No. 22-401

Alaska v. Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, et al.

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2022-10-31
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (2)
Tags: administrative-law alaska-national-interest-lands-conservation-act federal-preemption hunting-regulations national-wildlife-refuge state-authority state-police-powers statutory-interpretation wildlife-management
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw Environmental
Latest Conference: 2023-03-03
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does ANILCA grant federal agencies plenary authority to preempt state law regulating how people hunt?

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTION PRESENTED States “unquestionably” have “broad trustee and police powers over wild animals within their jurisdictions.” Kleppe v. New Mexico, 426 U.S. 529, 545 (1976). In 1980, Congress enacted the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), 16 U.S.C. § 3101 et seqg., where it sought to protect national interests in wildlife, id. § 3101(d), while at the same time preserving Alaska’s traditional management authority, id. § 3202(a). Nothing within ANILCA gives federal agencies clear authority to regulate how people hunt, although it may limit where and when hunting can occur. During the waning days of the Obama administration, the Department of the Interior issued three regulations to ban certain state-authorized hunting practices. Congress disapproved of the agency’s broadest regulation—which applied statewide to all national wildlife refuges—and in 2017 passed a law abrogating it. Yet the agency continues to preempt the same state law in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Ninth Circuit upheld the agency’s action, finding the 2017 legislation irrelevant and concluding the agency has “plenary authority” over wildlife on national wildlife refuges in Alaska. App. 18. The question presented is: Does ANILCA, which sought to preserve the State’s traditional police powers over wildlife, grant federal agencies plenary authority to preempt state law regulating how people hunt?

Docket Entries

2023-03-06
Petition DENIED.
2023-02-15
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/3/2023.
2023-02-13
2023-01-30
Brief of respondents Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, et al. in opposition filed.
2023-01-30
2022-12-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including January 30, 2023, for all respondents.
2022-12-21
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 30, 2022 to January 30, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
2022-11-30
2022-11-30
2022-11-30
Brief amici curiae of Alaska Professional Hunters Association, et al. filed.
2022-11-28
The motions to extend the time to file responses are granted and the time is extended to and including December 30, 2022, for all respondents.
2022-11-25
Motion of the Solicitor General to extend the time to file a response from November 30, 2022 to December 30, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2022-11-23
Motion of Alaska Wildlife Alliance, et al. to extend the time to file a response from November 30, 2022 to December 30, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2022-10-27
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 30, 2022)

Attorneys

Alaska Professional Hunters Association; Alaska Outdoor Council; Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation
James Hardwick ListerBirch Horton Bittner and Cherot, P.C., Amicus
James Hardwick ListerBirch Horton Bittner and Cherot, P.C., Amicus
Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Defenders of Wildlife, National Parks Conservation Association, Alaska Wilderness League, Alaskans for Wildlife, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, Humane Society of the Uni
Katherine Grace StrongTrustees for Alaska, Amicus
Katherine Grace StrongTrustees for Alaska, Amicus
Debra Haaland, in her official capacity as Secretary of the Interior, et al.
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Safari Club International
Jeremy Evan ClareSafari Club International, Respondent
Jeremy Evan ClareSafari Club International, Respondent
State of Alaska
Jessica Moats AllowayState of Alaska, Department of Law, Petitioner
Jessica Moats AllowayState of Alaska, Department of Law, Petitioner
State of West Virginia and 13 Other States
Lindsay Sara SeeOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
Lindsay Sara SeeOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus