EPA Administrator Pruitt Establishes Policy Regarding “Regulation Through Litigation”

On October 16, 2017 EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in a directive and accompanying memorandum that he is ending a “sue-and-settle” practice that has resulted in closed-door agreements committing the agency to “regulation through litigation.”

Under the policy, the EPA will:

  1. Publish any notices of intent to sue the Agency within 15 days of receiving the notice;
  2. Publish any complaints or petitions for review in regard to an environmental law, regulation, or rule in which the Agency is a defendant or respondent in federal court within 15 days of receipt;
  3. Reach out to and including any states and/or regulated entities affected by potential settlements or consent decrees;
  4. Publish a list of consent decrees and settlement agreements that govern Agency actions within 30 days, along with any attorney fees paid, and update it within 15 days of any new consent decree or settlement agreement;
  5. Expressly forbid the practice of entering into any consent decrees that exceed the authority of the courts;
  6. Exclude attorney’s fees and litigation costs when settling with those suing the Agency;
  7. Provide sufficient time to issue or modify proposed and final rules, take and consider public comment; and
  8. Publish any proposed or modified consent decrees and settlements for 30-day public comment, and providing a public hearing on a proposed consent decree or settlement when requested.

This policy may lead to increased and longer litigation, with the courts exercising direct control of the outcome. For example, the court might set the schedule for publication of an overdue rule instead of the litigants. It may also lead to more influence for third party intervenors who generally are shut out of the consent order negotiations by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

One thing to keep in mind moving forward, however, is that while the DOJ does consult with the EPA on litigation strategy, technically the DOJ has the authority to settle cases. So, if DOJ wants to settle a case, it is unclear if and how Administrator Pruitt’s policy will deter DOJ’s decision-making process.

Separately, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has barred DOJ attorneys from negotiating settlements that result in payments from industry to third-party organizations, such as Supplemental Environmental Projects paid to environmental organizations.