will substantially
                   facilitate the enforcement and further the policy of this
                   chapter.

                                                 3
Id.; see also 50 C.F.R. § 17.50(b) (regulatory interpretation of 16 U.S.C. §§ 1533(e)(A)-(C)). If

the Secretary wishes to afford a species special protections and these three criteria are satisfied,

the species must “appear in the list in [50 C.F.R.] § 17.11” with an indication of whether it is to

be treated as threatened or endangered. See 50 C.F.R. § 17.50(a).

       B. Factual Background

       The pallid sturgeon is a ray-finned, spade-snouted freshwater fish that now resides

exclusively in the Missouri and Mississippi river basins, having been extirpated from most if its

historical range. See Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status for

Shovelnose Sturgeon under the Similarity of Appearance Provisions of the Endangered Species

Act, 75 Fed. Reg. 53,598 (Sep. 1, 2010); AR 2618-26. It can grow to five feet in length and

weigh up to 80 pounds. See AR at 24. Because its ancestors date back 78 million years, it is

sometimes referred to as a “living dinosaur.” Id.

       Due to habitat alteration and commercial harvesting, the pallid sturgeon is now in danger

of extinction.    See Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of

Endangered Status of the Pallid Sturgeon, 55 Fed. Reg. 36,641 (Sep. 6, 1990); AR 2630-36. In

1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) named it an endangered species, making it

unlawful to kill or otherwise harm a member of the species. See id.; see also 16 U.S.C. §§

1538(a)(1)(B)-(C), 1532(19).

       The pallid sturgeon is closely related to the shovelnose sturgeon, a similar looking but

more prevalent species whose habitat overlaps with the pallid sturgeon in certain areas. See 75

Fed. Reg. 53,598 (AR 2618). Although the shovelnose sturgeon is not itself on the verge of

becoming endangered or extinct, FWS has designated it – along with its close relative, the

shovelnose-pallid sturgeon hybrid – as a “threatened” species because of its similarity of

appearance with the endangered pallid sturgeon. See 75 Fed. Reg. 53598-53605 (Sep. 1, 2010);
                                                 4
50 C.F.R. § 17.44(aa)(1).     This designation applies only to those geographic areas where

shovelnose and pallid sturgeon cohabitate, which constitutes only a portion of the shovelnose

sturgeon’s area of habitation. See id. at §§ 17.44(aa)(1)-(2); see also 75 Fed. Reg. 53,598,

53604-05 (AR 2618, 2624-25) (identifying geographic areas on a map); 75 Fed. Reg. 53,599

(AR 2619) (“[T]his rule covers the minimal geographic extent necessary to effectively conserve

pallid sturgeon.”). Thus, in areas where the two species live alongside one another, fisherman

cannot “take” shovelnose sturgeon for commercial purposes. 50 C.F.R. § 17.44(aa)(1).

       C. Procedural History

       On September 29, 2010, the Illinois Commercial Fishing Association (ICFA) filed this

suit challenging the rule that affords shovelnose sturgeon in the same geographic area as pallid

sturgeon the protections of a “threatened” species. 75 Fed. Reg. 53,598 (Sep. 1, 2010). This

Court originally dismissed Counts I through III without prejudice for failure to adequately allege

standing, and it dismissed Count IV, which alleged Congressional Review Act violations, with

prejudice. See Mem. Op. of June 16, 2011.

       On June 30, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint against Kenneth Salazar,

in his official capacity as Secretary of the United States Department of Interior, and FWS, which

is the agency within the Department of Interior responsible for administering the ESA for species

within the Department’s jurisdiction. The Complaint alleges violations of the ESA, 16 U.S.C. §§

1531-44 (Count I), the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-47 (Count II), the

Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 601-12 (Count III), and the Administrative Procedures

Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-06. See Second Amended Complaint, ¶ 3. Plaintiff moved for summary

judgment on all claims on February 2, 2012, and Defendants cross-moved for summary

judgment on March 5. Plaintiff has since expressly conceded their RFA and NEPA claims, see

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Pl. Reply & Opp. at 11, so only the claims arising under the APA and ESA are now before the

Court.

   II.      Legal Standard

         Although styled Motions for Summary Judgment, the pleadings in this case more

accurately seek the Court’s review of an administrative decision. The standard set forth in Rule

56(c), therefore, does not apply because of the limited role of a court in reviewing the

administrative record. See Sierra Club v. Mainella, 459 F. Supp. 2d 76, 89-90 (D.D.C. 2006)

(citing National Wilderness Inst. v. United States Army Corps of Eng'rs, 2005 WL 691775, at *7

(D.D.C. 2005); Fund for Animals v. Babbitt, 903 F. Supp. 96, 105 (D.D.C. 1995), amended on

other grounds, 967 F. Supp. 6 (D.D.C. 1997)).       “[T]he function of the district court is to

determine whether or not as a matter of law the evidence in the administrative record permitted

the agency to make the decision it did.” Id. at 90 (internal citations omitted). Summary

judgment thus serves as the mechanism for deciding, as a matter of law, whether the agency

action is supported by the administrative record and otherwise consistent with the APA standard

of review. See Richards v. INS, 554 F.2d 1173, 1177 & n.28 (D.C. Cir. 1977), cited in Bloch v.

Powell, 227 F. Supp. 2d 25, 31 (D.D.C. 2002), aff’d, 348 F.3d 1060 (D.C. Cir. 2003).

         Courts review agency decisions under the ESA according to the APA.            See Am.

Wildlands v. Norton, 193 F. Supp. 2d 244, 251 (D.D.C. 2002) (citing City of Las Vegas v.

Lujan, 892 F.2d 927, 932 (D.C. Cir. 1989)). The APA “sets forth the full extent of judicial

authority to review executive agency action for procedural correctness ….”         FCC v. Fox

Television Stations, Inc., 129 S. Ct. 1800, 1810 (2009). It requires courts to “hold unlawful and

set aside agency action, findings, and conclusions” that are “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of

discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A). This is a “narrow”

                                               6
standard of review as courts defer to the agency’s expertise. Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n of U.S.,

Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43 (1983). An agency is required to

“examine the relevant data and articulate a satisfactory explanation for its action including a

rational connection between the facts found and the choice made.” Id. (internal quotation

omitted). The reviewing court “is not to substitute its judgment for that of the agency,” id., and

thus “may not supply a reasoned basis for the agency's action that the agency itself has not

given.” Bowman Transp., Inc. v. Arkansas-Best Freight System, Inc., 419 U.S. 281, 285-86

(1974) (internal quotation omitted). Nevertheless, a decision that is not fully explained may be

upheld “if the agency's path may reasonably be discerned.” Id. at 286.

   III.      Analysis

          Plaintiff attacks FWS’s decision to classify the shovelnose sturgeon as threatened as a

violation of the ESA. It also brings assorted other APA-related challenges to the rule. The Court

will first address the ESA and its three similarity-of-appearance criteria, following which it will

briefly deal with Plaintiff’s remaining arguments.

          A. Violation of ESA

          The key question before the Court is whether Plaintiff has demonstrated that the rule

requiring shovelnose sturgeon to be treated as a threatened species in the Missouri and

Mississippi river basins is “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in

accordance with law.” 5 U.S.C. §§ 706(2)(A), (C); see also City of Olmsted Falls, Ohio v. FAA,

292 F.3d 261, 271 (D.C. Cir. 2002). In making this determination, the Court will consider

whether the administrative record supports Defendants’ finding that the three requirements of the

ESA’s “similarity of appearance” provision have been met here. See 16 U.S.C. § 1533(e). The

Court is mindful of the fact that, in rulemakings such as this one, the threshold for surviving

                                                 7
judicial review is a low one. Where, as here, the agency’s technical expertise is involved, the

Court “must look at the decision not as the chemist, biologist, or statistician that [it is] qualified

neither by training nor experience to be, but as a reviewing court exercising [its] narrowly

defined duty of holding agencies to certain minimal standards of rationality.” Ethyl Corp. v.

EPA, 541 F.2d 1, 36 (D.C. Cir. 1976) (en banc).

