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Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems • ANWR example – Uncertainty – Federalism; nationalism • Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch v. Maryland – Whose interests should be considered and what weight should they be given? – What is the risk of “rent-seeking”?

Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

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Page 1: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems

• ANWR example– Uncertainty

– Federalism; nationalism• Who should decide? Aren’t they “national”

resources? McCulloch v. Maryland

– Whose interests should be considered and what weight should they be given?

– What is the risk of “rent-seeking”?

Page 2: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Review: Resource Management Tools

• Prescriptive regulations– “Command and control”

• Property rights– Leases, fee estates, easements

• Market Instruments – Payments and penalties – Tradable permits

• Public Disclosure– Example of EPCRTKA

Page 3: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: The Red Snapper Fishery

• If over-fishing is occurring, how would you choose to address the problem?

• Compare – Prescriptive regulation– Property rights– Market instruments (cap and trade; fines; taxes)– Public disclosure

• Any difference in approach to commercial and recreational fisherman?

Page 4: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Consider the New Zealand Solution• Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ)

– First proposed for New Zealand fisheries in 1983 and finally introduced in 1986

– These quotas are permanent but restricted to a given species and location

– Together the ITQs add up to a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) which ensures that only a sustainable number of fish are caught

• How might New Zealand address aboriginal rights under this system?

• How should they address recreational fishing rights?

Page 5: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Private Property and Public Rights• What does Professor Cole mean by “private”

property?– “not … allodial [unfettered] property devoid of public

rights, but property nominally owned by private individuals, subject to various group or public interests.”

• What relevance does Professor Cole’s view of private property have to the study of natural resources law?– Consider the recent debate over ownership of the

littoral (lakeside) land – What does Cole’s view suggest about “takings” law

Page 6: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Should We Privatize Public Lands?

• Costs of managing our public lands far exceed revenues…– Is this a sufficient reason in itself to support

the sale of public lands?– What values are not captured by these

figures?– Would privatizing favor particular uses?– Consider Anderson’s proposal to issue every

citizen a share certificate. Would this avoid the advantage that industry might have in a pure auction?

Page 7: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Historical and Constitutional Geography

What was driving expansion of U.S. territory?

• Manifest destiny– Popularized and aggressively pursued by Democratic

President James K. Polk– Polk only served one term (1845-1849). Although

politically popular he chose not to seek reelection in 1848, and he died just 3 months after leaving office at the age of only 53

– Although not well-known, historians generally regard Polk as one of our better presidents

• Federal policy of promoting western expansion and settlement was made possible by the disposition of public lands and resources. – These “lords of yesterday,” who carried out the expansion,

retain substantial power today

Page 8: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

How did the United States evolve from original 13 colonies?

• British Proclamation of 1763: Common Lands Policy– No settlement west of Appalachian mountains

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787– Following independence from England, provided the basis upon

which all future states would enter the Union– The Northwest Territories would eventually become Ohio, Indiana,

Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota– States would enter on “equal footing;” revenue from sale of a portion

of each township would support schools; neither slavery nor involuntary servitude were allowed; and finally, a good faith effort would be made to respect the Indians in the territory.

• By 1802 all seven of the original colonies that held western territory had ceded their lands to the federal government

Page 9: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

• In 1803 Louisiana territory was purchased from France (about 523 million acres -- doubled the size of U.S.). The Transcontinental (Adams-Onis) Treaty of 1819 with Spain fixed borders between Louisiana Territory and Mexico

• In 1819 treaty, Spain ceded Florida to U.S.

• Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836, and was admitted to Union in 1845 through annexation (Texas retained its public lands.)

• In the Treaty of Oregon in 1846, after 28 years of peaceful “joint occupation”, Britain relinquished its claims to the Oregon territory south of the 49th parallel.

Page 10: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848 (Mexican Cession)

– Mexico ceded California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona, parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming to U.S.

• 1850 purchase of 79 million acres from Texas

– Parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming

• Gadsden Purchase Treaty of 1853 – 19 millions acres south of Gila River includes parts of southern Arizona

and New Mexico

• Alaskan Purchase of 1867 by Treaty with Russia

• Annexation of Hawaii in 1898

Page 11: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch
Page 12: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Acquisition of Lands from the Indians• U.S. Const. art. 1, § 8, cl.3: Gives Congress the power to

regulate commerce with the Indian Tribes

• Johnson v. M’Intosh– Johnson claims title through tribal grants; M’Intosh by patent from U.S.

(What is a patent?)– Property rights of the original habitats not “disregarded” but “impaired”

• They had rights of possession and use, but not disposal (But they were entitled to protection)

• Federal government had the power to extinguish their title– Discovery gave title to those who made it– Not for U.S. courts to question validity of title acquired from Britain

(Why not?)

• What is the nature of aboriginal title?– Can be extinguished by U.S. without compensation– Tribe must show actual, continuous, and exclusive possession

Page 13: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Treatment of Native Americans• Cohen suggests that we consider not in today’s

context but in its historic context

• Rasband describes a series of approaches to dealing with Indians– Federal consent and control (Trade and Intercourse Acts)– Removal policy (“Trail of Tears”)

• http://www.rosecity.net/tears/trail/map.html

– Reservation policy– Assimilation policy (Allotment Acts)– Between 1950’s and today, various shifts between self-

determination and assimilation (Self-determination seems well-established today.)

Page 14: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Federal Power Over Western Territories• Equal Footing Doctrine

– Northwest Ordinance assured new states entered Union on equal footing

– Existing colonies wanted federal property in the territories

• Pollard v. Hagan– Upheld state’s title to land under navigable waters– Dictum went much farther

• Equal footing compelled by constitution• Federal government had no authority to keep and

regulate public lands• Enclave clause established limits of federal power

over public land– Pollard dictum has never been followed– What would the national landscape look like if Pollard

dictum had prevailed?

Page 15: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Lands Under Navigable Waters

• Martin v. Waddell– Held by the States in trust for the people

• State vs. federal rights over navigable water – Strong presumption that lands under navigable

waters are held by the State (Utah case)– But these rights can be defeated by clear federal

grant (Couer d’Alene) or reservation (ANWR) of such rights prior to Statehood

Page 16: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: Navigable Waters

• Navigability in fact test from The Daniel Ball– “Those rivers must be regarded as public navigable

rivers in law which are navigable in fact. And they are navigable in fact when they are used, or are susceptible of being used, in their ordinary condition, as highways for commerce, over which trade and travel are or may be conducted in the customary modes of trade and travel on water. And they constitute navigable waters of the United States within the meaning of the acts of Congress, in contradistinction from the navigable waters of the States, when they form in their ordinary condition by themselves, or by uniting with other waters, a continued highway over which commerce is or may be carried on with other States or foreign countries in the customary modes in which such commerce is conducted by water.”

Page 17: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Review• Manifest destiny and its implications for disposition

of public lands

• Treatment of American Indians and its relevance to resource law– “Discovery” doctrine: The right to extinguish Indian title– Aboriginal title: A possessory right only– Evolution of Indian policy

• Equal footing doctrine– Northwest Ordinance of 1787– Pollard v. Hagan– Ownership of navigable waters bed below mean high tide

• Martin v. Waddell illustrative

Page 18: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D 4: The Scope of Federal Power

• Does it matter that the federal government owns 83% of Nevada but only 0.3% of New York? Are these states on “equal footing”?

• General Condemnation Act of 1888:– Authorizes condemnation whenever “necessary or

advantageous to the Government….”– No need to use the Enclave Clause

• U.S. v. Gettysburg Elec. R.R. – Upholds condemnation of land for inclusion in a public

park

Page 19: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

The Public Trust Doctrine

• Certain resources that are historically owned and controlled by the States are so closely tied to public rights and interests that they are incapable of alienation

• The doctrine first arose in the context of navigable waters– Recall the Pollard and Martin decisions

• What is the nature of the trust? What is its purpose?

Page 20: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Illinois Central RR. v. IllinoisMap of Chicago Harbor

http://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/co-o/Chgo_Hbr02.htm

Page 21: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Illinois Central R.R. v. Illinois• Title to land under navigable waters is held in trust for

people

• Grants that promote public interest or that do not cause substantial impairment of those interests are lawful

• Grant to railroad was “revocable” – Why wasn’t it void outright?

• Consider Court’s references to Martin v. Waddell and Arnold v. Mundy– What does this tell you about the scope of the public

trust “servitude”?

• Is the public trust doctrine federal or state law? Constitutional or common law? Why does it matter?

Page 22: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: Public Trust• Suppose Illinois Central had been filed by private

citizens rather than the State. What result?

• Consider Arizona Center for the Public Interest v. Hassell– Struck down Arizona law granting title to beds

of navigable streams to adjacent owners.

• Consider the potential scope of the public doctrine to other natural resources– Should it apply to the waters themselves;

actions that could impact navigable waters; public recreational rights; public park lands; wildlife

Page 23: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Expanding the Scope of the Trust

• Why might the potential expansion of the doctrine be controversial?

• What concerns does the public trust doctrine raise with respect to…– Separation of powers?– Good governance?– Governmental accountability?– Respect for property rights?– Procedural fairness?

• How might a supporter of the doctrine respond to these concerns?

Page 24: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Lake Erie Shore Controversy• Ohio H.B. 218

– Would grant to Lake Erie shore owners title to shoreline to water’s edge (Passed House; stalled in Senate)

– Many landowners claim they have deeds supporting such rights

• State v. Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad. Co., 94 Ohio St. 61 (1916)– Ohio Supreme Court first recognized that the scope of

public trust property extends to the high water mark– “The state as trustee for the public cannot, by

acquiescence abandon the trust property or enable a diversion of it to private ends different from the object for which the trust was created.”

– If the bill passes it will likely be challenged in court. What result would you expect?

Page 25: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Problem Exercise: Indian Fishing Rights • Indian Treaty Rights

– “The right of taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations, is further secured to said Indians, in common with all citizens of the Territory ….; Provided, however, That they shall not take shell fish from any beds staked or cultivated by citizens….”

– U.S. v. Washington and progeny• Treaty Clause gave Tribes rights to 50% of fish as necessary to

secure a “moderate living.”

– Consider –• Discovery doctrine• American policy of fair dealing with Tribes• Equal footing doctrine• Public trust doctrine

– What impact on shell fishing rights?

Page 26: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

United States v. Washington, 157 F.3d 630  (9th Cir. 1998) (Shellfish Case)

• The Shellfish proviso prohibited Tribes from harvesting shellfish on most commercial growers' property

• Court imposed time, place, and manner restrictions on the Tribes' ability to harvest from privately owned land

• Tribes shellfish rights were limited by “moderate living” standard

• Special masters hear particular disputes – Court rejected lower court decision to allow three of four special

masters to be designated by non-Tribal parties

Page 27: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Public Land Policy• Disposition period

– 1776-1891

• Reservation period (Teddy Roosevelt and Progressive era)– 1892-1905

• Management period– 1906-present

• NOTE: There is considerable overlap among the three periods

Page 28: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Chain of Title• A full title search outside the original 13

colonies and a few other early states (Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky) traces title back to the patent from the United States

• A “patent” is the original grant of title from the United States

• Jeffersonian Survey System had important influence on land use and management– First used in Ohio

Page 29: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Jeffersonian Survey System• Townships are numbered from baselines and meridians.

– E.g., T5N, R6W, 6th P.M.

• Under the Land Ordinance of 1796, all future public land surveys established 6 mile square townships, composed of 36 one mile square sections. But the Land Ordinance also created the Congressional Military Tract in the heart of Ohio which used 5 mile square townships,

• Sections described in quarters and halves• E.g., E½SE¼, § 13, T5N, R6W, 6th P.M.

– States granted section 16 (and some, 2, 32, and 36) to support public schools

Page 30: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Review• Public trust doctrine

– The principle that certain public assets are so important to the public good that they are “incapable of alienation.”

– Historically limited to land under navigable waters, but arguably includes the water itself, and in theory could be extended to encompass other important public assets

• Disposition of public land– Evolved from disposition to reservation to

management

• Review of Jeffersonian Survey System

Page 31: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Township and Range Map http://www.ca.blm.gov/pa/cadastral/meridian.html

Page 32: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Metes and Bounds Descriptions

• A metes and bounds description is a legal description of a parcel of land that begins at a well-marked point and follows the boundaries, using directions and distances around the tract, back to the place of beginning

• The word “metes” refers to directions and distances, and “bounds” refers to monuments, both physical and legal.

• Here’s an example:– http://www.firstam.com/faf/dimensions/metes.html

Page 33: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

BLM Master Title Plat (Az.) http://azwww.az.blm.gov/cadastral/java_frm.cfm

Page 34: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Land Grants to the States• School sections to the states

– Section 16 until 1850– Sections 16 and 36 until 1894– Sections 2, 16, 32, and 36 after 1894

• Additional grants for other purposes – See discussion of Arizona Enabling Act, p. 118

• Morrill Act of 1862 gave every state 30,000 acres of federal land to establish agriculture and mechanical colleges. These A & M schools are often referred to as the “land grant” colleges. Many have evolved into leading universities.

Page 35: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Land Grants to Settlers• Initial efforts to sell land to settlers were not very

successful. – Settlers wanted the land for free and if the federal

government was not inclined to give they would just squat on the land

– Preemption Act of 1841 allowed squatters to purchase lands they had settled for $1.25/acre.

• Homestead Act of 1862 allowed citizens to enter 160 acres of land and receive the land for free when they “proved up” – Could purchase the land for $1.25 per acre after 6 months

instead of proving up– Outside the Upper Midwest, implementation of the law was

marred by fraud and abuse, in many cases to benefit large landholders

• What was motivating this generosity by the federal government? Why did they tolerate abuse?

Page 36: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Land Grants to Settlers (continued)• Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909 allowed entry on 320

acres

• Stockraising Homestead Act of 1916 on 640 acres– Federal government retained the minerals

• Timber Culture Act– 160 acres of timber lands

• Desert Lands Act of 1877– 640 acres of desert land had to be irrigated

• Timber and Stone Act of 1878

• General Mining Law of 1872

Page 37: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Land Grants to Railroads• A classic example of public choice theory

– Railroads initially given free rights-of way; then six miles on either side of right-of-way; then 10; then 20; one railroad got 40!

– Was it truly necessary to give away all of this land to promote the railroad?

– Railroads were given land in excess of the size of Montana!

– What were the policy reasons for this approach? What is its legacy?

• RR land grants covered 10% of continental U.S. (Only about ¾ were actually transferred to RR)

• Consider influence as a result of checkerboard

Page 38: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Railroad Land Grantshttp://memory.loc.gov/award/mhsdalad/120000//120033v.jpg

Page 39: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Checkerboard Pattern: (Depicts UP land ownership just north of Laramie, Wyoming

http://www.coxrail.com/land-grants.htm

Page 40: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

The Land Grant Era

• Classic examples of public choice theory– Railroads, private citizens and even

perhaps with state land grants

– But as Carstensen suggests, perhaps it was all inevitable – even necessary – if the larger goals of establishing a nation on the scale of the U.S. was to be achieved.

Page 41: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D 1: The Lords of Yesterday

• Cattle barons, mining companies, timber companies used the land grant laws to establish their hold on the western landscape

• Despite changing times and changing values, it has been difficult to reorient public land policy. Why?

Page 42: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D 2: In Lieu Selections• States were allowed to select lands in lieu

of school lands that were not transferred because of prior reservations or sale– Must be roughly equal value

• What if the purposes for which lands granted were not being well-served?

• Note the problems posed by managing isolated school sections– What is the solution?

Page 43: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Retention of the Public Lands

• Early reservations– National Parks– National monuments

• The Antiquities Act of 1906

• Forest reserves– General Revision Act of 1891– Forest Management Act (Organic Act) of 1897– T. Roosevelt and G. Pinchot

• Wildlife Refuges

Page 44: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

United States v. Midwest Oil• President Taft withdrew more than 3 million acres of lands

in Wyoming and California known to be valuable for oil– Lands withdrawn “in aid of legislation”– What did this mean? Isn’t the order in direct

contravention of the disposition laws? – Should he have claimed “national security”?

• The Constitution provides that –– “The Executive power shall be vested in the

President…” Art. II, §1, cl.1.but …– “The Congress shall have power to dispose of and

make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States…” Art. IV, §3, cl. 2.

Page 45: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Midwest Oil• Court notes that Presidents had issued hundreds

of executive orders over the years creating and modifying Indian reservations, military reservations, and bird reserves– “Nothing was more natural than to retain what the

Government already owned.”– “Government is a practical affair”– Long-continued practice acquiesced in by Congress

• Consistent with the Constitution?– Note the dissent; suggests that other reservations were

made for purposes either authorized by Congress or where grants were made for purposes that could not be ascertained

Page 46: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: Reservations vs. Withdrawals

• Reservations: Lands retained for particular purpose—e.g. forest reserves; Indian reserves; bird reserves

• Withdrawals: Orders that make certain public land laws inoperable on the withdrawn lands– Lands might be withdrawn, for example, from

location under the mining laws, or entry under the homestead laws

Page 47: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: Power to Withdraw• What was the problem presented by the Oil

Placer Act?

• What is the scope of executive power approved under Midwest Oil?

• To what extent should congressional acquiescence be used to construe executive power?

• What is different about a presidential decision to open ANWR (in violation of ANILCA) from the presidential action in Midwest Oil?

Page 48: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: Acquiescence and The Antiquities Act • Is the best argument for the Midwest Oil decision

congressional acquiescence?

• Consider the Antiquities Act– Allows president to reserve “historic landmarks, historic

and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon [public lands]….”

– How broad is the President’s authority here?

• Note that FLPMA repealed virtually every withdrawal power granted the president over the years, including the implied power of Midwest Oil, with one notable exception – the Antiquities Act

Page 49: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

The Decision to Retain the “Public Domain”

• TGA of 1934– “In order to promote the highest and best use of

the public lands pending its final disposition, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized … to establish grazing districts….”

• FLPMA of 1976– Establishes general policy that the “public lands be

retained in Federal ownership…”

Page 50: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Public Landshttp://www.colorado.edu/geography/projects_research/range/brief4_history.html

Page 51: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Legacy of Public Lands Policy

• What would you do differently?

• Consider – Homesteading – State land grants– Railroad grants– Mining and timber policy

Page 52: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: The Money Problem

• Federal government makes “Payment In Lieu of Taxes” (PILT) payments to states

• Also gives states 50% of mineral royalties (Alaska receives 90%)

• Note that despite their complaining, Western states almost always receive more revenue from the federal government than they pay in taxes

Page 53: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: The Alaska Story • Generous terms for statehood

– 103 million acres granted to the State– Problems of native claims

• ANCSA– Nearly one billion dollars in grants and lease revenues to

Alaska natives, – 40 million acres of land– Feds could withdraw 80 million acres temporarily for

consideration by Congress as parks, etc.• (d)(2) lands• Congress failed to reach consensus; withdrawals were

about to expire when Carter used FLPMA’s emergency withdrawal power on 111 million acres AND designated 56 million acres as national monuments

• ANILCA (1980): Sets aside about 100 million acres for parks, refuges, etc.

Page 54: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Federal Power Over Natural Resources

• Constitutional Powers– Public lands: Property Clause

– All lands:• Commerce Clause• Treaty Clause• War Powers Clause• Spending power

• Limits on federal power– First Amendment– Fifth Amendment, Takings Clause– Tenth Amendment

Page 55: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Kleppe v. New Mexico• N.M. removed horse from public lands that were allegedly

causing damage to a private livestock operation

Claimed WFRHBA unconstitutional usurpation of state power to manage wildlife

– Property Clause:• “The Congress shall have power to dispose of and

make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States…” Art. IV, §3, cl. 2.

• Note also, legislative jurisdiction provisions in the constitution (footnote 10)

Page 56: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Kleppe

• State claims

1. Federal power limited to protecting land (Hunt; Camfield)

1. Court finds that cases doesn’t support the conclusion

2. Federal government has only rights of proprietor

1. Court finds that “the power over public lands thus entrusted to Congress is without limitations.” Congress has power as both proprietor and legislature

2. State confuses “derivative legislative power” with power under Property Clause. (What are these derivative powers?)

3. State control of wildlife (Note that Geer was overruled after this case)

1. Court finds that state’s authority is limited by federal constitutional authority

Page 57: Review: Resolving Complex Resource Problems ANWR example –Uncertainty –Federalism; nationalism Who should decide? Aren’t they “national” resources? McCulloch

Q & D: Legislative Jurisdiction

• What is the division of power between New Mexico and the United States after the Kleppe decision?– Who has jurisdiction over a car accident that occurs

on public lands? A murder?

– Who has jurisdiction over float trips on a river that runs through the federal lands? (Does it matter if the river is navigable?)

– Who has jurisdiction to issue hunting and fishing permits?

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Q & D: Dormant Property Clause?

• Oaechevarria held that State police powers extend at least where no conflicting federal law.

• Are there some types of state police powers that are so offensive to federal property rights that they might be limited by a dormant property clause theory?

• Unlikely to be tested because NFMA and FLPMA give agencies broad general powers

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Problem Exercise: Sagebrush Rebellion/County Supremacy Movements

• Pollard v. Hagan analysis– Equal footing doctrine: New states enter

the Union on equal footing

• Kleppe v. New Mexico analysis– Plenary federal power over states

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Minnesota v. Block

• Federal lands comprise 90% of BWCAW, but state owns 121,000 acres of land and all the land under the navigable waters

• What is the scope of federal authority to restrict motor boat use on waters within the boundaries of the BWCAW?

• Court suggests that federal government has broad power to regulate any activities that impact federal land

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Q & D: Property Clause

• Note 2: Consider Professor Appel’s hypos. Under the guise of the Property Clause could Congress…– Authorize gaming on national forest lands in

states where gaming is prohibited?– Prohibit guns within 1000’ of a federal

property?– Regulate private air pollution sources that

might impact public parks?

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Geer v. Connecticut(overturned in 1979)

• Does the State have the power to prohibit the sale of a game bird out-of-state?

• Court holds that they do –– Power to take animals ferae naturae passed to

the states (under equal footing doctrine?)

– State owns wildlife as a trustee for all of its people

• State law prohibiting out of state sale benefits the people of the State

• State is merely regulating internal commerce

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Geer Considered• Can you reconcile Geer with dormant commerce

clause cases?

• Who owns the wildlife under Geer –– In Connecticut? (equal footing?)– In territories?– On public lands?

• Is wildlife a public trust resource?– After Geer is overruled, does it remain a trust resource?

• The Abby Dodge holds that commerce clause power does not extend to state wildlife– Is the Abby Dodge still good law? (never overruled)

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Treaty Power• Missouri v. Holland

– 10th Amendment• “The powers not delegated to the United States by the

constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

– Treaty power: Art. II, § 2, cl. 2• [The President] shall have the power, by and with the

advice and consent of the Senate to make treaties – Does the 10th amendment limit the president’s power to

make treaties? What is Missouri’s argument?– Who decides whether national interests are at stake?

