Keating v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

No. 90-1080 (D.C. Cir. March 8, 1991)

The court holds that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) improperly dismissed petitioner's application for a hydroelectric power plant license on the grounds that petitioner did not have the necessary state certification covering water quality standards under Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) § 401. Petitioner, desiring to build a small hydroelectric power plant on streams in California, filed a request for state certification with a division of the California State Water Resources Control Board (Board). While that request was pending, petitioner submitted an application to FERC for a construction and operation license under § 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) and an application to the Corps of Engineers for an FWPCA § 404 dredge and fill permit. In October 1986, the Board which was then considering petitioner's project, granted a blanket state certification, authorizing the activities set out in 26 Corps nationwide permits, one of which included petitioner's § 404 permit application. In April 1987, the Board denied petitioner's application for certification, claiming that petitioner had failed to submit all environmental documentation required by state law. FERC asked the Board to clarify whether the Board's denial of certification was a revocation of the Board's earlier blanket certification of the Corps nationwide permits. The Board responded that its denial vitiated the earlier blanket certification, and FERC concluded that it was powerless to act on petitioner's application until petitioner could produce an unclouded state certification. Subsequently, FERC dismissed petitioner's § 4(e) application and petitioner brought this appeal.

The court holds that FERC was not justified in refusing to recognize the state certification underlying the Corps nationwide permit as valid and sufficient for purposes of petitioner's subsequent application for an FPA § 4(e) license. FERC, as a matter of federal law, has the authority to decide whether the state's purported revocation of its prior certification satisfied the terms of FWPCA § 401(a)(3). The court notes that under FWPCA § 401(a)(1), no federal license or permit may be granted absent the requisite state certification indicating that no state water quality standards will be violated by the proposed project. Congress thereby intended that states would retain the power to block, for environmental reasons, local water projects that might otherwise win federal approval. However, the certification power of the states under FWPCA § 401 is not unbounded, and under FWPCA § 401(a)(3), Congress created a presumption that a state certification issued for purposes of a federal construction permit will be valid for purposes of a second federal license related to the operation of the same facility.

The court holds that the state's claim of a general reservation of discretionary authority to revoke prior blanket certification of particular projects at any time, and apparently for any reason, cannot be squared with Congress' purpose in FWPCA § 401(a)(3). If a state could revoke prior certification at any time and for any (or no) reason, § 401(a)(3) would be rendered meaningless. Under § 401(a)(3), state revocation of prior certification is permitted only if the state has notified the relevant federal licensing agency of its intention to revoke within 60 days, or if circumstances have changed since issuance of the construction license or permit certification. Since there is no claim that the state's objection to FERC was untimely, or that the state's purported revocation came because of changed circumstances, FERC must consider these issues on remand.

Counsel for Petitioner
Robin L. Rivett
Pacific Legal Foundation
2700 Gateway Oaks Dr., Ste. 200, Sacramento CA 95833
(916) 641-8888

Counsel for Respondent
Joel M. Cockrell
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
825 N. Corcoran St. NE, Rm. 3000, Washington DC 20426
(202) 208-0177

Before MIKVA, Chief Judge, EDWARDS and THOMAS, Circuit Judges.

[21 ELR 20692]

EDWARDS, Circuit Judge:

The petitioner in this case, [21 ELR 20693] Joseph M. Keating, challenges a decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") dismissing his application for a license to construct and operate a hydroelectric power plant. In rejecting the petitioner's license application, FERC ruled that Keating did not have the necessary state certification covering water quality standards for the project as required by the Clean Water Act. See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1) (1988).¹

Keating contends that he obtained the requisite certification from the State of California in the course of procuring an earlier permit with respect to the same project from the Army Corps of Engineers ("the Corps"); the state, however, claims to have revoked that earlier certification. Keating now argues that, under the express terms of 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988),² California's purported revocation is invalid as a matter of federal law and that FERC is bound by the Clean Water Act to recognize the continuing validity of the state's earlier certification. In reply, FERC insists that it is powerless to apply the standards of section 1341(a)(3) and that Keating's only recourse for contesting the validity of California's asserted revocation is in the California state courts.

We can find no merit in FERC's position; we therefore grant the petition for review. We agree that section 1341(a)(3) of the Clean Water Act expressly controls the validity of California's attempted withdrawal of its prior certification. Because this provision requires an application of federal law, in connection with a matter that is within the clear compass of FERC's jurisdiction, we hold that FERC is obligated to apply the controlling federal law in considering Keating's present request for a license Accordingly, we remand the case to the agency with instructions to reinstate Keating's application and to consider whether California's attempted revocation is valid.

I. BACKGROUND

Joseph Keating desires to build a small hydroelectric power plant, called the Tungstar project, on the Morgan and Upper Pine Creeks in Inyo County, California. Under section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act, Keating is required to obtain a license from FERC authorizing construction and operation of the proposed facility. See 16 U.S.C. § 797(e) (1988). Because construction of the plant would require the placement of dredged or fill material into the creeks, Keating was also required, by section 404 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1344 (1988), to obtain a dredge-and-fill permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.

The licensing authority of both FERC and the Corps, however, is contingent upon compliance with a provision of the Clean Water Act, section 401(a)(1), which requires prior state environmental approval of proposed water projects. See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1) (1988), reprinted at note 1 supra.

Both a section 4(e) (FERC) license and a section 404 (Corps) permit fall within the terms of "a Federal license or permit" subject to the state certification requirement under section 401. See 33 C.F.R. §§ 325.1(d)(4), 330.9(a), 336.1(a)(1), (b)(8) (1990) (Corps section 404 permit must be supported by section 401 state certification); 18 C.F.R. § 4.38(a) & (c)(2) (1990) (applicant for FERC license under section 4(e) must produce proof of section 401 certification or waiver); City of Fredericksburg, Va. v. FERC, 876 F.2d 1109, 1111 (4th Cir. 1989) (section 4(e) license applicant must obtain state certification under section 401). Without such state certification, neither the FERC license nor the Corps permit may be issued. See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1) (1988) ("No [federal] license or permit shall be granted until the certification required by this section has been obtained or has been waived . . . .").

On June 23, 1986, Keating filed a request for state certification of his proposed Tungstar project with the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board ("the Regional Board"), a division of the California State Water Resources Control Board. Three months later, on September 30, 1986, he submitted an application to FERC for a section 4(e) license.

While his applications before FERC and the California [21 ELR 20694] Regional Board were pending, Keating also sought a dredge-and-fill permit from the Army Corps of Engineers under section 404. The Corps authorizes dredge-and-fill operations in one of two ways: either with a permit that extends only to a given project, based upon a site-specific review of the particular activities proposed there; or, for certain classes of activities that "will cause only minimal adverse environmental effects," with a general permit, customarily known as a "nationwide permit." See 33 U.S.C. § 1344(e)(1) (1988); 33 C.F.R. Part 330 (1990). See generally United States v. Marathon Dev. Corp., 867 F.2d 96 (1st Cir. 1989). A nationwide permit authorizes any party to engage in the sort of activity described in the permit without the need to seek prior project-specific authorization. See id. at 98-99; Riverside Irr. Dist. v. Andrews, 758 F.2d 508, 511 (10th Cir. 1985); Orleans Audubon Soc'y v. Lee, 742 F.2d 901, 909-10 (5th Cir. 1984); see also 33 C.F.R. § 320.1(c) (1990) ("If an activity is covered by a general permit, an application for a . . . [Corps] permit does not have to be made. In such cases, a person must only comply with the conditions contained in the general permit to satisfy requirements of law for a . . . [Corps] permit.").

Regardless of which route is followed, however, the Corps cannot issue a permit under section 404 without first obtaining state certification pursuant to section 401 from the state in which the activity is to take place. See 33 C.F.R. §§ 330.9(a), 336.1(b)(8) (1990); Marathon Development, 867 F.2d at 100 ("[T]he state certification requirement of section 401 applies to section 404(e) nationwide permits in the same way that it applies to any other section 404 permit."); Friends of the Earth v. United States Navy, 841 F.2d 927, 929-30 (9th Cir. 1988). At about the same time that Keating was seeking a site-specific state certification for his Tungstar project, the Corps sought state certification in connection with 26 nationwide permits covering a range of modest construction, navigational and similar activities. See 33 C.F.R. § 330.5 (1990) (listing nationwide permits). On October 31, 1986, the California State Water Resources Control Board ("the State Board") — the parent agency of the Regional Board then considering Keating's project — granted a blanket state certification authorizing the activities set out in all 26 Corps nationwide permits. See State Water Resources Control Board, 1986 Amended Decision (Oct. 31, 1986), reprinted in Appendix ("App.") Tab 3. The State Board's certification included a number of conditions concerning particular regions in the state, none of which were relevant to Keating's project, and claimed to reserve "discretionary authority to revoke certification, or set additional conditions of certification, for such permits on a case-by-case basis." Id. Based on this certification, the Corps issued final permits on January 12, 1987.

Keating's Tungstar project is covered by the last of the general permits issued by the Corps. On October 11, 1987, Keating wrote to the Los Angeles District of the Corps, seeking confirmation that his proposed Tungstar project fell within the scope of the nationwide permit. On November 18, 1987, the Corps replied, agreeing that Keating's project was authorized by the Corps' Nationwide Permit No. 26. See Letter from Clifford Radar, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to Joseph Keating (Nov. 18, 1987) (citing 33 C.F.R. § 330.5(a)(26) (Nationwide Permit No. 26)), reprinted in App. Tab 7. "As long as you comply with the nationwide permit conditions," the Corps letter stated, "an individual permit is not required." Id. (citation omitted).

Although it is undisputed that Keating had a Corps section 404 permit for his project, and that this permit was granted with the requisite state certification, he nonetheless ran into difficulties in connection with his application for a section 4(e) license from FERC. Under section 401(a)(3) of the Clean Water Act, absent other valid objections, FERC was obliged to accept the certification underlying the Corps permit as satisfying the state certification requirement with respect to Keating's section 4(e) license application. See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988). However, on April 30, 1987, the California Regional Board, which had continued to review Keating's application for certification specific to the Tungstar site, denied Keating's request without prejudice because Keating allegedly had failed to submit all environmental documentation required by state law. See Letter from James L. Easton, Exec. Dir., State Water Resources Control Board, to Joseph M. Keating (Apr. 30, 1987), reprinted in App. Tab 4. Upon learning of this situation, officials at FERC apparently believed that they were faced with conflicting signals from the State of California concerning whether Keating had the requisite state certification to support his section 4(e) license application. On the one hand, the State Board had certified that projects satisfying the criteria spelled out in the Corps' Nationwide Permit No. 26 would conform with state water quality standards, and the Corps had subsequently confirmed that Keating's project fell within the scope of that permit. On the other hand, the Regional Board had later denied Keating's site-specific request for certification on grounds of inadequate environmental data.

In light of these arguably inconsistent pronouncements, FERC sought clarification from the State of California regarding certification of the Tungstar project. Specifically, FERC asked the State Board whether the Regional Board's project-specific denial of certification for the Tungstar project in April 1987 purported to revoke the State Board's October 1986 blanket certification of projects, like Keating's, satisfying the Corps' nationwide permit criteria. See Joseph Martin Keating, 45 F.E.R.C. (CCH) P61,112, at 61,351 (Oct. 27, 1988) (order on motion for expedited action on license application), reprinted in App. 10. The State Board responded on December 9, 1988, confirming that the Regional Board's action vitiated the state's earlier certification given in connection with the Corps nationwide permits. The State Board explained that it had never intended by its blanket Corps certification to certify any individual projects for purposes of a later federal power license and that if "certification of Nationwide Permits applies to applications for hydropower licenses under the Federal Power Act, that certification was revoked as applied to the Tungstar project." See California State Water Resources Control Board Response to Request for Advice Regarding the Status of State Water Quality Certification Under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act for the Tungstar Project 3 (Dec. 9, 1988), reprinted in App. Tab 11.

On the basis of the state's reply, FERC held itself powerless to act on Keating's application. "In light of the Board's December 12, 1988[,] filing," FERC wrote, "it has not been shown that the Tungstar Project has water quality certification." See Joseph Martin Keating, 47 F.E.R.C. (CCH) P61,170, at 61,554 (May 2, 1989) (order denying motion for expedited action on license application), reprinted in App. Tab 1. Accordingly, the agency suspended consideration of Keating's license application until Keating could produce an unclouded state certification. Id.

In his petition for rehearing, Keating objected vigorously to FERC's acceptance of California's decision to revoke the certification Keating claimed to hold under the state's 1986 blanket approval of the Corps' nationwide [21 ELR 20695] permits. Keating argued that section 401(a)(3) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988), limits the power of a state to revoke a prior certification once a federal license or permit — such as a Corps section 404 permit — has been issued on the basis of that certification. California's attempted revocation, Keating continued, was invalid by the terms of that federal law and FERC was therefore obligated to treat California's original certification of his project as valid for purposes of his subsequent section 4(e) license application.

In reply, FERC refused Keating's demand that it review the validity of California's purported revocation. The agency contended that "[a] review of the case law on section 401 of [the Clean Water Act] . . . indicates that the issue of whether a state certifying agency has legally revoked validly issued project-specific or blanket water quality certification is reviewable in the state courts, not by this Commission." See Joseph Martin Keating, 49 F.E.R.C. (CCH) P61,343, at 62,229 (Dec. 18, 1989) (order denying rehearing) ("Rehearing Order"), reprinted in App. Tab 2. The Commission acknowledged Keating's argument that federal law governed the validity of California's action, but held nonetheless that Keating's only recourse was a challenge in the state courts. As the Commission later explained in response to Keating's arguments concerning the controlling effect of section 401(a)(3) of the Clean Water Act, "whatever may be the validity of these contentions, the Commission's position here is that they must be raised and decided by the state agency and thereafter, if necessary, reviewed in state court." See Brief for Respondent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at 21, Keating v. FERC, No. 90-1080 (D.C. Cir. Mar. 8, 1991).

Because Keating refused to pursue any such state remedies, FERC dismissed his license application. See Rehearing Order, 49 F.E.R.C. at 62,231. Keating then filed this petition for judicial review.

II. ANALYSIS

A. This Court's Authority and the Issue on Appeal

In section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act, Congress delegated to the Federal Power Commission, now the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the authority to issue licenses for the construction and operation of hydroelectric facilities. 16 U.S.C. § 797(e) (1988). We have jurisdiction to review FERC's final order dismissing Keating's application under section 313(b) of the Federal Power Act. 16 U.S.C. § 825l(b) (1988).

The dispute between Keating and the Commission is relatively narrow: whether the blanket certification issued by by California in October 1986 continues in effect for Keating's Tungstar project or whether California's claimed revocation of that approval in April 1987 effectively blocks the issuance of the FERC license. It is clear on these facts that the resolution of this dispute is controlled by a provision of federal law, section 401(a)(3) of the Clean Water Act. The only question remaining is who must apply that provision — FERC or the state courts.

At first blush, the record in this case suggested that state and federal authorities had overlapping, and seemingly conflicting, authority in connection with Keating's section 4(e) license application. Thus, it appeared that this case might pose an impossible dilemma with respect to the jurisdiction of federal and state agencies to enforce the Clean Water Act. Upon careful consideration, however, the facts at hand are relatively straightforward and the applicable legal standards are not unclear.

At bottom, this case strictly concerns an application of section 401(a)(3) of the Clean Water Act. See note 2 supra. The Army Corps of Engineers first received state certification under section 401 for its section 404(e) nationwide permits. The Corps then issued permits, one of which covered Keating's project. The Corps deemed the state certification underlying its permits to be final and unqualified, at least insofar as Keating's project was concerned. See note 4 infra. Thus, the state certification underlying the Corps permit should have been sufficient under section 401(a)(3) to support Keating's application for a section 4(e) license from FERC. Under section 401(a)(3), the only way that FERC could reject the prior certification as insufficient to support the section 4(e) license application was upon a finding that the State of California, within 60 days after proper notice, gave notice to FERC that there was "no longer reasonable assurance that [Keating would comply with the applicable water quality standards] . . . because of changes since the [issuance of California's 1986 blanket certification] . . . in (A) the construction or operation of the facility, (B) the characteristics of the waters into which such discharge is made, (C) the water quality criteria applicable to such waters or (D) applicable effluent limitations or other requirements." 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988). In other words, a state may revoke a prior certification that might otherwise support a subsequent license application, but only pursuant to the terms of, and for the reasons indicated in, section 401(a)(3).

Thus, this case boils down to an analysis of whether FERC was justified in refusing to recognize the state certification underlying the Corps permit as valid and sufficient for purposes of Keating's subsequent application for a section 4(e) license. Stated alternatively, the question before us focuses on FERC's authority to decide whether the state's purported revocation of its prior certification satisfied the terms of section 401(a)(3). We have no doubt that the question posed is a matter of federal law, and that it is one for FERC to decide in the first instance.

B. The Statutory Framework

In designing the Clean Water Act, Congress plainly intended an integration of both state and federal authority. Although federal licenses are required for most activities that will affect water quality, an applicant for such a license must first obtain state approval of the proposed project. See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1) (1988). The states remain, under the Clean Water Act, the "prime bulwark in the effort to abate water pollution," see United States v. Puerto Rico, 721 F.2d 832, 838 (1st Cir. 1983), and Congress expressly empowered them to impose and enforce water quality standards that are more stringent than those required by federal law, see 33 U.S.C. § 1370 (1988). At the very outset of the statute, Congress made clear that

[i]t is the policy of the Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution, to plan the development and use . . . of land and water resources, and to consult with the Administrator in the exercise of his authority under this chapter.

33 U.S.C. § 1251(b) (1988).

One of the primary mechanisms through which the states may assert the broad authority reserved to them is the certification requirement set out in section 401 of the Act. Section (a)(1) of that provision says that no federal license or permit may be granted in the absence of the requisite state certification indicating that no state water quality standards will be violated by the proposed project. See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1) (1988). Through this requirement, [21 ELR 20696] Congress intended that the states would retain the power to block, for environmental reasons, local water projects that might otherwise win federal approval. See Marathon Development, 867 F.2d at 99-100; 2 W. RODGERS, JR., ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: AIR AND WATER § 4.2, at 26 (1986) ("Section 401 offers a veto power to states with water quality related concerns about licensing activities of the various federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Corps of Engineers, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.").

There is no doubting that FERC is bound by federal law to refuse a section 4(e) license application that is unsupported by a valid state certification under section 401. See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1) (1988); City of Fredericksburg, 876 F.2d at 1111. Nor do we doubt the propriety of a federal agency's refusal to review the validity of a state's decision to grant or deny a request for certification in the first instance, before any federal license or permit has yet been issued. Such a decision presumably turns on questions of substantive state environmental law — an area that Congress expressly intended to reserve to the states and concerning which federal agencies have little competence. It is for these reasons that a number of courts have held that disputes over such matters, at least so long as they precede the issuance of any federal license or permit, are properly left to the states themselves. See Marathon Development, 867 F.2d at 102; Proffitt v. Rohm & Haas, 850 F.2d 1007, 1009 (3d Cir. 1988) (dictum); Roosevelt Campobello Int'l Park Comm'n v. EPA, 684 F.2d 1041, 1056 (1st Cir. 1982); Lake Erie Alliance for the Protection of the Coastal Corridor v. United States Army Corps of Eng'rs, 526 F. Supp. 1063, 1074 (W.D. Pa. 1981), aff'd mem., 707 F.2d 1392 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 915 (1983); Mobil Oil Corp. v. Kelley, 426 F. Supp. 230, 234-36 (S.D. Ala. 1976).

The certification power of the states under section 401 is not, however, unbounded. Whatever freedom the states may have to impose their own substantive policies in reaching initial certification decisions, the picture changes dramatically once that decision has been made and a federal agency has acted upon it. Thus, under section (a)(3) of section 401, Congress created a presumption that a state certification issued for purposes of a federal construction permit will be valid for purposes of a federal construction permit will be valid for purposes of a second federal license related to the operation of the same facility.³ A state may overcome that presumption and revoke certification for purposes of the second federal license, but only under limited circumstances expressly defined in the statute. See note 2 supra.

C. Keating's Case

As indicated above, it is obvious that section 401(a)(3) controls the disposition of this case. The Commission did not doubt that a valid state certification had been granted by California for activities covered by the Corps' nationwide permits. Nor can it be doubted, given that section 401 certification is a predicate to the issuance of any section 404 permit, and that a Corps dredge-and-fill permit is a federal permit "with respect to the construction of a[] facility" within the meaning of section 401(a)(3). It is also significant that the Commission made an express finding that a "Corps section 404 permit for the Tungstar Project [had] . . . issued and [was] . . . final," see Rehearing Order, 49 F.E.R.C. at 62,230, a conclusion that has been reinforced by the Corps itself.⁴ From these facts, it is clear that section 401(a)(3) governs the validity of California's attempt, after a valid Corps section 404 permit had issued, to revoke its prior certification for purposes of Keating's second federal license application.

The arguably equivocal language used in California's section 401 certification to the Corps does not require a contrary result. We recognize the authority of states to impose express conditions upon the issuance of a particular certification. When states make compliance with specified conditions a prerequisite to the effectiveness of a certification, the federal Government has been prepared to enforce those conditions. See Roosevelt Campobello, 684 F.2d at 1055-57; 33 U.S.C. § 1341(d) (1988); 33 C.F.R. §§ 325.4(a)(1), 330.9(a) (1990) (Corps section 404 permits will incorporate conditions specified by states in underlying section 401 certifications). In this case, however, we are confronted not by any such conditions precedent, but rather by the state's claim of a general reservation of discretionary authority to revoke prior blanket certification as to particular projects at any time and apparently for any reason. Such a broad reservation of authority cannot be squared with Congress' purpose in section 401(a)(3). The statute allows a state to revoke a prior certification only within a specified time limit and only pursuant to certain defined circumstances; if a state could revoke a prior certification at any time and for any (or no) reason, however, section 401(a)(3) would be rendered meaningless. Obviously, such a result would make no sense.

It is the applicability of section 401(a)(3) that separates this case from those relied upon by FERC in asserting that the validity of a state's action in connection with certification is a question exclusively for the state courts. It is true that some of those cases suggested broadly that "certification under Section 401 is set up as an exclusive p[r]erogative of the state and is not to be reviewed by . . . any agency of the federal government." See Mobil Oil, 426 F. Supp. at 234. But, to our knowledge, none of those cases involved a situation in which a state sought to revoke certification after a federal agency had already issued a permit based upon the state's earlier approval — i.e., the scenario contemplated by section 401(a)(3). In Mobil Oil, for instance, upon which FERC relies heavily, a state agency granted section 401(a)(3) certification to a project for purposes of a Corps of Engineers drilling permit and then revoked that certification before the Corps had acted upon the application. Because no federal permit had yet been issued, section 401(a)(3) had no application and the court found no federal law purporting to control the state's action. The court's decision in that context to abstain from intervening in the state's certification decision in no way suggests, however, that this court should follow suit, given that a Corps permit has already issued in Keating's case and that section 401(a)(3) clearly applies.

