No. 21-629

Santa Fe Alliance for Public Health and Safety, et al. v. City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, et al.

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2021-10-29
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1)Response Waived
Tags: access-to-courts constitutional-rights due-process free-speech preemption radio-frequency-radiation right-of-access-to-courts right-to-petition takings telecommunications telecommunications-act
Key Terms:
Environmental AdministrativeLaw SocialSecurity DueProcess FirstAmendment Takings JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2022-03-04
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the preemption by 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iv) of any State remedy for injury by telecommunications facilities without providing a substitute federal remedy violates the constitutional right of access to courts and conflicts with a century of Supreme Court jurisprudence

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Radio frequency (“RF”) radiation has been increasing exponentially with the proliferation of cell towers and antennas. Although such radiation has injured and displaced millions, no claim for injury by RF radiation has been permitted to go to trial in the United States since 1996, and no zoning board or city council has been permitted to take testimony about such radiation into account when considering applications for such facilities. A Congressional prohibition against consideration of “environmental effects” has been persistently understood as a prohibition against consideration of “health effects.” Petitioners’ desperate situations go unremedied and they suffer further injuries and losses with no haven in sight but this Court. Without any avenue of redress for their injuries and property losses, Petitioners requested a declaratory judgment that the preemption with respect to the “environmental effects of radio frequency emissions” in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“TCA”), 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iv), and laws enacted by their City and their State in deference to that preemption, violate due process, free speech, the right to petition, the right of access to courts, and constitute a taking without just compensation, or in the alternative a judgment that “environmental effects” does not mean “health effects” in 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iv). The questions presented for review are: 1. Whether the preemption by 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iv) of any State remedy for injury by li QUESTIONS PRESENTED—Continued telecommunications facilities without providing a substitute federal remedy violates the constitutional right of access to courts and conflicts with a century of Supreme Court jurisprudence. 2. Whether, consistent with its ordinary meaning, as well as its meaning in every other federal statute in which it occurs, the term “environment effects” in 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)Giv) should be interpreted to mean “effects on the environment” and not “effects on human health,” thereby restoring to all Americans their fundamental rights to life, liberty, and property and adhering to the principle that statutes should be construed to avoid rendering them unconstitutional.

Docket Entries

2022-03-07
Petition DENIED.
2022-02-16
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/4/2022.
2022-02-10
Reply of petitioners Santa Fe Alliance for Public Health and Safety, et al. filed.
2022-01-28
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2022-01-28
Brief of respondent City of Santa Fe, New Mexico in opposition filed.
2021-12-17
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including January 28, 2022.
2021-12-16
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 29, 2021 to January 28, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-12-13
Waiver of right of respondent Hector Balderas, Attorney General of New Mexico to respond filed.
2021-11-23
Brief amici curiae of 289 Organizations and 34 Individuals filed.
2021-11-22
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Santa Fe Alliance for Public Health and Safety, et al.
2021-11-17
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
2021-11-12
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, United States
2021-11-04
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including December 29, 2021, for all respondents.
2021-11-03
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 29, 2021 to December 29, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-10-25
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 29, 2021)

Attorneys

City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Marcos Domenico MartinezCity of Santa Fe, City Attorney's Office, Respondent
Marcos Domenico MartinezCity of Santa Fe, City Attorney's Office, Respondent
Hector Balderas, Attorney General of New Mexico
Scott CameronState of New Mexico Office fo the Attorney General, Respondent
Scott CameronState of New Mexico Office fo the Attorney General, Respondent
Santa Fe Alliance for Public Health and Safety, et al.
Theresa Kraft — Petitioner
Theresa Kraft — Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent