throbber
Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 1 of 25
`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
`NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE
`COUNCIL, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL
`DIVERSITY, CONSUMER FEDERATION OF
`AMERICA, MASSACHUSETTS UNION OF
`PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS, PUBLIC
`CITIZEN, and SIERRA CLUB,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`and
`
`ASSOCIATION OF HOME APPLIANCE
`MANUFACTURERS, and AIR-
`CONDITIONING, HEATING &
`REFRIGERATION INSTITUTE,
`
`Plaintiff-Intervenors,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM, as Secretary Of
`The United States Department Of Energy, and
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
`ENERGY,
`
`Defendants.
`
`
`STATES OF NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA,
`COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS,
`MAINE, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, NEW
`JERSEY, OREGON, VERMONT, AND
`WASHINGTON, COMMONWEALTH OF
`MASSACHUSETTS, PEOPLE OF THE STATE
`OF MICHIGAN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
`CITY OF NEW YORK, COMMONWEALTH
`OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND STATES OF
`NEVADA AND NEW MEXICO,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`and
`
`ASSOCIATION OF HOME APPLIANCE
`
`
`
`No.: 20-cv-9127 (JMF)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`No.: 20-cv-9362 (JMF)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 2 of 25
`
`
`
`
`
`MANUFACTURERS, and AIR-
`CONDITIONING, HEATING &
`REFRIGERATION INSTITUTE,
`
`Plaintiff-Intervenors,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM, as Secretary Of
`The United States Department Of Energy, and
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
`ENERGY,
`
`Defendants.
`
`
`
`
`
`CONSENT DECREE
`
`WHEREAS, on October 30, 2020, Plaintiffs Natural Resources Defense Council, Center
`
`for Biological Diversity, Consumer Federation of America, Massachusetts Union of Public
`
`Housing Tenants, Public Citizen, and Sierra Club (collectively “Public Interest Plaintiffs”) filed a
`
`complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (“Court”)
`
`against Defendants Jennifer Granholm,1 in her official capacity as United States Secretary of
`
`Energy, and the United States Department of Energy (collectively “DOE”);
`
`WHEREAS, on November 9, 2020, Plaintiffs States of New York, California, Colorado,
`
`Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington,
`
`the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the People of the State of Michigan, the District of
`
`Columbia, and the City of New York (collectively “State Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint in the
`
`Court against DOE;
`
`WHEREAS on January 29, 2021, State Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint to include
`
`as additional state plaintiffs the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the States of New Mexico
`
`and Nevada;
`
`
`Secretary Granholm is automatically substituted as a defendant for former Secretary Dan
`1
`Brouillette pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d).
`2
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 3 of 25
`
`
`
`WHEREAS, on March 23, 2021, the Court entered a Stipulation and Order (the
`
`“Intervention Stipulation”) permitting the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and
`
`Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (collectively, “Plaintiff-Intervenors”) to
`
`participate, with specified conditions, as Plaintiff-Intervenors in these two civil actions, Dkt.
`
`No. 34, 20 Civ. 9127, Dkt. No. 53, 20 Civ. 9326;
`
`WHEREAS, Plaintiff-Intervenors filed a Complaint in Intervention in each of these
`
`actions on March 26, 2021 Dkt. No. 35, 20 Civ. 9127, Dkt. No. 55, 20 Civ. 9326;
`
`WHEREAS, the Public Interest Plaintiffs, State Plaintiffs, and Plaintiff-Intervenors
`
`(collectively, the “Plaintiffs”) have alleged that DOE has failed to publish final rules concerning
`
`energy conservation standards for 25 categories of consumer products and industrial equipment
`
`by the respective deadlines specified by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended
`
`(“EPCA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 6291–6317;
`
`WHEREAS, DOE signed a final rule concerning energy conservation standards for one
`
`of these categories, fluorescent lamp ballasts, on December 4, 2020, which was published in the
`
`Federal Register at 85 Fed. Reg. 81,558 (Dec. 16, 2020);
`
`WHEREAS, DOE signed a final rule concerning energy conservation standards for a
`
`second of these categories, small electric motors, on January 6, 2021, which was published in the
`
`Federal Register at 86 Fed. Reg. 4885 (Jan. 19, 2021);
`
`WHEREAS, DOE signed a final rule concerning energy conservation standards for a
`
`third of these categories, evaporatively-cooled commercial package air conditioners and water-
`
`cooled commercial package air conditioners, on July 8, 2021, which was published in the Federal
`
`Register at 86 Fed. Reg. 37,001 (July 14, 2021);
`
`WHEREAS, DOE signed a final rule concerning energy conservation standards for a
`
`fourth of these categories, metal halide lamp fixtures, on October 20, 2021, which was published
`3
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 4 of 25
`
`in the Federal Register at 86 Fed. Reg. 58,763 (Oct. 25, 2021);
`
`WHEREAS, DOE signed a final rule concerning energy conservation standards for a fifth
`
`of these categories, direct heating equipment, on November 23, 2021, which was published in the
`
`Federal Register at 86 Fed. Reg. 66,403 (Nov. 23, 2021);
`
`WHEREAS, with respect to the remaining 20 categories of consumer products and
`
`industrial equipment that are the subject of the Public Interest Plaintiffs’ complaint and the State
`
`Plaintiffs’ amended complaint, EPCA prescribes deadlines and other requirements for final rules
`
`concerning energy efficiency standards; and
`
`WHEREAS, the Public Interest Plaintiffs, the State Plaintiffs, the Plaintiff-Intervenors,
`
`and DOE (each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”) agree that it is in the public interest,
`
`and the interest of judicial economy, to resolve claims without further litigation, as provided
`
`herein, and that this Consent Decree is a fair, just, sufficient, and equitable resolution of the
`
`claims asserted by the Plaintiffs;
`
`NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED as follows:
`
`1.
`
`The Court has jurisdiction over the claims set forth in the Public Interest
`
`Plaintiffs’ complaint and the State Plaintiffs’ amended complaint and the Plaintiff-Intervenors’
`
`Complaints in Intervention. The Court has jurisdiction to enter this Consent Decree and,
`
`pursuant to the Consent Decree, has jurisdiction to order the relief contained herein.
`
`2.
`
`These two civil actions are consolidated for the purpose of entry of this Consent
`
`Decree and any further proceedings in these matters. All future filings shall be made only in
`
`Natural Resources Defense Council v. Granholm, 20 Civ. 9127.
`
`3.
`
`This Consent Decree applies to, is binding upon, and inures to the benefit of the
`
`Parties (and their successors, assigns, and designees).
`
`4.
`
`For each of the 20 categories of consumer products and industrial equipment
`4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 5 of 25
`
`listed in the below table, DOE shall sign and post on DOE’s publicly accessible website the
`
`document that, when effective, represents a final agency action pertaining to energy conservation
`
`standards (hereinafter, “Agency Action Document”) for that particular category of consumer
`
`product or industrial equipment no later than the corresponding deadline listed in the below
`
`table:
`
`Deadline
`Product Category
`June 30, 2023
`Computer Room Air Conditioners
`June 30, 2023
`Pool Heaters
`July 30, 2023
`Commercial Water Heaters
`July 30, 2023
`Room Air Conditioners
`August 31, 2023
`Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems
`August 31, 2023
`Microwave Ovens
`Variable Refrigerant Flow Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps August 31, 2023
`Non-Weatherized and Mobile Home Gas Furnaces
`September 30, 2023
`Residential Clothes Dryers
`February 29, 2024
`Residential Refrigerators and Freezers
`December 30, 2023
`Conventional Cooking Products
`January 31, 2024
`Residential Clothes Washers
`February 29, 2024
`Electric Motors
`April 30, 2024
`Residential Water Heaters
`April 30, 2024
`Distribution Transformers
`June 30, 2024
`Residential Dishwashers
`June 30, 2024
`Furnace Fans
`October 31, 2024
`Oil Furnaces and Weatherized Gas Furnaces
`October 31, 2024
`Walk-In Coolers and Freezers
`November 30, 2024
`Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
`November 30, 2024
`
`5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 6 of 25
`
`5.
`
`For purposes of Paragraph 4, an Agency Action Document is a rulemaking
`
`document prepared by DOE under EPCA that, upon that document’s effective date, either:
`
`(a) amends energy conservation standards; (b) establishes new energy conservation standards; or
`
`(c) conveys DOE’s determination to not amend energy conservation standards.
`
`6.
`
`Further, for purposes of Paragraph 4, the posting on DOE’s publicly accessible
`
`website of an Agency Action Document, including any Agency Action Document subject to the
`
`error correction procedures at 10 C.F.R. §§ 430.5, 431.3 (or any subsequent amendments
`
`thereto), satisfies DOE’s obligation to “sign and post . . . the document that, when effective,
`
`represents a final agency action pertaining to energy conservation standards,” provided that:
`
`(a)
`
`For any Agency Action Document not subject to the error correction
`
`procedures at 10 C.F.R. §§ 430.5, 431.3 (or any subsequent amendments thereto), DOE transmits
`
`the Agency Action Document within 30 days of its signing to the Office of the Federal Register
`
`(“OFR”) for publication and DOE does not take any action that would delay or preclude
`
`publication of the transmitted document in the Federal Register (other than as necessary to
`
`correct any typographical errors or other errors of form); and
`
`(b)
`
`For any Agency Action Document that is subject to the error correction
`
`procedures at 10 C.F.R. §§ 430.5, 431.3 (or any subsequent amendments thereto), DOE transmits
`
`the Agency Action Document (or an amended version thereof if necessary changes are identified
`
`during the error correction process) to the OFR for publication within 75 days of signing the
`
`Agency Action Document, and DOE does not take any action that would delay or preclude
`
`publication of the transmitted document in the Federal Register (other than as necessary to
`
`correct any typographical errors or other errors of form).
`
`7.
`
`If, subsequent to the entry of this Consent Decree by the Court, there is adopted
`
`an amendment to Standard 90.1 as published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
`6
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 7 of 25
`
`
`
`and Air-Conditioning Engineers (“ASHRAE”) that would, for any category of industrial
`
`equipment listed in Paragraph 4, trigger the process required by 42 U.S.C. § 6313(a)(6)(A)–(B),
`
`then the deadline for the affected category of industrial equipment shall be the later of: (a) the
`
`date listed in Paragraph 4; or (b) the date calculated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§
`
`6313(a)(6)(A)(ii)(I)–(II) and 6313(a)(6)(B)(i), unless the Parties agree to a different deadline in
`
`accordance with the modification procedures in Paragraph 11 of this Consent Decree.
`
`8.
`
`If, subsequent to the entry of this Consent Decree by the Court, there is a
`
`change in statute or a judicial decision of any court that DOE concludes would preclude DOE
`
`from completing a document required by Paragraph 4 using the factual analysis, legal
`
`rationale, or rulemaking procedures DOE was intending for that rulemaking, the following
`
`procedures shall apply:
`
`(a) Within 30 days of the enactment of such a statute, or within 30 days of the
`
`issuance of the judicial decision by a court, DOE shall transmit to the Public Interest Plaintiffs,
`
`State Plaintiffs, and Plaintiff-Intervenors a written notice that: (i) identifies the specific change
`
`in statute or judicial decision; (ii) identifies which rulemaking(s) of the categories of consumer
`
`products and industrial equipment in Paragraph 4 are impacted by this change in statute or
`
`judicial decision; (iii) briefly summarizes how the change in statute or judicial decision impacts
`
`DOE’s ability to complete the rulemaking by the deadline specified in Paragraph 4; and (iv)
`
`proposes a substitute deadline for each category of consumer products and industrial equipment
`
`identified in the notice.
`
`(b) Within 15 days of receiving the notice required by Subparagraph 8(a), the
`
`Parties shall meet and confer in good faith about the need for, and selection of, a substitute
`
`deadline for each category of consumer products and industrial equipment identified in DOE’s
`
`notice. If the Parties are able to agree on a substitute deadline, the Parties shall amend the
`7
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 8 of 25
`
`deadline in Paragraph 4 in accordance with the modification procedures for stipulations in
`
`Paragraphs 11 and 12 of this Consent Decree.
`
`(c)
`
`If, 30 days after initiating the meet-and-confer process required by
`
`Subparagraph (b), the Parties are unable to agree on the need for, or selection of, a substitute
`
`deadline, DOE may file with the Court a motion to modify the relevant deadline in Paragraph 4.
`
`If the Parties disagree on the need for a substitute deadline for any category of consumer
`
`products and industrial equipment identified in DOE’s motion, or agree on the need for a
`
`substitute deadline but disagree on the date of the substitute deadline, the Court shall, after
`
`consideration of the motion and any response filed by Public Interest Plaintiffs, State Plaintiffs,
`
`or Plaintiff-Intervenors, and any reply by DOE, decide whether a substitute deadline is
`
`warranted and, if so, decide what the substitute deadline will be. For purposes of this Paragraph,
`
`the Parties stipulate that at the time of entering this Consent Decree, the Parties are not aware of
`
`specific legislation or cases that they currently anticipate would result in a change of law that
`
`would make DOE’s compliance with any deadline in Paragraph 4 substantially more onerous or
`
`unworkable; accordingly, no Plaintiff may oppose the relief sought by DOE in its motion on the
`
`ground that any changed circumstances were anticipated at the time the Parties entered into this
`
`Consent Decree. Plaintiffs otherwise preserve all grounds or bases for opposition to any motion
`
`under this Subparagraph.
`
`(d)
`
`Any deadline established pursuant to Subparagraphs (b) and (c) may
`
`subsequently be modified in accordance with the modification procedures for stipulations in
`
`Paragraphs 11 and 12 of this Consent Decree.
`
`9.
`
`If DOE signs and posts an Agency Action Document for a category of
`
`consumer products or industrial equipment required by Paragraph 4 by the deadline
`
`8
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 9 of 25
`
`
`
`applicable to that category provided by this Consent Decree, and the final agency action
`
`pertaining to energy conservation standards represented by that Agency Action
`
`Document is subsequently determined by a final judgment of any court to be legally
`
`invalid either in whole or in part and the rulemaking is remanded in whole or in part to
`
`DOE for further action, DOE shall not be in violation of its obligation to “sign and post”
`
`the Agency Action Document by the deadline applicable to that category provided by
`
`Paragraph 4 of this Consent Decree. However, the Plaintiffs retain their right to seek
`
`appropriate relief, including but not limited to the establishment of additional deadlines,
`
`either by motion or by commencing new litigation pursuant to EPCA. DOE reserves all
`
`defenses to such motion or separate action.
`
`10.
`
`Nothing in this Consent Decree precludes DOE from signing and posting an
`
`Agency Action Document for a category of consumer products or industrial equipment prior to
`
`the respective deadline provided in Paragraph 4.
`
`11.
`
`Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Consent Decree, the terms of this
`
`Consent Decree may be modified either by: (a) written stipulation of the Parties approved by the
`
`Court; (b) as provided in Paragraph 12 below; or (c) by the Court upon a motion made pursuant
`
`to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by DOE, the Public Interest Plaintiffs, or the State
`
`Plaintiffs, and upon consideration of any response by a non-moving Party and reply by the
`
`moving Party; provided, however, that this Consent Decree may not be modified to: (i) establish
`
`new deadlines for any category of consumer products or industrial equipment that is not listed in
`
`Paragraph 4; (ii) establish additional rulemaking deadlines for any category of consumer
`
`products or industrial equipment listed in Paragraph 4 if the applicable deadline provided by this
`
`Consent Decree has been satisfied by DOE; or (iii) establish a deadline for any category of
`
`consumer products or industrial equipment earlier than the deadline provided in Paragraph 4.
`9
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 10 of 25
`
`
`
`12.
`
`If DOE, the Public Interest Plaintiffs, and the State Plaintiffs are able to reach a
`
`stipulated agreement on terms modifying this Consent Decree, those parties (the “Requesting
`
`Parties”) may submit their stipulation to the Court and request that it be approved. However, at
`
`least 14 days before filing any such written stipulation with the Court, the Requesting Parties
`
`shall provide a copy of such stipulation to the Plaintiff-Intervenors for their review. After that
`
`14-day period, the Requesting Parties may file the stipulation with the Court. Plaintiff-
`
`Intervenors, unless they have consented to the stipulation in writing, may file a response to the
`
`stipulation within 10 days and participate in any hearing regarding approval or entry of the
`
`stipulation.
`
`13.
`
`Prior to filing any motion to modify this Consent Decree under Paragraph 11(c)
`
`(except for a motion filed pursuant to Subparagraph 8(c)), the Party seeking the modification
`
`shall first transmit to the other Parties a written notice that: (i) identifies the requested
`
`modification; (ii) briefly summarizes the reason(s) justifying the modification; and (iii) requests
`
`consent to the modification. Within 14 days of receiving this notice, the receiving Parties shall
`
`each notify the requesting Party whether it consents to the modification or instead requests that
`
`the Parties confer about the requested modification. If any Party requests to confer, the Parties
`
`shall, within 15 days of such request, meet and confer in good faith with the objective of
`
`reaching agreement before any motion to modify is filed with the Court. If, after 30 days of
`
`initiating the meet-and-confer process, the Parties are unable to agree, the Party seeking
`
`modification may file a motion to modify with the Court, to which any non-moving Party may
`
`respond. Nothing in this Paragraph waives or limits any argument that any Party may make to
`
`the Court in support of, or in opposition to, such motion. The deadlines set forth in this
`
`Paragraph may be modified by agreement of the Parties without Court approval.
`
`14.
`
`The Court shall retain jurisdiction to interpret, implement, and effectuate
`10
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 11 of 25
`
`
`
`compliance with this Consent Decree, to resolve any disputes thereunder, and to consider any
`
`requests for costs of litigation (including a request for reasonable attorneys’ fees the Public
`
`Interest Plaintiffs or the State Plaintiffs).
`
`15.
`
`Prior to filing any motion to interpret, implement, or enforce the Consent
`
`Decree, the Party intending to file such motion shall first transmit to the other Parties a written
`
`notice that identifies the relief desired and briefly summarizes the reason(s) justifying the relief
`
`sought. Within 15 days of receiving this notice, the Parties shall meet and confer in good faith
`
`with the objective of reaching agreement before any motion is filed with the Court. If, after 30
`
`days of initiating the meet-and-confer process, the Parties are unable to agree, the Party seeking
`
`relief may file a motion with the Court, to which any non-moving Party may respond. Nothing
`
`in this Paragraph waives or limits any argument that any Party may make to the Court in
`
`support of, or in opposition to, such motion. The deadlines set forth in this Paragraph may be
`
`modified by agreement of the Parties without Court approval.
`
`16.
`
`No motion or other proceeding seeking to interpret, implement, or enforce this
`
`Consent Decree or for contempt of Court shall be properly filed unless the moving Party has
`
`complied with the requirements of Paragraph 15.
`
`17.
`
`The Parties acknowledge and agree that the obligations imposed upon DOE under
`
`this Consent Decree can only be undertaken using appropriated funds legally available for such
`
`purpose and that DOE’s actions under this Consent Decree must be consistent with applicable
`
`law. No provision of this Consent Decree requires, nor shall be interpreted or construed as
`
`requiring, that DOE take any action that is inconsistent with or in contravention of: (a) the
`
`Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. § 1341, or any other applicable fiscal or procurement law or
`
`regulation; (b) the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551–559, 701–706; (c) EPCA,
`
`42 U.S.C. §§ 6291–6317; or (d) any other applicable provision of law.
`11
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 12 of 25
`
`18.
`
`Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be interpreted or construed as limiting or
`
`modifying any discretion accorded to DOE by any laws, including EPCA, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6291–
`
`6317, the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551–559, 701–706, and any other statutes,
`
`regulations, or principles of administrative law, in taking the actions that are the subject of this
`
`Consent Decree—including, but not limited to: (a) the substance of any Agency Action
`
`Document required by Paragraph 4; (b) the factors to be considered in proposing or adopting any
`
`Agency Action Document required by Paragraph 4; or (c) the conduct of rulemakings for any
`
`category of covered products or industrial equipment that is not the subject of this Consent
`
`Decree.
`
`19.
`
`The Parties acknowledge and agree that the terms of this Consent Decree and the
`
`settlement provided for herein are intended to compromise disputed claims and to avoid
`
`litigation, and do not constitute and shall not be construed as an admission of any wrongdoing,
`
`misconduct, or liability on the part of DOE.
`
`20.
`
`The Parties agree that this Consent Decree constitutes a complete and final
`
`settlement of all claims asserted by the Plaintiffs in these consolidated actions against DOE. The
`
`Plaintiffs therefore discharge and covenant not to sue the United States, including DOE, for such
`
`claims; however, the Parties agree that this discharge and covenant not to sue shall not apply to
`
`any claim that may arise if any final agency action pertaining to energy conservation standards
`
`represented by an Agency Action Document required by Paragraph 4 is vacated or withdrawn.
`
`21.
`
`Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be interpreted or construed as precluding
`
`any Plaintiff from participating in any of the rulemakings for the categories of consumer
`
`products and industrial equipment listed in Paragraph 4, including, but not limited to, submitting
`
`comments on proposed rules, participating in public meetings, and challenging pursuant to 42
`
`12
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 13 of 25
`
`
`
`U.S.C. §§ 6306 or 6316 any final agency action pertaining to energy conservation standards
`
`represented by an Agency Action Document required by Paragraph 4.
`
`22.
`
`Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed to confer upon this Court
`
`jurisdiction to review any final agency action pertaining to energy conservation standards
`
`represented by an Agency Action Document signed and posted by DOE pursuant to this Consent
`
`Decree.
`
`23.
`
`Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be interpreted or construed as admitting
`
`any issue of fact or law, or limiting or waiving any claims, defenses, or arguments the Parties
`
`may have related to any final agency action pertaining to energy conservation standards
`
`represented by an Agency Action Document required by Paragraph 4 and taken by DOE
`
`pursuant to this Consent Decree.
`
`24.
`
`Upon the completion of DOE’s obligations under Paragraph 4 and the publication
`
`of all subject final actions in the Federal Register, DOE may move to have this Consent Decree
`
`terminated. The Plaintiffs shall have 30 days in which to respond to such motion, unless the
`
`Parties stipulate to a longer time for Plaintiffs to respond.
`
`25.
`
`The deadline for filing a motion for costs of litigation (including attorneys’ fees)
`
`for activities performed prior to entry of the Consent Decree is extended until 90 days after this
`
`Consent Decree is entered by the Court. Nothing in this Paragraph shall be construed as an
`
`admission or concession by DOE that either the Public Interest Plaintiffs or the State Plaintiffs
`
`are entitled to or eligible for recovery of any costs or attorneys’ fees.
`
`26.
`
`Public Interest Plaintiffs and State Plaintiffs reserve the right to seek additional
`
`costs of litigation, including attorneys’ fees, incurred after the entry of this Consent Decree and
`
`arising from the need to enforce or defend against efforts to modify the Decree’s terms or the
`
`schedule in Paragraph 4, or for any other unforeseen continuation of this action. DOE reserves
`13
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 14 of 25
`
`
`
`the right to oppose any such request. For purposes of this Paragraph, costs of litigation do not
`
`include costs or attorneys’ fees associated with Public Interest Plaintiffs’ or State Plaintiffs’
`
`participation in any administrative proceedings contemplated by this Consent Decree or
`
`participation in any petition to a court to review any final agency action pertaining to energy
`
`conservation standards represented by an Agency Action Document required by Paragraph 4 and
`
`completed pursuant to this Consent Decree.
`
`27.
`
`This Consent Decree constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties as to all
`
`claims raised by Plaintiffs in their respective complaints, and supersedes all prior agreements,
`
`representations, warranties, statements, promises, covenants, and understandings, whether oral
`
`or written, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as expressly
`
`stated in this Consent Decree, nothing in this Consent Decree expands or contracts the rights of
`
`Plaintiff-Intervenors pursuant to the Intervention Stipulation, and the Parties reserve all
`
`arguments as to Plaintiff-Intervenors’ constitutional, statutory, or prudential standing.
`
`28.
`
`The Parties expressly understand and agree that this Consent Decree was jointly
`
`drafted by the Parties, and that any and all rules of construction providing to the effect that an
`
`ambiguity in a document is to be construed against the drafting party shall be inapplicable in any
`
`dispute concerning the terms, meaning, or interpretation of this Consent Decree.
`
`29.
`
`Each of the undersigned representatives of the Parties certify that such individual
`
`is authorized by the Party to enter into this Consent Decree and to bind such Party to comply
`
`with the terms of this Consent Decree.
`
`30.
`
`This Consent Decree may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
`
`shall be deemed an original, and all of which together constitute one and the same instrument,
`
`and photographic, facsimile, or digital copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of
`
`the original. The execution of one counterpart by any Party shall have the same force and effect
`14
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 15 of 25
`
`as if that Party had signed all other counterparts.
`
`31.
