Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 1 of 11 1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY, et al., 8 Plaintiffs, v. 9 10 SONNY PERDUE, et al., Defendants. United States District Court Northern District of California 11 Case No. 15-cv-01590-HSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Re: Dkt. Nos. 96, 97 12 13 On April 7, 2015, a collective of non-profit organizations and commercial entities 14 (“Plaintiffs”) brought suit against representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture 15 (“USDA”), the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the National Organic Program (“NOP”) 16 (collectively, “Defendants”), asserting claims for declaratory and injunctive relief under the 17 Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”), 5 U.S.C. § 553, and the Organic Foods Production Act 18 (“OFPA”), 7 U.S.C. §§ 6501–6523. Currently pending before the Court are the parties’ motions 19 for summary judgment. See Dkt. Nos. 96 (“Defs. Mot.”), 97 (“Pls. Mot.”), 99 (“Defs. Opp.”), 100 20 (“Pls. Opp.”). On November 9, 2017, the Court heard argument on the motions. After carefully 21 considering the parties’ arguments, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s motion for summary 22 judgment, and DENIES Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. 23 24 I. BACKGROUND The basic facts are not in dispute. This case arises from a notice (“the Sunset Notice” or 25 “the Notice”) promulgated by USDA that alters the review process for determining which 26 substances may be used in food certified as “organic” under the OFPA. The OFPA requires the 27 Secretary of Agriculture (“the Secretary”) to establish a “National List” of substances that fall into 28 specific groupings, including synthetic substances permitted to be used in organic products Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 2 of 11 1 (referred to as “exempted substances”), and non-synthetic substances that are prohibited from use 2 in organic products (referred to as “prohibited substances”). See Defs. Mot. at 2; 7 U.S.C. § 3 6517(b)-(c). The OFPA requires the National Organic Standards Board (“NOSB”) to develop the 4 National List for submission to the Secretary. The NOSB is composed of fifteen members 5 appointed by the Secretary. The Secretary cannot exempt a synthetic substance unless the NOSB 6 proposes to do so. 7 U.S.C. § 6517(d). United States District Court Northern District of California 7 The OFPA also contains a “sunset provision,” which provides that no substances on the 8 National List are “valid unless the [NOSB] has reviewed such exemption or prohibition as 9 provided in this section within 5 years.” 7 U.S.C. § 6517(e). Prior to the Notice that triggered this 10 lawsuit, USDA’s regulations required the NOSB to consider public comments and vote on “the 11 continuation of specific exemptions and prohibitions contained on the National List.” NOP, 12 Sunset Review, 70 Fed. Reg. 35,177 at 35,178 (June 17, 2005). Under that framework, a vote of 13 two-thirds of the NOSB was required to recommend that a substance be renewed. See 7 U.S.C. § 14 6518(i). If two-thirds of the NOSB did not favor renewal, the substance expired and the Secretary 15 was required to remove the substance from the National List. See Pls. Mot. at 5; 7 U.S.C. § 16 6517(d). 17 The USDA’s September 16, 2013 notice enacted a new eight-step sunset review procedure. 18 NOP, Sunset Process, 78 Fed. Reg. 56,811, 56,812 (Sept. 16, 2013). Pursuant to that new 19 procedure, the full NOSB does not vote to renew each substance on the National List. Id. at 20 56,814. Instead, a NOSB subcommittee examines each substance set for sunset review and 21 proposes to the full NOSB a list of substances to be removed from the National List. Id. It is only 22 those substances that a NOSB subcommittee member proposes for removal, and that a member of 23 the NOSB subsequently moves to remove, that are voted upon by the full NOSB. Id. A motion to 24 remove must receive two-thirds of the votes cast by the NOSB to pass. See Defs. Mot. at 6. Once 25 all motions have been voted on, the full NOSB completes its sunset review. 78 Fed. Reg. 56,814. 