Bennett Brown v. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ( 2011 )

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
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No. 11-1441
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Bennett Brown; Robert Schultes, M.D.; *
Pamela Mackey Taylor; Iowa *
Physicians for Social Responsibility, *
*
Petitioners, *
*
v. * Appeal from the
* Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission; *
United States of America, * [PUBLISHED]
*
Respondents, *
*
Central Iowa Power Cooperative; Corn *
Belt Power Cooperative; NextEra *
Energy, Inc., *
*
Intervenors. *
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Submitted: June 21, 2011
Filed: July 12, 2011
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Before MURPHY, ARNOLD, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
Petitioners Bennett Brown, Dr. Robert Schultes, Pamela Mackey Taylor, and
Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility seek review of a decision by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) under the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2201, et
seq., to renew the operating license of the Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) in
Palo, Iowa. The three joint owners of DAEC are intervenors in this action. For the
reasons stated below, we dismiss the petition for review as untimely.
The Administrative Orders Review Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2341, et seq. (Hobbs Act),
confers jurisdiction in courts of appeals to review final orders of the NRC that are
“made reviewable” by 42 U.S.C. § 2239. See 28 U.S.C. § 2342(4). As relevant,
section 2239 allows review of orders entered in proceedings under the Atomic Energy
Act to grant, suspend, revoke, or amend any license or construction permit. See 42
U.S.C. § 2239. The Hobbs Act further specifies, “On the entry of a final order
reviewable under this chapter, the agency shall promptly give notice thereof by service
or publication in accordance with its rules. Any party aggrieved by the final order
may, within 60 days after its entry, file a petition to review the order in the court of
appeals wherein venue lies.” See 28 U.S.C. § 2344 (emphasis added). The 60-day
filing period is jurisdictional. See Neb. State Legislative Bd., United Transp. Union
v. Slater, 245 F.3d 656, 658 (8th Cir. 2001).
The government has moved for dismissal of the instant petition as untimely.
The government argues that the final order renewing DAEC’s license was entered for
purposes of the Hobbs Act on December 16, 2010. This was the date that the renewed
license became effective, the NRC signed and transmitted the renewed license to
DAEC’s owners, and the NRC issued a press release on its website announcing the
renewal. Petitioners, on the other hand, take the position that the 60-day time period
did not begin to run until December 29--the date that notice of the license renewal was
published in the Federal Register--because only then, they argue, did it become a
matter of public record.
The order at issue is not the product of a rulemaking proceeding, because it is
not a rule of general application. Rather, it is a renewed license specifically applicable
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to DAEC and its owners. In these circumstances, we agree with the government that
the order was entered for purposes of the Hobbs Act on December 16, because this
was the date that the order was final and complete, and became a matter of public
record, by being signed and served to DAEC’s owners without intent to recall or
reconsider. See Energy Probe v. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comm’n, 872 F.2d 436,
437-38 (D.C. Cir. 1989) (date of “entry” is date on which agency’s final decision is
signed and served); Chem-Haulers, Inc. v. United States, 536 F.2d 610, 616 (5th Cir.
1976) (period for seeking Hobbs Act review of Interstate Commerce Commission
order began on date that order was signed, seal was affixed, and order was served);
see also Mesa Airlines v. United States, 951 F.2d 1186, 1188 (10th Cir. 1991)
(interpreting Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1342b; decision becomes
final when it is complete and passes out of agency’s control by release to interested
parties or public in decisional form without immediate intent to recall or reconsider);
cf. U.S. Dep’t of Agric. v. Kelly, 38 F.3d 999, 1002 (8th Cir. 1994) (interpreting
judicial review period under Horse Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1821; where date on
order and service of order did not coincide, appeal period began on date reflected on
face of order).
Petitioners point to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation
which states that an FCC order is not final and entered until it is published in the
Federal Register. We find no similar regulation by the NRC, however, and we decline
Petitioners’ invitation to extend the FCC regulation to the NRC order at issue. Cf.
Associated Gas Distribs. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm’n, 738 F.2d 1388, 1391
(D.C. Cir. 1984) (per curiam) (administrative agencies have considerable latitude in
determining event that triggers commencement of judicial review period);
Chem-Haulers, Inc., 536 F.2d at 614-15 (agency’s interpretation of statutory terms
relating to its own procedures regarding date of entry of orders is entitled to deference
absent compelling precedent or reason to contrary).
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The NRC order at issue was entered on December 16, 2010, and the petition for
review was not filed until February 28, 2011. The petition was filed 14 days late, and
accordingly, we dismiss it for want of appellate jurisdiction.
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