Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc. v. Cameron F. Clark, in his official capacity as Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
Apr 23 2019, 9:21 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Laura Nirenberg Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
E. Anne Benaroya Attorney General of Indiana
Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc. Frances Barrow
La Porte, Indiana Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc., April 23, 2019
Appellant, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-PL-2500
v. Appeal from the La Porte Superior
Court
Cameron F. Clark, in his official The Honorable Michael S.
capacity as Director of the Bergerson, Judge
Indiana Department of Natural Trial Court Cause No.
Resources, 46D01-1711-PL-1931
Appellee.
Brown, Judge.
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[1] Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc., (the “Center”) appeals the dismissal of its
action against Cameron F. Clark in his capacity as Director of the Indiana
Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”). We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On November 16, 2017, the Center filed a Complaint for Declaratory
Judgment, Emergency and Other Injunctive Relief. The complaint alleged that
DNR published LSA Document #17-486(E) on November 8, 2017, as an
emergency rule; that deer hunting seasons were from November 18, 2017 to
December 3, 2017, and December 26, 2017 to January 7, 2018; and that DNR
exceeded its authority when it used an emergency rule to permit rifle hunting of
deer on public lands. LSA Document #17-486(E) indicated that it was an
emergency rule and that the document expired on February 1, 2018, and it
provided in part that 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-3-3(c)(6) was superseded to
include language that “A rifle, with the use of cartridges described in SECTION
2(b) of this document, [may be used] on publicly owned land.” 1 Appellant’s
Appendix Volume 2 at 27. On November 21, 2017, the court denied the
Center’s request for emergency injunctive relief. On December 15, 2017, the
1
312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-3-3, titled “Equipment for deer hunting,” provides:
(c) During the firearms season established in section 4(e) of this rule and the special
antlerless season established in section 4(h) of this rule, an individual must hunt deer only
with any of the following equipment:
*****
(6) A rifle, with the use of cartridges described in subsection (d)(4) only.
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Center filed a motion for preliminary injunction and for temporary restraining
order alleging that DNR refused to allow a member of its organization to enter
Potato Creek State Park on November 27, 2017, because it allowed rifle hunting
on the premises that day and the next day. On December 29, 2017, the court
issued an order denying the Center’s request for injunctive relief. On January
10, 2018, DNR filed a motion to dismiss arguing that LSA Document #17-
486(E) would expire on February 1, 2018, and the matter was moot. The
Center filed a response arguing the harm at issue is capable of repetition.
[3] On April 19, 2018, the Center filed a First Amended Verified Complaint for
Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief. The amended complaint states
that the legislature made significant changes to Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 in 2018
and abolished the private property limitation, 2 and that DNR lacks authority to
use the emergency rule process in Ind. Code § 4-22-2-37.1 3 to implement Ind.
Code § 14-22-2-8. An exhibit attached to the amended complaint includes LSA
Document #18-279(E), which was an emergency rule effective July 2, 2018,
and expiring January 1, 2019, and which indicated in part that, notwithstanding
312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 and 312 Ind. Admin. Code 8-2 and any other
2
Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 governs the use of a rifle to hunt deer and, as amended by Pub. L. No. 195-2017, § 7
(eff. July 1, 2017), and Pub. L. No. 39-2018, § 6 (eff. July 1, 2017), provides that DNR may adopt rules under
Ind. Code §§ 4-22-2 to authorize the use of rifles on public property.
3
Ind. Code § 4-22-2-37.1 governs the adoption of emergency rules.
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provision governing hunting a wild animal within a state park, 4 individuals
qualified under the emergency rule may hunt white-tailed deer on November
12, 13, 26, and 27, 2018, at nineteen sites and restricting access to the sites on
those dates. On May 9, 2018, DNR filed a notice indicating that it had filed a
notice of removal in the United States District Court for the Northern District
of Indiana, South Bend Division. On July 12, 2018, the district court issued an
order finding that the Center disclaimed any potential federal questions by
representing that the amended complaint does not allege any violations of the
federal constitution or federal law and remanding the case to the La Porte
Superior Court.