`
`Any notice required or made with respect to this Consent Decree shall be in
`
`writing and effective upon receipt. Any notice required or made pursuant to this Consent Decree
`
`shall be sent via electronic mail or certified mail to the following contact persons:
`
`For Public Interest Plaintiffs:
`
`Jared Knicley
`Natural Resources Defense Council
`1152 15th Street NW, Suite 300
`Washington, DC 20005
`jknicley@nrdc.org
`
`Joseph Vukovich
`Natural Resources Defense Council
`1152 15th Street NW, Suite 300
`Washington, DC 20005
`jvukovich@nrdc.org
`
`Timothy Ballo
`Earthjustice
`1001 G Street NW, Suite 1000
`Washington, DC 20001
`tballo@earthjustice.org
`
`For State Plaintiffs:
`
`Lisa Kwong
`Office of the New York State
`Attorney General
`The Capitol
`Albany, New York 12224
`Lisa.Kwong@ag.ny.gov
`
`Timothy Hoffman
`Office of the New York State
`Attorney General
`The Capitol
`Albany, New York 12224
`Timothy.Hoffman@ag.ny.gov
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 16 of 25
`
`For Plaintiff-Intervenors:
`
`Kevin Ainsworth
`Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
`666 Third Avenue
`New York, NY 10017
`+1.212.692.6745
`KAinsworth@mintz.com
`
`Jennifer Cleary
`Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
`1111 19th Street NW, Suite 402
`Washington, DC 20036
`202.872.5955 x314
`Jcleary@aham.org
`
`Marie Carpizo
`Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute
`2311 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400
`Arlington, VA 22201
`703-600-0308
`MCarpizo@ahrinet.org
`
`For DOE:
`
`Environmental Protection Unit
`Attn: AUSA Anthony J. Sun
`United States Attorney’s Office
`Southern District of New York
`86 Chambers St., Third Floor
`New York, NY 10007
`
`A Party may alter contact persons or designate additional contact persons under this Paragraph
`
`by written notice to the other Parties.
`
`32.
`
`Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed as making any person or entity
`
`not executing this Consent Decree a third-party beneficiary to this Consent Decree.
`
`33.
`
`This Consent Decree shall become effective upon the date of its entry by the
`
`Court. If for any reason the Court should decline to approve this Consent Decree in the form
`
`presented, this agreement is voidable at the sole discretion of any Party and the terms of the
`
`proposed Consent Decree may not be used as evidence in any litigation between the Parties.
`16
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 17 of 25
`The Clerk of Court is directed to (1) substitute Secretary Granholm for former Secretary Dan Brouillette as
`Defendant in both cases pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d); (2) consolidate 20-CV-9127
`and 20-CV-9362 under 20-CV-9127; and (3) close both cases. Any pending motions are moot. All
`conferences are vacated.
`
`SO ORDERED on this
`
`20
`
`day of
`
`September
`
`, 2022.
`
`JESSE M. FURMAN
`United States District Judge
`
`For Natural Resources Defense Council and Public Citizen:
`
`/s/ Jared E. Knicley2
`Jared E. Knicley, admitted pro hac vice
`Joseph Vukovich, admitted pro hac vice
`Natural Resources Defense Council
`1152 15th Street, NW, Suite 300
`Washington, DC 20005
`(202) 513-6242
`jknicley@nrdc.org
`jvukovich@nrdc.org
`
`For Center for Biological Diversity, Consumer Federation of America, Massachusetts
`Union of Public Housing Tenants, and Sierra Club:
`
`/s/ Timothy Ballo
`Timothy Ballo, admitted pro hac vice
`Earthjustice
`1001 G Street NW, Suite 1000
`Washington, DC 20001
`(202) 745-5209
`tballo@earthjustice.org
`
`For the State of New York:
`
`
`
`
`LETITIA JAMES
`Attorney General
`
`/s/ Lisa S. Kwong
`LISA S. KWONG
`TIMOTHY HOFFMAN
`Assistant Attorneys General
`Office of the Attorney General
`
`2 Pursuant to S.D.N.Y. ECF Rule 8.5(b), all parties have granted consent to electronically sign this
`consent decree.
`
`17
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-09362-JMF Document 102 Filed 09/20/22 Page 18 of 25
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Environmental Protection Bureau
`The Capitol
`Albany, New York 12224
`Tel: 518-776-2422
`Email: Lisa.Kwong@ag.ny.gov
`Email: Timothy.Hoffman@ag.ny.gov
`
`For the State of California:
`
`ROB BONTA
`Attorney General
`
`
`
`
`
`/s/ David Zonana
`DAVID ZONANA
`Supervising Deputy Attorney
`General
`SOMERSET PERRY
`Deputy Attorney General
`Office of the Attorney General
`1515 Clay Street, 20th Floor
`Oakland, CA 94612
`Tel: (510) 879-1248
`Email: David.Zonana@doj.ca.gov
`
`For the State of Colorado:
`
`PHILIP J. WEISER
`Attorney General
`
`/s/ Eric R. Olson
`ERIC R. OLSON
`Solicitor General
`Office of the Attorney General
`1300 Broadway, 7th Floor
`Denver, CO 80203
`Tel: (720) 508-6562
`Email: eric.olson@coag

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket