ELR Citation: ELR 20231
No(s). Civ. 81 2436 (WTS) (N.D. Cal. Sep 30, 1982)

The court orders the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to propose regulations within 180 days establishing emission standards for radionuclides in compliance with §112 of the Clean Air Act. The court rejects EPA's proposal, mandated in an earlier decision, 12 ELR 20457, in which the court found the Agency in violation of §112, to propose standards by 1989. It rules that EPA failed to meet its heavy burden of demonstrating the administrative impossibility of proposing standards within 180 days. EPA has already compiled substantial information on radionuclides and it can revise the proposed standards from time to time. The court holds that EPA's responsibility under §112 is to regulate hazardous air pollutants in an expedited manner, not to resolve all scientific uncertainty.

[The pleadings in this case are summarized at ELR PEND. LIT. 65707 — Ed.]

Counsel for Plaintiffs
Roger Beers, Kathryn B. Dickson
Beers & Dickson
380 Hayes St., San Francisco CA 94102
(415) 861-1401

Counsel for Defendants
Dean K. Dunsmore
Land and Natural Resources Division
Department of Justice, Washington DC 20530
(202) 633-2800

Francis B. Boone, Ass't U.S. Attorney
450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco CA 94102
(415) 556-1126

Donald P. Irwin, Lee B. Zeugin
Hunton & Williams
P.O. Box 1535, Richmond VA 23212
(804) 788-8200