26 Following the NOSB’s final vote, the NOSB Chair compiles all reviews and 27 recommendations for removal, and transmits it to USDA for consideration. Id. USDA then 28 examines this document, and if it elects to renew substances that have undergone sunset review, 2 United States District Court Northern District of California Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 3 of 11 1 USDA publishes in the Federal Register a list of all substances that are renewed for another five 2 years on the National List. Id. If USDA initiates a proposed removal of a substance from the 3 National List, USDA publishes in the Federal Register the proposal to remove a substance and 4 requests public comment. Id. at 56,815. Based on comments received, USDA determines whether 5 to finalize a substance’s removal from the National List. Id. 6 Following issuance of the Notice, Plaintiffs filed this action for declaratory and injunctive 7 relief. See Dkt. No. 1. On July 17, 2015, Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of 8 jurisdiction, or alternatively, for failure to state a claim. Dkt. No. 16. The Court granted 9 Defendant’s motion on October 9, 2015, but provided Plaintiffs with leave to amend their 10 complaint. Dkt. No. 49. On October 30, 2015, Plaintiffs filed the first amended complaint. Dkt. 11 No. 50 (“FAC”). Defendants moved to dismiss the FAC, and the Court denied the motion. Dkt. 12 Nos. 53, 61 (“Prior Order”). The parties finalized the Administrative Record on August 11, 2017. 13 See Defs. Mot. at 8–9. 14 II. DISCUSSION 15 Defendants move for summary judgment on two alternative grounds. First, Defendants 16 argue that the Notice is not “final agency action” under the APA, and is therefore immune from 17 judicial review. Defs. Mot. at 10–13. Second, if review is permissible, Defendants contend that 18 the Notice satisfies the APA’s procedural requirements and is fully consistent with the OFPA. Id. 19 at 13–22. Plaintiffs also move for summary judgment on the merits of their OFPA and APA 20 claims. Pls. Mot. at 10–24. Specifically, Plaintiffs argue that the Notice contravenes the 21 substantive provisions of the OFPA, and is therefore arbitrary and capricious. In addition, 22 Plaintiffs argue that the Notice violates the APA because it is a legislative rule enacted without 23 prior notice-and-comment. The Court turns first to the issue of whether the issuance of the Notice 24 is reviewable. 25 Final agency action is a prerequisite to judicial review under the APA. 5 U.S.C. § 704 26 (“Agency action made reviewable by statute and final agency action for which there is no other 27 adequate remedy in a court are subject to judicial review.”). As the parties acknowledged at oral 28 argument, there is no dispute that this requirement applies to Plaintiffs’ claims. See also Defs. 3 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 4 of 11 1 Mot. at 10; Lujan v. Nat’l Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871, 882 (1990) (“When, as here, review is 2 sought not pursuant to specific authorization in the substantive statute, but only under the general 3 review provisions of the APA, the agency action in question must be final agency action.”). United States District Court Northern District of California 4 For agency action to be final, “the action must (1) ‘mark the consummation of the agency’s 5 decisionmaking process’ and (2) ‘be one by which rights or obligations have been determined, or 6 from which legal consequences will flow.’” Oregon Nat. Desert Ass’n v. U.S. Forest Serv., 465 7 F.3d 977, 982 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Bennett v. Spear, 520 U.S. 154, 178 (1997)). “The core 8 question is whether the agency has completed its decisionmaking process, and whether the result 9 of that process is one that will directly affect the parties.” Id. (quotation omitted). In applying 10 Bennett’s principles “certain factors provide an indicia of finality, such as whether the action 11 amounts to a definitive statement of the agency’s position, whether the action has a direct and 12 immediate effect on the day-to-day operations of the party seeking review, and whether immediate 13 compliance with the terms is expected.” Indus. Customers of Nw. Utilities v. Bonneville Power 14 Admin., 408 F.3d 638, 646 (9th Cir. 2005) (quotation and alterations omitted). 15 Defendants argue that the Notice does not satisfy either of Bennett’s requirements for final 16 agency action. Defs. Mot. at 9. Defendants claim that the Notice does not consummate the 17 USDA’s decisionmaking process regarding renewal or removal of substances from the National 18 List; rather, the Notice simply alters the method by which substances are proposed for removal or 19 renewal from the National List. See Defs. Mot. at 3–6, 11. Defendants similarly contend that the 20 Notice does not itself impart or remove any public rights or legal obligations. Id. at 12–13. On 21 the other hand, Defendants acknowledge that USDA’s actual renewal or removal decision does 22 constitute final agency action. See id. at 11–12. According to Defendants, Plaintiffs may 23 accordingly challenge that “consummating” agency action. See id. 24 In response, Plaintiffs present three reasons why they satisfy Bennett. First, Plaintiffs 25 argue that the Notice is final in that it “definitively mark[s] the consummation of USDA’s process 26 in overhauling the sunset review process.” Pls. Mot. at 