# Petition for Writ of Certiorari — McKeown v. Delaware Bridge Authority

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition for Writ of Certiorari
- **Published:** January 1, 2002
- **Citation:** 535 U.S. 1079

## Text

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No.

: In The
Supreme Court of the United States

KEVIN MCKEOWN

Petitioner,

vs.
THE DELAWARE BRIDGE AUTHORITY, et al.,

Respondents.

On Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI

Kevin McKeown

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
P.O. Box 7228

Washington, D.C. 20044-7228
(202) 223-8030

Pro Se Petitioner

Gi Wii sv tise nseritic nd mc.

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

Whether toll booths violate the Clean Air Act when
they slow and otherwise impede the movement of
toxic tail pipe emitting-vehicles which unnecessarily
adds to environmental pollutants?

Whether, in light of Whitman, EPA, et al. v.
American Trucking Association, 531 U.S. 457, 121
S. Ct. 903 (decided February 27, 2001) which
affirmed a Court of Appeals finding that §109(b) of
the Clean Air Act unambiguously bars cost
considerations, applies to the operation of toll
booths?

Whether operators of toll booths violate the civil
rights of toll payers by requiring an unnecessary
increase in the period of time a toxic tail pipe
emitting vehicle is operated which needlessly
increases vehicular pollutants to the environment?

ii
PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDING

The parties to the proceeding not noted in the case
caption are:

THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK
AND NEW JERSEY,
Robert Boyle, Executive Director;

THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY
AUTHORITY,
John R. Platt, Executive Director;

THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY,
E. Virgil Conway, Chairman;

THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AUTHORITY,
James Weinstein, Commissioner,
Frank X. McDermott, Chairman;

THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY AUTHORITY,
Joseph E. Buckelew, Chairman

THE DELAWARE TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY, Nathan Hayward, III, Secretary.

The Petitioner has no parent or subsidiary companies.

iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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the road add up. Driving a private car is probably a typical
citizen’s most ‘polluting’ daily activity.”

In December of 1998, the EPA’s office of Air and
Radiation advised that “[p]Jeople exposed to toxic air
pollutants at sufficient concentrations and for sufficient
durations have an increased chance of getting cancer or
experiencing other serious health effect.”

Toll booth operators illegally slow and otherwise
impede vehicular movement which unnecessarily
increases toxic tail pipe emissions and creates an imminent
and substantial endangerment to health and the environment
in violation of the CAA.

CAA, Section 111, requires a standard for emissions
of air pollutants which reflects the degree of emission
limitation achievable through the application of the best
technological system of emission reduction.

CAA, Section 1311, requires the “best practicable
control technology availab!e.” Toll booth operators further
violate Section 112 by not reducing emissions of hazardous
air pollutants.

Toll booth operators are seriously violating
provisions of the CAA, unnecessarily adding to the
polluting of the environment and needlessly contributing to
health hazards.

Toll booth operators cause needless delays to
vehicles, drivers, occupants and the economic community.
Any driver delayed only ten (10) minutes each workday is
deprived of forty (40) hours per annum. (Assumption: 5

minute delay per one way travel; 5 day work week; 48 week
work year). Although the economic damage to the Federal,
State and local governments, as well as businesses and
individual workers, caused by the existence of toll booths
and the actions of toll booth operators can easily be
calculated in the billions of dollars, the main focus of this
petition is the environmental damage and violation of the
CAA.

Additional issues of national importance raised in the
Amended Complaint, but not the main focus of the instant
petition, include toll booth operators reckless and negligent
violation of Federal and State highway safety laws by
interrupting the normal flow of vehicular movement by
widening and narrowing the areas in which vehicles travel.
Roadway approach areas adjacent to toll booths greatly
increase the number of lanes existent prior to the toll booth
approach area in unlawful multiples causing unsafe roadway
conditions.

If not for the existence of toll booths, additional
hazardous air pollutants would not be produced.

REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT

1. The decision of the Court of Appeals conflicts with
the intent of Congress and provisions of the Clean
Air Act. Toll booths violate the Clean Air Act when
they slow and otherwise impede the movement of
toxic tail pipe emitting vehicles

which unnecessarily adds to environmental

pollutants. Recent environmental studies, along

with Amicus Curiae briefs, will be presented to
this Honorable Court for consideration.

This case offers this Honorable Court the
Opportunity to revisit Whitman, EPA, et al. v.
American Trucking Association, 531 U.S. 457, 121
S. Ct. 903 (decided February 27, 2001) which
affirmed a Court of Appeals finding that §109(b) of
the Clean Air Act unambiguously bars cost
considerations, and its pertinent application to the
operation of toll booths.

This case presents important questions which impacts
the health, welfare and civil rights of every citizen of
the United States, and is not limited to only the states
in which toll booths operate. Operators of toll booths
not only violate the civil rights of toll payers by
requiring an unnecessary increase in the period of
time a toxic tail pipe emitting vehicle is operated, and
needlessly increasing vehicular pollutants to the
environment, but nationally since such polluting
extends beyond state boundaries in the ambient air.

CONCLUSION
Accordingly, Petitioner respectfully prays that this
Honorable Court grant the petition for Writ of Certiorari.

Respectfully submitted,

; OL

Kevin McKeown
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Box 7228

Washington, D.C. 20044-7228
202-223-8030

Pro Se Petitioner

APPENDIX A -- SUMMARY ORDER OF THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
SECOND CIRCUIT DATED, DECIDED AND FILED
DECEMBER 21, 2001

No. 01-7487

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

SUMMARY ORDER

THIS SUMMARY ORDER WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED
IN THE FEDERAL REPORTER AND MAY NOT BE
CITED AS PRECEDENTIAL AUTHORITY TO THIS OR
ANY OTHER COURT, BUT MAY BE CALLED TO THE
ATTENTION OF THIS OR ANY OTHER COURT IN A
SUBSEQUESTENT STAGE OF THIS CASE, IN A
RELATED CASE, OR IN ANY CASE FOR PURPOSES
OF COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL OR RES JUDICATA.

At a stated Term of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the United States
Courthouse, Foley Square, in the City of New York, on the
21* day of December two thousand one.

