Concerned About Trident v. Donald H. Rumsfeld, Individually and as Secretary of the Department of Defense (Two Cases)’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

50 federal appellate · 21 district · 7 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 104 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The Navy, just like any federal agency, must carry out its NEPA mandate 'to the fullest extent possible' and this mandate includes weighing the environmental costs of the Trident Program even though the project has serious national security implications.”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace v. Nuclear Regulatory Com'n · No Gwen Alliance of Lane County, Inc. v. Aldridge

2. “(A) utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach which will insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts in planning and in decision-making which may have an impact on man’s environment; (B) identify and develop methods and procedures, in consultation with the Council on Envi ronmental Quality established by subchapter II of this chapter, which will insure that presently unquantified environmental amenities and values may be given appropriate consideration in decisionmaking along with economic and technical considerations; (C) include in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, a detailed statement by the responsible official on— (i) the environmental impact of the proposed action, (ii) any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented, (iii) alternatives to the proposed action, (iv) the relationship between local short-term uses of man’s environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and (v) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented. Prior to making any detailed statement, the responsible Federal official shall consult with and obtain the comments of any Federal agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental ”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. City of Willcox v. Federal Power Commission · City of Los Angeles v. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Center for Auto Safety

3. “[I]n order to avoid to the extent possible the long and short term adverse impacts associated with the destruction or modification of wetlands and to avoid direct or indirect support of new construction in wetlands wherever there is a practicable alternative, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. (a) Each agency shall provide leadership and shall take action to minimize the destruction, loss or degradation of wetlands, and to preserve and enhance the natural and beneficial values of wetlands in carrying out the agency’s responsibilities for . providing Federally undertaken, financed, or assisted construction and improvements; . Section 2. (a) In furtherance of Section 101(b)(3) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. § 4331 (b)(3)) to improve and coordinate Federal plans, functions, programs and resources to the end that the Nation may attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation and risk to health or safety, each agency, to the extent permitted by law, shall avoid undertaking or providing assistance for new construction located in wetlands unless the head of the agency finds (1) that there is no practicable alternative to such construction, and (2) that the proposed action includes all practicable measures to minimize harm to wetlands which may result from such use. In making this finding the head of the agency may take into account economic, environmental and other pertinent factors.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. National Wildlife Federation v. Adams · Potomac Alliance v. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission