Citizens to Preserve Foster Park, Inc. v. Volpe

Civil No. 71 F 71 (N.D. Ind. August 18, 1971)

Plaintiffs' request for declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent further work on Baer Field Expressway on grounds that defendants failed to comply with Department of Transportation Act, the Federal Aid Highway Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act is denied. Failure of highway administrator to make formal findings before approving route through park, and subsequent approval by Secretary after such findings became necessary, does not mean that statutes were not complied with "to the fullest extent possible." Administrator's determination that there was "no feasible and prudent alternative" to use of parkland is not arbitrary, capricious or clearly wrong. Finding by design engineer that hearing on design approval was not necessary because earlier hearing on plan "discussed" such matters is also not clearly wrong. Failure by the Department of Transportation to apply standards later devised to implement NEPA to this case does not mean that the Act was not implemented "to the fullest extent possible." Court also notes that the park "was as torn up as the result of construction on the date of the hearing as it will ever be during the completion of the Expressway."

Counsel for Plaintiffs:
Richard C. Ver Wiebe
Lebamoff, Ver Wiebe & Snow
1310 Anthony Wayne Bank Building
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
(219) 743-3334

Counsel for Defendant:
William Lee U.S. Attorney
Federal Building
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
(219) 422-6131

[1 ELR 20390]

Eschbach, J.:

Plaintiffs bring this action for declaratory and injunctive relief against defendant, John A. Volpe, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, to prevent defendant from taking further action with regard to the Baer Field Ecpressway, Federal-Aid Highway Project No. U-377 (hereinafter referred to as the "Expressway"). On June 7, 1971, plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, pursuant to which this Court conducted a hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, August 6, 1971, in the United States District Courtroom in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Having considered the testimony and exhibits presented during the hearing, the court will deny plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.

Plaintiffs include Citizens to Preserve Foster Park, an Indiana corporation organized to preserve and protect Foster Park as a park and recreation area; Lake Shores Community Association, Inc., an Indiana not-for-profit corporation organized for and on behalf of residents of the Lake Shores area; and Tillie Snow and Sara Lou Oswald, owners of land abutting the right-of-way of the Expressway.

Plaintiffs set forth as jurisdictional bases for this action 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-06 and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331(a), 1332, 1361, 2201-02. Plaintiffs, in their motion for preliminary injunction, seek to enjoin the defendant, his agents, servants, employees, and all other persons in "active concert and participation with him," pending final determination of this action, from (1) taking any further action with respect to the Expressway, (2) treating the approval of the preliminary design of the Expressway or the approval of the use of Foster Park for highway purposes as the basis for any further action, or (3) obligating or disbursing any funds to the State of Indiana or the Indiana State Highway Commission for the Expressway. Plaintiffs contend that unless defendant is enjoined, irreparable injury to plaintiffs will result and the status quo will be destroyed. Plaintiffs further contend that a preliminary injunction will not cause undue inconvenience or loss to defendant.

The court makes the following findings of fact. The subject of this action is the aforementioned Expressway, which has partially controlled access and the purpose of which is to give access between the central city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the City's airport, Baer Field. The total length of the project when completed will be approximately three and one-half miles; the total construction cost will be three million dollars, of which the United States will pay fifty per cent. The Expressway will begin at a point in the center of existing State Road 3, approximately one mile from Baer Field, and will terminate at a point intersecting with Fairfield Avenue and Paulding Road. At that point, traffic from the Expressway will use existing streets to reach the central city.

The Expressway crosses the St. Mary's River and crosses above a portion of Foster Park. Foster Park consists of 243.09 acres, six acres of which have been deeded to the City of Fort Wayne for purposes of the Expressway and relocation of a road running through the Park. No Park activities will be curtailed by the Expressway which will only affect a local river bank in the Park.

The preliminary engineering for the Expressway was programmed with the federal administration in 1962, pursuant to which the plans were approved and the State of Indiana was authorized to begin work. In March 1967, the federal highway administration in Indiana made a field check with the State of Indiana to determine feasible corridor locations for the Expressway. On July 20, 1967, the State Highway Commission held a public hearing in Fort Wayne, and on August 1, 1967, the State Highway Commission certified that it had considered the economic effect of the Expressway as required by the former 23 U.S.C. § 128. On August 9, 1967, the office of the Division Engineer of the federal highway administration in Indiana notified the State Highway Commission that the July 20 hearing had fulfilled the requirements of federal law.

On September 21, 1971, after 23 U.S.C. § 128 had been amended and policies changed, the federal highway administration determined that a second hearing as to the design of the Expressway was not required since a substantial portion of the right-of-way for the Expressway had been acquired and because design had been discussed during the public hearing on July 20, 1967.

On May 8, 1970, the Chief Highway Engineer of the State Highway Commission transmitted its "4(f)" submission required under 49 U.S.C. § 1453 (f) and 23 U.S.C. § 138. On June 29, 1970, Federal Highway Administrator Turner approved the "4 (f)" submission and the use of land from Foster Park for the Expressway in his Environmental Statement and Determination pursuant to § 102 (2) (c) of the Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 49 U.S.C. § 1653 (f), and 23 U.S.C. § 138. On October 15, 1970, defendant Volpe approved Turner's Environmental Statement and Determination. On April 2, 1971, the office of the Division Engineer of the federal highway administration approved the documentation required by the 1962 Highway Act and authorized construction of the Expressway. Finally, the construction contract for the Expressway was awarded on May 28, 1971, and construction was begun on June 8, 1971.

The court further finds that defendant made no specific "3-c" finding pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 134 but that progress was made toward completing such a study.

Plaintiffs set forth four basic contentions in support of their motion for a preliminary injunction. With regard to all four contentions, the court finds that plaintiffs have failed to make a substantial showing of probable success on the merits of their action.

I. Alleged Violation of 49 U.S.C. § 1653 (f) and 23 U.S.C. § 138

Plaintiffs contend that defendant acted beyond the scope of his authority in his approval of the aforementioned "4 (f)" submission. Plaintiffs contend that defendant's approval was a "clear error of judgment" because based on a "clear misstatement of numerous factors." Plaintiffs also contend that the standard employed by defendant was improper and that defendant failed to apply the standards of the Supreme Court decision of Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 91 S. Ct. 814 (1971).

Section 138, Title 23 of the United States Code provides in pertinent part that

[a]fter the effective date of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968, the Secretary shall not approve any program or project which requires the use of any publicly owned land from a public park . . . of national, State, or local significance as determined by the Federal, State, or local officials having jurisdiction thereof . . . unless (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of such land, and (2) such program includes all possible planning to minimize harm to such park . . . resulting from such use.

Section 49 U.S.C. 1653 (f) provides in part that

[a]fter August 23, 1968, the Secretary [of transportation] shall not approve any program or project which requires the use of any publicly owned land from a public park . . . of national, State, or local significance as determined by the Federal, State, or local officials having jurisdiction thereof . . . unless (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of such land, and (2) such program includes all possible planning to minimize harm to such park . . . resulting from such use.

The ultimate standard of review by this court of defendant's findings is a narrow one, and this court is not empowered to substitute its judgment for that of defendant. E.g., Overton, supra at 824.

In the Environmental Statement and Determination formulated by Turner and ultimately approved by Volpe, Turner found that no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the Park was available since any alignment satisfying the purpose of the Expressway would have to cross the St. Mary's River and the adjacent Park. Turner also found that all possible planning to minimize harm to the Park had been carried out, and specified such steps.

From the evidence presented by both parties during the hearing on the motion, the court finds no substantial showing of probable success on the merits with regard to the defendant's approval of the "4 (f)" submission. Defendant was not required to make formal findings. Overton, supraat 820. Plaintiffs have not shown that defendant's approval was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law. 5 U.S.C. § 706 (2) (A). Nor have plaintiffs shown that defendant failed to meet constitutional, procedural, or statutory requirements. 5 U.S.C. § 706 (2) (A) (B) (C) (D). The court [1 ELR 20391] further finds that defendant could reasonably have believed that no feasible alternatives existed or that alternatives to the present location of the Expressway involved unique problems. See Overton, supra at 823.

Plaintiffs also contend that DOT Order 5610.1, issued by defendant Volpe on October 7, 1970, required defendant to make formal findings when he approved the use of the Park for highway construction. It is apparent from paragraph (6) of DOT Order 5610.1, "Implementing Instructions," that regulations and internal instructions to implement the Order were not in existence on October 7, 1970; instead, Operating Administrations were instructed to begin implementation of the procedures in the Order to the "extent possible" pending finalization of the implementing Instructions. Such instructions were to be drafted and submitted within two weeks after the effective date of the Order by each Operating Administration for review.

Although Turner's approval of the "4(f)" submission was dated June 29, 1970, prior to the DOT Order, Volpe's approval was entered on October 15, 1970, subsequent to the Order. However, Volpe's approval was entered prior to the time when drafts of implementing instructions were to be submitted. Even if the DOT Order could arguably apply to the "4(f)" submission in this case, the court would still be unable to find that procedures in the Order were not carried out to the "extent possible" in the absence of implementing instructions.

II. Alleged Violation of 23 U.S.C. § 128 and PPM No. 20-8

Plaintiffs contend that defendant has not fully complied with the requirements of 23 U.S.C. § 128 and Policy Procedure Memorandum No. 20-8 [hereinafter referred to as "PPM No. 20-8"]. In 1967, the office of the Division Engineer of the federal highway administration in Indiana followed PPM No. 28-8 which had been originally issued in 1956 and which was later amended in 1959. PPM No. 20-8 originated in Washington, D.C., and was later revised in January 1968 [9] in order to conform with the new Federal Highway Act.

The public hearing on the Expressway held on July 20, 1967 was in accordance with 23 U.S.C. § 128 as it then existed. Section 128 required the State highway department to certify to the Secretary that it had held public hearings and had considered economic effects of the location. Compliance with § 128 was carried out by the State of Indiana and certification was received. However, on August 23, 1968, § 128 was amended to require certification that the economic and social effects of the location, its impact on the environment, and its consistency with the goals and objectives of urban planning had been considered. 23 U.S.C. § 128.

PPM No. 20-8 as amended in 1959 required only one public hearing for compliance with 23 U.S.C. § 128. However, PPM No. 20-8 as amended in January 1969 requires two public hearings for projects such as the Expressway — a location hearing and a design hearing. PPM No. 20-8 as amended in 1968 also provides that

[i]f design approval is requested within 3 years after the date of the hearing or an opportunity for a hearing, compliance with the design hearing requirements is nevertheless required unless the division engineer finds that the hearing adequately dealt with design issues relating to major design features.

Although the hearing held on July 20, 1967 could not qualify as a design hearing, the Division Engineer made a determination that a second hearing was not required under the circumstances. Such determination was made for two reasons: (1) a substantial right-of-way (51%) had been obtained for the Expressway and (2) a review of the transcript of the public hearing revealed that design had been discussed.The determination was also in compliance with circular memorandums from Washington, D.C., discussing the need for second hearings on projects where a hearing had been held under previous procedures.

Therefore, the court finds that plaintiffs have failed to make a substantial showing of probable success on the merits of the question whether defendant followed correct hearing procedures under the PPM in effect on the date of the hearing and as later amended in 1968.

III. Alleged Noncompliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4347.

Plaintiffs contend that the aforementioned Environmental Statement and Determination does not satisfy the requirements of 42 U.S.C. § 4332 and does not touch upon any of the five areas of study required thereunder. Plaintiffs further contend that the Statement should have been drafted in compliance with the requirements of the CEQ Interim Guidelines issued prior to the Statement.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) became effective on January 1, 1970. Interim guidelines for implementation of § 4332 (2) (C) were issued in April 1970, and transmitted in November 1970. However, the final guidelines for implementation of the NEPA did not become effective until July 1, 1971. Executive Order 11514 dated March 5, 1970 discussed the responsibilities of federal agencies with regard to the NEPA and ordered heads of agencies to develop procedures. Finally, the aforementioned DOT Order 5610.1 also applied to implementation of procedures for § 4332.

The Environmental Statement and Determination formulated by Turner and signed on June 29, 1970 states that a determination as to § 102 (2) (C), 42 U.S.C. § 4332 (2) (C), had also been made. From evidence presented at the hearing with regard to attempts by defendant and the State Highway Commission to comply with interim guidelines, the court finds that defendant complied to the "extent possible" with applicable interim guidelines for implementation of § 4332. The court thus finds that plaintiffs have not made a substantial showing of probable success on the merits with regard to the alleged failure of defendant to implement procedures to the "extent possible" pending finalization of instructions and the alleged failure of defendant to comply with the requirements of § 4332.

IV. Alleged Violation of 23 U.S.C. § 134

Although plaintiffs raised the issue in their complaint and during the hearing of whether defendant had complied with the "three C requirement" of 23 U.S.C. § 134, plaintiffs failed to discuss the issue in the brief in support of their motion. The so-called "three C requirement" of 23 U.S.C. § 134 is stated as follows:

After July 1, 1965, the Secretary shall not approve under section 105 of this title any program for projects in any urban area of more than fifty thousand population unless he finds that such projects are based on a continuing comprehensive transportation planning process carried on cooperatively by the States and local communities in conformance with the objectives stated in this section. (Emphasis added)

Although defendant made no specific three C finding with respect to the Expressway, the court finds that defendant complied with Instructional Memorandum 50-2-65, dated April 28, 1965, issued by the Department of Commerce and that three C approval for the Expressway was given in an administrative memorandum from the regional office in Chicago. The court further finds that the Memorandum was followed and that plaintiffs have made no substantial showing of probable success on the merits regarding defendant's alleged violation of 23 U.S.C. § 134.

Although the court does not need to consider the issue of irreparable harm in light of the above findings, it takes note of uncontradicted testimony presented during the hearing that approximately 13% of the Expressway has been completed and that Foster Park was as torn up as the result of construction on the date of the hearing as it will ever be during the completion of the Expressway.

Accordingly, having found that plaintiffs have failed to sustain their burden of showing substantial probability of success on the merits of the action, the court denies the motion for preliminary injunction.