Evans
Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. Evans
Opinion
Opinion
Laporte, J.
OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I. INTRODUCTION.1012
II. LIKELIHOOD OF PREVAILING ON THE MERITS.1013
A. Scientific Background, Including Basis for 180 dB Threshold.1014
B. Marine Mammal Protection Act.1017
1. Specified Geographic Region.1019
2. Small Numbers.1023
a. Statute of Limitations.1024
b. Whether NMFS Acted Outside the Scope of its Authority.1024
3. The Final Rule’s Definition of “Harassment”.1027
a. Potential to Disturb.1028
b. Significance Requirement.1028
c. Impact on Individual Mammals.1030
4. Negligible Impact .1032
5. Mitigation and Monitoring.1033
C. National Environmental Policy Act.1037
1. Reasonable Alternatives Analysis.1038
2. Consideration of Reasonably Foreseeable Environmental Impacts.1041
3. The Navy’s Refusal to Supplement the EIS.1042
4. Reliance on Unpublished White Paper not Subject to Public Comment-1044
D. Endangered Species Act.1045
1. Regulatory Definition of Adverse Modification.1046
2. Incidental Take Statements.1048
III. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.1051
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs, various environmental organizations and a concerned individual, seek a preliminary…