[4] On July 24, 2018, DNR filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint under
Ind. Trial Rule 12(B)(6). DNR argued, citing Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d), 5 that it
may use an emergency rule to effectuate a limited modification or suspension of
its rules related to the taking of animals. It also argued that a temporary
prohibition on entrance for safety reasons does not violate Indiana law.
Following a hearing, the court entered an order on October 5, 2018, providing:
“Given the adoption by the Indiana State Legislature of House Enrolled Act
1292/P.L. 195-2017 (made retroactive to July 1, 2017), [DNR’s] Motion to
4
312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 states in part that “[a]n individual must not take or chase a wild animal, other
than a fish, in a state park or a state historic site.” 312 Ind. Admin. Code 8-2 provides general restrictions on
the use of DNR properties.
5
Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6 governs the adoption of rules to establish the length of seasons, the methods, means,
and time of taking wild animals, and other necessary rules. Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d) provides: “The director
may modify or suspend a rule for a time not to exceed one (1) year under IC 4-22-2-37.1.”
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Dismiss pursuant to Trial Rule 12(B)(6) should be GRANTED.” Appellant’s
Appendix Volume 2 at 12.
Discussion
[5] The issue is whether the trial court erred in dismissing the Center’s action. A
motion to dismiss pursuant to Ind. Trial Rule 12(B)(6) tests the legal sufficiency
of the complaint. Price v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 80 N.E.3d 170, 173 (Ind.
2017). The rule requires that we accept as true the facts alleged in the
complaint. Id. We review 12(B)(6) motions de novo and will affirm a dismissal
if the allegations are incapable of supporting relief under any set of
circumstances. Id. We will also affirm a dismissal if the decision is sustainable
on any basis in the record. Id.
[6] The Center argues that DNR does not have legislative authority to adopt an
emergency rule to permit rifle hunting of deer on state park and other public
premises. The Center contends that, while Ind. Code § 14-2-22-8 as amended
may authorize DNR to permit rifle hunting on public property, it does not
allow DNR to “to exercise its newly-minted authority in the dark or to
circumvent the public by failing to provide notice, opportunity to comment, and
public hearings.” Appellant’s Brief at 19-20. In support of its position, the
Center cites Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 and argues that DNR’s authorization to use
emergency rules “expressly excludes the Controlled Hunts Statute and the Rifle-
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Hunting Statute.” 6 Id. at 20. In its reply brief, the Center states “[t]here is no
question that [DNR] has authority to limit public access to state parks and
historic sites when the activity that justifies denying access is one the agency has
authority to permit on the premises and access is limited or denied for
legitimate public safety reasons.” Appellant’s Reply Brief at 15-16 n.36.
[7] DNR maintains that, with the amendment of Ind. Code § 14-2-22-8, the
Center’s original complaint became moot as it could no longer claim that DNR
lacked authority to allow rifle hunting on public property. DNR argues that the
claim in the Center’s amended complaint fails because Indiana law permits it to
adopt emergency rules to authorize the use of rifles on public property for deer
hunting. DNR further contends, citing Ind. Code § 14-22-6-13, that its
authorization of a controlled hunt must be under rules adopted under Ind. Code
§§ 4-22-2; that Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8(e) permits it to adopt rules under Ind.
Code §§ 4-22-2 to authorize the use of rifles on public property; and, citing Ind.
Code § 14-22-2-6(d), that it may use an emergency rule to effect a limited
modification or suspension of rules regarding the taking of wild animals. DNR
also asserts that the Center’s reliance on Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 is misplaced and
that the list in the statute is not exclusive, as shown by Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d)
which separately allows it to adopt emergency rules under Ind. Code § 4-22-2-
6
Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 provides: “The department may adopt emergency rules under IC 4-22-2-37.1 to carry
out the duties of the department under the following: . . . (11) IC 14-22-3, IC 14-22-4, and IC 14-22-5. . . .”