Present:

HONORABLE AMALYA L. KEARSE,
HONORABLE RALPH K. WINTER,

HONORABLE GUIDO CALABRESI, Circuit Judges

Appendix A-I1

KEVIN MCKEOWN, NO MORE TOLLS,

Plaintiff-Appellant.,

THE DELAWARE BRIDGE AUTHORITY,

Defendant,

THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW
JERSEY, Robert Boyle, Executive Director, THE NEW
YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY, John R. Platt,
Executive Director, THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, E. Virgil Conway,
Chairman, THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AUTHORITY,
James Weinstein, Commissioner, Frank X. McDermott,
Chairman, THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY
AUTHORITY, John D. Porcari, Chairman, THE
DELAWARE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, Nathan
Hayward, III, Secretary,

Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York
No. 00-714

-_

William H. Pauley, III, United States District Judge

Appendix A-2

See nee an, al

eet os SR dare ™'* CF Darr wth

Appearing for Appellant: Kevin McKeown, pro se,
Washington, D.C.

Appearing for Appellees
Port Authority and Boyle: Milton H. Pachter,

N.Y., NY.

Appearing for Appellees

New York State Thruway

Authority and Platt: Norman Spiegel, Ass’t Att’y
Gen., N.Y., N_Y.

Appearing for Appellees

Metropolitan Transportation

Authority and Conway: Anthony P. Semancik,
N.Y., N.Y.

Appearing for Appellees

New Jersey Turnpike

Authority, Weinstein

and McDermott: Stuart M. Lederman, Riker,
Danzig, Scherer, Hyland &
Perretti, Morristown, N_J.

Appearing for Appellees

Maryland Transportation

Authority and Porcari: Deborah A. Donohue, Ass’t
Att’y Gen., Baltimore, Md.

Appendix A-3

Appearing for Appellees

Delaware Transportation

Authority and Hayward: Frederick H. Schranck, Dep’y
Att’y Gen., Dover, Del.,

Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York.

This cause came on to be heard on the record from
the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York, and was submitted by plaintiff pro se and by
counsel for defendants.

: ON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, it is now
hereby ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the judgment of
said District-Court be and it hereby is affirmed substantially
for the reasons stated in Judge Pauley’s Memorandum and
Order dated March 29, 2001.

We have considered all of plaintiff's contentions on
this appeal and have found them to be without merit. The
judgment of the district court is affirmed.

FOR THE COURT:
ROSEANN B. MacKECHNIE,
Clerk

By: /s

Appendix A-4

APPENDIX B -- MEMORANDUM AND ORDER OF
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DATED, SO
ORDERED AND FILED MARCH 239, 2001

No. 00-0714

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, ex rel., KEVIN MCKEOWN and
NO MORE TOLLS,

Plaintiffs,
-against-

THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW
JERSEY, ROBERT BOYLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY,
JOHN R. PLATT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, E.
VIRGIL CONWAY, CHAIRMAN; THE NEW JERSEY
TURNPIKE AUTHORITY, JAMES WEINSTEIN,
COMMISSIONER; FRANK X. MCDERMOTT,
CHAIRMAN; THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY
AUTHORITY, JOSEPH E. BUCKELEW, CHAIRMAN:

Appendix B-]

THE MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY,
JOHN D. PORCARI, SECRETARY; THE DELAWARE
RIVER AND BAY AUTHORITY, MICHAEL HARKINS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; THE DELAWARE “
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, and ANNE P.
CANBY, SECRETARY,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WILLIAM H. PAULEY III, District Judge:

Plaintiffs Kevin McKeown (“McKeown”) and his
organization No More Tolls (collectively “plaintiffs”)
commenced this pro se citizen’s suit against defendants, state
authorities and officials responsible for operating toll roads,
bridges and tunnels in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and
Maryland, alleging that they operate and maintain toll booth
facilities in violation of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401,
et seg. (“CAA”) , the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et
seq. (“CWA”), the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq. (“RCRA) , Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) regulations,
Federal Highway Administration regulations, nuisance law,
and civil rights law. x

Appendix B-2

ae ag

Currently before this Court are defendants’ motions
to strike the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and
its Administrator Carol Browner from the amended
complaint, and to dismiss the amended complaint for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction, lack of personal jurisdiction over
the non-New York defendants, improper venue and failure to
sate a claim. Defendants also argue that the Court should
decline to exercise its jurisdiction over the pendent state
claims. For the following reasons, defendants’ motions are
granted.

Background

Plaintiff No More Tolls is a_ public interest
organization in Washington, D.C. (Am. Compl. § 9.) It is
“dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the
environment of the United States . . . . [I] supports effective
enforcement of Federal and State CAA, CWA, RCRA, and
other Federal and State laws.” (Am. Compl. § 8.) Plaintiff
McKeown is the Executive Director of No More Tolls. (Am.
Compl. § 9.) The only information revealed about
McKeown in the amended complaint is that he “has traveled
defendant[s’] operated roadways in excess of twenty years
and has sustained damages as a result of the operation of toll
booths as described in [the] [amended] complaint.” (Am.
Compl. ¥ 10.)

Defendants are state authorities and their directors

Appendix B-3

who are responsible for the administration of public
transportation including the operation of toll booths in New
York (the “New York defendants”), New Jersey (the “new
Jersey defendants”), Delaware (the “Delaware defendants”)
and Maryiand (the Maryland defendants”). (Am. Compl. {J
8-28)

On November 29, 1999, plaintiffs sent defendants a
Notice of Intent to Sue. The Notice of Intent to Sue states
that plaintiffs believe defendants are violating the CAA,
CWA and RCRA by operating toll booths.

On February 3, 2000, plaintiffs filed this action by
order to show cause, requesting a temporary restraining order
and a preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs assert claims under
the CAA, CWA, RCRA, ‘federal common law” nuisance,
negligence and civil rights laws, and state law against
defendants claiming that: (1) toll booth operators illegally
slow and otherwise impede vehicular movement which
unnecessarily increases toxic tailpipe emissions endangering
“health and the environment”; (2) toll booth areas are “point
sources” under the CWA and “cause the diminution of water
quality of the surface and subterranean waters and wetland
areas”; (3) toll booth operators violate the prohibition
against the operation of an open dump, and “continue
unpermitted discharge of pollutants into navigatable waters”;
(4) toll booth operators violate “an effluent standard or
limitation” by permitting discharges of !eachate from toll

Appendix B-4

booth locations; (5) toll booth and related operations fail to
use the best practicable control technology available to
reduce emissions; (6) toll booth operators are “major
sources” of hazardous air pollutants causing adverse
environmental effects to wildlife and aquatic life; (7) toll
booth operators are “generators” of hazardous waste and
violate hazardous waste standards by releasing pollutants and
other substances into the air, soil, surface and ground waters
in areas adjacent to the toll booths; (8) toll booth operators
violate the CWA and CAA by operating without permits;
and (9) toll booth operators knowingly and negligently
release hazardous air pollutants into the ambient air. (Am.
Comp. {J 42-56.)

Initially, plaintiffs requested that this Court enjoin
defendants during the pendency of this action from “slowing
or otherwise impeding the movement of vehicles to collect
tolls or any other activity that pollutes the air, water or soil of
the United Sates.” On February 8, 2000, this Court held a
hearing and denied plaintiffs’ motion.

On February 24, 2000, plaintiffs filed an amended
complaint adding the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (“EPA”) and EPA Administrator Carol
M. Browner as plaintiffs, and the Delaware River and Bay
Authority and its executive director Michael Harkins as
additional defendants. In all other respects, the amended
complaint is identical to the initial complaint. However,

Appendix B-5

plaintiffs did not serve the amended complaint until mid-
March, after defendants had filed their motions to dismiss
the initial complaint. (Semancik Decl. Supp. Mot. To Strike
Browner & EPA from Am. Compl. § 3.)

On March 9, 2000, this Court issued an order denying
plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunctive relief and a
temporary restraining order. On July 13, 2000, this Court
denied plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration.

Discussion

I. Motion to Strike EPA and Carol Browner from
the Amended Complaint

Defendants argue that the EPA and Browner should
be stricken from the amended complaint because they did not
sign the amended complaint, McKeown and No More Tolls
have no authority to act on behalf of the EPA or its
administrator, and the EPA is not a necessary party.

The CAA, CWA and RCRA all permit a citizen to
bring a civil action to enforce those statutes on their own
behalf. See 33 US.C. § 1365(a) (“any citizen may
commence a civil action on his own behalf [under this
section] ...”; 42 U.S.C. § 6972(a) (“any person may
commence a civil action on his own behalf [under this
section] . . .”); 42 U.S.C. § 7604 (same). None of those

Appendix B-6

statutes authorizes a citizen to bring an action to enforce the
CAA, CWA or RCRA on behalf of the EPA or its
Administrator. Moreover, McKeown and No More Tolls
have not offered any reason why the EPA and Browner are
necessary parties. See, e.g., Friends of the Earth v. Carey,
535 F.2d 165, 173 (2d Cir. 1976) (noting that the CAA
“simply obligates the citizen plaintiff to provide the EPA
with notice of the . . violation and of the upcoming private
enforcement suit... . The agency can the decide for itself
whether or not to participate in the proceedings.”);
Metropolitan Washington Coalition for Clean Air v. District
of Columbia, 511 F.2d 809, 814-15 (D.C. Cir. 1975) (“The
[CAA} citizen suit provision contemplates actions against
the Administrator where he fails to perform a_non-
discretionary act. Alternatively, the citizen, after giving
sixty days notice to the Administrator, can proceed directly
against the violator. When the plaintiff elects this later
course, the Administrator has the right to intervene in the
suit, but he is not required to be a participant in such
litigation and his absence does not render the action infirm.”)

Accordingly, defendants' motions to strike the EPA
and Browner from the amended complaint are granted.
Further, because defendants moved to dismiss the initial
complaint before they were served with the amended
complaint, and because the amended complaint does not
materially differ from the initial complaint, defendants’
motions to dismiss the initial complaint are deemed motions
to dismiss the amended complaint.

Appendix B-7

Plaintiffs also substituted the Delaware River and
Bay Authority and its Executive Director Michael Harkins
for the Delaware Bridge Authority. It is not clear whether
those defendants were served with the amended complaint.
They have not answered or moved to dismiss it. However,
since the amended complaint is dismissed for lack of
standing and failure to state a claim, it is immaterial whether
they were served with the amended complaint.

Il. Motion to Dismiss Standards

On a Rule 12 motion to dismiss, the Court generally
must accept the factual allegations contained in the
complaint as true, and draw all reasonable inferences in
favor of the non-movant; it should not dismiss the complaint
“unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove
no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle
him to relief.” Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.
Ct. 99, 102 (1957); see also Leatherman v. Tarrant County
Narcotics Intelligence & Coordination Unit, 507 U.S. 163,
164, 113 S.Ct. 1160, 1161 (1993) (noting that factual
allegations in the complaint must be accepted as true on
motion to dismiss); Press v. Quick & Reilly, Inc., 218 F.3d
121, 128 (2d Cir. 2000) (same). In order to survive
dismissal, a plaintiff must assert a cognizable claim and
allege facts that, if true, would support such a claim. See
Boddie v. Schnieder, 105 F.3d 857, 860 (2d Cir. 1997). A
pro se litigant’s complaint, “however inartfully pleaded,”

Appendix B-8

must be held to a “less stringent standard[] than formal
pleadings drafted by lawyers... .” Haines v. Kerner, 404
U.S. 519, 520-21, 92 S. Ct. 594, 596 (1972).

On a Rule 12(b)(1) motion challenging the district
court’s subject matter jurisdiction, the Court may resolve the
disputed jurisdictional fact issues by referring to evidence
outside of the pleadings, such as affidavits, and if necessary,
hold an evidentiary hearing. See Zappia Middle East Constr.
Co. v. Emirate of Abu Dhabi, 215 F.3d 247, 253 (2d Cir.
2000). However, when matters outside the pleadings are
presented on a motion to dismiss for failure to sate a claim
under Rule 12(b)(6), generally the district court must either
exclude the additional material and decide the motion on the
complaint alone or convert the motion to one for summary
judgment and afford all parties the opportunity to present
supporting material. See Morelli v. Cedel, 141 F.3d 39, 46
(2d Cir. 1998) (citing Carter v. Stanton, 405 U.S. 669, 671,
92 S. Ct. 1232, 1234 (1972)).