D. Applying Section 401(a)(3)

As we have suggested, section 401(a)(3) permits state [21 ELR 20697] revocation of prior certification only if certain conditions are met. The first is timeliness: the state must notify the relevant federal licensing agency of its intention to revoke within 60 days of the time it is itself notified that a new license application is pending. The second is that the revocation be driven by some change in circumstances "since the construction license or permit certification was issued." See 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988). If either of these conditions is not met — if the state's decision comes too late or if it is not pursuant to changed circumstances — then the attempted revocation is invalid as a matter of federal law and no further inquiry is needed.

There can be no serious claim that FERC is without any authority to consider the validity of a state's purported revocation of a prior certification under section 401(a)(3). At a minimum, FERC must find that the purported revocation is timely and that the state's action was assertedly taken in response to changed circumstances pursuant to section 401(a)(3). In this case, there is no claim that the state's objection to FERC was untimely,⁵ but neither is there any suggestion that the state's purported revocation came "because of changes since the [Corps] . . . permit certification was issued." 33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988) (emphasis added). This is a matter that FERC must consider on remand.

If FERC finds that the state's revocation was both timely and assertedly because of changed circumstances, then the question will arise whether the motivating change in circumstance falls within one of the four categories specified in section 401(a)(3).⁶ FERC has suggested, without any good explanation, that Keating's sole recourse for resolution of this question is before a state agency or a state court. We recognize that, in certain cases, the resolution of a disputed claim over "changed circumstances" under section 401(a)(3) may involve a question of state law or an application of state water quality standards, neither of which is within the expertise or normal jurisdiction of FERC. In such a situation, we could hardly doubt the wisdom of FERC's declination of jurisdiction to resolve the section 401(a)(3) question. However, other cases might arise regarding claims of "changed circumstances" under section 401(a)(3) that easily can be resolved by FERC, without resort to consideration of state law or the applicable water quality standards.

FERC has been too quick to assume that it has no role to play in the application of section 401(a)(3). It is true that the state, alone, decides whether to certify under section 401(a)(3). The issue under section 401(a)(3), however, involves a different question,i.e., one going to the authority of a federal agency to issue a federal permit or license once the state has already issued a certification. A state can affect federal authority under section 401(a)(3) only to the extent therein indicated. Thus, the application of section 401(a)(3) involves a federal question that, absent satisfactory explanation, presumably must be resolved by the applicable federal licensing authority and the federal courts. Cf. New Orleans Pub. Serv., Inc. v. Council of New Orleans, 109 S. Ct. 2506, 2512-13 (1989) ("We have no more right to decline the exercise of jurisdiction which is given, than to usurp that which is not given. . . . [T]he courts of the United States are bound to proceed to judgment and to afford redress to suitors before them in every case to which their jurisdiction extends. They cannot abdicate their authority or duty in any case in favor of another jurisdiction.") (inner quotation marks and citations omitted).

In any event, FERC has given no adequate explanation in this case for its refusal to apply section 401(a)(3). We offer no final judgment on this question, save to say that FERC must at least decide whether the state's assertion of revocation satisfies section 401(a)(3)'s predicate requirements — i.e., whether it is timely and motivated by some change in circumstances after the certification was issued. Beyond that, assuming the predicate requirements are met, we do not decide whether FERC must go on to determine whether the asserted changed circumstance falls within one of section 401(a)(3)'s enumerated categories. FERC must, however, either decide the question itself or articulate a satisfactory explanation for why Congress would have intended to leave the application of some or all of section 401(a)(3)'s categorical provisions to the state courts alone.

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is granted and the case is remanded to the Commission for further proceedings.

So ordered.

1. (1) Any applicant for a Federal license or permit to conduct any activity including, but not limited to, the construction or operation of facilities, which may result in any discharge into the navigable waters, shall provide the licensing or permitting agency a certification from the State in which the discharge originates or will originate, or, if appropriate, from the interstate water pollution control agency having jurisdiction over the navigable waters at the point where the discharge originates or will originate, that any such discharge will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 1311, 1312, 1313, 1316, and 1317 of this title. In the case of any such activity for which there is not an applicable effluent limitation or other limitation under sections 1311(b) and 1312 of this title, and there is not an applicable standard under sections 1316 and 1317 of this title, the State shall so certify, except that any such certification shall notbe deemed to satisfy section 1371(c) of this title. Such State or interstate agency shall establish procedures for public notice in the case of all applications for certification by it and, to the extent it deems appropriate, procedures for public hearings in connection with specific applications. In any case where a State or interstate agency has no authority to give such a certification, such certification shall be from the Administrator. If the State, interstate agency, or Administrator, as the case may be, fails or refuses to act on a request for certification, within a reasonable period of time (which shall not exceed one year) after receipt of such request, the certification requirements of this subsection shall be waived with respect to such Federal application. No license or permit shall be granted until the certification required by this section has been obtained or has been waived as provided in the preceding sentence. No license or permit shall be granted if certification has been denied by the State, interstate agency, or the Administrator, as the case may be.

33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1) (1988).

2. (3) The certification obtained pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect to the construction of any facility shall fulfill the requirements of this subsection with respect to certification in connection with any other Federal license or permit required for the operation of such facility unless, after notice to the certifying State, agency, or Administrator, as the case may be, which shall be given by the Federal agency to whom application is made for such operating license or permit, the State, or if appropriate, the interstate agency or the Administrator, notifies such agency within sixty days after receipt of such notice that there is no longer reasonable assurance that there will be compliance with the applicable provisions of sections 1311, 1312, 1313, 1316, and 1317 of this title because of changes since the construction license or permit certification was issued in (A) the construction or operation of the facility, (B) the characteristics of the waters into which such discharge is made, (C) the water quality criteria applicable to such waters or (D) applicable effluent limitations or other requirements. This paragraph shall be inapplicable in any case where the applicant for such operating license or permit has failed to provide the certifying State, or, if appropriate, the interstate agency or the Administrator, with notice of any proposed changes in the construction or operation of the facility with respect to which a construction license or permit has been granted, which changes may result in violation of section 1311, 1312, 1313, 1316, or 1317 of this title.

33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988).

3. The applicable portion of section 401(a)(3) provides:

The certification obtained pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect to the construction of any facility shall fulfill the requirements of this subsection with respect to certification in connection with any other Federal license or permit required for the operation of such facility unless, after notice to the certifying State, [specified changed circumstances are present] . . . .

33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1988).

4. Corps officials have indicated that the nationwide permit issued under section 404 remains valid for purposes of Keating's project despite California's attempted revocation of the certification underlying it. See Letter from B. N. Goode, Chief, Regulatory Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to John H. Tait (Mar. 10, 1989) ("If a state 'decertifies' a general or individual permit after the Corps has issued the permit in good faith reliance on the original certification, the Corps does not recognize an obligation to revoke the Corps permit but may elect to modify or revoke the permit at its own discretion . . . ."), reprinted in App. Tab 13.

5. In fact, it is unclear whether the state was ever given the official federal notice that is contemplated under section 401(a)(3). The 60-day time limit for state objection set out in that section is not triggered until the state receives notice from the second federal licensing authority that there is a pending license application premised upon the state's earlier certification. Thus, in assessing the timeliness of California's asserted revocation on remand, FERC must first determine whether and when it notified the state of Keating's section 4(e) license application.

6. The motivating change in circumstances must be related to:

(A) the construction or operation of the facility, (B) the characteristics of the waters into which such discharge is made, (C) the water quality criteria applicable to such waters or (D) applicable effluent limitations or other requirements.

33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(3) (1986).