ROYCE C. LAMBERTH, Chief Judge.
This case concerns a 500-acre multi-use development located in a Tampa, Florida suburb known as Cypress Creek Town Center (CCTC). Plans for the project include retail stores, financial institutions, hotels, restaurants, theaters, offices, and multi-family housing. The project site is located on wetlands, which will need to be "filled" in order for the project to be completed as planned. Because the project site involves the filling of wetlands, the Clean Water Act (CWA) required the project's developers to obtain a special permit prior to construction. Further, the project's developers were required to comply with other federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued a permit for the development in May 2007 and construction started shortly thereafter. Six months later, plaintiffs, three environmental groups and individuals, filed suit alleging violations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the CWA, and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Meanwhile, during the initial stages of construction, turbid, silt-laden water was discharged from the development site in violation of the Corps permit. After the discharges, the Corps received this Court's approval to remand the case in order to re-evaluate the permit. After review, the Corps reissued virtually the same permit, concluding that the discharges resulted from human error, rather than a flaw with the permit. Plaintiffs continued their legal challenge alleging: (1) that the Corps violated NEPA by failing to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and by failing to otherwise take a "hard look" at the project's adverse impacts and potential alternatives; (2) that the Corps violated the CWA by failing to require practicable alternatives and by arbitrarily and capriciously concluding there would be no significant degradation of Cypress Creek and its wetlands, and no violations of state water quality standards; and (3) that the Corps and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) violated the ESA by failing to engage in formal consultation on the development's impact on protected species.
Currently before the court are plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, government defendants' motion for summary judgment, and intervening defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment will be granted in part and denied in part. Likewise, government defendants' motion for summary judgment and intervening defendants' cross-motion for will be granted in
The CCTC project site consists of 502.412 acres in Pasco County, Florida, approximately nine miles outside of Tampa, Florida. The project site includes 155.46 acres of wetlands. Wetland systems are comprised of cypress swamp, mixed wetland forests, freshwater marshes, wet prairies and small ponds. Because the proposed project involves the filling of wetlands that are "waters of the United States," pursuant to the CWA, a Section 404 permit is required from the Corps before the project can proceed. This is because wetlands provide storage areas for storm and flood waters as well as water purification functions.
CCTC's uplands include pastureland, wooded lands and scrubby areas, which provide a buffer zone that protects Cypress Creek. The area also provides wildlife habitat for a number of species. The CCTC project was initially approved by local governments having jurisdiction over the project. In addition, the intervening defendants, the "applicants" in the instant case, were required to obtain an Environmental Resource Permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for the project. The Environmental Resource Permit also serves as the State Water Quality Certification under the CWA.
In September 2005, Sierra Properties submitted a permit application to the Corps for the CCTC project. The Corps issued a Public Notice on October 31, 2005 and initiated consultation with the FWS in December 2005 concerning the impact on certain protected animal species, specifically the Wood Stork and the Eastern Indigo Snake. The Corps received public comments from state and local agencies, elected officials, organizations, and individual citizens and reviewed the comments. The CWA permit process culminated in a May, 2007 Environmental Assessment (EA) and Statement of Findings. In the EA, the Corps outlined the process it had implemented to assess the environmental review. Specifically, the Corps engaged in an "informal consultation" with the FWS regarding the potential impact on threatened and endangered species. The FWS concurred with the Corps' determination that the project would likely not adversely affect the Wood Stork and Indigo Snake. FWS also concurred with the Corps' determination that the project would have no affect on the Scrub Jay. Concluding that the CCTC project failed to impose any significant environmental impacts, the EA also constituted the Corps' Finding of No Significant Impact under NEPA. Based on these findings, the Corps issued a permit on May 15, 2007.
The 2007 permit authorized the construction of a new town center, including a main street regional mall and power center, which included retail businesses, financial institutions, hotels, restaurants, theaters, gas stations, offices and residential housing. CCTC will also provide parking for more than 14,000 cars. However, within two months of the issuance of the 2007 permit, the site began releasing turbid, silt-laden water into Cypress Creek. While the Corps demanded that the discharges
After suspending the 2007 CWA permit, the Corps conducted a review of the causes of the discharges coming from the CCTC site. The Corps issued a public notice advising of the reevaluation and considered additional information. During remand, the plaintiffs submitted additional information about CCTC's potential environmental impacts. After completing additional environmental reviews, the Corps issued a Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA), which concluded the prohibited discharges from the site were caused by "human error" rather than as a result of the 2007 permit. On September 3, 2009, the Corps issued a slightly modified permit allowing the CCTC project to continue.
Plaintiffs, three environmental groups, asserted this challenge to the CCTC permit in 2007, claiming that the CCTC permit would degrade Cypress Creek and its wetlands. Plaintiffs asserted that the wetland destruction was unnecessary and unlawful; that the Corps and FWS were required to formally consult on impacts to federally listed species; and that an EIS should have been prepared pursuant to NEPA. After the discharges from the site began and the Corps suspended the 2007 permit, the Court granted the Corps' request for a voluntary remand and stay of all litigation, noting that the Corps "may conduct additional environmental review" pursuant to the ESA, NEPA and the CWA. On September 3, 2009, the Corps notified the Court and the parties that the Corps had issued another CWA permit. Plaintiff's Revised Supplemental Complaint challenges the 2009 CWA permit. Currently before the Court is Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment [Dkt. 70], Defendants' motion for summary judgment [Dkt. 73], and Intervening Defendants' cross motion for summary judgment [Dkt. 74]. Subsequent to the filings of the motions for summary judgment, plaintiffs' filed a motion for expedited argument due to construction activity at the CCTC project site.
Generally, summary judgment should be granted only if the moving party has shown that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56; Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Waterhouse v. District of Columbia, 298 F.3d 989, 991 (D.C.Cir.2002). In determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the Court must view all facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). The non-moving party's opposition, however, must consist of more than mere unsupported allegations or denials and must be supported by affidavits or other competent evidence setting forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e); see Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
However, a federal agency's compliance with its statutory and regulatory obligations is subject to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The APA creates a cause of action for challenges to final agency
Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969 in order to insure that all agencies of the federal government consider the environmental effects of proposed actions. Sierra Club v. Watkins, 808 F.Supp. 852, 858 (D.C.D. 1991). NEPA's primary purpose is to make certain "that the agency, in reaching its decision, will have available, and will carefully consider, detailed information concerning significant environmental impacts." Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332, 349, 109 S.Ct. 1835, 104 L.Ed.2d 351 (1989). In addition to providing information to the decisionmakers at the agency, NEPA also "guarantees that the relevant information will be made available to the larger audience that may also play a role in both the decisionmaking process and the implementation of that decision." Id. This audience includes the public because the documentation "gives the public the assurance that the agency has indeed considered environmental concerns in its decisionmaking process, and, perhaps more significantly, provides a springboard for public comment." Sierra Club v. Watkins, 808 F.Supp. at 858 (quoting Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 462 U.S. 87, 97, 103 S.Ct. 2246, 76 L.Ed.2d 437 (1983); Robertson, 490 U.S. at 349, 109 S.Ct. 1835). Instead of "mandating particular environmental results, NEPA imposes procedural requirements on federal agencies to analyze the environmental impact of their proposals and actions." O'Reilly v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, 477 F.3d 225, 228 (5th Cir.2007).
At the heart of NEPA is § 4332(a)(C), which requires that a government agency prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) whenever a proposed government action qualifies as a "major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment."
However, "[i]f any `significant' environmental impacts might result from the proposed agency action then an EIS must be prepared before agency action is taken." Grand Canyon Trust, 290 F.3d at 339 (emphasis in original). Significance is determined by evaluating both the context of the action and the intensity of the impact. 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27. Intensity refers to the severity of the impact. The applicable regulation provides that the following factors should be considered in evaluating intensity:
40 C.F.R. § 1508.27.
Under the "long-established standard in this circuit," the court reviews an agency's finding of no significant impact, or in other words, decision to not prepare an EIS, in order to determine whether the agency has accurately identified the relevant environmental concerns and has taken a "hard look" at the potential environmental consequences of their actions. Grand Canyon Trust, 290 F.3d at 340. Specifically, the agency must (1) accurately identify the relevant environmental concern; (2) take a "hard look" at the environmental consequences of the action; (3) make a "convincing case" that the potential environmental impact is not significant enough to require a EIS; and (4) show that "even if there is an impact of true significance, [an EIS] is unnecessary because changes or safeguards in the project sufficiently reduce the impact to a minimum."
However, because NEPA is a procedural and not a results-driven statute, even agency action with adverse environmental effects can be NEPA-compliant so long as the agency has considered those effects and determined that competing policy values outweigh those costs. Ohio Valley Envtl. Coal. v. Aracoma Coal Co., 556 F.3d 177, 191 (4th Cir.2009) (citing Robertson, 490 U.S. at 350, 109 S.Ct. 1835.) Even if the court finds the contrary views more persuasive, the court will not second-guess the agency's decision so long as the agency followed NEPA's procedures. Marsh v. Or. Natural Res. Council, 490 U.S. 360, 378, 109 S.Ct. 1851, 104 L.Ed.2d 377 (1989).
In the instant case, it is clear from the record that the Corps failed to comply with NEPA's procedural requirements. While the Corps seems to argue that it was only required to take a "hard look" at potential environmental concerns, the Corps is also required to make a convincing case that there would not be significant environmental impacts. Even though the Corps took the necessary hard look at some potential environmental impacts, its determination that there would not be significant environmental impacts is so contrary to the record that the Court can find it to be nothing short of arbitrary and capricious.
Under NEPA, if "any significant environmental impact might result" from an agency's actions, an EIS is required. Grand Canyon Trust, 290 F.3d at 339 (second emphasis added). Significance is determined by evaluating both the context of the action and the intensity of the impact and intensity refers to the severity of the impact. The criteria in NEPA's regulations for evaluating significance of environmental
Primarily, an EIS should have been prepared because the project site has "unique characteristics ... such as proximity to... wetlands ... or ecologically critical areas." 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(3). In fact, the project site is directly on top of these unique wetlands. The Corps itself has found that such wetlands provide "valuable storage areas for storm and flood waters" and "water purification" functions. A.R. 6670. Specifically, the Cypress Creek "buffer" would be eliminated by the CCTC project in order to allow for the construction of storm ponds. This, construction will "reduce the existing buffer by 300-500 feet resulting in a buffer width of only 50 feet in most areas." A.R. 3975, 4602. The Corps itself determined that the buffer provides a protective function for the Creek through sediment removal, erosion control, and moderation of storm water runoff. A.R. 3975. The results of the removal of these buffer areas will result in an increase in surges of runoff with high levels of eroded sediment. In other words, the removal of the buffer areas can result in the same kind of discharge of turbid water that occurred in 2008. Further, the Cypress Creek project location is ecologically critical because of the "critical wildlife linkage" that connects to other conservation lands in the area. See A.R. 6672; 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(3).
Additionally, an EIS should have been prepared because the CCTC project "is related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively significant impacts." The regulations instruct that "[s]ignificance exists if it is reasonable to anticipate a cumulatively significant impact on the environment." This Circuit has held that NEPA requires "agencies to consider the cumulative impacts of proposed actions." Natural Resources Defense Council v. Hodel, 865 F.2d 288, 297 (D.C.Cir.1988). A cumulative impact is defined as "the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency ... undertakes such other actions." 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7. The Corps contends that no EIS was needed based on potential cumulative impacts because "[n]o cumulative impacts analysis is required where the agency action itself will not result in impacts and therefore not contribute to the accumulation of the impact in question." (Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n to Summ. J. (citing 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7)). However, the agency action could, and in fact has, resulted in environmental impacts and for the Corps to contend that it is unreasonable to assert that the CCTC project may have a cumulative impact on the environment flies in the face of logic. It not only may have an impact, it already has. The Corps did not fully consider cumulative impacts because it erroneously concluded that the CCTC project site would have no environmental impact at all, which, as discussed above, is contrary to the record.
Further, an EIS should have been prepared because the project site may adversely affect an endangered or threatened species. 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(9). Destroying the habitats of the Indigo Snake and the Wood Stork clearly may adversely affect these protected species. While this fact is not fatal to the ultimate substantive determinations, under NEPA this fact requires an EIS. The Corps correctly states that "agencies may take project-related mitigation into account when determining whether an action will have significant impacts"
Finally, an EIS should have been prepared because the project site "threatens violation of Federal, State, [and] local law[s], imposed for the protection of the environment." 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(10). The Corps looked at the 2008 discharge and accepted the applicant's assessment that it was a result of "human error." However, NEPA regulations make no exception for human error. NEPA's requirement that an EIS be prepared if an action may significantly affect the environment is highlighted when, after the issuance of a permit, significant environmental concerns actually occur. The potential for adverse environmental consequences from the CCTC project site escalates after the site has already had adverse environmental consequences. The 2008 discharge did, in fact, violation Federal, State and local environmental law. While it is true that NEPA is a procedural statute and even agency action with adverse environmental effects can be NEPA-compliant, see Robertson, 490 U.S. at 350, 109 S.Ct. 1835, the procedural requirements of the statute still must be followed. See Rock Creek Pack Station v. Blackwell, 344 F.Supp.2d 192, 200 (D.D.C.2004) ("[I]t is well settled that NEPA does not require a particular agency to reach a particular result based on the information it collects and analyzes, but only prescribes the necessary process."). Given the 2008 discharge violated environmental law, in addition to the other applicable § 1508.27(b) factors, the Corps acted arbitrarily when it refused to prepare the standard EIS.
