United States of America v. Huseby et al
Filing
81
ORDER correcting footnote one on page 4 in the March 2, 2012 80 Memorandum Opinion and Order granting in part and denying in part plaintiff's 49 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting in part and denying in part defendants' 51 Motion for Summary Judgment(Written Opinion). Signed by Judge John R. Tunheim on March 26, 2012. (Attachments: # 1 March 2, 2012 Corrected Order [Docket #80])(DML)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Civil No. 09-3737 (JRT/LIB)
Plaintiff,
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND
ORDER ON CROSS SUMMARY
JUDGMENT MOTIONS
v.
RUSS HUSEBY AND BRADY HUSEBY,
Defendants.
Ana H. Voss, Assistant United States Attorney, UNITED STATES
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, 600 United States Courthouse, 300 South
Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415; Molly A. McKegney, Assistant
District Counsel, US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – SAINT PAUL
DISTRICT, 180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700, Saint Paul, MN 55101, for
plaintiff;
R. Thomas Torgerson, HANFT FRIDE PA, 130 West Superior Street,
Suite 1000, Duluth, MN 55802; Patrick S. Dinneen, 5554 Highway 61,
Silver Bay, MN 55614, for defendants.
The United States sued Russ Huseby and his son, Brady Huseby, for logging and
land clearing in violation of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”). The United States asserts
that the Husebys’ non-permitted clearing discharged pollutants into waters of the United
States. The United States moved for summary judgment on the issue of Russ Huseby’s
liability and is seeking a restoration order and civil penalty. Russ Huseby also moved for
summary judgment on the issue of his liability, arguing that his activities were exempt
from the CWA. The Husebys moved for summary judgment on the issue of Brady
24
Huseby’s liability, asserting that Brady Huseby did not perform any of the alleged acts.
Because the Court finds that Russ Huseby’s activities fall within the recapture provision
of the CWA, the Court grants summary judgment to the United States on the issue of
Russ Huseby’s liability. Because the Court finds that the United States has failed to
demonstrate a prima facie case against Brady Huseby, the Court grants the Husebys’
motion for summary judgment with respect to Brady Huseby’s liability. The Court
denies the United States’ motion for a restoration order and a civil penalty and will hold
an additional hearing to address these questions.
BACKGROUND
I.
THE SITE
The land at issue is located within an 80 acre area in Lake County, Minnesota
(“the site”). (Ana H. Voss Decl., Aug. 1, 2011, Ex. 2, Huseby Dep. at 95: 11-17, Jan. 5,
2011, Docket No. 57.) The site consists of two 40 acre parcels. (Id.) Russ Huseby
(“Huseby”) purchased the northern 40 acres in 1991 and the southern 40 acres in 1999.
(Id.) Within the site are two areas subject to dispute: the Northern Area and the central
eastern southern area (“CES area”). (Steve D. Eggers Decl., July 21, 2011, Expert Report
§ 3.1 & Fig. 2, Docket No. 54.) The site borders Fortythree Creek. (Voss Decl., Ex. 1,
Defs.’ Second Supp. Resp. Req. Admis. No. 8, Docket No. 57.)
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Huseby and his wife quitclaimed 10 acres of the Northern Area to Brady Huseby
in February 2007. (Id. No. 3.) In September 2008, Huseby and his wife sold 20 acres of
the site to Daniel J. Enebo and Laura H. Crosby. (Defs.’ Second Supp. Resp. Req.
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Admis. No. 5.) In June 2010, Huseby listed for sale the remaining land on the site.
(Huseby Dep. at 37:13-24.) In December 2010, Huseby and his wife sold 10 acres of the
Northern Area (including a house that had been constructed there) and 20 acres of the
CES Area to Dallas Dean for $250,000. (Id. at 39:15, 50:18-20, 51:18-20; Russ Huseby
Aff. ¶ 16, Aug. 1, 2011, Docket No. 58.) In sum, of the original 80 acres, Huseby has
transferred 60 acres and retains 20 acres of the site; his son, Brady (“Brady Huseby”),
still owns 10 acres.
II.
HISTORY OF THE SITE
At the time Huseby purchased the site, it was undeveloped forest. (Huseby Aff.
¶ 7.) Huseby asserts that the land “had a history of silviculture 1 activities that date back
to a century ago.” (Id.) Specifically, Huseby claims that the land was logged in the early
1900s and in the 1960s or 1970s. (Huseby Dep. at 187:24-188:5.) To support his
assertion, Huseby notes his abstract of title states that the rights to the pine timber on the
site were transferred in 1902. (Torgerson Aff., Aug. 1, 2011, Ex. D, Docket No. 59.)
Huseby testified in his deposition that the size of the trees indicated the land had been
logged again in the 1960s or 1970s. (Huseby Dep. at 188:21-22.) Huseby also asserts
that he talked to a man who helped log the land as a child. (Id. at 100:24-101:5, 190:21191:12.)
1
The Oxford English Dictionary defines silviculture as: “The cultivation of woods or
forests; the growing and tending of trees as a department of forestry.” Oxford English
Dictionary (Online Ed. 2011).
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III.
RUSS HUSEBY’S CLEARING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE
A.
Roads
Beginning in 2000, Huseby reestablished old logging roads and put in new logging
roads in the Northern Area. (Huseby Dep. at 98:20-99:8, 116:9-11.) Huseby also built
new logging roads 2 in the CES Area. (Huseby Dep. at 114:2-10, 123:1-17.) The parties
dispute whether Huseby followed best management practices (“BMPs”) in constructing
and maintaining the roads. See 33 C.F.R. § 323.4(6) (defining BMPs for forest roads).
B.
Logging & Clearing
Huseby began logging the site in 2000 and completed logging by 2007. (Huseby
Dep. at 110:16-18, 117:1-2, 256:15-22.)
Huseby admits he cleared his land
“completely,” taking out all of the trees. (Id. at 120: 13-17.) In addition, many stumps
were removed. (Id. at 151:25-154:4.)
After removing the trees from the site, Huseby raked the brush into piles using a
brush rake attached to the front of a bulldozer. (Id. at 153:2-154:20.) He burned the piles
of brush and disked 3 the area to mix the ash into the soil. (Id. at 154:21-156:23.) Huseby
intended to replant the area with red pine although he admits no red pine trees grew on
2
In his briefing, Huseby asserts these paths are “skid trails,” which are narrower than
forest roads and are used to drag timber to a staging area; however, in his deposition, Huseby
also referred to the paths as “roads.” (Defs.s Mem. Supp. Summ. J. at 5; Huseby Dep. at 114:210.)
3
A disk is a tool for site prepping; it is dragged over land to break up clumps and remove
weeds. (See Huseby Dep. at 155:21-156:10.)
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the site before he began logging. (Id. at 157:12-25.) Only a few trees were planted. (Id.
at 157:6-13.)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) found that between 2003 and 2009
twenty-eight acres of the site were converted from a wetland dominated by woody
vegetation to exposed soils. (Expert Report §§ 3.5, 7.1.) See Part V, infra. Huseby
asserts he harvested the timber using BMPs and readied the site for future logging by
preparing it for replanting and regeneration.
IV.
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
Both Lake County, Minnesota and the Corps have undertaken evaluations of the
site and subsequent enforcement actions against Huseby.
Huseby asserts that no
violation ever existed because his activities were exempt from the permit requirement of
the CWA. The United States asserts that both Lake County and the Corps repeatedly
determined a permit was required.
In 2006 and 2007, Huseby sought – and was denied – a wetlands exemption from
Lake County. (Compl. ¶¶ 66-70, Docket No. 1; Answer ¶ 12, Docket No. 2.) In October
2007, the County prepared a violation report which found seven to ten acres of wetlands
on the site had been filled, logged, or graded, resulting in “wetland violations” (Voss
Decl., Ex. 8, Violation Report, Docket No. 57.) 4
4
In 2008, the County issued a
Huseby argues this Exhibit is hearsay not within any exception. The United States
asserts this is a self-authenticating record admissible under FRE 803(8). The Court concludes
the letter is admissible under FRE 803(8).
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Restoration Order and ordered Huseby to complete the restoration of the site by July 31,
2008. (Voss Decl., Ex. 9, Restoration Order, Docket No. 57.) In September 2008, after a
site visit, the County reported multiple violations of the CWA 5 and several instances of
non-compliance with the Restoration Order. 6 (Voss Decl., Ex. 11, Summ. of Huseby
Wetland Restoration Site Visit, Docket No. 57.)
In response to a report of a CWA violation by Lake County, the Corps sent
Huseby a notice of violation (“NOV”) on January 3, 2005. (Voss Decl., Ex. 4, Docket
No. 57.) The NOV noted that fill had been discharged into wetlands on his property and
advised Huseby not to perform any additional work that required a permit without
authorization. (Id.) Huseby responded verbally, asserting that his work fell within an
exception to the CWA and he did not need a permit. (Compl. ¶ 60; Answer ¶ 12; Huseby
Aff. ¶ 19.)
The Corps sent a follow-up letter to Huseby on January 7, 2005,
acknowledging his verbal response and requesting more information, including a site
plan, within 30 days. (Voss Decl., Ex. 5, Docket No. 57.) Huseby never responded to
the January 7, 2005 letter. (Compl. ¶ 63; Answer ¶ 12 (admitting).)
On October 25, 2006, the Corps and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
personnel completed a site investigation. (Compl. ¶ 64; Answer ¶ 12.) Corps personnel
5
For example, the County officials recorded that one “entire wetland impact area had
been leveled” and no BMPs were observed. (Summ. of Huseby Wetland Restoration Site Visit.)
6
For example, required seeding and planting had not been started in multiple areas; some
of the roads had not been restored and one was still being actively used; and ditches had not been
filled in. (Summ. of Huseby Wetland Restoration Site Visit.)
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found “dredged and fill material had been discharged in wetlands for the construction of
access roads and grading of a pasture area.”
(Compl. ¶ 64; Answer ¶ 12.)
On
November 22, 2006 and October 1, 2009, the Corps sent additional NOVs to Huseby
alleging unpermitted discharge of fill material into wetlands in violation of the CWA.
(Compl. ¶¶ 64, 67, 86; Answer ¶ 12.) In response to what it believed to be ongoing
violations, the Corps initiated litigation and a more thorough site investigation in 2009.
(See Compl. ¶¶ 79-85, 88.)
V.
WETLAND DELINEATION OF THE SITE
In order to officially delineate which areas of the site are wetlands, the Corps
performed site inspections in 2009 and 2010. (Defs.’ Second Supp. Resp. Req. Admis.
No. 30.) The Corps team that performed the inspections used these site visits and aerial
photography records to produce the Expert Report in October 2010. (Eggers Decl. ¶¶ 56; Expert Report.) The Corps team was made up of Benjamin Cox, Steve Eggers, and
Gregory Larsen.
(Expert Report § 1.0.)
Cox is an Enforcement and Compliance
Specialist for the Corps. (Benjamin R. Cox. Decl. ¶ 3, July 26, 2011, Docket No. 56.)
Eggers is a 33-year employee of the Corps, a certified Professional Wetland Scientist,
and an expert on the CWA. (Eggers Decl. ¶ 3.) Larsen is a Senior Ecologist and Soil
Scientist for the Corps with 20 years of experience in wetland management. (Gregory A.
Larson Decl. ¶ 3, Aug. 1, 2011, Docket No. 55.) All three men are trained to make
wetland delineations. (Cox. Decl. ¶ 3; Eggers Decl. ¶ 3; Larson Decl. ¶ 3.)
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The Corps defines wetlands as “those areas that are inundated or saturated by
surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under
normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in
saturated soil conditions.” 33 C.F.R. § 328.3(b). The Corps uses The Corps of Engineers
Wetlands Delineation Manual (“1987 Manual”) as guidance when making wetland
delineations. (Expert Report § 4.2.) An up-to-date regional supplement was used by the
Corps team when observing the site. (Id.)
Using aerial photography, reference areas, and direct observations, the Corps
determined that “a large portion of the site was wetland prior to activities undertaken at
the site.” (Id. § 8.0.) Due to this determination, the Corps found it has jurisdiction over
the wetlands on the site under the CWA. (Id. § 7.2.) See infra Part II.A.1.
Huseby asserts that the Corps’ wetland delineation is unreliable because the Corps
was required but failed to follow the “Comprehensive Guidelines” in the 1987 Manual.
“The comprehensive approach requires application of quantitative procedures for making
wetland determinations.” (Second Aff. of R. Thomas Torgerson, Aug. 22, 2011, Ex. A,
1987 Manual at 7, Docket No. 67.) The manual notes the comprehensive approach
“should seldom be necessary, and its use should be restricted to situations in which the
wetland is very complex and/or is the subject of likely or pending litigation.” (Id. at 7-8.)
VI.
BRADY HUSEBY
Brady Huseby lived on the site until 2006. (Torgerson Aff., Ex. J., Brady Huseby
Dep. at 4:17-25, Docket No. 59.) He is a general contractor and now lives in Duluth. (Id.
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at 4:8-9, 5: 3-4.) Brady Huseby denies doing any work on the site but admits he helped
to build houses on the site. (Id. at 11:12 to 13:25.)
During a site inspection in 2009, Benjamin Cox had a conversation with Russ
Huseby regarding work that occurred on the site. (Cox. Decl. ¶ 22.) Cox asserts Russ
Huseby told him Brady Huseby “had done work in the eastern side of the northern area of
the site.” (Id.)
ANALYSIS
I.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate where there are no genuine issues of material
fact and the moving party can demonstrate that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A fact is material if it might affect the outcome of the suit,
and a dispute is genuine if the evidence is such that it could lead a reasonable jury to
return a verdict for either party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248
(1986). A court considering a motion for summary judgment must view the facts in the
light most favorable to the non-moving party and give that party the benefit of all
reasonable inferences that can be drawn from those facts. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co.,
Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986).
II.
CROSS MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON RUSS HUSEBY’S
CWA LIABILITY
The parties have each moved for summary judgment on the issue of Huseby’s
liability under the CWA. The CWA prohibits the unauthorized discharge of any dredged
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or fill material into “navigable waters.” See 13 U.S.C. §§ 1311, 7 1344, 8 1362(12); 9 33
C.F.R. § 323.4. The United States bears the burden of making a prima facie case that
Huseby violated the CWA. See United States v. Cundiff, 555 F.3d 200, 213 (6th Cir.
2009). Huseby bears the burden of demonstrating an exception to the CWA applies and
his activities did not fall within the CWA’s recapture provision, reinstating the need for a
permit. See United States v. Brace, 41 F.3d 117, 124 (3d Cir. 1994). The Court will
grant summary judgment to the United States because the United States has made a prima
facie case that Huseby violated the CWA and Huseby has failed to demonstrate his
activities do not fall within the recapture provision.
A.
The United States’ Prima Facie Case
To establish a CWA violation under the 33 U.S.C. § 1311, the United States must
prove Huseby is a person who discharged a pollutant, from a point source, into navigable
waters, without authorization under 33 U.S.C. § 1344. See Cundiff, 555 F.3d at 213
(noting elements and burden). The parties do not dispute that Huseby is a person within
the meaning of the CWA; that Huseby discharged some fill material, 10 a pollutant, from a
7
CWA § 301.
8
CWA § 404.
9
CWA § 502(12).
10
Although Huseby contests the amount of fill, he does not contest that fill was moved
onto the site to construct roads. (See, e.g., Huseby Dep. at 167:18-168:9.)
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point source; 11 or that Huseby did not have authorization in the form of a permit from the
Corps. Huseby contests whether the site was properly delineated as a wetland and, thus,
whether he discharged pollutants into navigable waters within the meaning of the CWA.
1.
Wetlands’ Nexus to Navigable Waters.
The United States must demonstrate that the wetlands on the site are within the
Corps’ CWA jurisdiction. The CWA prohibits the discharge of any pollutant from any
point source into “navigable waters.” See 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a), 1344. Navigable waters
are defined by the CWA as the “waters of the United States, including the territorial
seas.” 33 U.S.C. § 1362(7). Under the Corps’ regulations, navigable waters include
waters that are navigable-in-fact and wetlands adjacent to navigable-in-fact waters. 33
C.F.R. § 328.3(a)(1), (7). The Eighth Circuit held that the Corps has jurisdiction over
wetlands that (1) have a “continuous surface connection” to navigable-in-fact waters or
(2) possess “a significant nexus to waters that are or were navigable in fact or that could
reasonably be so made.” United States v. Bailey, 571 F.3d 791, 797-99 (quoting United
States v. Rapanos, 547 U.S. 715, 742, 759 (2006)). A wetland has the “requisite nexus”
if it “either alone or in combination with similarly situated lands in the region,
significantly affect[s] the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the covered
11
A point source is defined as “any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance . . .
from which pollutants are or may be discharged.” 33 U.S.C. § 1362(14). Case law has held a
point source may be a piece of equipment such as a bulldozer or disking equipment, see
Avoyelles Sportsmen’s League v. Alexander, 473 F. Supp. 525, 532 (W.D. La. 1979), both of
which Huseby admits to using on the site. (See, e.g., Defs.’ Second Supp. Resp. Req. Admis. at
Nos. 56, 87, 114.)
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waters more readily understood as ‘navigable.’” Id. at 798 (quoting Rapanos, 547 U.S. at
780).
The Corps found that (1) the wetlands on the site have a continuous surface
connection with Lake Superior, a traditionally navigable water, and (2) the wetlands
possess the requisite nexus to navigable-in-fact waters because the site’s wetlands, in
combination with similarly situated wetlands, “significantly affect the chemical, physical,
and biological integrity” of Lake Superior. (See Expert Report § 7.2.) Huseby presented
no evidence to dispute that the Corps has jurisdiction under the CWA for wetlands on the
site. The Court concludes any wetlands on the site are within the jurisdiction of the
Corps.
2.
Wetland Delineation
At the heart of this dispute is whether the wetlands on the site were properly
delineated. In its Expert Report, the Corps reported its determination that “a large portion
of the site was wetland prior to activities undertaken at the site.” (Expert Report § 8.0.)
The Expert Report provides extensive documentation of the site inspections, including
aerial photography, direct observations of reference areas (including photographs),
precipitation data, and wetland determination forms. (See generally Expert Report.)
Huseby argues that the Corps’ determination is incorrect because the Corps did not
follow required procedures in producing the report and the report is inconsistent with
other government reports and his own observations. Huseby also disputes the Expert
Report because it claims he used a “rock rake” and graded and leveled the property (see
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Expert Report § 7.1), which he denies. The Court finds that the United States has
demonstrated the site contains wetlands and Huseby has failed to present any evidence
that would convince a reasonable fact finder the site did not contain wetlands.
a.
Failure to Follow Comprehensive Guidelines
Huseby asserts that the Corps’ determination is incorrect because it did not follow
required procedures in producing the report. Specifically, Huseby claims that the Corps
should have followed the comprehensive guidelines in the 1987 Manual. Huseby has not
produced an expert to suggest the comprehensive guidelines should have been followed
or that the routine guidelines resulted in an unreliable determination. In contrast, Eggers
testified that a comprehensive determination is not required, was not indicated here, and
would not have provided the Corps with additional useful information. (Steve D. Eggers
Third Decl. ¶¶ 3-4.)
Moreover, the 1987 Manual states that the comprehensive
guidelines should be used sparingly and that both types of determination “have been
tested and found to be reliable.” (1987 Manual at 8.)
Similarly, in Bailey, the Eighth Circuit noted that the landowner had presented no
evidence that a particular evaluation mode should be used, and the Corps’ expert 12
testified that the use of that test would be inappropriate. 571 F.3d at 802. The court held
that in the absence of expert or competent evidence to rebut the Corps’ determination, the
Corps’ wetlands determination could not be disregarded. Id. Because Huseby has not
provided specific facts or expert evidence to rebut the Corps’ determination that its
12
In Bailey, as in this case, one of the experts was Steve Eggers. 571 F.3d at 801.
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methods correctly delineated the wetlands, the Court finds the Corps’ delineation of the
wetlands is accurate.
b.
Inconsistencies with Other Reports and Observations
Huseby next argues that the Corps’ determination is incorrect because it is
inconsistent with the County’s Restoration Order’s findings of fact regarding the extent
of damage, the Corps’ 2008 National Wetlands Inventory Aerial Wetland Delineation,
and his own observations.
Lake County’s Restoration Order stated that a “determination was made that
approximately 7-10 acres of wetlands were impacted by mechanized land clearing and
approximately 19,500 square feet of wetlands were impacted by fill for roads.” (Voss
Decl., Ex. 9, Docket No. 57.) In contrast, the Expert Report found that “approximately
28 acres of wetlands” were impacted by unauthorized activities on the site. (Expert
Report § 7.1.) The United States asserts that the Restoration Order was based on a
“limited review of preliminary information” whereas the Corps “looks at all impacts . . .
of the work.” (Pl.’s Reply Mem. Supp. Summ. J. at 3, Docket No. 60.) 13 Furthermore, in
its Violation Report, the County noted that it attempted to make multiple visits to the site
and Huseby denied access to the property or was unresponsive. (Violation Report at 3.)
The evaluation that was finally done required a search warrant. (Id.) Even the Corps
13
The United States also asserts that the Restoration Order was released “before all work
on the Site had been completed.” (Pl.’s Reply Mem. Supp. Summ. J. at 3, Docket No. 60.)
However, the Restoration Order was issued in March of 2008, when Huseby asserts all the work
had been completed.
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encountered site access restrictions imposed by Huseby in doing the testing required for
its Expert Report. (Expert Report at 19 n.16.)
Huseby also claims that the Corps’ 2008 National Wetlands Inventory Aerial
Wetland Delineation (Huseby Dep., Ex. 11; Expert Report Fig. 3) conflicts with the
Expert Report. However, the National Wetlands Inventory was based on less data than
the Expert Report and occurred after Huseby had performed his work on the site. A
finding that minimal wetlands were left on the site in 2008 is consistent with the Expert
Report’s finding that “a large portion of the site was wetland prior to activities
undertaken at the site.” (Expert Report § 8.0 (emphasis added).)
Finally, Huseby asserts that the wetland determinations in the Expert Report are
inconsistent with his own observations. However, Huseby has not read the 1987 Manual
and has not been trained in wetland delineation. (See Huseby Dep. at 187:5-12.) Huseby
has failed to produce any other expert opinion or wetland delineation.
The Court finds that the conflicts between the state’s Restoration Order, the
Corps’ Aerial Wetland Delineation, and the Expert Report do not create an issue of
material fact because the Expert Report is so clearly based on more thorough information.
c.
Factual Disputes within the Expert Report
Huseby argues that the Expert Report is disputed with respect to the means used to
clear vegetation from the site. The Expert Report states that Huseby used a rock rake and
leveled the site using a bulldozer. (Expert Report § 7.1.) Huseby denies grading or
leveling the property or using a bulldozer blade for anything other than construction.
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(See, e.g., Huseby Dep. at 166:11-19.) However, even if Huseby did not use a rock rake
or a grader, there is no genuine issue of material fact regarding that he discharged fill
material from a point source. In sum, the Court finds that (1) the United States has
demonstrated a sufficient prima facie case that Huseby violated the CWA and (2) that
Huseby failed to create a genuine issue of material fact that the Expert Report’s wetland
delineation is inaccurate.
B.
The Silviculture Exception
Huseby asserts that even if he did discharge fill into a wetland without a permit he
did not violate the CWA because he falls within an exception to the permit requirement.
33 U.S.C. § 1344(f)(1). It is Huseby who must demonstrate that he falls within an
exception to the CWA. See United States v. Brace, 41 F.3d 117, 124 (3d Cir. 1994). 14
The CWA exempts from the permit requirement the discharge of fill material
associated with (1) normal silviculture activities or (2) the construction or maintenance of
forest roads in accordance with BMPs. 33 U.S.C. § 1344(f)(1)(A) & (E). In order to be
exempt under § 1344(f), a party must show not only that its activities are exempt under
one of the provisions of § 1344(f)(1) but also that its activities do not fall within the
recapture provision, § 1344(f)(2). Greenfield Mills, Inc. v. Macklin, 361 F.3d 934, 949
(7th Cir. 2004). If a party’s activities fall within the recapture provision, a permit is
14
Huseby suggests in his briefing that the United States bears the burden of
demonstrating the exception does not apply. (See Defs.’ Mem. Supp. Summ. J. at 31.) This is
incorrect. See Brace, 41 F.3d at 129.
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required. 33 U.S.C. § 1344(f)(2). The Court finds that although Huseby has created a
dispute of material fact as to whether his activities fall within the § 1344(f)(1) exceptions,
there is no question that his activities are recaptured by § 1344(f)(2).
1.
Entitlement to Exception
Huseby contends his activities fall within either the § 1344(f)(1)(A) exemption for
normal silviculture or the § 1344(f)(1)(E) exemption for the construction and
maintenance of forest roads.
The § 1344(f)(1) exemptions are construed narrowly.
United States v. Akers, 785 F.2d 814, 819 (9th Cir. 1986). 15 The Court finds that Huseby
has created a material fact dispute about the whether these exceptions apply.
a.
Normal Silviculture
Section 1344(f)(1)(A) exempts from the CWA permit requirement “normal . . .
silviculture . . . such as . . . harvesting for the production of . . . fiber, and forest products
. . . .” In order to fall within this exception, the activities
must be part of an established (i.e., on-going) . . . silviculture . . . operation
. . . . Activities which bring an area into . . . silviculture. . . use are not part
of an established operation. An operation ceases to be established when the
area on which it was conducted has been converted to another use or has
lain idle so long that modifications to the hydrological regime are necessary
to resume operations.
33 C.F.R. § 323.4(a)(1)(ii).
15
The Fifth and Seventh Circuits have also construed the exemptions narrowly.
Avoyelles Sportsmen’s League v. Marsh, 715 F.2d 897, 925 n.44 (5th Cir. 1983); United States v.
Huebner, 752 F.2d 1235, 1240-41 (7th Cir. 1985).
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Huseby contends that any work he did on the site falls within this exception
because the site was logged in the past. In support of his argument that the site was
logged previously, Huseby points to an early transfer of timber rights, the size of the
trees, and his conversation with a man who had logged the land.
Other courts have interpreted “on-going” silviculture to require “efforts to
regenerate and reestablish the forest.” Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper, Inc. v. U.S.
Army Corps of Eng’rs, 559 F. Supp. 2d 1336, 1344 (S.D. Ga. 2008) (“To constitute past
silviculture, there must also be evidence of past efforts to regenerate the forest or
evidence that the standing forest is a product of someone’s past endeavors.”); Bayou
Marcus Livestock and Agric. Co. v. U.S. Envtl. Agency, No. 88-30275, 20 E.L.R. 20445
(N.D. Fla. Nov. 3, 1989). Huseby asserts that evidence of natural regeneration of the
forest is sufficient to demonstrate silviculture and that earlier loggers left immature trees
to grow with the expectation that the land would be logged again. (See Huseby Dep. at
255:9-24.) Although land undergoing natural regeneration must have “lain idle,” it is
possible that further logging could be done without modification to the land’s
hydrological regime. See 33 C.F.R. § 323.4(a)(1)(ii). Construing all of the facts in favor
of Huseby, the Court concludes he has created factual dispute as to whether his activities
should be exempt under the ongoing silviculture exception.
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b.