On a 12 (b) (2) motion the plaintiff bears the burden
of demonstrating that the court has jurisdiction over the
defendant. See Bank Brussels Lambert v. Fiddler Gonzalez
& Rodriquez, 171 F.3d 779, 784 (2d Cir. 1999) ; Kernan v.
Kurz-Hastings, Inc., 175 F.3d 236, 240 (2d Cir. 1999) (citing
Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Robertson-Ceco Corp., 84 F.3d
560, 566 (2d Cir. 1996)). Since the parties have not
conducted discovery, the plaintiff need persuade the court

Appendix B-9

only that its factual allegations constitute a prima facie
showing of jurisdiction over the defendants. See Kernan 175
F.3d at 240; Jazini v. Nissan Motor Co., 148 F.3d 181, 184
(2d Cir. 1998). The plaintiff's prima facie showing may be
established solely by pleading, in good faith, legally
sufficient allegations of jurisdiction. See Ball v. Metallurgie
Hoboken-Overpelt, S.A., 902 F.2d 194, 197 (2d Cir. 1990).
The pleadings and any affidavits are construed in the light
most favorable to the plaintiff and all doubts are resolved in
its favor. A.I. Trade Finance, Inc. v. Petra Bank, 989 F.2d
76, 79-80 (2d Cir. 1993).

Similarly, on a Rule 12 (b) (3) motion to dismiss
based on improper venue, the burden of showing that venue
in the forum district is proper falls on the plaintiff. See, e.g.,
Blass v. Captial Int’] Security Group, No. 99-C V-5738 (FB),
2001 WL 301137, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 23, 2001). In a case
involving multiple claims, the plaintiff must show that venue
is proper for each claim asserted, but dismissal of an
improperly venued claim is not warranted if it is factually
related to a properly venued claim and the claims could be
considered “one cause of action with two grounds of relief.”
17 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice §
110.05 (3d ed. 1997). The court must take all allegations in
the complaint as true, unless contradicted by the defendants’
affidavits. See SA Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller,
Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil 2d § 1352 (1990 &
Supp. 1999). When an allegation is so challenged “[a] court

Appendix B-10

may examine facts outside the complaint to determine
whether venue is proper. The court must draw all reasonable
inferences and resolve all factual conflicts in favor or the
plaintiff.” Id. (citations omitted). If the defendants prevail
on their Rule 12 (b) (3) motion, the court has the power to
dismiss or transfer the case to any district in which it could
have been brought. See 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a); see also
Minnette v. Time Warner, 997 F.2d 1023, 1026 (2d Cir.
1993) (holding that “[w]hether dismissal or transfer is
appropriate lies within the sound discretion of the district
court”).

Ill. Standing

Defendants argue that the complaint should be
dismissed for lack of standing because plaintiffs have not
alleged an injury in-fact, or alternatively, that any alleged
~ injury is not redressable by this action. (See, e.g., New York
State Thruway Auth.’s Br. At 4-5; New Jersey Defs. Br. At
5-13.)

An organization such as No More Tolls may have
standing to “seek judicial relief from injury to itself and to
vindicate whatever rights and immunities the association
itself may enjoy. Moreover, in attempting to secure relief
from injury to itself the association my assert the rights of its
members, at least so long as the challenged infractions
adversely affect its members’ associational ties.” Warth v.

Appendix B-1] .

Seldin, 422 U.S. 490, 511 95 S. Ct. 2197, 2211 (1975)
(citing NAACP v. Alabama ex rel. Patterson, 357 U.S. 449
458-60, 78 S. Ct. 1163, 1169-171 (1958); Joint Anti-Fascist
Refugee Committee v. McGrath, 341 U.S. 123, 183-87, 71 S.
Ct. 624, 654-57 (1951) (Jackson J., concurring)). No More
Tolls, however, has not asserted injury to itself.

Even in the absence of injury to itself, an association
may have standing solely as the representative of its
members. See Warth, 422 U.S. at 511, 95 S. Ct. at 2211. To
have standing as the representative of its members, No More
Tolls must satisfy the constitutional requirement of a case or
controversy. See Sierra Club v. Morton, 405 U.S. 727, 92 S.
Ct. 1361 (1972). The only know member of No More Tolls
Is McKeown. Thus, plaintiffs must establish that: (1)
McKeown has suffered an “injury in fact: - “an invasion of a
legally protected interest which is concrete and
particularized” and “actual or imminent, not ‘conjectural’ or
hypothetical’”; (2) “there is a causal connection between the
injury and the conduct complained of — the injury has to be
‘fairly . . . trace[able] to the challenged action of the
defendant, and not ... thefe] result [of] the independent
action of some third party not before the court”; and (3) “it
must be ‘likely,’ as opposed to merely ‘speculative,’ that the
injury will be ‘redressed by a favorable decision’.” Lujan v.
Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560-61, 112 S. Ct.
2130, 2136 (1992); accord, e.g., Warth, 422 U.S. at 511. 95
S. Ct. at 2211-12; Sierra Club, 405 U.S. at 734-41, 92 S. Ct.

Appendix B-]2

at 1365-69.

The only personalized injuries alleged in the
amended complaint are that McKeown “has _ sustained
damages as a result of the operation of toll booths” (Am.
Compl. § 10) and that “[dJjefendant[s’] operation of toll
booths damage the business, property and health of the
[p]laintiff in violation of antitrust laws (Am. Comp. { 83).
Neither of those allegations is concrete or particularized, nor
do they constitute a “distinct and palpable injurv.”
Gladstone Realtors v. Village of Bellwood, 441 U.S. 91, 109,
99 S. Ct. 1601, 1608 (1979); Sierra Club v. SCM Corp., 747
F.2d 99, 103 (2d Cir. 1984). Additionally, there are no facts
alleged that_support an antitrust claim.

Moreover, plaintiffs’ allegations that the toll booths
have a negative impact on the environment are based on the
premise that toll booth increase motor vehicle toxic tailpipe
emissions. (Am. Compl. J 29-41) Even if the operation of
toll booths increases toxic tailpipe emissions, the emissions
are caused by the vehicles owned by millions of people not
parties to this action. If all toll booths were removed from
the mid-Atlantic states, as plaintiffs seek, millions of drivers
would still experience backups, traffic jams and delays that
increase tailpipe emissions. Accordingly, plaintiffs have not
established that the injury complained of is “fairly . . .
traceable to the challenged action of defendant [s], and not
... the result [of] the independent action of some third party

Appendix B-13

not before the court.” Lujan, 504 U.S. at 560, 112 S. Ct. at
2136. Nor have they demonstrated that the elimination of
toll booths would redress injuries to plaintiffs.

Further, even if plaintiffs could establish that they
have standing to sue, they failed to comply with the
mandatory notice requirement with respect to the Maryland
and New Jersey defendants.

The Delaware defendants also argue that the suit is
barred by the Eleventh Amendment (see Delaware Defs.’
bare-bones argument in their Br. at 5-6). That argument,
which is the only argument proffered by those defendants,
consists of two paragraphs that states, without any support,
that “None of the basic federal environmental laws on which
plaintiffs place crucial reliance and which include citizen
suits provisions are based on an appropriate Congressional
determination to create legislation to enforce the provisions
of the Fourteenth Amendment, as permitted by Section 5 of
that Amendment. Therefore, these claims are barred.”
(Delaware Defs.’ Br. at 5.) The Delaware defendants’ brief
is at best an invitation to research their theory and serve
generally as an advocate for them. This Court declines the

invitation. See, e.g., Ernest Haas Studio, Inc. v. Palm Press,
Inc., 164 F.3d 110, 111-12 (2d Cir. 1999)

IV. Notice

Appendix B-14

~The CAA, CWA and RCRA require that 60 days
prior to filing a citizen suit, a plaintiff must send notice of
the alleged violation to the defendant, the sate where the
violation occurred, and to the EPA. See 42 US.C. § 7604;
42 U.S.C. § 6972; 33 U.S.C. § 1365.
The Supreme Court has held that compliance with the
RCRA notice requirements, which are almost identical to the
CAA and CWA notice requirements, is mandatory. See
Hallstron v. Tillamook County, 493 U.S. 20, 26, 110 S. Ct.
304, 308-09 (1989) (“compliance with the 60-day notice
provision is a mandatory, not optional, condition precedent
to suit”).

The Maryland Transportation Authority and John D.
Porcari aver that plaintiffs did not notify them of their intent
to bring suit. (See Porcari Aff. J 6.) Plaintiffs have not
offered any evidence to the contrary. Accordingly,
plaintiffs’ CAA, CWA and RCRA claims against the
Maryland Transportation Authority and John D. Porcari are
dismissed.

Because plaintiffs did not serve the requisite notice
on the Maryland defendants, this Court need not determine
whether this Court has personal jurisdiction over them. (See

Maryland Defs.’ Br. at 3-5.)

The New Jersey defendants do not contest receipt of

Appendix B-15

plaintiffs’ notice of intent to sue. While the other defendants
except for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and E.
Virgil Conway proffer similar arguments, one of them
included a copy of the notice. The New Jersey defendants
state in their brief that the same notice was sent to each
defendant, however, that statement is not admissible
evidence. Because the Court cannot evaluate the notices sent
to the remaining defendants, their motions to dismiss for
failure to comply with the notice requirements are denied.
They argue that the information contained in the notice did
not contain sufficient information.

The CAA requires that Notices to the Administrator,
States, and alleged violators regarding violation of an
emission standard or limitation or an order issued with
respect to an emission standard or limitation, shall include
sufficient information to permit the recipient to identify the
specific standard, limitation, or order which has alleged to be
in violation, the person or persons responsible for the alleged
violation, the location of the alleged violation, the date or
dates of such violation, and the full name and address of the
person giving the notice. 40 C.F.R. § 54.3 (b).

The CWA requires that Notice regarding an alleged
violation of an effluent standard or limitation or of an order
with respect thereto, shall include sufficient information to
permit the recipient to identify the specific standard,
limitation, or order alleged to have been violated, the activity

Appendix B-16

alleged to constitute a violation, the person or persons
responsible for the alleged violation, the location of the
alleged violation, the date or dates of such violation, and the
full name, address, and telephone number of the person
giving notice. (40 C.F.R. § 135.3(a).

Similarly, the RCRA requires that Notice regarding
an alleged violation of a permit, standard, regulation,
condition, requirement, or order which has become effective
under this Act shall include sufficient information to permit
the recipient to identify the specific permit, standard,
regulation, condition, requirement, or order which has
allegedly been violated, the activity alleged to constitute a
violation, the person or persons responsible for the alleged
violation, the date or dates of the violation, and the full
name, address, and telephone number of the person giving
notice. (40 C.F.R. § 254.3(a))

As the New Jersey defendants observe, plaintiffs’
notice of intent to sue failed to identify virtually every
requirement dictated by the CAA, CWA, and RCRA. (See
Cernich Aff. Ex. B: Notice of Intent to Sue.) Most
importantly, plaintiffs did not identify any emission
standards or limitations alleged to have been violated under
the CAA, nor did they identify any specific effluent
standards defendants allegedly violated under the CWA, or
specific permits, standards, regulations, conditions,
requirements or orders which defendants allegedly violated

Appendix B-17

under the RCRA. Accordingly, the New Jersey defendants’
motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ CAA, CWA and RCRA claims
for failure to comply with the mandatory notice provisions
pursuant to those statutes is granted. See Hudson
Riverkeeper Fund, Inc. v. Putnam Hosp. Ctr., Inc., 891 F.
Supp. 152, 154-55 (S.D.N.Y. 1995) (dismissing CWA claim
for failure to comply with content requirements specified in
40 C.F.R. § 135.3)

Even if plaintiffs had complied with the notice
requirements, venue is improper as to the Maryland, New
Jersey and Delaware defendants. Moreover, plaintiffs have
failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

V. Venue

The CAA and CWA contain venue provisions that
permit a citizen action to be commenced only in the judicial
district in which the offending source of the standard or
limitation is located. See 42 U.S.C. § 7604(c)(1) (“Any
action respecting a violation by a stationary source of an
emission standard or limitation or an order respecting such
standard or limitation may be brought only in the judicial
district in which such source is located.”); 33 U.S.C. § 1365
(c) (1) (“Any action respecting a violation by a discharge
source of an effluent standard or limitation or an order
respecting such standard or limitation may be brought under
this section only in the judicial district in which such source

Appendix B-18

is located.”) The RCRA venue provision limits the filing of
a citizen suit to that jurisdiction where the alleged violation
occurred. See 42 U.S.C. § 6972 (a) (“Any action [against
any person and any other governmental instrumentality or
agency who is alleged to be in violation of any permit,
standard, regulation, condition, requirement, prohibition, or
order which has become effective pursuant to this chapter]
shall be brought in the district court for the district in which
the alleged violation occurred or the alleged endangerment
may occur.”)

Plaintiffs allege that the New Jersey defendants
operate toll booths in New Jersey (Am. Compl. J J 17-22),
that the Maryland defendants operate toll booths in Maryland
(Am. Compl. J 4 23-24), and that the Delaware defendants
operate toll booths in Delaware (Am. Compl. 4 § 25-28).
Plaintiffs do not allege that those defendants Operate any toll
booths in New York, or that any alleged violations or
endangerment arising from any pollutants caused by those
defendants occurred or may occur in New York. The Court
declines to transfer those claims because plaintiffs have
failed to state a claim under the CAA, CWA and RCRA (see
infra sections VI — VIII), and grants the motions by the New
Jersey, Maryland and Delaware defendants to dismiss the
complaint for improper venue.