The Center refers to Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 as the rifle hunting statute and to Ind. Code § 14-22-6-13 as the
controlled hunts statute.
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37.1. It states that it has authority to control admission to state parks, and that
“[e]mergency rules for deer hunting are necessary given that deer populations
fluctuate and DNR must make new determinations every year whether a
controlled hunt is necessary” and “[s]uch a flexible system for addressing deer
over-population would not be possible through the lengthy proceedings required
for regular rulemaking.” Appellee’s Brief at 14.
[8] To the extent we must interpret statutory language, if a statute is not susceptible
to more than one interpretation, we must give the statute its clear and plain
meaning. Cook v. Atlanta, Ind. Town Council, 956 N.E.2d 1176, 1178 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2011), reh’g denied, trans. denied. If a statute is susceptible to multiple
interpretations, we attempt to ascertain the legislature’s intent and interpret the
statute so as to effectuate that intent. Id. We presume the legislature intended
logical application of the language used in the statute, so as to avoid unjust or
absurd results. Id. We will avoid an interpretation that renders any part of the
statute meaningless or superfluous. Id. Where statutes address the same
subject, we harmonize them if possible. Parsley v. MGA Family Grp., Inc., 103
N.E.3d 651, 655 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018), reh’g denied.
[9] Ind. Code §§ 4-22-2 governs the adoption of administrative rules. Ind. Code §
4-22-2-37.1 relates to the adoption of an emergency rule, and Ind. Code § 4-22-
2-37.1(b) provides that “[a] rule may be adopted under this section if a statute
delegating authority to an agency to adopt rules authorizes adoption of such a
rule: (1) under this section; or (2) in the manner provided by this section.”
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[10] Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 provides: “The department[7] may adopt emergency rules
under IC 4-22-2-37.1 to carry out the duties of the department under the
following: . . . (11) IC 14-22-3, IC 14-22-4, and IC 14-22-5. . . .” Ind. Code §
14-19-1-2 provides DNR may make available to the public “under rules adopted
by the department public parks and other suitable places for recreation,
conservation, and management of natural and cultural resources” and
“[c]onstruct, rent, lease, license, or operate public service privileges and
facilities in a state park.” 312 Ind. Admin. Code 8-5-3 provides that “[a]
property manager or another authorized representative may require a person to
leave a DNR property or may otherwise restrict a person’s use of a DNR
property” and “[a]n ejection or restriction imposed under this section may be
made applicable to all or a portion of particular DNR property, to multiple
DNR properties, or to all DNR properties.”
[11] Ind. Code §§ 14-22 governs fish and wildlife, and Ind. Code §§ 14-22-2 relate to
the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Ind. Code § 14-22-2-3 states the director shall
“[p]rovide for the protection, reproduction, care, management, survival, and
regulation of wild animal populations regardless of whether the wild animals
are present on public or private property in Indiana” and “[o]rganize and
pursue a program of research and management of wild animals that will serve
the best interests of the resources and the people of Indiana.” Ind. Code § 14-
7
Ind. Code § 14-8-2-67 provides: “‘Department’, except for purposes of IC 14-20-7 and IC 14-32, refers to the
department of natural resources.”
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22-2-4 states the director shall issue required licenses and permits. Ind. Code §
14-22-2-5 provides the director or the director’s representative may enter into or
upon private or public property for the purposes of managing and protecting a
wild animal found upon or within the property and killing or removing a wild
animal that is considered a nuisance or detrimental to overall populations.
[12] Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6, titled “Adoption of rules,” provides:
(a) The director shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to do the
following:
(1) Establish, open, close, lengthen, suspend, or shorten
seasons.
(2) Establish bag, sex, and size limits.