Construction of Forest Roads
Huseby also argues that any discharges that did occur were made in connection
with the construction or maintenance of logging roads and are thereby exempt from the
permit requirement. Section 1344(f)(1)(E) exempts from the permit requirement
construction or maintenance of . . . forest roads . . . where such roads are
constructed and maintained, in accordance with best management
practices, to assure that the flow and circulation patterns and chemical and
biological characteristics of the navigable waters are not impaired, that the
reach of the navigable waters is not reduced, and that any adverse effect on
the aquatic environment will be otherwise minimized.
33 U.S.C. 1344(f)(1)(E) (emphasis added). The roads must not prevent the flow of water
and only necessary roads may be constructed. 33 C.F.R. § 323.4(a)(6).
Corps regulations require the roads to be “bridged, culverted, 16 or otherwise
designed to prevent the restriction of expected flood flows.” 33 C.F.R. § 323.4(a)(6)(iii).
The parties dispute which BMPs apply and what size culverts Huseby was required to
install. The parties also dispute whether flooding in neighboring areas was the result of
Huseby’s activities. Taking all the facts in the light most favorable to Huseby, the Court
finds there is a factual dispute regarding whether Huseby “designed [the road] to prevent
the restriction of expected flood flows” as required by the Corps.
33 C.F.R.
§ 323.4(a)(6)(iii).
Corps regulations also require that the “fill shall be properly stabilized and
maintained during and following construction to prevent erosion.”
16
A culvert is a structure that conveys water under a road.
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33 C.F.R.
§ 353.4(a)(6)(iv). The parties dispute which BMPs apply and whether Huseby was
required to use a silt fence (or if other methods to prevent the release of sediment were
adequate). 17 Taking all the facts in a light most favorable to Huseby, a reasonable jury
could find that he adequately stabilized the fill to prevent erosion in constructing the
roads on the site.
The Corps’ regulations also require that the construction of logging roads be
minimized. “Permanent roads (for farming or forestry activities), temporary access roads
(for mining, forestry, or farm purposes) and skid trails (for logging) . . . shall be held to
the minimum feasible number, width, and total length consistent with the purpose . . . .”
33 C.F.R. § 353.4(a)(6)(i). The parties dispute whether the roads were of minimal length
and number for the type of work performed. The Court concludes that Huseby has
created a factual dispute regarding his use of BMPs in creating and maintaining the roads
and trails through the site; therefore, he could be entitled to the forest roads exemption –
if the recapture provision is inapplicable.
2.
Applicability of the Recapture Provision
Without deciding whether the work performed by Huseby was exempt under
§ 1344(f)(1), the Court must analyze whether Huseby has established that his activities do
not fall within the recapture provision, § 1344(f)(2). See Greenfield Mills, 361 F.3d at
17
Huseby asserts he “complied with [the Guidelines’] recommendation by locating the
roads perpendicular to the waterway (thereby minimizing sediment exposure to the waterway)
and by utilizing cloth under the gravel” on the roads. (Defs.’ Mem. Opp. Mot. Summ. J. at 21,
Docket No. 66.)
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949, 953. Section 1344(f)(2) reinstates the permit requirement where the discharge into
water is “[1] incidental to any activity having as its purpose bringing an area of the
navigable waters into a use to which it was not previously subject, [and 2] where the flow
or circulation of navigable waters may be impaired or the reach of such waters reduced
. . . .” To fall within the exception, both conditions must be shown to apply. See, e.g.,
Greenfield Mills, 361 F.3d at 954. Huseby asserts that the recapture provision does not
apply because the site was previously logged so additional logging did not introduce a
new use, nor have his activities impaired the flow of navigable waters.
Although the site may have been previously logged, Huseby has presented no
evidence that it was previously clear cut or that it was previously prepared for replanting
or replanted.
Transforming the site into a red pine plantation as Huseby intended
(Huseby Dep. at 255:24-256:2) would be bringing the site into a new use. Huseby admits
that no red pine grew on the land prior to logging. (Huseby Dep. at 157:24-25.) Red
pine is a non-wetland tree species and is absent from the hardwood swamps, conifer
swamps, and alder thickets that were found on the wetlands of the site prior to Huseby’s
activities. (Steve D. Eggers Second Decl. ¶¶ 4-5, Aug. 12, 2011, Docket No. 63.) 18
Huseby also admits that by preparing the land to be a red pine plantation he was “trying
to achieve a different goal” than letting the trees naturally regenerate. (Huseby Dep. at
255:20-256:2.) Similarly, in Akers, the court held that converting a wetland to an area
18
“[S]uccessful establishment of a red pine plantation on the Huseby site would require
conversion of wetlands to dryland via draining and/or filling the site.” (Eggers Second Decl.
¶ 5.)
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where upland crops are grown was a new use under § 1344(f)(2). 785 F.2d at 822. In
Bayou Marcus, the court held that even if loggers’ activities were ongoing silviculture
under § 1344(f)(1), “such operation was limited to selective harvesting of natural
growth,” and the development of “an additional activity” such as tree farming did not fall
within the § 1344(f)(2) exemption. 20 E.L.R. at 20446. Because Huseby developed the
site with the intent of establishing a red pine plantation, the Court concludes his acts were
clearly done with the purpose of bringing the site into a new use.
Huseby also argues that he did not impair the flow of navigable waters. Huseby’s
assertion directly contradicts the Corps’ finding that his “mechanized land clearing”
discharged fill material into wetlands with “both a continuous surface connection with
Fortythree Creek, a relatively permanent water and part of the Lake Superior tributary
system, and a significant nexus to the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of Lake
Superior, a traditionally navigable water.” (Expert Report § 8.0.) As discussed above, 19
Huseby has not presented sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact
that he did not alter the character of the wetlands and reduce their reach.
The Court finds that even if Huseby could demonstrate that one of the exceptions
of § 1344(f)(1) applies, he is unable to demonstrate the recapture provision does not
apply, and he was therefore required to obtain a permit. The Court will grant the United
States’ motion for summary judgment as to Huseby’s liability because the United States
19
See Part II.A, supra.
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has demonstrated a prima facie case and Huseby has failed to demonstrate the recapture
provision does not apply.
III.
THE HUSEBYS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON BRADY
HUSEBY’S LIABILITY
The Husebys move for summary judgment on the issue of Brady Huseby’s
liability asserting he did not perform any of the alleged acts. To establish a CWA
violation under the 33 U.S.C. § 1311, the United States must prove Brady Huseby is a
person who discharged a pollutant, from a point source, into navigable waters, without
authorization under 33 U.S.C. § 1344. A person under the meaning of the CWA may be
either an individual “who actually performed the work” or “the party with responsibility
for or control over performance of the work.” United States v. Lambert, 915 F. Supp.
797, 802-803 (S.D.W.Va. 1996).
Brady Huseby denies doing any work on the site. (Brady Huseby Dep. at 11:12 to
13:25.)
He does admit he helped to build houses on the site.
(Id. at 11:15-21.)
Moreover, Cox asserts that Russ Huseby told him Brady Huseby “had done work in the
eastern side of the northern area of the site.” (Cox. Decl. ¶ 22.) The United States
presented no evidence regarding the type of work Brady Huseby did or that it resulted in
the discharge of a pollutant. The Court concludes that the United States has failed to
create a genuine issue of material fact regarding Brady Huseby’s liability, and the
Husebys’ motion with respect to Brady Huseby’s liability will be granted.
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IV.
UNITED STATES’ MOTION ON ITS ENTITLEMENT TO REMEDIES
The United States seeks relief in the form of a restoration order and a civil penalty.
The United States is authorized under 33 U.S.C. § 1319(b) to seek “appropriate relief,
including a permanent or temporary injunction” for a CWA violation. The Eighth Circuit
addresses the propriety of injunctive relief by determining if a restoration order: (1) is
designed to confer maximum environmental benefit, (2) is practical and feasible from an
environmental and engineering standpoint, and (3) takes into consideration the financial
resources of the defendant, and (4) includes consideration of defendant’s objections.
Bailey, 571 F.3d at 805. The Court finds there are numerous factual issues regarding the
maximum environmental benefit, the feasibility of a restoration order, and the financial
resources of the defendant.
To determine an appropriate monetary penalty, the Court is instructed to consider
“the seriousness of the violation or violations, the economic benefit (if any) resulting
from the violation, any history of such violations, any good-faith efforts to comply with
the applicable requirements, the economic impact of the penalty on the violator, and such
other matters as justice may require.” 33 U.S.C. § 1319(d). The Court finds there are
factual issues regarding these factors as well. The Court will deny the United States’
summary judgment motion for injunctive relief and monetary penalties.
The Court orders the parties to meet and confer concerning the United States’
request for a restoration order and monetary penalties and file a joint letter with the Court
within thirty days. The Court anticipates scheduling an evidentiary hearing to resolve the
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remedies issues unless the parties are satisfied with providing affidavits and briefs to the
Court with an opportunity for oral argument.
ORDER
Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED that
1.
The United States’ motion for summary judgment [Docket No. 49] is
GRANTED in part and DENIED in part:
a.
b.
2.
The motion is GRANTED as to Russ Huseby’s liability.
The motion is DENIED in all other respects.
The Husebys’ motion for summary judgment [Docket No. 51] is
GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as follows:
a.
The motion is GRANTED with respect to defendant Brady Huseby.
b.
The motion is DENIED in all other respects.
DATED: March 2, 2012
at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
___s/
___
JOHN R. TUNHEIM
United States District Judge
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