ELR Citation: ELR 20492
No(s). s. EC-77-53, 77-54-K (N.D. Miss. Mar 12, 1979)

In another challenge to the construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, which is now 29 percent completed, the court grants judgment for defendants and upholds design changes made by the Corps of Engineers. The challenge to widening the waterway to 300 feet is barred by laches because the suit was filed more than nine years after plaintiffs knew that there existed a question as to the authority to widen the channel and more than $600 million has already been allocated to build the project. Furthermore, certain other design changes were within the discretionary authority of the Corps. Finally, construction of additional facilities without the approval of Congress or the Secretary of the Army did not violate 33 U.S.C. §401. The court declines to decide, however, additional allegations challenging the method of calculating the costs and benefits to justify the project and challenging the compliance with several environmental statutes.

Counsel for Plaintiffs
Jon T. Brown, Stephen E. Roady
Duncan, Brown, Weinberg & Palmer, P.C.
Suite 1200, 1775 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20006
(202) 467-6370

William A. Butler
Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.
1525 18th St. NW, Washington DC 20036
(202) 833-1484

James T. B. Tripp
Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.
475 Park Ave. South, 23d flr., New York NY 10016
(212) 686-4191

Joseph V. Karaganis, Jeffrey K. Haynes
Karaganis & Gail, Ltd.
Suite 2500, 150 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago IL 60606
(312) 782-1905

Joseph L. Lenihan, Vice President and General Counsel
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co.
1 Riverfront Plaza, Louisville KY 40202
(502) 589-5440

Counsel for Defendants
H.M. Ray, United States Attorney
P. O. Drawer 886, Oxford MS 38655
(601) 234-3351

Hunter Gholson
Gholson, Hicks & Nichols
Court Square Towers, 605 N. Second Ave., P.O. Box 1111, Columbus MS 39701
(601) 327-0662

Ralph Pogue
Pogue and Pace
210 E. Commerce St., Aberdeen MS 39730
(601) 369-4857

Jerry L. Weidler, Ass't Attorney General
State Capitol, Montgomery AL 36130
(205) 834-5150

William Robertson
United States Army Corps of Engineers
510 Title Bldg., 30 Pryor St. SW, Atlanta GA 30303
(404) 221-6711

Barbara A. Babcock, Ass't Attorney General
Civil Division
Department of Justice, Washington DC 20530
(202) 633-3301