VI. = Clean Air Act Claims

Appendix B-19

The CAA was implemented to prevent and control air
pollution by providing “[f]ederal financial assistance and
leadership . . . for the development of cooperative Federal,
State, regional, and local programs to prevent and control air
pollution.” 42 U.S.C. § 7401 (a) (3), (4). The CAA
amendments of 1970 and 1977 required the EPA to
promulgate national ambient air quality standards
(“NAAQS”) for various air pollutants. See 42 U.S.C. §
7409; Wilder v. Thomas, 854 F2d 605, 609 (2d Cir. 1988).

Section 7410 (a) (1) requires that each state adopt an
implementation plant (“SIP”) that provides for the
“implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of national
primary and secondary ambient air quality standards.” See
Wilder, 854 F.2d at 609, Concerned Citizens of Bridesburg
v. EPA, 836 F.2d 777, 780-81 (3d Cir. 1987).

The citizen suit provision of the CAA creates “a
limited private right of action to enforce the Act’s
provisions.” Specifically, it provides that [A]ny person may
commence a civil action on his own behalf — (1) against any
person .. . who is alleged to be in violation of (A) an
emission standard or limitation under this chapter... 42
U.S.C. § 7604 (a) (1) (1995). The Act defines an “emission
standard or limitation” as any condition or requirement under
an applicable implementation plan relating to transportation
control measures, air quality maintenance plans, vehicle
inspection and maintenance programs or vapor recovery

Appendix B-20

requirements .. which is in effect under this chapter... or
under an applicable implementation plan. 42 U.S.C. § 7604
(f) (3) (1995). “In order to avoid either overburdening the
courts or unduly interfering with implementation of the act . .
. [C]ongress carefully circumscribed the scope of the [citizen
suit] provision by authorizing citizens to bring suit only for
violations of specific provisions of the act or specific
provisions of an applicable implementation plan.” Wilder,
854 F.2d at 613. Thus, to state a claim under the citizen suit
provision a plaintiff must allege “a violation of ‘a specific
strategy or commitment in the SIP and describe, with some
particularity, the respects in which compliance with the
provision is deficient.” Coalition Against Columbus Ctr. V.
City of New York, 967 F.2d 764, 769 (2d Cir. 1992).
Accord, e.g., Wilder, 854 F.2d at 610; Council of Commuter
Orgs. V. Gorsuch, 683 F.2d 648, 670 (2d Cir. 1982).

Plaintiffs claim that defendants have violated the
CAA by slowing “vehicular movement which unnecessarily
increases toxic tailpipe emissions.” However, the complaint
does not identify any violations of specific emissions
standards, or limitations under the CAA or legally
enforceable strategies or commitments that the defendants
made under a current SIP.

Plaintiffs also claim that toll booths are major sources

of hazardous air pollutants under 42 U.S.C. § § 7411, 7412.
The CAA defines a “major source” as a “stationary source”

Appendix 5-21

“that emits or has the potential to emit considering controls
in the aggregate 10 tons per year or more of any hazardous
air pollutant or 25 tons per year or more of any combination
of hazardous air pollutants... .” 42 U.S.C. § 7412 (a)(1). A
stationary source is defined as “any building, structure,
facility, or installation which emits or may emit any air
pollutant,” 42 U.S.C. § 7411 (a)(3).

Plaintiffs do not allege that toll booths emit or have
the potential to emit air pollutants. See, e.g., Sierra Club v.
Larson, 2 F.3d 462, 466-69 (1* Cir. 1993) (ventilation
buildings do not generate their own emissions and thus are
not stationary sources). They claim that motor vehicles emit
the air pollutants. Motor vehicles, however, are specifically
excluded from the definition of stationary source. See 42 ©
U.S.C. § 7602 (z) (‘The term ‘stationary source’ means
generally any source of an air pollutant except those
emissions resulting directly from an internal combustion
engine for transportation purposes... .”).

In addition, plaintiffs claim that defendants violate
section 7408. (Am. Compl. J § 115, 117.) Plaintiffs cannot
state a claim under section 7408 because it imposes
obligations on the EPA Administrator, who has not been
named as a defendant in this action, and does not adopt any
particular emission standard or limitation or refer to a
commitment defendants have made under a current SIP.

Appendix B-22

Accordingly, defendants’ motions to dismiss
plaintiffs’ CAA claims for failure to state a claim are
granted.

VII. Clean Water Act Claims

Citizen suits under the CWA are permitted only to
enforce “an effluent standard or limitation” or “an order
issued by the [EPA] Administrator or a State with respect to
such a standard or limitation.” 33 USC § 1365 (a).
Effluent standards and limitations are administratively
established regulations of particular types of dischargers on
the amounts of pollutants that my be discharged. See 33
U.S.C. § 1362 (11); United States v. Hooker Chems. &
Plastics Corp., 749 F.2d 968, 979 (2d Cir. 1984).

Plaintiffs assert that “[toll booth operators violate ‘an
effluent standard or limitation’ under 33 U.S.C. [§] 1365
(a)(1) (A) because of illegal and unpermitted discharges of
leachate from toll booth locations,” that “[d]efendants violate
CWA Section 311 by continuing to cause the dimunition of
water quality of the surface and subterranean waters by
release of pollutants into the surface waters and ground
waters under and adjacent to toll booth areas,” and that
defendants fail to use “the best practicable control
technology available to achieve their road use fee collection
objectives.” Plaintiffs’ sweeping allegations do not charge
defendants with violating any effluent standards or

Appendix B-23

limitations. See, e.g.. Hamker v. Diamond Shamrock Chem.
Co., 756 F.2d 392, 394 (5" Cir. 1985) (“Because the
complaint . . . does not allege that [defendant] is ‘in
violation’ of an effluent standard, limitation or order,....
[plaintiffs] fail to state allegations sufficient to support
jurisdiction in this case.”); Hooker Chems. & Plastics, 749
F.2d at 979. Plaintiffs’ reference to the “best practicable
control technology” concerns a section of the CWA that does
not establish any specific effluent limitations and is directed
to the EPA, not to defendants. See 33 U.S.C. § 1311 (b) (1)

(A).