20; Pls. Opp. at 21. Second, Plaintiffs 27 highlight that the Notice requires immediate compliance by USDA, even if final renewal and 28 removal decisions are subsequently made. Pls. Opp. at 21–22. Third, Plaintiffs claim that the 4 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 5 of 11 1 Notice’s change to voting procedures shifts the presumption in favor of automatic renewal, instead 2 of removal. See Pls. Mot. at 13–14; Pls. Opp. at 21–22. Plaintiffs accordingly assert that this shift 3 directly impacts their day-to-day operations, as new voting procedures will discourage individuals 4 from participating in the sunset review process. See Pls. Opp. at 22; FAC, Ex. A, A–67. Plaintiffs 5 also claim that this change will reduce the quality of organic foods by making it easier to include 6 synthetic materials in organic products. Pls. Opp. at 26; see FAC Ex. B. United States District Court Northern District of California 7 The Court concludes that the Notice is not reviewable final agency action. The Notice 8 works a change to the method by which a substance is proposed for inclusion on the National List. 9 That change is dispositive only of a follow-on substantive decision: the Secretary’s 10 renewal/removal determination. USDA’s judgment on whether to renew or remove a substance, 11 in turn, represents the agency’s consummating action. The Notice does not itself alter any criteria 12 or standards for the evaluation of a particular substance. Though Plaintiffs are correct that 13 Defendants must immediately comply with the Notice’s provisions, see Pls. Mot. at 20, that itself 14 is not sufficient to create final agency action under the APA. See Indus. Customers of Nw. 15 Utilities, 408 F.3d at 646 (“The fact that a statement may be definitive on some issue is 16 insufficient to create a final action subject to judicial review.”); Ctr. For Food Safety v. Johanns, 17 451 F. Supp. 2d 1165, 1188 (D. Haw. 2006) (finding that publication of ‘“coordinated, internal 18 protocols relating to issuing of permits” was not final agency action because the procedures did 19 not call for “any site-specific action” or “specific actions directly impacting the physical 20 environment” (quotation and alterations omitted)). 21 Though the parties recognized at oral argument a lack of analogous binding authority, 22 several decisions of the Ninth Circuit support the Court’s conclusion. For instance, in Indus. 23 Customers of Nw. Utils v. Bonneville Power Admin., the Ninth Circuit held that there was no final 24 agency action created by an agency’s decision to commence a power rate hearing that in turn 25 determined whether a power rate adjustment would be triggered. 408 F.3d 638, 641–42 (9th Cir. 26 2005). In that case, the Bonneville Power Administration (“BPA”) had responsibility for deciding 27 whether to hold an initial rate hearing. Id. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 28 (“FERC”) had limited authority to “affirm or remand” BPA’s rate, but could not modify BPA’s 5 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 6 of 11 1 proposed rate. Id. at 644. BPA argued that its trigger determination was not subject to judicial 2 review until FERC confirmed and approved the rate, thereby rendering a final rate determination. 3 4 existed under the Northwest Power Act (“NPA”), which provided review of “final actions,” 5 including “final rate determinations” by FERC. The plaintiffs argued that FERC’s limited role in 6 the rate-setting process would deny them the “opportunity to challenge the BPA’s trigger 7 decision” once the rates were set. Id. at 645. Plaintiffs contended that independent review of the 8 BPA’s decision to commence a rate hearing was warranted. Notably, the Ninth Circuit stated: 9 11 [T]he absence of FERC review does not preclude judicial review of the BPA’s trigger determination after final FERC action. Indeed, the BPA concedes that the petitioners have the full right to judicial review of its trigger decision as part of the petition for review of the ultimate FERC rate decision. 12 Id. at 645. The Court therefore concluded that the petitions were not ripe, but would be “a proper 13 part of a petition for review of the final FERC rate decision.” Id. 10 United States District Court Northern District of California The Industrial Customers court agreed with BPA. It turned first to whether jurisdiction 14 Turning then to a “catchall” jurisdictional provision in the NPA, the Industrial Customers 15 court considered whether the BPA’s trigger determination comprised final agency action under the 16 “more general doctrine of finality in administrative agency law.” See id. (citing Puget Sound 17 Energy, Inc. v. United States, 310 F.3d 613, 624 (9th Cir. 2002)). Following the two-step inquiry 18 set forth in Bennett, the Court held that the BPA’s trigger determination did not satisfy the test’s 19 first prong. Specifically, the Court found that the BPA’s decision was merely “interlocutory,” 20 constituting only the “beginning of the decision-making process.” Id. at 646. The court observed: 21 “Although it is the predicate act for rate readjustment, the trigger determination itself has no final 22 consequences. The trigger decision only determines whether a hearing will or will not occur.” Id. 23 at 647. Though recognizing that BPA’s trigger determination could have “profound” economic 24 consequences, the Court concluded that the plaintiffs could bring a judicial challenge only when 25 FERC actually approved a rate readjustment. Id. 26 Similarly, in F.T.C. v. Standard Oil Co. of California, the U.S. Supreme Court held that 27 the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) did not act with finality by serving a complaint averring 28 that it had “reason to believe” that the plaintiff had violated the Federal Trade Commission Act. 6 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 7 of 11 1 See 449 U.S. 232, 239 (1980). In reaching this holding, the Court observed that it had previously 2 dealt with the APA’s finality requirement in a “pragmatic way.” Id. For instance, the Court found 3 final agency action subject to judicial review in Abbott Laboratories v. Gardner, where the 4 challenged action imposed a risk of “serious criminal and civil penalties” on non-compliant 5 manufacturers. Id. at 242 (citing 387 U.S. 136, 149 (1967)). In contrast, the Court observed that 6 FTC’s averment was “materially different,” in that it “represent[ed] a threshold determination that 7 further inquiry is warranted and that a complaint should initiate proceedings.” Id. at 240–41. The 8 Court explained: 9 12 To be sure, the issuance of the complaint is definitive on the question whether the Commission avers reason to believe that the respondent to the complaint is violating the Act. But the extent to which the respondent may challenge the complaint and its charges proves that the averment of reason to believe is not ‘definitive’ in a comparable manner to the regulations in Abbott Laboratories and the cases it discussed. 13 Id. at 241. Drawing on ripeness principles, the Court concluded that if and when the FTC made a 14 final decision as to the plaintiff’s liability, he could seek judicial review. See id. at 242 (observing 15 that judicial review of the complaint “at the least is inefficient and upon completion of the agency 16 process might prove to have been unnecessary . . . delay[ing] resolution of the ultimate question 17 whether the Act was violated”). The Court recognized, moreover, that allowing for review at that 18 early stage would entitle “every respondent to a Commission complaint” to judicial redress just by 19 virtue of the agency’s process. Id. at 242–43. The Court rejected that result, concluding that 20 judicial review “should not be a means of turning prosecutor into defendant before adjudication 21 concludes.” Id. at 243. 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 22 The Ninth Circuit recently reaffirmed this reasoning in Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters v. U.S. 23 Dep’t of Transportation, 861 F.3d 944, 952 (9th Cir. 2017). In Teamsters, the Ninth Circuit 24 considered the finality of three actions by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 25 (“FMCSA”): first, the grant of a permit allowing an internationally-domiciled trucking company, 26 Trajosa SA de CV (“Trajosa”), to operate in the United States; second, the denial of the plaintiff’s 27 challenge to the FMCSA’s decision to grant that permit; and third, the issuance of a “Pilot 28 Program Report,” which set forth findings of a pilot study on which the FMCSA based its 7 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 8 of 11 1 permitting decision. See 861 F.3d at 947–49, 951–52. Considering each action in turn, the Ninth 2 Circuit found that FMCSA’s grant of Trajosa’s permit was final agency action because it “marked 3 the consummation of the agency’s decisionmaking process to grant long-haul permits to Mexico- 4 domiciled carriers.” Id. at 952. The court reasoned that “[l]egal consequences flowed from the 5 decision, because it allowed Trajosa to operate lawfully anywhere in the United States.” Id. 6 Similarly, the court held that the FMCSA acted with finality when it denied the plaintiff’s 7 challenge to Trajosa’s permit: that denial “marked the consummation of the agency’s resolution of 8 the [the plaintiff’s] challenge, and had legal consequences because it enabled Trajosa to proceed 9 with its operations.” Id. (citing Wind River Mining Corp. v. United States, 946 F.2d 710, 716 (9th 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 Cir. 1991)). In contrast, even though the FMCSA decided to accept applications pursuant to the Pilot 12 Program Report, the Teamsters court concluded that the report was not final agency action. Id. 13 The Ninth Circuit explained: 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The report had no legal consequences. To be sure, it was the final step in completing the pilot program, clearing the way for the permitting of Mexico-domiciled carriers. But the submission of the report did not change the legal situation, because the FMCSA maintained discretion over whether or not to begin issuing permits to Mexico-domiciled carriers. In other words, the FMCSA could have lawfully declined to issue permits despite completing the pilot program. Therefore, we may not review the Pilot Program Report, and must dismiss the petition challenging it. Id. (emphasis in original and citation omitted). The reasoning in Teamsters applies here with particular force. Like the Pilot Program 21 Report, the NOSB voting process merely “clear[s] the way” for the agency’s subsequent 22 substantive decision: whether to actually remove or renew a substance on the National List. See 23 id. Even Defendants admit that Plaintiffs can file suit when USDA undertakes its actual removal 24 or renewal decision. Defs. Mot. at 11–12; cf. Oregon Nat. Desert Ass’n, 465 F.3d at 985–89 25 (finding reviewable agency procedures governing grazing licenses because the decision to license 26 determined permittees’ legal rights and concomitant enforcement actions). As with the FMCSA in 27 Teamsters, individual NOSB members still have discretion to approve or deny a substance’s 28 renewal during sunset review. See 861 F.3d at 952. USDA also maintains discretionary authority 8 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 9 of 11 1 in deciding whether to accept NOSB’s renewal or removal recommendation. Plaintiffs argue that the Notice has a direct and immediate impact on their operations by United States District Court Northern District of California 2 3 shifting the presumption in favor of renewal, making it more likely that synthetic substances will 4 be improperly incorporated into organic products. Pls. Mot. at 20–21, 24–26; Pls. Opp. at 20.1. 5 Even accepting Plaintiffs’ claim, this presumptive shift in no way guarantees that a substance is 6 actually renewed or removed. In other words, there is no binding outcome or definitive result 7 worked by the Notice’s procedural change. Rather, it is the final renewal/removal determination 8 that represents the agency’s “last word from which binding obligations flow,” and that has a 9 “direct and immediate effect on the day-to-day business of” the relevant stakeholders. Oregon 10 Nat. Desert Ass’n., 465 F.3d at 990 (quotations and alterations omitted); cf. Defs. of Wildlife v. 11 Tuggle, 607 F. Supp. 2d 1095, 1112 (D. Ariz. 2009) (reasoning that the agency’s action was final 12 because it was “couched in terms of an operating instruction,” and that operating instructions are 13 final because they represent the agency’s “the last word on a discrete, site-specific action from 14 which binding obligations flow that have a direct and immediate effect on the day-to-day business 15 of the permit holders” (citing Oregon Nat. Desert Ass’n, 465 F.3d at 977, 984–86)). Plaintiffs’ challenge also presents ripeness concerns similar to those in Teamsters. 16 17 Because Plaintiffs challenge a procedural change, as opposed to the agency’s final 18 removal/renewal decision, the harms identified in the FAC—for instance, the unlawful inclusion 19 of certain compounds in organic foods—may never materialize. Plaintiffs’ desired outcome might 20 even occur should the NOSB vote against renewing a harmful substance. These scenarios 21 illustrate that it would be premature for the Court to intervene at this stage. See Sierra Club v. 22 1 23 24 25 26 27 28 For support, Plaintiffs rely on a list of voting tallies for synthetic substances taken at the fall 2015 NOSB meeting. See Plts. Mot. at 20–21, 25; FAC, Ex. B (providing a “list of substances and respective outcomes on motions to remove” synthetic ingredients from the National List). According to Plaintiffs, this document shows that the Notice has increased the propensity for harmful synthetics to enter organic products. Defendants argue that this document is not properly before the Court, as it contains post-decisional information outside the administrative record. See Tri-Valley CAREs v. U.S. Dep’t of Energy, 671 F.3d 1113, 1130 (9th Cir. 2012). Even if the Court considers this document, this list of substances and voting outcomes does not show that the Notice was dispositive for any member’s particular vote: in other words, the list does not show that NOSB members would have voted differently (or that a substance would have appeared on the National List) but for the Notice. Nor does this table address the fact that USDA ultimately retains discretion to remove or renew a given substance. 9 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 10 of 11 1 United States Nuclear Regulatory Comm’n, 825 F.2d 1356, 1362 (9th Cir. 1987) (“We will not 2 entertain a petition where pending administrative proceedings or further agency action might 3 render the case moot and judicial review completely unnecessary.”). This is particularly so given 4 that Plaintiffs can incorporate their process-based claims into any future challenge to the agency’s 5 renewal/removal decision. See Defs. Opp. at 17 n.10; City of San Diego v. Whitman (“If and when 6 the city is aggrieved by the EPA’s decision regarding its application, the City’s recourse is to 7 appeal to the Environmental Appeals Board . . . It is the [Board’s] decision that will constitute the 8 ‘consummation of the agency’s decision-making process.’”). Plaintiffs do not explain how they 9 are precluded from challenging the Notice if and when a harmful substance is wrongly renewed. United States District Court Northern District of California 10 Plaintiffs’ primary authorities can be distinguished on this basis. At oral argument, 11 Plaintiffs identified Salmon River Concerned Citizens v. Robertson as providing Plaintiffs with 12 some independent right to challenge USDA’s internal procedural change. See Pls. Opp. at 24 n.8 13 (citing 32 F.3d 1346, 1348 (9th Cir. 1994)). In Salmon River, the Ninth Circuit held that citizen 14 groups had standing to challenge a Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”) prepared by 15 the U.S. Forest Service, which authorized “district foresters” to use herbicides on certain National 16 Forest lands. See 32 F.3d 1348, 1355. Drawing on its prior decision in Idaho Conservation 17 League v. Mumma, the Ninth Circuit rejected the Forest Service’s position that a challenge to the 18 FEIS would not be ripe “until a district forester authorizes a specific herbicide application, 19 because only a specific herbicide application would harm [the plaintiffs].” Id. at 1355 (citing 956 20 F.2d 1508, 1515 (9th Cir. 1992)). The Salmon River court read Idaho Conservation League as 21 holding that: 22 23 24 25 [P]laintiffs need not wait to challenge a specific project when their grievance is with an overall plan. If the agency action only could be challenged at the site-specific development stage, the underlying programmatic authorization would forever escape review. To the extent that the plan pre-determined the future, it represents a concrete injury that plaintiffs must, at some point, have standing to challenge. That point is now, or it is never. 26 Id. (alterations and quotations omitted). The court in Salmon River subsequently held that “[t]o 27 the extent that the FEIS here sets guidelines that determine future herbicide applications, the 28 10 Case 4:15-cv-01590-HSG Document 102 Filed 05/24/18 Page 11 of 11 1 Service’s failure to comply with NEPA represents a concrete injury.” Id. The court accordingly 2 found that the challenged FEIS was “ripe for review.” Id. The issues presented in Salmon River are different from those in this action in several United States District Court Northern District of California 3 4 respects. First, the Salmon River court addressed whether the plaintiff’s harm was cognizable in 5 the context of standing; the court did not squarely address the issue of finality. Second, and 6 assuming that the court’s reasoning applies, the Notice does not “pre-determine” USDA’s actual 7 renewal/removal decision. As discussed above, the Notice does not alter any substantive criteria 8 for deciding which substances are included on the National List, and USDA retains ultimate 9 discretion over whether to accept NOSB’s renewal recommendation. Defs. Mot. at 15–16. Third, 10 Plaintiffs here are not precluded from asserting procedural harms stemming from the Notice in a 11 suit challenging a substance’s allegedly wrongful renewal. Plaintiffs must accordingly await that 12 decision for the Court to properly review USDA’s actions.2 13 III. CONCLUSION For these reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, and 14 15 DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion. The clerk is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this order 16 in favor of Defendants and to close the case. IT IS SO ORDERED. 17 18 Dated: 5/24/2018 ______________________________________ HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR. United States District Judge 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2 28 Because the Court concludes that it lacks jurisdiction to review USDA’s actions, the Court does not address the merits of Plaintiff’s APA and OFPA claims. See Defs. Mot. at 10. 11