Legal Opinion
National Mining Ass'n v. Kempthorne
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Decided January 15, 2008No. 06-5199PublishedCited by 41 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge GRIFFITH.
GRIFFITH, Circuit Judge:
The Secretary of the Interior has interpreted the phrase “valid existing rights” in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to foreclose surface mining operations in sensitive areas. The National Mining Association challenges this reading of the statute, but we conclude that we must defer to the Secretary’s reasonable interpretation of this ambiguous phrase.
I
In 1977, Congress enacted the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (“SMCRA”), 30 U.S.C. §§ 1201 et seg., “to protect society and the environment…
2Cases cited38 opinions
- Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1984
- Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better EnvironmentSupreme Court of the United States · 1998
- Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Assn. of United States, Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Automobile Ins. Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1983
- Arbaugh v. Y & H Corp.Supreme Court of the United States · 2006
- Hunt v. Washington State Apple Advertising CommissionSupreme Court of the United States · 1977
33 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by41 opinions
- Diouf v. NapolitanoCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 2011
- Rafael Guerrero-Sanchez v. Warden York County PrisonCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2018
- In Re Islamic Republic of Iran Terrorism LitigationDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 2009
- Cablevision Systems Corp. v. Federal Communications CommissionCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 2011
- Ken McMaster v. United StatesCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 2013
36 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.