Court Opinion

ID: 9481362
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 08:16:55.623748+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:48:16.250784
License: Public Domain

*1100ANDERSON, Circuit Judge,
concurring specially:
I concur, but my concurrence is based upon a different rational. The opinion for the court assumes that an action under subsection 1317(d) cannot be an action “respecting a violation of section ... 1317(a).” Respectfully, it seems to me that there may be some doubt about that proposition and since the case is easily resolved on the basis of another rationale, I prefer not to decide that issue.
Section 1365 provides for the mandatory 60 day notice except in actions “respecting a violation of sections 1316 and 1317(a).” There is at least a colorable argument that an action against a private party pursuant to subsection 1317(d) is an action “respecting” a violation of subsection 1317(a) when the action seeks to enforce an effluent standard which was promulgated under subsection 1317(a).
It is not necessary in the instant case to resolve the foregoing potential ambiguity in the statute, because the instant suit does not seek to enforce an effluent standard promulgated under subsection 1317(a). Rather, the instant suit relates to pollutants with respect to which the Administrator has promulgated no effluent standards pursuant to subsection 1317(a). For that reason, it is clear that the instant action is not an action “respecting” a violation of subsection 1317(a).