# Brief for the Respondent in Opposition — Plan for Arcadia, Inc. v. Anita Associates

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385608_0987%3A2

## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Brief for the Respondent in Opposition
- **Published:** January 1, 1974
- **Citation:** 419 U.S. 1034

## Text

SUBJECT INDEX

Page
a ARI ERE IRE ST eee et 1
fi RS LER S aes BISA CN Sst Peel omen 2 4

The Clean Air Act Creates No Judicial Remedy
to Compel State Respondents to Adopt and
Submit an Adequate Implementation Plan ...... 4

II

No Cause of Action Exists to Compel State Re-
spondents to Halt Construction or Operation
OF the Shopping COmeee roca cecccecccencce 6

CN sistant cchackecadescasbcblecsssoas a ERR See oe ae &

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES CITED

Cases Page

A & H Transportation, Inc., Petition of, 319 F.2d
69 (4th Cir. 1963), cert. denied 375 U.S. 924
(1963)

Asherman v. Bales, 273 Cal.App.2d 707 (1969) ....
ee 6,

City of Campbell v. Mosk, 197 Cal.App.2d 640
SA aoa

McCarthy v. Watt, 89 F.Supp. 841 (D. Mass.
1950)

Miguel v. McCarl, 291 U.S. 442 (1934)
Morgan v. Null, 117 F.Supp. 11 (S.D. N.Y. 1953)

Moses v. Kennedy, 219 F.Supp. 762 (D. D.C.
| tee tha aaa aa

New York Technical Institute of Maryland v. Lim-
burgh, 87 F.Supp. 308 (D. Md. 1949)

O'Malley v. Chrysler Corporation, 160 F.2d 35
Se aa

Riverside v. Ruckelshaus, 4 E.R.C. 1728 (C.D.
a Rdieeieetnksansneseseose

Shelburne v. New Castle County, 293 F.Stop.
237 (D. Del. 1968)

United States Servicemen’s Fund v. Shands, 440 F.
Ss } Eee

Wilson v. Sharp, 42 Cal.2d 675 (1954) 0.

Federal Register
38 Federal Register 31232 (November 12, 1973)

eee

39 Federal Register 1025 (January 4, 1974) _......
39 Federal Register 1843 (January 15, 1974) _....

6

7

7

6
6

Miscellaneous Page
88 Statutes at Large, p. 246 -........... 7
1974 United States Code Congressional and Ad-
ministrative News, pp. 1163, 1675 _..................... 7
Statutes
Clean Air Act of 1970, Sec. 110 ....................... 4
Clean Air Act of 1970, Sec. 110(c) -.20000000 eee. 4
Clean Air Act of 1970, Sec. 3064 ..................... ,
Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination
roe be |) SRR es Se eee eee a 7
United States Code, Title 5, Secs. 701-06 —............ 5
United States Code, Title 28, Sec. 1361 ................ 5
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 1857 —2............ 1
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 1857c-5 _....... 4
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 15857c-5(a)(1)
sciences tdeh di leas itidampnbiltehaiaigunpecknonpianentnlaniatastceasae 3
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 1857c-5(c). ...... 4
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 1857c-5(c)(3)
dhiicu ts telticnael pnapecaccubesincctseumivibdstkceaaiiaen tauiNalbiiin 3
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 1857h-2 _.......
ashicisinanvendiesn dactansdpecebonpncndcuda Udeandaendasadeceianieas Se
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 1857h-2(a)(1)
secon DEAS G RAN atlecinstosicacsinildiabainisainciaimnie 4
United States Code, Title 42, Sec. 1983 _................ 5

IN THE

Supreme Court of the United States

October Term, 1974
No. 74-398

PLAN FoR ARCADIA, INC., a non-profit corp.,
Petitioner,
vs.

ANITA ASSOCIATES, SANTA ANITA CONSOLIDATED, INC.,
RUSSELL TRAIN, as Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency, RONALD REAGAN, Governor of
the State of California, Joun Maca, Executive Of-
ficer, California Air Resources Board, RoBerT G.
Luncue, Acting Air Pollution Control Officer for
Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District
and City of ArcapiA City COUNCIL,

Respondents.

Brief of Respondents Governor Reagan and Executive
Officer Maga in Opposition to Petition for Wa of
Certiorari

Preliminary Statement

Petitioner, Plan for Arcadia, Inc., commenced this
action to enjoin further construction and operation by
the non-governmental respondents of a regional shop-
ping center in the City of Arcadia, State oi California.
Petitioner asserts that the shopping center is being con-
structed in violation of the Clean Air Act of 1970
(42 U.S.C. § 1857 et seq.) in that it constitutes a com-

par. ae

plex source of air pollution which will prevent attain-
ment and maintenance of federal ambient air quality
standards. ‘

Additionally, petitioner seeks mandamus relief
against the Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, the Governor of the State of Califor-
nia, the Executive Officer of the California State Air
Resources Board, the Los Angeles County Air Pollu-
tion Control Officer, and the Arcadia City Council.

This brief in opposition to the petition for writ of
certiorari is submitted solely on behalf of respondents
Ronald Reagan, Governor of the State of California,
and John Maga, former Executive Officer of the Cali-
fornia State Air Resources Board (hereinafter referred
to as “state respondents” ).

In the proceedings below, the District Court held,
and the Court of Appeals affirmed, that the exclusive
authorization for bringing a private civil suit under the
Clean Air Act is section 304 (42 U.S.C. § 1857h-2),
and that petitioner had failed to state a cause of action
thereunder. As both courts recognized, section 304 pro-
vides no right of injunctive relief against non-govern-
mental parties except for violation of specific stand-
ards, limitations, or orders promulgated under the Act,
and no right to mandamus relief against non-federal
governmental officials for a failure to act. The only
mandamus action authorized under section 304 is
against the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, and then only for failure to perform non-
discretionary acts or duties.

Plan for Arcadia, Inc. contends in its petition for
writ of certiorari that because the State of California
did not submit an acceptable implementation plan pur-

a

suant to 42 U.S.C. § 1857c-5(a)(1), and because the
Administrator thereafter failed to adopt a plan on its
own as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1857c-5(c)(3), peti-
tioner may bring a private action for injunctive relief
against the non-governmental respondents. (Petnr. Br.,
p. 13.) /

As to state respondents, petitioner seeks a writ of
mandate compelling state respondents to “adopt and
submit to the Administrator a plan for implementation”
in conformity with federal ambient air quality stand-
ards, and to “enjoin and restrain construction or opera-
tion of the shopping center and parking lots until such
plan has been approved by the Administrator.” [Cl.
Tr. p. 14.]

It is respectfully submitted that, for the reasons set
forth below, petitioner has no private right of action,
either express or implied, under which it can compel
state respondents to submit an implementation plan
or require them to enjoin the non-governmental re-
spondents from construction or operation of the shop-
ping center.

| Judicial Remedy to
Compel State Respondents to Adopt and Submit
Plan

Petitioner’s action is purportedly brought pursuant to
section 304 of the Clean Air Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C.
§ 1857h-2), which authorizes private civil actions by
“any person” against “any person . . . who is alleged
to be in violation of an emission standard or limita-
tion.” 42 U.S.C § 1857h 2(a)(1).

Petitioner does not allege that state respondents were
or are “in violation of an emission s.andard or limita-
tion.” Rather/as noted above, petitioner's purported
cause of action against state respondents is that the
State of California has failed to comply with section
110 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 1857c-5),
which requires a state to adopt and submit to the Ad-
ministrator “a plan for implementation, maintenance
and enforcement” of national ambient air quality stana-
ards adopted by the Administrator. [Petnr. Br., p. 13,
CL. Tr. p. 11.]

State respondents readily concede that the Clean Air
Act places ivitial responsibility upon the states for
devising implementation plans. It is respectfuliy sub-
mitted, however, that the Act provides no judicial rem-
edy to compel state respondents to adopt and submit
such a plan. Rather, the Clean Air Act provides that
the Administretor shall prepare, publish, and adopt on
his own an implementation plan for any state that fails
to adopt a plan, or that submits an unacceptable plan.
Clean Air Act § 110(c); 42 U.S.C. § 1857c-5(c).

AAR in SN NS I LEM BE BER A EOE COREE AONE SI et i me =

oo te
The public interest in enforcing the Clean Air Act
is thereby safeguarded by investing the Administrator

the Administrator, as petitioner alleges, fail to impose

j an implementation plan, a mandamus action may be
; brought to require promulgation. In fact, at the time
‘ petitioner filed this action, the Administrator was al-

ready acting pursuant to such a mandate. See River-
side v. Ruckelshaus, 4 E.R.C. 1728 (C.D. Cal. 1972).

It is clear, however, that no cause of action may be

pleaded under section 304 for an order compelling a

state to submit a plan, nor under any other statute or

law cited by petitioner. Federal mandate provisions

are applicable only against federal agencies and offi-

’ cials. 28 U.S.C. § 1361. The same is irue of the federal
Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. §§ 761-06.

Petitioner cites two cases (Petnr. Br., App., p. 37)
for the proposition that the court has jurisdiction to
grant injunctive relief against state respondents. Neither
case, however, is supportive of petitioner’s position.
Both Shellburne v. New Castle County, 293 F.Supp.
237 (D. Del. 1968), and United States Servicemen’s
Fund v. Shands, 440 F.2d 44 (4th Cir. 1971), involved
the federal Civil Rights Act. However, that Act ex-

} pressly provides that relief is available “in an action at
law, in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.”
| 42 U.S.C. § 1983. As noted, section 304 of the Clean

Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 1857h-2) permits private actions
only against persons creating emissions in excess of
emission standards or limitations, or against the Ad-
ministrator. It does not provide for equitable relief
eguinst non-federal governnicntal officials.

PS EG A A GON TS EN TSUN heel a a ee ed

a

Il
No Cause of Action Exists to Compel State Respond-
ents to Halt Construction or Operation of the
Shopping Center
Petitioner also seeks an order requiring state respond-
ents to take action to halt construction and operation
of the shopping center until an implementation plan for
California is approved by the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency. [Cl. Tr. p. 14.]

What Plan for Arcadia, Inc. appears to request is a
mandatory injunction requiring state respondents to in-
stitute legal proceedings against the non-governmental
respondents. It is submitted that no cause of action
exists to require a public official to institute such litiga-
tion.

A. mandatory injunction is in effect equivalent to a
writ of mandamus and is normally governed by like
considerations. Miguel v. McCarl, 291 U.S. 442, 452
(1934); McCarthy v. Watt, 89 F.Supp. 841, 842 (D.
Mass. 1950); New York Technical Institute of Mary-
land v. Limburg, 87 F.Supp. 308, 313 (D. Md. 1949).

In this regard, the courts have uniformiy refused to
issue writs of mandate to compel law enforcement
agencies to institute prosecutorial activities for the rea-
son that the decision to undertake prosecution is en-
tirely within the discretion of the agency and not sub-
ject to control by way of mandamus. Petition of A &
H Transportation, Inc., 319 F.2d 69, 71 (4th Cir.
1963), cert. denied 375 U.S. 924 (1963); Moses v.
Kennedy, 219 F.Supp. 762, 765-66 (D. D.C. 1963);
Morgan v. Null, 117 F.Supp. 11, 15 (S.D. N.Y.
1953); Wilson v. Sharp, 42 Cal.2d 675, 678-79
(1954); Ascherman v. Bales, 273 Cal.App.2d 707,

~_<

708 (1969); City of Campbell v. Mosk, 197 Cal.App.
2d 640, 647 (1961).

It should also be noted that mandatory injunctions
are rarely granted and ouly in a very urgent case
where a clear entitlement to issuance is demonstrated.
O’Malley v. Chrysler Corporation, 160 F.2d 35, 36
(7th Cir. 1947).

The present action, however, is not such a case.
Plan for Arcadia, Inc. fails to indicate in its petition
for writ of certiorari that the Administrator, having
promulgated an implementation plan for California, in-
cluding a regulation entitled “Management of Parking
Supply,” is now fully in compliance with the require-
ments of the Act. See 38 Fed. Reg. 31232 (November
12, 1973) as amended by 39 Fed. Reg. 1025 (January
4, 1974) and 39 Fed. Reg. 1848 (January 15, 1974).
While the Administrator deferred the effective date of
regulation until January 1, 1975, this suspension of the
Clean Air Act timetable has been expressly authorized
by Congress in section 4(b) of the Energy Supply
and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974. 88 Stat.
246, 1974 U.S. Code Cong. and Admin. News 1663,
1675.

Thus, not only has the matter of compelling state
respondents to submit an implementation plan become
moot, but it would appear that in view of the author-
ization contained in section 4(b) of the Energy Supply
and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974, state
respondents are precluded by statute from bringing an
action to enjoin construction or operation of the shop-
ping center.

suntiliiate
Conclusion

It is readily apparent that no cause of action exists
as against state respondents. Rather, given the Ad-
ministrator’s promulgation of a California implementa-
tion plan, together with regulations governing projects
of the nature involved herein, it is clear that the shop-
ping center is being constructed and operated in full
compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

For the foregoing reasons, state respondents respect-
fully urge this court to deny petitioner’s request for writ
of certiorari.

Respectfully submitted,

EVELLE J. YOUNGER,
Attorney General,
CARL BORONKAY,
Assistant Attorney General,
Davip R. GOLDMAN,
Deputy Attorney General,
Attorneys for Respondents Ronald Rea-
gan, Governor of the State of Cali-

fornia and John Maga, Executive Of-
ficer, California Air Resources Board.

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385608_0987%3A2. Public record. Not legal advice.