(3) Establish limitations on the numbers of hunters and
fishermen.
(4) Establish the methods, means, and time of:
(A) taking, chasing, transporting, and selling; or
(B) attempting to take, transport, or sell;
wild animals or exotic mammals, with or without dogs, in
Indiana or in a designated part of Indiana.
(5) Establish other necessary rules to do the following:
(A) Administer this chapter.
(B) Properly manage wild animals or exotic mammals
in a designated water or land area of Indiana.
(6) Set aside and designate land or water or parts of the land
or water owned, controlled, or under contract or acquired by
the state for conservation purposes as a public hunting and
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fishing ground under the restrictions, conditions, and
limitations that are determined to be appropriate.
*****
(d) The director may modify or suspend a rule for a time not to exceed one
(1) year under IC 4-22-2-37.1.
(Emphasis added).
[13] Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 provides in part:
(b) A hunter may use a rifle to hunt deer on privately owned land
subject to the following:
(1) The use of a rifle is permitted during hunting seasons
established by the department.
(2) The rifle must be chambered for a cartridge that fires a
bullet that is two hundred forty-three thousandths (.243) of
an inch in diameter or larger.
(3) The rifle must fire a cartridge that has a minimum case
length of one and sixteen-hundredths (1.16) inches, but is no
longer than three (3) inches.
(4) A hunter may not possess more than ten (10) cartridges
for the rifle while hunting deer under this section.
(5) The rifle must meet any other requirements established by
the department.
(c) The use of a full metal jacketed bullet to hunt deer is unlawful.
(d) The department shall report on the impact of the use of rifles to
hunt deer under this section to the governor and . . . the general
assembly before February 15, 2020.
(e) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to authorize the use of
rifles on public property.
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(f) This section expires June 30, 2020.
(Emphasis added). See Pub. L. No. 39-2018, § 6 (eff. July 1, 2017) (amending
Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 to insert current subsection (e)).
[14] Further, Ind. Code § 14-22-6-13, titled “Controlled hunts within state parks and
historic sites,” provides:
If the director:
(1) determines that a species of wild animal present within a
state park or historic site poses an unusual hazard to the
health or safety of one (1) or more individuals;
(2) determines, based upon the opinion of a professional
biologist, that it is likely that:
(A) a species of wild animal present within a state
park or historic site will cause obvious and measurable
damage to the ecological balance within the state park
or historic site; and
(B) the ecological balance within the state park or
historic site will not be maintained unless action is
taken to control the population of the species within
the state park or historic site; or
(3) is required under a condition of a lease from the federal
government to manage a particular wild animal species;
the director shall authorize the taking of a species within the state
park or historic site under rules adopted under IC 4-22-2.
[15] While Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 related to use of a rifle to hunt deer and Ind. Code
§ 14-22-6-13 related to controlled hunts in a state park do not specifically
reference Ind. Code § 4-22-2-37.1, both statutes authorize DNR to adopt rules
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under Ind. Code §§ 4-22-2. Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 does not state that its list of
statutory provisions for which DNR may adopt emergency rules is an exclusive
list. Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d) provides for the adoption of rules to establish,
among other things, the methods and means of taking wild animals as well as to
designate land controlled by the state as a public hunting ground under
conditions determined to be appropriate, and the statute expressly authorizes
DNR to temporarily modify or suspend a rule pursuant to Ind. Code § 4-22-2-
37.1. LSA Document #17-486(E) temporarily superseded portions of 312 Ind.
Admin. Code 9-3-3 governing equipment for deer hunting, and LSA Document
#18-279(E) temporarily superseded 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 to permit
deer hunting on four days at certain sites. Both 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-3-3
and 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 were authorized by Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6.
Based upon the record, we conclude the trial court did not err in dismissing the
Center’s amended complaint.
[16] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
[17] Affirmed.
Bailey, J., and Bradford, J., concur.
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