Plaintiffs also claim that “toll booths are point
sources as defined by the EPA and violate CWA Section
301.” The CWA defines “point source” as: any discernible,
confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited
to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete
fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding
operation, or vessel or other floating craft, from which
pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not
include agricultural stormwater discharges and return flows
from irrigated agriculture. 33 U S.C. § 1362 (14). The
Second has noted that “[ajithough by its terms the definition
of ‘point source’ is nonexclusive, the words used to define
the term and the examples given (pipe, ditch, channel,
tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, etc.) evoke images of
physical structures and instrumentalities that systematically
act as a means of conveying pollutants from an industrial

Appendix B-24

source to navigable waterways.” United States v. Plaza
Health Labs., Inc., 3 F. 3d 643, 646 (2d Cir. 1993) ; cf.,
Hudson Riverkeeper Fund, Inc. v. Harbor at Hastings
Assocs., 917 F. Supp. 251, 257 (S.D.N.Y. 1996) (building
through which rainwater enters and passes into a river as
runoff is not a “point source” under the CWA). Courts have
held that “the touchstone for finding a point source is the
ability to identify a discrete facility from which pollutants
have escaped.” Washington Wilderness Coalition v. Hecla
Mining Co., 870 F. Supp. 983, 988 (E.D. Wash. 1994)
(citing cases). Non-point sources include uncollected runoff
water from, for example, oil and gasoline on a highway, or
Stormwater runoff from highways, construction sites or
industrial parks, which are difficult to ascribe to a single
polluter. United States v. Earth Sciences, Inc., 599 F.2d 368,
373-74 (10" Cir. 1979); Friends of Santa Fe County v. LAC
Minerals, Inc., 892 F. Supp. 1333, 1358-59 (D.N.M. 1995);

Washington Wilderness Coalition, 870 F. Supp at 988.

Here, motor vehicles are the sources of the pollutants
complained of, i.e. toxic tailpipe emissions on toll roads and
not toll booths. Further, the sources are not capable of being
attributed to a discernible polluter. Moreover, the “leachate”
that plaintiffs claim is released from toll booths, including
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur, are air
emissions and not water pollutants covered by the CWA.
See 42 U.S.C. § 1362 (6) (definition of “pollutant” under the
CWA).

Appendix B-25

~

Plaintiffs last claim for relief under the CWA alleges
that defendants operate without the requisite permits in
violation of 33 U.S.C. § 1344. (Am. Compl. ¥] 46, 67, 69.)
Section 1344 prohibits the discharge of dredged or fill
material into navigable waters. Plaintiffs have not identified
any navigable water, nor have they alleged that defendants
have discharged dredge or fill materials into navigable
waters.

For all the above stated reasons, defendants’ motions
to dismiss plaintiffs’ CWA claims are granted.

VIII. Resources Conservation and Recovery Act Claims

The RCRA is “a comprehensive environmental
statute that governs the treatment, storage, and disposal of
solid and hazardous waste.” Meghrig v. KFC Western, Inc.,
516 U.S. 479, 483, 116 S.Ct. 1251, 1254 (1996); see also
Prisco v. A&D Carting Corp., 168 F.3d 593, 608 (2d Cir.
1999). The purpose of the RCRA “is to reduce the
generation of hazardous waste and to ensure the proper
treatment, storage, and disposal of that waste which is
nonetheless generated, ‘so as to minimize the present and
future threat to human health and the environment.’” Id.
(quotations omitted); see also 42 U.S.C. § 6902 (b)). In
furtherance of that goal, RCRA contains a_ provision
allowing citizen lawsuits for injunctive relief under either 42
U.S.C. § 6972 (a) (1) (A) or (a) (1) (b). Prisco, 168 F.3d at

Appendix B-26

608; also 42 U.S.C. § 6972. Plaintiffs’ claim for relief
under 42 U.S.C. § 6973 (Am Compl. § 77) is therefore-
dismiss because that section is not subject to citizen suits.

To establish a violation of section 6972 (a) (1) (A), a
plaintiff must establish that the defendant is currently in
violation of a “permit, standard, regulation, condition,
requirement, prohibition, or order which has become
effective pursuant to this chapter.” 42 U.S.C. § 6972 (a) (1)
(A); ABB Indus. Sys., Inc. v. Prime Tech., Inc, 120 F.3d
351, 359 (2d Cir. 1997). In order to establish rights under 42
U.S.C. § 6972 (a) (1) (B) plaintiffs must show that (1) the
defendant was or is a generator or transporter of solid or
hazardous waste or owner or operator of a solid or hazardous
waste treatment, storage or disposal facility; (2) the
defendant has contributed or is contributing to the handling,
storage, treatment, transportation, or disposal of solid or
hazardous waste, as defined by RCRA, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6903
(3), (27); and (3) that the solid or hazardous waste in
question may pose an imminent and _ substantial
endangerment to health or the environment 42 U.S.C. § 6972

(a) (1) (B); Prisco, 168 F.3d at 608; ABB Indus. Sys., 120
- F.3d at 359.

Plaintiffs have not alleged that defendants are
violating a specific “permit, standard, regulation, condition,
requirement, prohibition, or order” under the RCRA.
Plaintiffs’ conclusory allegation that defendants violated

Appendix B-27

Subchapter II] of RCRA (Am Compl. § 75) does not allege a
violation of any specific requirement in that subchapter. See
ABB Indus. Sys. 120 F. 3d at 359. Plaintiffs also do not
allege any facts from which it could be inferred that toll
booth operators created solid or hazardous waste, as defined
by the RCRA, disposed of it, transported it, or otherwise
handled it. See Delaney v. Town of Carmel, 55 F. Supp. 2d
237, 262 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) (dismissing RCRA claims where
plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that defendant created,
disposed of, transported or handled solid or hazardous
waste). Moreover, none of the substances mentioned in the
complaint are listed as hazardous waste under EPA
regulations. See 40 C.F.R. § 79: “[dJefendants violate the
prohibition against the operation of an open dump”). See 42
U.S.C. § 6945 (a).

Accordingly, defendants’ motions to _ dismiss
plaintiffs’ RCRA claims are granted.

IX. Federal Common Law Claims

Plaintiffs assert a multitude of negligence, nuisance
and civil rights claims entitled “federal common law claims.”
(Am. Compl. J 82-105.) Since there is no federal common
law, those claims will be treated as alleging violations of
federal statutes governing those subject matters.

