Documents

Supreme Court and Appellate Briefs
Memoranda, Opinions, and Determinations

Supreme Court and Appellate Briefs

The Office of General Counsel collaborates with Department of Justice attorneys in the Energy and Natural Resources Division to submit Supreme Court and appellate briefs. Selected briefs are presented by the year the case was decided, and further categorized by statute or topic. A link to the full text of the opinion is also provided.

Cases Decided in 2012

Attorney Fees

State of New Jersey v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided July 20, 2012 (NO. 05-1097 and consolidated cases) EPA's Response to Tribal Movants' Updated Motion for Costs of Litigation (5/4/12) (PDF, 61pp, 2.6MB)

Clean Air Act

American Chemistry Council v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 26, 2012, (NO. 10-1167 and consolidated cases) Final Brief for Respondents (8/3/11) (PDF, 88pp, 290k)
American Petroleum Institute v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided July 17, 2012 (NO. 10-1079, 10-1080) Brief for Respondent (10/28/11) (PDF, 74pp, 235k)
ATK Launch Systems, Inc. v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided February 24, 2012 (NO.
10-1004 and consolidated cases) Respondent's Final Response Brief (11/1/11) (PDF, 104pp, 4MB)
BCCA Appeal Group v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.5, June 15, 2012 (NO. 10-60459) EPA's Merits Brief (12/20/10) (PDF, 176pp, 760k)
California Communities Against Toxics v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided July 26, 2012 (NO. 11-71127) Respondents' Corrected Answering Brief ( 1/25/12) (PDF, 67pp, 543k)
Chabot-Las Positas Community College Dist. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided May 4, 2012 (NO. 10-73870) Answering Brief for Respondents (9/30/11) (PDF, 102pp, 236k)
Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 26, 2012, (NO. 09-1322 and consolidated cases) Brief for Respondents (8/18/11) (PDF, 156pp, 1006k)
Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 26, 2012, (NO. 10-1073 and consolidated cases) Brief for Respondents (9/16/11) (PDF, 244pp, 2.1MB); Reply in Support of Non-State Petitioners' Request for Judicial Notice (10/25/11) (PDF, 19pp, 49k); Ffinal Brief for Respondents (12/14/11) (PDF, 244pp, 2.1MB)
Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 26, 2012, (NO. 10-1092 and consolidated cases) Brief for Respondents (9/1/11) (PDF, 78pp, 190k); Final Brief for Respondents (11/28/11) (PDF, 171pp, 13MB)
EME Homer City Generation L.P. v. EPA, C.A.D.C., decided August 21, 2012 (NO. 11-1302 and consolidated cases) Brief for Respondents (3/16/12) (PDF, 132pp, 822k)
Grocery Manufacturers Association v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided August 17, 2012 (NO. 10-1380) Final Brief of Respondent (Corrected, 10/25/11) (PDF, 137pp, 3.6 MB)
Luminant Generation Company, L.L.C. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.5, decided March 26, 2012 (NO. 10-60891) Respondent EPA's Merits Brief (6/6/11) (PDF, 239 pp, 3.4MB)
Luminant Generation Co. LLC v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, C.A.5, decided July 30, 2012 (NO. 10-60934) Brief of Respondent (7/12/11) (PDF, 132pp, 750k)
Mack Trucks, Inc. v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 12, 2012 (NO. 12-1077, 12-1078, 12-1099) Brief for Respondent (4/10/12) (PDF, 137pp, 13MB)
Montana Sulphur & Chemical Co. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided January 19, 2012 (NO. 02-71657, 08-72642) Respondent's Brief (11/12/10) (PDF, 70pp, 2.7 MB); Respondent's Brief (1/14/11) (PDF, 72pp, 2.8MB)
National Environmental Development Association's Clean Air Project v.
E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided July 20, 2012 (NO. 10-1252 and consolidated cases) Final Brief for Respondents (2/8/12) (PDF, 75pp, 237k)
Sierra Club v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided January 20, 2012 (NO. 10-71457,
10-71458) Brief of Respondents (5/5/11) (PDF, 64pp, 167k)
Summit Petroleum Corp. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.6, decided August 7, 2012 (NO. 09-4348, 10-4572) Brief for Respondents (6/7/11) (PDF, 71pp, 217k)
Texas v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.5, decided August 13, 2012 (NO. 10-60614) EPA's Merits Brief (2/22/11) (PDF 215 pp, 3.5 MB)
US Magnesium, LLC v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.10, decided August 6, 2012 (NO. 11-9533) EPA's Final Merits Brief (1/27/12) (PDF, 150 pp, 1MB)

