Sierra Club v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

ORDER RE: PLAINTIFFS’ PETITION FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS

Re: Dkt. No.

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs The Sierra Club and Environmental Integrity Project (“EIP”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint on February 23, 2011, against Defendant United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”), seeking the disclosure of certain government documents under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552 , et seq. Compl. ¶ 1, Dkt. No. 1. After the parties completed briefing cross-motions for summary judgment in May of 2012, they entered into settlement discussions and eventually agreed to settle the case. Dkt. No. 69. Now before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Petition for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. Dkt. No. 77 (“Mot.”). The EPA has filed an Opposition (Dkt. No. 90), and Plaintiffs have filed a Reply (Dkt. No. 94). The Court previously found this matter suitable for disposition without oral argument (Dkt. No. 107) and now issues the following order.

II. BACKGROUND

A. Initial FOIA Request

On February 25, 2010, Plaintiffs submitted a FOIA request to the EPA seeking information received by the EPA through its requests for information under Section 114 of the Clean…