A. Nuisance Claims

Appendix B-28

Plaintiffs assert two “nuisance” claims. The first
claim alleges that defendants’ Operation of toll booths
“damages the business, property and health of the Plaintiff
and citizens of the United States and violate[s] 15 U.S.C. [8]
15.” (Am Compl. ¥ 83.) 15 U.S.C. § 15 address recovery
for injuries to business or property for antitrust violations.
Plaintiffs have not alleged any facts relevant to an antitrust
claim. Defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ first
“nuisance” claim is therefore granted.

Plaintiffs’ also allege that “defendants damage the
environment” in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 7408, 33 U.S.C. §
1317, 33 U.S.C. § 1312, 42 U.S.C. § 7619, 42 U.S.C. § 7525,
42 U.S.C. § 7521, 42 U.S.C. § 7430, 42 USC. § 7412 and
42 US.C. § 7409. (Am. Compl. 7 85.) However, those
statutes are only enforceable by the EPA Administrator and
are not subject to citizen suits. Defendants’ motion to
dismiss plaintiffs’ second “nuisance” claim is therefore
granted.

B. Negligence Claims

Plaintiffs assert two “negligence” claims. First,
plaintiffs claim that defendants “negligently caus[e] . . .
hazardous substances to be released into the ambient air” in
violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 7521, 9613. (Am. Compl. § 91.)
42 U.S.C. § 7521 grants the EPA Administrator authority to
promulgate regulations related to emissions standards for

Appendix B-29

new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines. 42
U.S.C. § 9613 establishes when an interested party may seek
review of a regulation promulgated under that chapter.
Neither stature is relevant to plaintiffs’ ciaims.

Plaintiffs also allege that defendants negligently
damage the waters of the United States by operating toll
booths in violation of 33 U.S.C. § 1323. (Am. Comp. § 91.)
That stature is part of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act and prescribes regulations for departments, agencies and
instrumentalities of the executive, legislative and judicial
branches of the federal government. None of the defendants
are members of any branch of the federal government.

Accordingly, defendants’ motions to dismiss
plaintiffs’ “negligence” claims are granted.

Cc. Civil Rights Claims

Plaintiffs allege that defendants violate 42 U.S.C. §
1983 by “forcing toll payers to participate in the
defendants[‘] violations of state and Federal laws and by
unnecessarily and unlawfully impeding the movement of
citizens thus causing toll payers to unnecessarily pollute the
environment.” (Am. Comp. § 87.) Even if plaintiffs’ section
1983 claim was not preempted by the CAA, CWA and
RCRA provisions limiting the scope of citizen suits, see

i x Coun Ww _v. National

Appendix B-30

Clammers Ass’n, 453 U.S. 1, 20-21, 101 S. Ct. 2615, 2626-
27 (1981) (finding the remedial devices provided in the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act and Marine Protection,
Research, and Sanctuaries Act sufficiently comprehensive,
particularly since they provide for citizen suits, and therefore
that Congress intended to preclude the remedy of suits under
section 1983), plaintiffs have not alleged that defendants
have deprived them of any particular rights, privileges or
immunities secured by the Constitution or federal law.
Accordingly, defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’
section 1983 claim is granted.

» a Occupational Safety and Health Act Claims

Unlike the CAA, CWA and RCRA, the Occupational
Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) does not contain a citizen
suit provision. Rather, OSHA authorizes the Secretary of
Labor to promulgate standards for workplace safety. See 29
U.S.C. §§ 655, 657-59; 29 C.F.R. §§ 1900-2400. The only
provision in OSHA that permits a private citizen to bring a
suit in federal court to enforce a standard is section 655(f),
which allows [a]ny person who may be adversely affected by
a standard issued under this section . . . . at any time prior to
the sixtieth day after such standard is promulgated {to] file a
petition challenging the validity of such standard with the
United States court of appeals for the circuit wherein such
person resides or has his principal place of business, for a
judicial review of such standard. (29 U.S.C. § 655 (f).

Appendix B-3]

The complaint does not allege that McKeown or any
unnamed members of No More Tolls are employees of
defendants who are adversely affected by defendants’
violations of a specific OSHA standard, or that they are
otherwise within the zone of interest to be protected by
OSHA. Moreover, this action was filed in the district court
and not the court of appeals. Because plaintiffs do not have
standing to bring an OSHA action, defendants’ motions to
dismiss plaintiffs’ OSHA claims are granted.

XI. Federal Aid Highway Act

Plaintiffs claim that defendants violate 23 U.S.C. §
1109 by “interrupting the normal flow of vehicular
movement by dangerously widening and narrowing the area
in which vehicles travel.” (Am Comp. { 113.) There is no
statute codified as 23 § 1109. Assuming that plaintiffs
intended to cite section 109 of Title 23, plaintiffs still fail to
state a claim. Section 109 prohibits the Secretary of
Transportation from approving highway projects that do not
“adequately meet existing and future traffic needs and
conditions in a manner conducive to safety... . “

Thus, any claim to compel compliance under section
109 must be brought against the Secretary of Transportation.
See Road Review League v. Boyd, 270 F. Supp. 650, 661
(S.D.N.Y. 1967). Since defendants are not a proper party to
such a suit, their motions to dismiss plaintiffs’ Federal Aid
Highway Act claim are granted.

Appendix B-32

XII. Pendent State law Claims

Plaintiff has alleged numerous claims under various
state environmental laws. While the Court may exercise
supplemental jurisdiction over the state claims pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1367, the Court declines to exercise such discretion
because the Court has dismissed plaintiffs’ federal claims
early in this litigation. See Travelers Ins. Co. v. Keeling,
996 F.2d 1485, 1490 (2d Cir. 1993) (addressing the
discretion to exercise jurisdiction over state law claims); see
also United Mine Workers of Am. V. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715,
726, 86 S. Ct. 1130, 1139 (1966). Accordingly, defendants’
motions to dismiss plaintiffs’ state law claims are granted.

Conclusion

For the reasons set forth above, defendants’ motion to
strike the Environmental Protection Agency and Carol
Browner are granted. Defendants’ motions to dismiss the
complaint with prejudice are also granted. The Clerk is
directed to close this case and to enter judgment in favor of
defendants.

Dated: March 29, 2001 SO ORDERED:
New York, N.Y.
s/
WILLIAM H. PAULEY III
-U.S.D.J.

Appendix B-33

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40386010_1627%3A1. Public record. Not legal advice.
