Kleppe v. Sierra Club

427 U.S. 390 (1976)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Ps, several organizations, were concerned with the environment and coal development in an area called the Northern Great Plains Region. Ps brought this suit claiming that federal officials could not allow further development without preparing a 'comprehensive environmental impact statement' under § 102(2)(C) on the entire region. All the present action by D involved issues that were either local or national in scope. The District Court, on the basis of extensive findings of fact and conclusions of law, held that the complaint stated no claim for relief and granted D’s motions for summary judgment. The court found that there were no existing or proposed plans or programs for the region and as such NEPA did not apply. Ps appealed. The court of appeals agreed with Ps and reversed and remanded for further proceedings. The Court of Appeals also issued an injunction -- over a dissent -- against D's approval of four mining plans in the Powder River Coal Basin, which is one small but coal-rich section of the region that concerns Ps. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.