Clean Water Act

Board of Mississippi Levee Commissioners v. U.S. E.P.A, C.A.5, decided March 6, 2012 (NO. 11-60302) Response in Oppotision (6/22/11) (PDF, 52pp, 290k); Respose Brief (8/17/11) (PDF, 57pp, 1MB)
Chantell Sackett, et vir v. U.S. EPA et. al., Supreme Court, decided March 21, 2012 (NO. 10-1062). Brief for the Respondents in Opposition (5/27/11) (PDF, 20pp); Brief for the Respondents (11/23/11) (PDF, 73pp)
Native Village of Kivalina Ira Council v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided August 9, 2012 (NO. 11-70776) Brief for Respondents (7/14/11) (PDF, 44pp, 156k)
Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.1, decided August 3, 2012 (NO. 11-1474, 11-1610) Brief of Respondent (11/14/11) (PDF, 146 pp, 4.4MB)

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

National Chicken Council v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided July 20, 2012 (NO. 10-1107) Final Brief for Respondent (12/19/11) (PDF, 124 pp, 2MB)

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

American Petroleum Institute v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 8, 2012 (NO. 09-1038) Brief for Respondent (Corrected) (7/26/11) (PDF, 68pp, 167k)

Safe Drinking Water Act

Independent Petroleum Association of America v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., case dismissed voluntarily on May 10, 2012 (NO. 10-1233) Final Brief for Respondent (7/12/11) (PDF, 67pp, 3.2MB)

Toxic Substances Control Act

National Association of Home Builders v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 22, 2012 (NO. 10-1183) Brief of Respondent (6/8/11) (PDF, 87 pp, 2MB)

Cases Decided in 2011

Attorney Fees

State of New Jersey et al v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided December 20, 2011 (NO. 05-1097 and consolidated cases) Reply in Opposition (4/8/11) (PDF, 56pp, 1.5MB)

CERCLA

General Electric Co. v. Jackson, Supreme Court, Cert denied June 6, 2011 (NO. 10-871). Brief for the Respondents in Opposition (May 2011)
US Magnesium, LLC v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided January 14, 2011 (NO. 09-1269) Final Brief (9/21/10) (PDF, 74pp, 488K)

Clean Air Act

Association of Irritated Residents v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided February 2, 2011, Amended opinion issued January 27, 2012 (NO. 09-71383, 09-71404) Brief for Respondents (11/4/09) (PDF, 216pp, 2.5MB); Petition for Panel Rehearing (5/5/11) (PDF, 59pp, 370K)
ATK Launch Systems, Inc. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.10, decided July 6, 2011 (NO. 09-9561, 10-9501, 10-9502) Final Response Brief (10/12/10) (PDF, 81pp, 579k)
Chamber of Commerce of U.S. v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided April 29, 2011 (NO. 09-1237) Final Brief (11/10/10) (PDF, 111pp, 862k)
Medical Waste Institute and Energy Recovery Council v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided June 24, 2011 (NO. 09-1297) Final Brief (9/14/10) (PDF, 84pp, 376k) Response to Petition for Rehearing En Banc (9/29/11) (PDF, 22pp, 200k)
Natural Resources Defense Council v. Jackson, C.A.7, decided June 16, 2011 (NO. 09-1405, 10-2123) Final brief (2/10/11) (PDF, 75pp, 237k)
Natural Resources Defense Council v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided July 1, 2011 (NO. 10-1056) Brief of Respondent (1/7/11 (PDF, 113pp, 9.3MB)
Natural Resources Defense Council v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided October 28, 2011 (NO. 10-1105) Final Brief (5/11/11) (PDF, 149pp, 9.7 MB)
Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided March 30, 2011 (NO. 08-72288) Brief for Respondent (3/2/09) (PDF, 77pp, 186k); Supplemental Brief for Respondent (2/22/11) (PDF, 12pp, 51k)
Ocean County Landfill Corp. v. U.S. E.P.A., Region II, C.A.3, decided February 2, 2011 (NO. 09-2937) Brief of Respondent (4/30/10) (PDF, 66pp, 2.6MB)
Portland Cement Associationn v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided December 9, 2011 (NO. 10-1358 and consolidated cases) Final brief of Respondent (8/19/11) (PDF, 86 pp, 1018k); Supplemental brief of respondent (8/24/11) (PDF, 15pp, 45k)
Sierra Club v. Jackson, C.A.D.C., decided July 1, 2011 (NO. 10-5280) Brief for the Appellee (2/9/11) (PDF, 72pp, 1.6MB)

Clean Water Act

Barnum Timber Co. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.9, decided February 3, 2011 (NO. 08-17715) Brief of the Appellees (4/2/09)(PDF, 39pp, 169K)
Florida Wildlife Federation, Inc. v. South Florida Water Management Dist., C.A.11, decided August 2, 2011 (NO. 10-10886, 10-11121) Answering Brief (August 2010) (PDF, 86pp, 240k)
Lake Carriers' Association v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided July 22, 2011 (NO. 09-1001, 09-1115, 09-1010, 09-1076) Respondents' Final Brief (3/29/11) (PDF, 116pp, 7.3MB)
National Association of Home Builders v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided December 9, 2011 (NO. 10-5341) Brief for Defendants-Appellees (6/30/11) (PDF, 72pp, 259K)
National Pork Producers Council v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.5, decided March 15, 2011 (NO. 08-61093) Final Brief (5/7/10) (PDF, 137pp, 536k)

Endangered Species Act

San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority v. Salazar, C.A.9, decided March 25, 2011 (NO. 10-15192) Federal Appellees' Answering Brief (10/4/10) (PDF, 92pp, 925k)

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

National Petrochemical and Refiners Association v. E.P.A., Supreme Court, Cert denied November 7, 2011 (NO. 11-102) Brief for the Federal Respondent in Opposition (October 2011)
National Petrochemical & Refiners Association v. E.P.A., C.A.D.C., decided December 21, 2010 (NO. 10-1070, 10-1071) Respondents' Brief (8/9/10) (PDF, 83 pp, 946k)
On Petition for Rehearing En Banc, decided April 22, 2011. EPA's Response to Petition for Rehearing En Banc (3/11/11) (PDF, 14pp, 37k)

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

National Corn Growers Association v. E.P.A., Supreme Court, Cert denied May 31, 2011 (NO. 10-1031) Brief for the Respondents in Opposition (April 2011)
Natural Resources Defense Council v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.2, decided September 16, 2011 (NO. 08-3771-AG) Respondent's Brief (12/6/10) (PDF, 78pp, 184k)

Freedom of Information Act

Griffin Industries, Inc. v. U.S. E.P.A., C.A.6, decided May 12, 2011 (NO. 09-6422) Sealed Reply Brief (7/6/10) (PDF, 19pp, 59k)

Memoranda, Opinions, and Determinations

The Office of General Counsel issues memoranda, opinions, and determinations (including class determinations), many of which are for internal Agency use only. However, a number of OGC documents are publicly available in electronic legal research databases such as LexisNexis and Westlaw. Some are published in the Federal Register, and a number, listed below, appear in printed compilations available in most EPA libraries, including the Office of General Counsel Law Library.

Other publicly-available Office of General Counsel documents are available below, grouped by topic:

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.

Information Law

CBI (Confidential Business Information) Final Confidentiality Determinations

Persons who submit information to EPA may claim some or all of it as confidential business information ("CBI") under 40 C.F.R. Part 2, Subpart B. OGC is responsible for making the final administrative determination of whether or not business information covered by a business confidentiality claim is entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart.

Dispersant Formulas with Chemical Components (all dated 3/7/11)
- Alabaster Corporation (PDF, 7 pp, 2.2MB)
- GlobeMark Resources Ltd. (PDF, 7 pp, 2.2MB)
- Mar-Len Supply Inc. (PDF, 7 pp, 2.2MB)
- PetroBioTech LLC (PDF, 7 pp, 2.2MB)
- Sustainable Environmental Technologies (PDF, 7 pp, 2.2MB)
- Total Petrochemicals, USA, Inc. (PDF, 7 pp, 2.2MB)
- U.S. Polychemical Corporation (PDF, 7 pp, 2.2MB

CBI (Confidential Business Information) Class Determinations

In the context of making final determinations as to whether or not the information should be protected as confidential, OGC may issue class determinations under 40 C.F.R. § 2.207.

Class determinations indicate that certain types of business information are or are not entitled to confidential treatment. For OGC to issue a class determination, it must find that EPA possesses related items of business information, and that all these items share one or more characteristics. As a result of these shared characteristics, all these items of information would necessarily be treated identically under the CBI regulations if considered individually. A class determination therefore sets forth certain classes of information that are to be considered by EPA either as confidential or non-confidential. The use of class determinations provides predictability to businesses and the public, and reduces the burden on EPA of making repetitive individual determinations.

1-99 - Disclosure of Information Obtained Under Section 6(a)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act Regarding Unreasonable Adverse Effects of Pesticides on the Environment (9/28/99) (PDF, 5 pp, 32.7K)
- Notice of Availability, Disclosure of Information Obtained Regarding Unreasonable Adverse Effects of Pesticides on the Environment; Class Determination, 64 Fed Reg 70019 (12/15/99) (PDF, 2 pp, 121.4K)
1-95 - Confidentiality of Certain Business Information Submitted by Contractors and Prospective Contractors (7/10/95) (PDF, 9 pp, 97K)
1-91 - Identity of Importing Country Under FIFRA Section 17(A)(2) (4/25/91) (PDF, 4 pp, 99K)
4-89 - Disclosure of Effluent and Emission Data Obtained Under Title III of SARA, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (7/8/89) (PDF, 3 pp, 25.7K)
3-89 - Bleach Plant, Pulp, and Miscellaneous Data Under the 104-Mill Cooperative Dioxin Study Agreement (5/4/89) (PDF, 25 pp, 8.2MB)
2-89 - Disclosure of Information Contained in Asbestos Abatement Notices (3/7/89) (PDF, 5 pp, 78.4K)
1-89 - Effluent and Sludge Data Under the 104-Mill Cooperative Dioxin Study Agreement (1/13/89) (PDF, 17 pp, 5.8MB)
3-85 - Disclosure of Reviews of Pesticide Test Data Submitted by Applicants and Registrants (9/24/85) (PDF, 6 pp., 3.18 MB)
- Notice, Disclosure of Reviews of Pesticide Test Data, 50 Fed Reg 48833 (11/27/85) (PDF, 3 pp, 3MB)
1-85 - Waiver of Claim of Business Confidentiality By Failure to Submit Timely Comments (1/28/85) (PDF, 2 pp, 925K)
1-84 - Imported Vehicle Modifications and Emissions Testing Information (10/2/84) (PDF, 13 pp, 4.3MB)
2-80 - Confidentiality of Business Information Submitted in Applications for Certification of Light-Duty Motor Vehicles for Model Year 1981 (8/21/80) (PDF,1 p, 21.8K)
1-80 - Confidentiality of Business Information Obtained from Architect/Engineering Firms Participating in Step 2 and Step 3 Level of Effort Study (4/23/80) (PDF, 3 pp, 21K)
3-79 - Confidentiality of Business Information Reported for the Initial Inventory of Chemical Substances Under Section 8(b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (1979) (PDF, 9 pp, 840K)
2-79 - Confidentiality of Business Information Submitted in Contract Proposals and Related Documents (11/15/79) (PDF, 8 pp, 3.7MB)
1-79 - Confidentiality of Business Information Submitted in Applications for Certification of Light-Duty Motor Vehicles for Model Year 1981 (1979) (PDF, 2 pp, 554.5K)
3-78 - Confidentiality of Business Information Submitted in Applications for Certification of Light-Duty Motor Vehicles for Model Year 1980 (8/14/78) (PDF, 8 pp, 2.6MB)
2-78 - Confidentiality of Business Information Submitted in Technical and Cost Proposals (5/3/78) (PDF, 8 pp, 2.6MB)
1-78 - Confidentiality of Information in National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permits and Permit Applications Under Section 402(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (3/22/78) (PDF, 4 pp, 1.2MB)
4-77 - Confidentiality of Business Information Submitted in Applications for Light Duty Motor Vehicle Certifications Model Year 1979 (5/12/77) (PDF, 1 p, 319.6K)
2-77 - Confidentiality of Business Information Submitted in Applications for Light Duty Motor Vehicle Certifications Through Model Year 1978 (3/31/77) (PDF, 8 pp, 2.3MB)
1-77 - Confidentiality of Business Information Contained in Bimonthly Summary Report on Flue Gas Desulfurization Systems (3/7/77) (PDF, 3 pp, 1.4MB)

Pesticides and Toxic Substances

Interpretive Statement on Change in Ownership of Real Property Contaminated with PCBs (Robert E. Fabricant, General Counsel, 8/14/03) (PDF, 5 pp, 118.7K)

Water

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Clean Water Act Regulatory Definition of "Waters of the United States," Appendix A: Joint Memorandum (Signed by Robert E. Fabricant, General Counsel, U.S. EPA and Steven J. Morello, General Counsel, Dept. of the Army, 1/15/03) (PDF, 4 pp, 54.2K)
Agency Interpretation on Applicability of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act to Water Transfers (Signed by Ann R. Klee, General Counsel, U.S. EPA, and Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. EPA, 8/5/05) (PDF, 19 pp, 671.6K)

The following out of print compilations include Office of General Counsel opinions issued from 1970 - 1985. Consult your nearest EPA Library or the Office of General Counsel Law Library for information concerning volumes which are not yet available in digital format.

General Counsel Opinions from the Office of General Counsel, United States Environmental Protection Agency: January 31, 1980 through June 7, 1985
United States Environmental Protection Agency Counsel General {i.e. General Counsel} opinions. Covers 1970-1979.
A Collection of Legal Opinions, volume 1, December 1970 - December 1973
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination system Adjudicatory Hearing Procedures; Decisions of the Administrator and Decisions of the General Counsel, Volume 1 (September 1974 - December 1975) and Volume 2 (January 1976 - December 1976)