                    1. Close Resemblance and Substantial Difficulty

        To afford a species special protection because it looks like an imperiled species, the

Secretary must first find that it “so closely resembles” a threatened or endangered species “that

enforcement personnel would have substantial difficulty in attempting to differentiate between

the listed and unlisted species ….” 16 U.S.C. § 1533(e)(A); see also 50 C.F.R. § 17.50(b).

Defendants point to a wide range of evidence in the administrative record that shovelnose

sturgeon satisfy this criterion.

        First, fish biologists and commercial fishermen – both of whom have more specialized

knowledge of fish species than enforcement personnel – have trouble distinguishing between the

shovelnose sturgeon and pallid sturgeon. See 75 Fed. Reg. 53,599 (AR 2619) (noting that fish

biologists must rely on one or both anatomical indices developed to help identify whether a

caught specimen is a shovelnose sturgeon, a pallid sturgeon, or a hybrid); AR 18 (state agency’s

view that commercial fishermen’s ability to differentiate between shovelnose and pallid sturgeon

needs improvement); AR 530 (“[t]rained biologists can have a difficult time distinguishing

between shovelnose and pallid sturgeon with intermediate physical characteristics,” according to

a federal/state intergovernmental wildlife cooperative association); AR 1835 (statement by U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers official that “pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon can be difficult

to distinguish by commercial fishermen”).

                                                  8
       Even the indices developed by scientists sometimes lead to inaccurate identifications.

See 75 Fed. Reg. 53,599 (AR 2619) (citing AR 3186-87, 3232) (study concluding that some

sturgeon that appeared intermediate in character based on two scientific indices were, in fact,

genetically identified as pallid sturgeon); AR 35 (“Character indices developed by taxonomists

can be complex and are not always accurate.”); AR 2682 (“character indices such as the CI of

Wills et al. (2002) are incapable of definitively identifying pallid sturgeon in the field, especially

in the lower Mississippi River”).

       If trained fish biologists struggle to distinguish between the shovelnose and pallid

sturgeon – even when aided by scientific tools designed specifically for that purpose – it is

certainly reasonable to infer that enforcement personnel will have at least as much (and probably

more) trouble doing so.      Unlike fish biologists and commercial fishermen, the agents who

enforce the ESA do not focus on fish, let alone a particular species of fish. Rather, they are

responsible for enforcing ESA protections for all listed species within their jurisdiction, from

plants and birds to reptiles and mammals. See U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law

Enforcement,         About          Service       Law         Enforcement,         available        at

http://www.fws.gov/le/AboutLE/about_le.htm (last visited June 8, 2012).         On top of that, they

enforce other federal wildlife-protection statutes that cover their geographic area. Id. Given the

breadth of their law-enforcement responsibilities and the challenges that even trained specialists

encounter in attempting to differentiate between the shovelnose and pallid sturgeon, it is

certainly reasonable to assume that the FWS’s enforcement personnel would have “substantial

difficulty” distinguishing between the species.

       The Court need not rely on the reasonableness of this inference, however. The Service’s

law-enforcement personnel have themselves acknowledged how hard it is to differentiate the two

                                                  9
species. In fact, they identified “the difficulty in distinguishing pallid from shovelnose sturgeon”

as one of the two greatest challenges of their job (with the other being the variations in

regulations from state to state). AR 1101; see also AR 1835 (statement by U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers that commercial fishermen, scientists, and law enforcement find it difficult to

distinguish between the pallid and shovelnose sturgeon).

       If that were not enough, three independent peer reviewers agreed that the first criterion

was satisfied based on the evidence in the record. See AR 1786; see also AR 1783, 1788.

Timothy Spier of the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Illinois University stated

that “law enforcement would have substantial difficulty differentiating between the shovelnose

and pallid,” noting that “even commercial fishers, who have much more experience with these

fish than most law enforcement officials, had difficulty identifying pallids.” AR 1786 (citing

Bettoli et al. study). Another peer reviewer, highlighting the genetic similarity between the two

species, indicated that there would be no way to equip law-enforcement officials with the

morphometric or genetic tools necessary to distinguish them. AR 1783. The third reviewer

focused on the challenges of identifying the species’ roe, writing that “[t]he studies cited in the

proposed rule make it abundantly clear that law enforcement personnel would have great

difficulty in differentiating between shovelnose sturgeon and endangered pallid eggs.” AR 1783.

       Plaintiff combats this wealth of evidence by arguing that “all of the record documents

used by the federal defendants concerning laboratory studies, fish biologists, and the peer

reviews are a red herring.” Pl. Reply & Opp. at 7.            Specifically, it contends that these

documents are “not relevant to the legal issue” because the ESA requires that enforcement

personnel have substantial difficulty differentiating between the two species, and the

aforementioned data relates only to others’ ability to do so. Id.; see also id. at 8. While Plaintiff

                                                 10
acknowledges that Defendants offered some direct evidence from enforcement personnel, it

maintains that it is but a small portion of the whole administrative record and, as such, is

insufficient to withstand judicial review.

       As explained above, the evidence that fishermen and fish biologists have trouble

distinguishing between the species is relevant because it shows that even people with greater

familiarity and expertise than the enforcement personnel cannot always tell the difference

between shovelnose and pallid sturgeon.        This data, together with statements from law

enforcement personnel, is more than adequate to meet the APA’s very deferential standard.

                   2. Additional Threat

       The second criterion for listing a species as threatened or endangered under the

similarity-of-appearance provision is that enforcement personnel’s “substantial difficulty” poses

an additional threat to an endangered or threatened species. See 16 U.S.C. § 1533(e)(B). This

requirement is met here because the evidence in the record demonstrates that (1) take of pallid

sturgeon incident to commercial shovelnose-sturgeon fishing is a threat to the pallid sturgeon,

and (2) the inability to effectively enforce the ban on taking pallid sturgeon allows fishermen to

take the endangered fish with impunity, rendering the ban futile. Although Plaintiff does not

dispute the evidence on either point – focusing instead on its previously rejected argument that

law enforcement does not have substantial difficulty distinguishing between the species – the

Court will nonetheless review the record.

       Since the pallid sturgeon was originally listed as endangered in 1990, FWS has identified

commercial shovelnose-sturgeon fishing in the areas where pallid sturgeon exist as a threat to the

species. See 55 Fed. Reg. 36,641 (AR 2630); AR 3464-66, 3476 (confirming continuing threat

from commercial shovelnose-sturgeon fishing in Service’s most recent 5-Year Review).

                                               11
Scientific studies support this finding.      For example, published research shows that the

“mortality associated with commercial fishing activity is likely substantially lowering

recruitment, negatively impacting population growth, and ultimately affecting recovery” of the

pallid sturgeon species. 75 Fed. Reg. 53,602 (AR 2622) (citing Columbo et al. 2007 (AR 92),

Keenlyne and Jenkins 1993 (AR 2976)).

       In addition, because of the difficulty of distinguishing between the shovelnose and pallid

sturgeon, enforcement personnel are unable to adequately enforce the prohibition on take of the

endangered fish. The Service’s Resident Agent-in-Charge for Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri has

stated that there is “little [they] can do” to protect the pallid sturgeon while commercial fishing

of the shovelnose is permitted. AR 6. He accordingly requested that the Service ban take of

shovelnose under Section 4(e) of the ESA to close the “loophole” created by the two species’

similar appearance. See id.; see also AR 1838 (request by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the

shovelnose to be listed under ESA’s look-alike provision in order to ameliorate problems with

enforcing the prohibition on take of pallid sturgeon). Treating the shovelnose as a threatened

species would not only facilitate law enforcement’s ability to determine when a fish has been

unlawfully taken, but it would also prevent poachers from claiming that they innocently mistook

a pallid sturgeon for a shovelnose. See AR 11, 306.

       The challenges of enforcing the ban are even greater when fishermen harvest eggs from

the fish, as their roe is largely indistinguishable. Not only are Conservation Agents unable to

identify the species of the egg, see AR 8, but even genetic tests are unable to differentiate the two

species’ roe. See AR 2742.       It is thus extraordinarily difficult for enforcement personnel to

combat the illegal trade in pallid sturgeon roe without take prohibitions on both the pallid and

shovelnose sturgeon. See 75 Fed. Reg. 53,602 (AR 2622). And, indeed, the roe – for sale as

                                                 12
caviar – is one of the principal incentives to take the fish in the first place. See AR 1838 (report

of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official observing “[w]anton waste of sturgeon carcasses, both

pallid and shovelnose … with immature females and misidentified males being discarded in

dumpsters upon producing no roe”). As a result, some commercial fishermen simply slit the

bellies of both fish in search of roe and then toss the fish back into the water. See id.; see also

AR 468 (photograph of living pallid sturgeon with “check mark” scar from having been cut in

the abdomen by commercial fishermen checking for roe); AR 35 (noting that the federal/state

intergovernmental Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Team had captured “female pallid sturgeon with

[egg] check marks”).

       The similarity of appearance between the shovelnose and the pallid sturgeon makes it

nearly impossible to enforce the prohibition on take of the pallid sturgeon. And a ban without

bite is ineffective at best (especially when the financial incentives to violate the ban are

significant). See AR 8. The Service’s finding that the difficulty of distinguishing between the

pallid and shovelnose sturgeon poses an additional threat to the former, therefore, easily crosses

the hurdle to survive judicial review here.

                   3. Facilitate Enforcement

       The third and final requirement for treating a species as threatened or endangered because

of its resemblance to a species facing extinction (or endangerment) is that “such treatment …

[must] substantially facilitate the enforcement and further the policy of this chapter” of the ESA.

16 U.S.C. § 1533(e)(C). The stated policy of the chapter is that “all Federal departments and

agencies shall seek to conserve endangered species and threatened species” and use their

authorities toward this end. 16 U.S.C. § 1531(c)(1); see also 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531 (a), (b),

                                                13
1533(e)(C) (policy of ESA is to prevent extinction of imperiled animal and plant species, and

further their recovery).

       As discussed in Section III.A.2, supra, a prohibition on the take of shovelnose sturgeon

substantially advances law-enforcement efforts to protect the pallid sturgeon. It eliminates the

difficult law-enforcement task of attempting to distinguish between the species. In addition, it

facilitates prosecution of poachers who might otherwise be able to avoid punishment by arguing

that they reasonably believed they had lawfully taken a shovelnose sturgeon.

       Listing the shovelnose as a threatened species under the similarity-of-appearance

provision also furthers the ESA’s goal of conserving the endangered pallid sturgeon. Scientific

studies indicate that pallid sturgeon are, in fact, being taken by shovelnose fisherman in areas

that both species inhabit.    For instance, scientists have observed a large difference in the

mortality rates and maximum ages of pallid sturgeon in areas with commercial shovelnose

harvest compared to those without. See AR 70 (observed mortality rate of 37-39% in areas with

commercial shovelnose-sturgeon harvest compared to 12% mortality rate in areas without); see

also AR 2982-84 (study finding difference in age classes between areas with commercial

shovelnose harvest and without); AR 93 (published study noting that “current recovery efforts

underway for the endangered pallid sturgeon may be jeopardized” by commercial shovelnose

fishing); AR 3030 (study stating that “[i]ncidental and illegal harvest of pallid sturgeon has been

documented in the Mississippi River, and this may be a significant impediment to survival and

recovery of the species in some portions of its range”) (internal citations omitted).

       Another study revealed that a minimum of 1.8% of all sturgeon harvested in Tennessee’s

shovelnose fishery during five observation days were pallid sturgeon. See AR 2679 (“Two of

the 113 harvested sturgeon were confirmed pallid sturgeon based on microsatellite DNA

                                                 14
analyses.”); see also AR 281, 2681. Extrapolating this percentage of incidental pallid take over

the previous two commercial fishing seasons, researchers estimate that at least 169 pallid

sturgeon were illegally taken in the Tennessee waters of the Mississippi River between 2005 and

2007. See AR 2681 (basing estimate on reported harvest of 9371 shovelnose sturgeon in that

area during that period). This study – like the studies discussed above – likely underestimates

the take of pallid sturgeon by commercial shovelnose-sturgeon fisherman because of several

sources of illegal take that cannot be documented by researchers – e.g., pallid sturgeon killed in

fishing nets that are never found, pallid sturgeon that die due to handling stress after being

released, and pallid sturgeon who are cut by fishermen seeking eggs to harvest. See AR 315.

       Plaintiff attempts to dismiss the Tennessee study by arguing that a 1.8% error rate can

hardly be evidence of “substantial difficulty” in distinguishing between the two species; on the

contrary, they argue, it shows that fishermen correctly identified the species over 98% of the

time. See Pl. Mot. & Opp. at 12, 20-21. Plaintiff misunderstands (or mischaracterizes) the

study’s findings.    The only error of concern to Defendants is one in which a fisherman

incorrectly identifies a pallid sturgeon as a shovelnose sturgeon (and consequently takes the

endangered fish). The 1.8% figure does not shed any light on how frequently fishermen made

that mistake. In fact, the study showed that the fishermen misidentified 29% of the pallids they

encountered – even though they “demonstrated exceptional knowledge regarding how to

distinguish shovelnose sturgeon from pallid sturgeon and intermediate forms.” See AR 271-72.

See AR 2681 (Bettoli et al. study); 75 Fed. Reg. 53,602. This is hardly an insubstantial number,

particularly when the survival of a species is on the line.

       In any event, Defendants are not offering the finding that 1.8% of the sturgeon

commercially harvested in Tennessee were pallid sturgeon to show the difficulty distinguishing

                                                 15
between the species. They are simply using the study to demonstrate that pallid sturgeon are

being taken by commercial shovelnose-sturgeon fishermen. See Pl. Mot. & Opp. at 23.

       The independent peer reviewers unanimously agreed with Defendants, finding that the

third prong of ESA’s look-alike provision was satisfied based on the scientific evidence in the

record. See AR 1784-1788. One reviewer stated that listing the shovelnose sturgeon as a

threatened species “will almost certainly facilitate enforcement of the [E]ndangered [S]pecies

[A]ct,” AR 1784, and another stated he believed doing so would “be the best way to protect and

conserve pallid sturgeon.”     AR 1787.      Defendants are therefore eminently reasonable in

concluding that prohibiting take of both species would increase the efficacy of law-enforcement

efforts and correspondingly reduce the mortality of pallid sturgeon. See Pl. Mot. & Opp. at 23.

       Based on the abundance of evidence in the record, the Court finds that it was in no way

arbitrary or capricious for Defendants to conclude that the three criteria in the similarity-of-

appearance provision of the ESA had been met here.

       B. Plaintiff’s Remaining Contentions

       Plaintiff, unsuccessful in its efforts to argue FWS did not comply with the ESA, offers

several other points in support of its Motion. The Court will deal with the three in turn.

                   1. Prohibition Limited to Commercial Fishing

       Plaintiff first contends that the rule prohibiting take of shovelnose sturgeon is arbitrary

and capricious because it applies only to commercial fishing, not recreational fishing. See Pl.

Mot. at 4-6, 9-11; 50 C.F.R. § 17.44(aa)(1) (prohibiting “take of any shovelnose sturgeon,

shovelnose-pallid sturgeon hybrids, or their roe associated with or related to a commercial fishing

activity”). If Defendants’ intent in promulgating the rule were truly to protect the pallid sturgeon,

Plaintiff submits, the rule would have banned take of shovelnose sturgeon by all fishermen, not

commercial harvesters exclusively. See Pl. Mot. at 11. Plaintiff argues that by limiting the

                                                 16
prohibition to commercial fishing, Defendants revealed that the rule is merely a “pretext to halt

commercial fishing.” Id. at 5.

       Contrary to Plaintiff’s assertions, there is ample evidence in the record that the threat to

the pallid sturgeon comes from commercial fishing as opposed to recreational fishing. A study

published in a peer-reviewed journal found that while recreational fishing for shovelnose

sturgeon does occur, it “is comparatively minor and likely not driven by market forces.” AR 87

(Columbo et al. 2007); see also AR 2681 (published Bettoli et al. study observing that “pallid

sturgeon were regularly encountering commercial gear”).           This is consistent with a FWS

biologist’s statement that most states report that “there are few anglers that recreationally fish for

shovelnose.” AR 1026; see also AR 368 (Tennessee state biologist indicating he believes there

are no recreational shovelnose sturgeon anglers in Tennessee).          While specific data is not

available for recreational fishers, commercial fishermen caught 23,075 pounds of shovelnose

sturgeon flesh and 4,524 pounds of roe in the geographic areas at issue in the Final Rule during

the most recent year for which data is available. See 75 Fed. Reg. 53,603 (AR 2623).

       Commercial fishermen pose a greater risk to the pallid sturgeon’s survival than do

recreational fishermen not only because of the scale of their fishing, but also because their

equipment is less targeted.      Commercial harvesters often cast large nets that may be left

unattended or lost, killing whatever fish they capture. See AR 271, 2679, 2681. Hoop nets and

trammel nets, which are used by commercial sturgeon fishermen, are not selective in the species

they capture. See AR 7. Because of this, commercial fishing methods are more likely to result

in the death of non-targeted pallid sturgeon than the more selective methods used by recreational

fishermen. Recreational fishermen also have no financial incentive to capture pallid sturgeon

and thus are more likely to return a sturgeon they cannot identify rather than risk an illegal take.

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See AR 1026; see also 16 U.S.C. § 1538(a)(1)(B) (take of pallid sturgeon remains unlawful for

recreational fishermen).

       The Court finds, accordingly, that Defendants’ decision to limit the ban on take of

shovelnose sturgeon to commercial fishing activity is reasonable and supported by the record.

                  2. Overton Park

       Plaintiff also argues in its Opposition and Reply that the final rule is unlawful because,

“just as in Overton Park, the administrative record is without relevant findings of fact by the

Secretary of the Interior.” Pl. Opp. & Reply at 5 (citing Citizens to Pres. Overton Park v. Volpe,

401 U.S. 402 (1971)). Contrary to Plaintiff’s assertions, however, Overton Park does not stand

for the proposition that the Secretary must issue formal findings of fact to support an agency

rulemaking. In fact, the Supreme Court held that formal findings of fact were not required in

that case. See Overton Park, 401 U.S. at 417 (“[R]eview of the Secretary’s action is hampered

by his failure to make such findings, but the absence of formal findings does not necessarily

require that the case be remanded ….”) In any event, FWS did make express findings here,

explaining in detail why the requirements of Section 4(e) of the ESA had been met. See 75 Fed.

Reg. 56,601-02 (AR 2621-2622). Plaintiff’s argument is thus deficient.

       Plaintiff also challenges the rule on the ground that “Secretary [Salazar] did not make an

independent determination but merely relied on the judgment of the agency.” Pl. Opp. & Reply

at 6 (citing Overton Park, 401 U.S. at 407). Because Plaintiff did not make an improper-

delegation claim in its Amended Complaint, the Court could disregard the argument on that

basis. See Sharp v. Rosa Mexicano, D.C., LLC, 496 F. Supp. 2d 93, 97 n.3 (D.D.C. 2007). The

Court nevertheless notes that the claim would fail on the merits. In Overton Park, the Secretary

of Transportation relied on the recommendations of the Memphis City Council regarding the

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placement of a public highway. See 401 U.S. at 407. Had the Supreme Court held that this was

improper – which it did not – Overton Park would still be distinguishable because, unlike FWS,

which is a component of the Department of Interior, the Memphis City Council is not one of the

Department of Transportation’s constituent agencies. It is well established that the Secretary of

the Interior is authorized to delegate agency functions to other personnel within the agency, see 5

U.S.C. § 302, and he properly delegated implementation of the ESA to FWS over 30 years ago.

See Def. Reply, Exh. A (U.S. Department of the Interior, Departmental Manual, § 242 DM

1.1(B) (1982)); Exh. B (U.S. Department of the Interior, Departmental Manual, § 206 DM 6).

                    3. Chevron

         Finally, Plaintiff’s contention that the agency is not entitled to Chevron deference is not

apropos here as Plaintiff's claims do not turn on an agency’s interpretation of a statute, but rather

involves a straightforward application of Section 4(e) of the ESA to the facts in the record. See

Pl. Mem. at 7 (citing Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, 467 U.S. 837 (1984)).

   IV.      Conclusion

         For the foregoing reasons, the Court will issue a contemporaneous Order granting

Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and denying Plaintiff’s.

                                                      /s/ James E. Boasberg
                                                      JAMES E. BOASBERG
                                                      United States District Judge

Date: June 12, 2012

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