US Supreme Court Docket

Title:

Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy, et al. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., et al.

Subject:

Environmental Law, National Security, Administrative Law, Remedies

Question:

The district court found a likelihood that the Navy failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and preliminarily enjoined the Navy's use of midfrequency active (MFA) sonar during training exercises that prepare Navy strike groups for worldwide deployment. The Chief of Naval Operations concluded that the injunction unacceptably risks the training of naval forces for deployment to high-threat areas overseas, and the President of the United States determined that the use of MFA sonar during these exercises is "essential to national security." The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), applying a longstanding regulation, accordingly found "emergency circumstances" for complying with NEPA without completing an environmental impact statement. The Ninth Circuit nevertheless sustained the district court's conclusion that no "emergency circumstances" were present and affirmed the preliminary injunction. The questions presented are:

1. Whether CEQ permissibly construed its own regulation in finding "emergency circumstances."

2. Whether, in any event, the preliminary injunction, based on a preliminary finding that the Navy had not satisfied NEPA's procedural requirements, is inconsistent with established equitable principles limiting discretionary injunctive relief.

Decisions:

• U.S. Court of Appeals - 9th Circuit Opinion Filed: February 19, 2008
• United States Supreme Court Cert. Granted: June 23, 2008

Resources:

• Docket Sheet From the U.S. Supreme Court.

Coming Soon

Gregory G. Garre
Solicitor General
United States Department of Justice
Washington, DC

Richard B. Kendall
Irell & Manella LLP
Los Angeles, CA

Jamee Jordan Patterson
Office of the Attorney General
Public Rights Division
San Diego, CA

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