• What is the potential of the treaty power? – Consider the Australian experience

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Commerce Clause• Consider recent court cases (Lopez and Morrison)

• Gibbs v. Babbitt– Reintroduction of red wolf in North Carolina

• Challenge to “anti-taking” rules– Lopez recognizes Congress’ power to regulate –

• Channels of interstate commerce• Instrumentalities of or things in interstate commerce• Activities that when viewed in aggregation have a substantial

relation to interstate commerce– Courts finds authority under this third prong

• Wolves have significant impact on tourism• Scientific research is commerce• Potential for future trading in pelts• Takings restrictions impact commerce, and thus qualify even

though their impact is to limit commerce – negative impact

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Gibbs v. Babbitt• Luttig dissent

– Rule implicates a handful of animals in one small part of one state

– Studies supporting majority position are not compelling

• Could this rule be sustained under the treaty power? – Convention on Biological Diversity (signed, 1993; never

ratified)– Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species (CITES): Applies only to trade in species and species parts

• How about the Property Clause?– The recovery area includes the wildlife refuge

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Q & D: SWANCC case

• Issuance of Section 404 (CWA) permits for isolated wetlands– Courts construed CWA to avoid the

“significant constitutional and federalism questions.”

– Does migratory bird rule violate the Commerce Clause?

– Could it be sustained on other authority?

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The Takings Clause and Natural Resources

• 5th Amendment– “… nor shall private property be taken for public

use without just compensation”

• Penn Coal: – Regulations that go “too far” may constitute a

taking

• Penn Central RR– Regulations that interfere with distinct, investment-

backed expectations may constitute a taking

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Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council“[F]or what is the land but the profits thereof[?]” 1 E. Coke,

Institutes § 1 (1st Am. ed. 1812). (Compare Leopold)

• Lucas owned beachfront property– State rule barred construction of permanent structures on

two parcels owned by Lucas– State court found that this rendered the property valueless

(True?)

• “Categorical treatment” reserved for –– physical appropriations; and– total regulatory takings

• Majority rejects noxious use analysis in favor of nuisance analysis– Total taking requires compensation unless state rule is

abating a nuisance

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Categorical Regulatory Takings Test

• Does the regulation deprive the owner of all economically beneficial use of the property?– How do you define the “denominator”?– Is it conceivable that the landowner in Lucas had

lost all economic value? (Recall that he was prohibited from building a permanent structure)

• If so, does the regulation proscribe a use that would be deemed a nuisance under background principles of the State’s property laws?– See note 15 from the dissent. Can you make an

argument that a permanent structure on Lucas’ land constitutes a nuisance?

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Q & D: Lucas• First English Evangelical Lutheran Church

– Requires compensation for “temporary taking”

• Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council– Moratorium on permits was not a “temporary taking.”

Court suggests that “the familiar Penn Central approach” should be used to adjudge such delays. What is this approach?

• Suppose that USFWS requires farmers to give up water right during one irrigation season to protect a listed species. Is this a temporary taking?– Apply Penn Central!

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Q & D: Lucas

• Suppose Lucas had purchased lots after Beachfront Mgt Act was passed– Palazzolo v. Rhode Island: Timing of the acquisition

is one factor to consider under Penn Central. (Won’t it be pretty compelling?)

• The exaction cases (Nollan & Dolan)– These are really substantive due process cases,

although the Court treats them and they are almost always described as takings cases

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Problem Exercise

• Loveladies Harbor– Owner of 250 parcel develops 199 acres– wants to develop remaining 51 acres– Reaches agreement with New Jersey to develop

only 12.5 acres– Applies for CWA § 404 permit

• Corps denies permit with NJ’s support

• Categorical taking?– If so, analyze– If not, analyze

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Bear Lodge Multiple Use Association v. Babbitt

• Voluntary climbing ban during June on Devil’s Tower

• Does it violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment?– Does it have a non-secular purpose– Is the primary purpose to advance religion– Does it foster excessive religious entanglement?

• Note that court had struck down mandatory ban on Establishment Clause grounds