Plaintiffs assert that an EIS should have been prepared because the "degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment are likely to be highly controversial." 40 C.F.R. § 1508.27(b)(4). "The term `controversial' refers to cases where a substantial dispute exists as to the size, nature, or effect of the major federal action rather than to the existence of opposition to a use." Town of Cave Creek v. Federal Aviation Administration, 325 F.3d 320, 331 (D.C.Cir.2003). Here, the record fails to demonstrate that controversy surrounding the effect of the permit exists. While declarations were submitted to the Corps from numerous experts who claimed that CCTC will have significant adverse impacts on Cypress Creek and its wetlands,
While the Corps took a hard look at some of the environmental consequences of the issuance of the permit, it failed to make a "convincing case" that the potential environmental impact is not significant enough to require preparation of an EIS. It is important to note that the preparation of an EIS does not foreclose the CCTC project; it simply mandates the Corps to follow NEPA's procedures. The Court of Appeals has made clear the importance of NEPA's procedural requirements. Specifically, "[t]he purpose is not merely to force the agency to reconsider its proposed action, but, more broadly, to inform Congress, other agencies, and the general public about the environmental consequences of a certain action in order to spur all interested parties to rethink the wisdom of the action." Natural Resources Defense Council v. Hodel, 865 F.2d 288, 296 (D.C.Cir.1988). Although the Court is not persuaded as to the existence of the "controversy" factor, the Court does find that several factors exist, therefore requiring preparation of an EIS. The Corps presents the Court with no "rational connection" between the record and its decision to not prepare an EIS. See Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n, 463 U.S. at 43, 103 S.Ct. 2856. Therefore, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment regarding its NEPA claim is granted.
The Clean Water Act was enacted "to restore and maintain chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters." 33 U.S.C. § 1251(a). Section 404 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1344, prohibits the filling or dredging of wetlands without first receiving a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. 33 U.S.C. § 1344. Section 404 authorizes the Corps to issue individual or general permits for discharges of dredged and fill material into wetlands. 33 U.S.C. § 1344(a),(e). The Environmental Protection Agency, together with the Corps, developed guidelines to implement the policies of the CWA and the Corps is required to follow these guidelines in deciding whether to issue a Section 404 permit. See 33 U.S.C. § 1344(b); 40 C.F.R. § 230.2. These guidelines provide that a permit may not be issued if "(i) there is a practicable alternative which would have less adverse impact and does not have other significant adverse environmental consequences, (ii) the discharge will result in significant degradation, (iii) the discharge does not include all appropriate and practicable measures to minimize potential harm, or (iv) there does not exist sufficient information to make a reasonable judgment as to whether the proposed discharge will comply with the [Corps'] Guidelines for permit issuance." 40 C.F.R. § 230.12(a)(3)(i-iv); see also 33 C.F.R. § 320.4(a)(2)(ii) (public interest review to consider the "practicability of using reasonable alternative locations and methods to accomplish the objective of the proposed structure or work"). Because the applicant failed to show that practicable alternatives did not exist, the Corps failed to act in accordance with the law when it approved the CWA permit.
Pursuant to the CWA, the Corps may permit discharges that impact wetlands only if the applicant has shown that no practicable alternative exists that is less damaging to the aquatic ecosystem. 40 C.F.R. § 230.10(a). A practicable alternative is one that is "available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost, existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes." Id.
Here, the CCTC is not water dependant. Therefore, the applicant had the duty to rebut the presumption of practicable alternatives by clearly demonstrating that a practicable alternative was unavailable. The Court finds that the Corps failed to require the applicant to provide detailed, clear and convincing information proving that an alternative with a less adverse impact was impracticable. Consequently, the Corps unlawfully granted the section 404 permit.
The Corps accepted the applicant's determination that reducing the size of the CCTC project was infeasible because of cost. The Corps calculated the costs of the CCTC project by data provided by the applicant that showed the total costs of CCTC as compared to the net rental income of the operation and the resulting "return on costs" of CCTC. According to the applicant, if the project achieved less than an 8.0% rate of return, it would no longer be attractive to investors and would be financially unworkable. However, the applicant (1) never proved that an 8% rate of return was necessary and (2) never proved that even if an 8% rate of return was necessary, that the costs provided by the applicant were accurate.
The applicant submitted to the Corps that an 8% rate of return was necessary in
During the original analysis done by the Corps, the agency found the information submitted by the applicant to be "conflicting." A.R. 4467-68. When the Corps pursued the issue, the applicant confirmed that financing could be secured with a lower than 8% rate of return. A.R. 5385; AR 4501. However, the Corps subsequently conducted further inquiry and concluded that the 8% rate of return was a "reasonable minimum." AR 12286. The Corps now submits that plaintiff's challenge to the 8% rate of return is moot because the Corps conducted the subsequent inquiry and found the rate to be "reasonable."
The Corps points the Court to four pieces of evidence that supports the assertion than an 8.0% minimum rate of return was required to maintain the project's economic feasibility and obtain financing: (1) the 2006 Real Estate Research Corporation Real Estate Report (RERC report) (AR 5417-75); (2) the August 21, 2008 Ernst & Young Report (AR 11236-47); (3) the Real Estate Capital Markets Scoreboard showing a Survey of Initial Capitalization Rates adjusted for New Project Development (AR 4600); and (4) a table compiling rates of return for Major New Retail Development Projects from SEC filings (AR 4619). Consequently, the Corps asserts that its "economists further found that `the data and methods used to demonstrate the reasonableness of an 8.0% minimum [rate of return] are acceptable, reasonable and consistent with basic economic practice and theory.' Thus, the Corps independently verified the permittee's claim that 8.0% was the minimum rate of return to assure financial feasibility of the project." (Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n to Summ J. at 19 (citing AR 122856; 15347)).
In spite of the fact that the applicant proved that the 8% rate of return is "reasonable," the applicant never proved anything less than an 8% rate of return would be impracticable. Even within one of the pieces of evidence the Corps relies on as supporting a mandatory minimum of an 8.0% rate of return, a 7.7% and 7.6% rates of return were listed as "average" rates of return for regional malls and power centers in the Tampa area. In another piece of evidence relied upon by the Corps, it would require a 9.1 % minimum rate of return. In other words, the 8.0% rate of return is "impracticable" using the evidence the Corps directs the Court to deferentially rely on. The intervening defendants illustrate this point: "The 8% rate of return figure is based on a going-in capitalization rate for established regional malls of 7.6% plus an upward adjustment of 1.5% to 3.0% to account for risks associated with new projects like CCTC ... The administrative record ... makes clear that 8% is a conservative figure to use as a minimum rate of return because 1.5% to 3.0% adjustment would actually support a minimum rate of return of 9.10% to 10.6%." (Interv. Defs.' Reply Mem. at 13). Taking the Corps evidence at face value demonstrates the 8.0% rate of return itself would be unworkable. The Corps' own unacceptable rate of return highlights the
The burden is on the applicant to prove impracticability with clear and convincing information. It is the Corps duty to hold the applicant to this standard as required by the CWA. Here, the applicant proved a preference for an 8.0% rate of return but never proved it was impracticable to realize anything less than 8.0 percent. "[U]nder the CWA, there is a "very strong" presumption that practicable alternatives exist when a proposed project is not water-dependent, and that the agency carries the burden to rebut that presumption by showing the alternatives to be impracticable." Nw. Bypass Group v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 490 F.Supp.2d 184 (D.N.H.2007) (citing Buttrey v. United States, 690 F.2d 1170, 1180 (5th Cir.1982); Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n v. Whistler, 27 F.3d 1341, 1344 (8th Cir.1994)); see also 40 C.F.R. § 230.10(a)(3).
Plaintiffs contend that even if an 8% rate of return was necessary for the financial feasibility of the project, the applicant never proved it was impracticable to reduce the CCTC project in size. According to the applicant's calculations, after building costs, or "hard costs," the largest cost is the "net land cost," which the applicant lists as $52,474,500. AR04345. However, instead of listing the actual "cost" of the land in its calculations, the applicant lists the land's "value." Id. Specifically, the applicant listed the "base value" of the land under the "TOTAL COSTS" as costing $72,837,500. After accounting for office, hotel, and residential sales, the cost of the "net land cost" amounted to $46,380,000. Id.
The Corps argues that after examining the appropriateness of the applicant's use of 2006 market value rather than the actual purchase price, or "cost," it determined that it correctly relied on the financial feasibility studies that used the market value. In support of this proposition, the Corps directs the Court to the fact that it may rely on information submitted by the applicant. (Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n to Summ J. at 14) (citing AR15348-9; Friends of the Earth v. Hintz, 800 F.2d 822, 834 (9th Cir.1986)). The same case directs that the Corps' regulations provide that "when information for an EA is prepared by the applicant, `the district engineer is responsible for independent verification and use of the data, evaluation of the environmental issues, and for the scope and content of the EA.'" Friends of the Earth, 800 F.2d at 835 (citing 33 C.F.R. Part 230, App. B § 8(b); 40 C.F.R. § 1506.5(b)). Thus, "while the Corps could, and did, base its permit decision exclusively on the information provided by [the applicant], the Corps nonetheless has an obligation to independently verify the information supplied to it." Id.
Here, the Corps' independent verification consisted of inquiring into the appropriateness of the data set by its Socioeconomic Branch, which concluded that "the developer is forgoing the opportunity to sell the land and earn a profit. Therefore, the opportunity costs of developing the land is equivalent to the price the development could sell the land for on the open market." AR12288. However, the "TOTAL COSTS" do not provide for hypothetical opportunity costs within the rate of return analysis. By using "land value" instead of land "cost" in its cost calculations, the applicant was able to foreclose the consideration of practicable alternatives, which the regulations mandate. The Corps argues that the calculations are "within the agency's technical expertise" and that the "Corps' conclusion is entitled to deference." Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n
Further, the preamble to the 404 Guidelines confirms the plain meaning of the term "cost." The notice explains that the word "cost" was used instead of the word "economic." This is because "[t]he term economic might be construed to include consideration of the applicant's financial standing, or investment, or market share, a cumbersome inquiry which is not necessarily material to the objectives of the Guidelines." 45 Fed. Reg. 85339. As such, the applicant failed to show, and the Corps failed to verify, the use of accurate financial information. As a consequence, the applicant was permitted to control the numbers in order to prevent alternatives from being practicable. This slanting of financial information is not permitted under the CWA.
The 404(b)(1) Guidelines define practicable alternatives as those that are available and capable of being done taking into account "cost, existing technology, and logistics on light of overall project purpose." 40 C.F.R. § 230.10(a)(2). The plain meaning of the regulations require the Corps to examine whether the "overall project purposes," of the CCTC project could be pursued with less wetlands destruction and taking into account the cost of the smaller project. See id.; § 230.3(q). While the overall project purpose would obviously include the rate of return and potential income from a project, that rate of return calculation cannot be misrepresented to increase itself. The cost of the land in the rate or return, or profit, calculation is independent from the market value of the land. The plain language of the regulation directing the Corps to take cost into consideration cannot be confused with potential, hypothetical future profit, as the Corps is allowing the applicant to do so here.
Plaintiffs contend that another practicable alternative would be to require the applicant to reduce the number of parking spaces. According to the Corps, nearly half of the wetlands loss is for parking. The Corps scrutinized the type and quantity of parking and required the applicant to submit data verifying the applicant's claims that a reduction of parking would be impracticable. The applicant supplied information from industry sources showing that potential department store tenants
The Corps accepted the applicant's contention and concluded that it "can reject an alternative as impracticable if it would not fully meet the needs of the type of tenant sought by the applicant." Specifically, the Corps points to the fact that the 5 spaces/1000 square feet "merely reflects the low end of the range of parking ratios required by potential tenants." (Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n to Summ J. 20). However, the Corps is required to presume that an alternative is practicable unless the project applicant clearly demonstrates otherwise. See 40 C.F.R. § 230.10(a)(3). While a "low end" of parking may be less desirable for the applicant, this does not make the alternative "impracticable," as required by the CWA. The record demonstrates that CCTC would have more parking than any existing comparable mall. The applicant failed to demonstrate, and the Corps failed to verify, why parking ratios that appear on the low end of a spectrum are impracticable.
The § 404(b)(1) Guidelines also require the Corps to consider whether the issuance of a permit "will cause or contribute to significant degradation of the waters of the United States." 40 C.F.R. § 230.10(c). A discharge contributes to significant degradation if it has significantly adverse effects on human health or welfare, on aquatic life and other wildlife dependent on aquatic ecosystems, on aquatic ecosystem diversity, productivity, and stability, or on recreational, aesthetic, and economic values. 40 C.F.R. § 230.10(c). In making this determination, the Corps is required to examine individual, cumulative, and secondary impacts to wildlife, fish, wetlands, nutrient and pollutant assimilation, drinking water supplies and aesthetics. 40 C.F.R. § 230.11. Significant means anything "more than trivial." 45 Fed. Reg. at 85,343.
The Corps' initial permitting decision was based on assurances that adequate measures were in place to insure compliance with CWA regulations and that the project would not significantly degrade Cypress Creek and surrounding wetlands or violate water quality standards. (Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n to Summ J. at 22). The Corps also relied on the stormwater treatment system and surface water quality monitoring plan incorporated into the permit. The stormwater treatment system includes a series of ponds which function as water purifiers. During the initial discharge of turbid waters, the Corps suspended the applicant's 2007 permit and determined that CCTC has imposed "significant, unacceptable impacts to wetlands and water quality." AR 10886-87. However, after the discharge the Corps examined the causes of the violations and determined that the discharges where temporary in nature and did not alter the Corps' original conclusions that the permit would not cause or contribute to degradation of the waters of Cypress Creek and surrounding wetlands. AR 15340-41; 15359-67. Further, through coordination with state and local agencies,
Additionally, the Guidelines require the Corps to consider whether issuance of a permit will violate applicable state water quality standards. 40 C.F.R. § 230.10(b). CWA section 401 incorporates state water quality standards into section 404 permits and requires each applicant to obtain a certification from the state that the proposed discharge will be consistent with state water quality requirements. 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1). Here, the Corps relied on the State's certification that the project complied with all applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards, which is reflected in the state water quality permit. Under Corps regulations, the State's water quality certification is conclusive as to water quality considerations unless EPA advises other water quality impacts be considered. 33 C.F.R. § 320.4(d). As such, The Corps properly concluded that the modified permit would not violate water quality standards.
The Endangered Species Act is designed to "ensure that endangered species are protected from government action." Center for Biological Diversity v. Dept. of Interior, 563 F.3d 466, 474 (D.C.Cir.2009). Under the ESA, each federal agency is required to ensure that any action taken by the agency is "not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification" of critical animal habitats. 16 U.S.C. § 1536(a)(2). Regulations promulgated by the Endangered Species Committee (which is comprised of several federal agencies) define "action" to mean "all activities or programs of any kind," including "the granting of licenses." American Bird Conservancy v. FCC, 516 F.3d 1027, 1034 (D.C.Cir.2008); 50 C.F.R. § 402.02. The purpose of the ESA is to provide "a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, [and] a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species...." 16 U.S.C. § 1531(b).
Specifically, the Corps must determine "at the earliest possible time" whether any action it takes "may affect" endangered species, and, if so, it must consult with FWS. 50 C.F.R. § 402.14(a); see 16 U.S.C. § 1536(a)(2). If the Corps determines that an action may affect endangered or threatened species or critical habitats, it must initiate formal consultation with the [FWS], at least unless preparation of a biological assessment or participation in informal consultation indicates that a proposed action is "not likely" to have an adverse affect. 50 C.F.R. § 402.14(a)-(b). Informal consultation includes "all discussions, correspondence, etc., between the Service and the Federal agency or the designated non-Federal representative prior to formal consultation, if required." 50 C.F.R. § 402.02.
Once the consultation process is complete, the Secretary of FWS is required to give the Corps a written biological opinion "setting forth the Secretary's opinion, and a summary of the information on which the opinion is based, detailing how the agency action affects the species or its critical habitat." 16 U.S.C. § 1536(b)(3)(A); see also 50 CFR § 402.14(h). If the FWS concludes that the agency action would
Here, the Corps contends that the requisite informal consultation was completed pursuant to 50 C.F.R. § 402.13(a) prior to issuing the challenged permit. After the informal consultation process, the Corps contends that it determined that the proposed action was not likely to adversely affect any listed species and the FWS concurred, therefore ending the inquiry and satisfying the ESA. Specifically, the Corps asserts that during "numerous wildlife surveys from 2002 to 2005," no Indigo Snakes were observed on the CCTC site and that even if there are Indigo Snakes on site, the permittee was recommended to "follow standardized Eastern Indigo Snake Protection Measures in the unlikely event that a snake would appear during project construction." (Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n to Summ J. at 37). Specifically, the protection measures required the permittee to educate construction workers about the snake and instructed them not to kill the snakes. However, plaintiffs contend that "despite the fact that habitat loss is the greatest threat to the Indigo's survival, neither the Corps nor FWS have ever considered the effect of destroying the Indigo's habitat on the CCTC site." (Mot. for Summ. J. at 41 (emphasis omitted) (citing A.R. 6682)). Considering the fact that there is nothing in the record to support a conclusion that the Eastern Indigo Snake actually occupies the CCTC site, the Court finds the Corps' determinations were not arbitrary or capricious. Plaintiffs have failed to carry their burden of showing that FWS' "not likely to adversely effect" determination was arbitrary and capricious.
Additionally, the Corps contends that although the record includes conflicting information about whether Wood Storks have been observed on the project site, information submitted by the applicant indicted that the storks were observed on the CCTC site. Further, the FWS concluded that the project could serve as Wood Stork foraging habitat. However, FWS agreed with the Corps that mitigation measures which are in place will result in a net gain of approximately five acres of potential wood stork foraging habitat, which included "compensation for the temporal lag necessary for the sites to achieve foraging value equal to that provided by the existing wood stork habitat on site." (Fed. Defs.' Mem. in Opp'n to Summ J. at 40). While it is true that controversy exists about the efficiency of wetland mitigation generally, the Court's role is "not to resolve scientific disputes." Natural Res. Def. Council v. FAA, 564 F.3d 549, 561 (2nd Cir.2009). Plaintiffs have not submitted any information to cause the Court to second-guess the Corps' determination that wetland mitigation is sufficient. Therefore, Plaintiffs have failed to show that the Corps determinations were arbitrary and capricious.
Finally, the Corps contends that based on the fact that there was no suitable
The Supreme Court has instructed that where "the record before the agency does not support the agency action, ... the proper course, except in rare circumstances, is to remand to the agency for additional investigation or explanation." Florida Power & Light Co. v. Lorion, 470 U.S. 729, 744, 105 S.Ct. 1598, 84 L.Ed.2d 643 (1985); see also County of Los Angeles v. Shalala, 192 F.3d 1005, 1023 (D.C.Cir. 1999). Similarly, the D.C. Circuit has stated the decision "whether to remand or vacate" "depends on [1] the seriousness of the order's deficiencies (and thus the extent of doubt whether the agency chose correctly) and [2] the disruptive consequences of an interim change that may itself be changed." Milk Train v. Veneman, 310 F.3d 747, 755-56 (D.C.Cir.2002) (quoting Allied-Signal v. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comm'n, 988 F.2d 146, 150-51 (D.C.Cir.1993); see also WorldCom, Inc. v. FCC, 288 F.3d 429, 434 (D.C.Cir.2002)) (remand without vacatur where "non-trivial likelihood" that agency would be able to justify rule on remand). Here, the Court finds it appropriate to remand this case at this time and have the parties file supplemental submissions addressing the exact parameters of appropriate relief, including possible vacatur, consistent with this opinion.
The Corps has failed to fulfill its statutory duties under NEPA and the CWA. Unfortunately, this is a familiar course of action for the Corps when processing permit applications. As another member of this Court has stated, the Corps "resorted to arbitrary and capricious meaning—manipulating models and changing definitions where necessary—to make this project seem compliant with [CWA] and [NEPA] when it is not." Envtl Def. v. Army Corps of Eng's, 515 F.Supp.2d. 69, 74 (D.D.C. 2007). The record here shows a similarly disturbing pattern. The Corps failed to prepare a required EIS for the project site pursuant to NEPA and failed to require the applicant to demonstrate that practicable alternatives were not available pursuant to CWA.
For the reasons set forth in this opinion, plaintiff's motion for summary judgment will be granted in part and denied in part. Likewise, government defendants' motion for summary judgment will be granted in part and denied in part and intervening defendants' cross-motion for summary judgment will be granted in part and denied in part. Specifically, plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment on their NEPA and CWA claims will be granted but their motion for summary judgment on the ESA claim will be denied. Consequently, government defendants' motion for summary judgment and intervening defendants' cross-motion for summary judgment on plaintiff's ESA claim will be granted.
A separate order shall issue this date.
