Full opinion text
ORDER PARTIALLY GRANTING PARTIES’ CROSS MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT MEANS, District Judge. Pending before the Court are two cross motions for summary judgment filed on July 6, 2001. Having carefully considered the motions, responses, and replies, the Court concludes that both motions should be PARTIALLY GRANTED in that Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on all counts except count III(l), and upon which Plaintiffs are entitled to summary judgment on count III(l). I. BACKGROUND This suit arises out of Defendants’ intent to construct the Dallas Floodway Extension (“DFE”) project, a comprehensive flo-odcontrol project on the Trinity River running through the eastern portion of Dallas, Texas, and, most notably, immediately east and south of downtown Dallas. Plaintiffs allege that the Army Corps of Engineers’s 1999 Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) for the DFE project failed to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-706, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321, et seq. Plaintiffs seek an injunction that requires the Army Corps of Engineers (“COE”) to prepare a new EIS before construction on the DFE project can proceed. The DFE project was originally authorized for construction in 1965 by Section 301 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (P.L. 89-298) as one of five local flood protection projects. (Defs.’ Mem. Br. in Supp. of Cross Mot. for Summ. J. (“Defs.’ Mem.”) at 1; Hard Copy Administrative Record (“HCAR”) at 3.) In the early 1980s, however, the project was placed on the inactive list after being rejected by Dallas voters in a bond election. (Pis.’ Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J. (“Pis.’ Br.”) at 2.) In 1987, due to concerns over flooding and the potential for increased development, the COE undertook a comprehensive review of flooding on the Trinity River and issued a regional Environmental Impact Statement (“1987 REIS”) that identified the existing flood levels on the Trinity River from above Fort Worth to below Dallas and was to serve as a permitting strategy for the Trinity River and its tributaries. (Pis.’ Br. at 1; Defs.’ Mem. at 2.) In a Record of Decision, dated April 29, 1988 (“1988 ROD”), the recommendations of the 1987 REIS were adopted by the District Engineer for implementation by the Forth Worth District COE. (Defs.’ Mem. at 2.) According to Plaintiffs, the “1988 ROD established policies that were to be followed by the Corps and by applicants for Corps’ permits to prevent the flood levels associated with the Trinity River from increasing.” (Pis.’ Br. at 1.) Following significant flood events in 1989 and 1990, the City of Dallas requested reactivation of the authorized DFE project. (Defs.’ Mem. at 2; Pis.’ Br. at 2.) As a result, the project was reactivated in 1990, provided that it would be reevaluated prior to construction. (Defs.’ Mem. at 2.) During the early stages of the reevaluation effort in the 1990s, the COE determined that the original 1965 DFE project was no longer economically justifiable because there “was not enough flood damage benefits in the DFE study area to justify either the cost of the original project, or the cost of any other alternative considered.” (Pis.’ Amend. Compl. (“Pis.’ Compl.”) at 20, 30; Pis.’ Br. at 2; Defs.’ Amend. Answer (“Defs.’ Answer”) at 10,16.) The authorization for the construction of the DFE project was modified by the 1996 Water Resources Development Act (P.L. 104-303) and by the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-53). (Defs.’ Mem. at 2.) In addition, the COE developed new computer models for the Upper Trinity River that computed flood levels at several feet higher than those computed by earlier computer models used in the 1987 REIS. (Pis.’ Br. at 2; Defs.’ Answer at 20.) “As a result of this newly computed flood level being so. much higher than previous calculations, the existing Dallas Floodway Levee System (“Dallas Floodway”) would now be overtopped, resulting in flooding of downtown Dallas.” (Pis.’ Br. at 2; see Pis.’ Compl. at 20; Defs.’ Answer at 11.) According to Plaintiffs, “[t]his was an alarming development because previous Corps’ studies as late as 1987 had found the existing Dallas Flood-way system' to be more than adequate to protect downtown Dallas from flooding during even the most severe of flood events, the Standard Project Flood (“SPF”).” (Pis.’ Br. at 3.) Between 1991 and 1998, the COE evaluated several alternatives to the DFE project. (Defs.’ Mem. at 3.) In a'resolution dated August 28, 1996, the City of Dallas selected a locally preferred plan (“LPP”), known as “The Chain of Wetlands Plan,” for the project and also approved the construction of SPF two-foot levees to protect the Lamar Street and Cadillac Heights areas. (HCAR at 4.) This combination plan became known as “The Chain of Wetlands Plus Levees Plan” and was adopted by the City of Dallas as the final LPP, by a resolution dated March 26, 1997. (HCAR at 117.) Recreational features were later also incorporated into the Plan. (Defs.’ Mem. at 3; HCAR at 102, 121.) The final LPP was eventually adopted as the Federally Supportable Plan. (Defs.’ Mem. at 4.) In 1998, the COE released a Draft General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Environmental Impact Statement for public review and comment. (HCAR 1505-2614.) After this review and comment, the District Engineer for the Fort Worth District approved a Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Environmental Impact Statement for the DFE project (“1999 EIS”). (Defs.’ Mem. at 4; HCAR 1-1504.) On December, 1, 1999, Major General Hans A. Van Winkle signed a Record of Decision (“1999 ROD”), finding the 1999 EIS “for the DFE suitable to use as a plan for implementation of flood damage reduction, environmental restoration and recreation at Dallas, Texas.” (Defs.’ Mem. at 4.) The purpose of the DFE project is to extend flood protection southward and eastward (downstream) from the end of the Dallas Flood-way, which is the levee system that bounds the Trinity River and currently protects downtown Dallas, to Five Mile Creek. (Pis.’ Br. at 1; HCAR at 16253.) Plaintiffs, in their complaint, assert that the 1999 EIS violated the APA and NEPA in four ways: (1) the COE violated the APA through improper manipulation of computer model estimates of flood levels along the Trinity River that raised the elevation of the SPF as much as seven feet higher than previous model estimates; (2) the COE violated the NEPA by failing to fully disclose certain environmental impacts and economic benefits of the DFE project and failing to discuss alternatives to the DFE project; (3) the COE violated the NEPA by failing to consider “connected actions” under 40 C.F.R. § 1508.25 and “cumulative impacts” under 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7; and (4) the COE violated the APA by failing to follow its own 1988 ROD. (Pis.’ Compl. at 2-4.) II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW A. Summary Judgment Standard In the usual case, summary judgment is proper when the record, viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, establishes that no genuine issue as to any material fact exists, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Hill v. London, Stetelman, & Kirkwood, Inc., 906 F.2d 204, 207 (5th Cir.1990); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). “However, in a case such as this, where the Court is reviewing the decision of an administrative agency, a motion for summary judgment ‘stands in a somewhat unusual light, in that the administrative record provides the complete factual predicate for the court’s review.’” Piedmont Envtl. Council v. United States Dep’t of Transp., 159 F.Supp.2d 260, 268 (W.D.Va.2001) (citing Krichbaum v. Kelley, 844 F.Supp. 1107, 1110 (W.D.Va.1994)). As a result, the movant’s burden in proving his motion for summary judgment is similar to his ultimate burden on the merits. See Piedmont Envtl. Council, 159 F.Supp.2d at 268. “Summary judgment is an appropriate procedure for resolving a challenge to a federal agency’s administrative decision when review is based upon the administrative record ..., even though the Court does not employ the standard of review set forth in Rule 56.” Fund for Animals v. Babbitt, 903 F.Supp. 96, 105 (D.D.C.1995). “In reviewing administrative agency decisions, the function of the district court is to determine whether as a matter of law, evidence in the administrative record permitted the agency to make the decision it did, and summary judgment is an appropriate mechanism for deciding the legal question of whether an agency could reasonably have found the facts as it did.” The Sierra Club v. Dombeck, 161 F.Supp.2d 1052, 1064 (D.Ariz.2001); see City & Cty. of San Francisco v. United States, 130 F.3d 873, 877 (9th Cir.1997). B. APA Standard Section § 702 of the APA provides a way for persons “suffering legal wrong because of agency action, or adversely affected or aggrieved by agency action within the meaning of a relevant statute,” to obtain judicial review of that action. 5 U.S.C.A. § 702 (West 1996). Section 706 of the APA, which sets out the scope of judicial review, states: To the extent necessary to decision and when presented, the reviewing court shall decide all relevant questions of law, interpret constitutional and statutory provisions, and determine the meaning or applicability of the terms of an agency action. The reviewing court shall— (2) hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings, and conclusions found to be— (A) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; 5 U.S.C.A. § 706 (West 1996). “To determine whether agency action was arbitrary or capricious, a court must consider “whether the decision was based on a consideration of the relevant factors and whether there has been a clear error of judgment.’ ” Dombeck, 161 F.Supp.2d at 1064 (citing Marsh v. Oregon Natural Res. Council, 490 U.S. 360, 378, 109 S.Ct. 1851, 104 L.Ed.2d 377 (1989)). The burden of proving that an agency decision was arbitrary or capricious generally rests with the party seeking to overturn the agency decision. See Sierra Club v. Marita, 46 F.3d 606, 619 (7th Cir.1995) (stating that the party challenging agency action under the APA bears the burden of proof); North Carolina Alliance for Transp. Reform v. United States Dep’t of Transp., 151 F.Supp.2d 661, 679 (M.D.N.C.2001). In making its determinations, the Court must “review the whole record or those parts of it cited by a party.” Id. Although the Court is to carefully review the facts, the Court is not allowed to substitute its judgment for that of the agency. See Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402, 416, 91 S.Ct. 814, 28 L.Ed.2d 136 (1971), overruled on other grounds by Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99, 97 S.Ct. 980, 51 L.Ed.2d 192 (1977). If the decision reached by the agency “‘represents a reasonable accommodation of conflicting policies that were committed to the agency’s care by statute, we should not disturb it unless it appears that the accommodation is not one that Congress would have sanctioned.’ ” Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Res. Defense Council, 467 U.S. 837, 844, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984) (quoting United States v. Shimer, 367 U.S. 374, 383, 81 S.Ct. 1554, 6 L.Ed.2d 908 (1961)). In applying this standard, courts generally look at “ “whether the decision was based on a consideration of relevant factors, whether there has been a clear error of judgment and whether there is a rational basis for the conclusions approved by the administrative body.’ ” Mobil Oil v. Dep’t of Energy, 610 F.2d 796, 801 (Em.App.1979) (quoting Texaco, Inc. v. FEA, 531 F.2d 1071, 1076-77 (Em.App.1976)); see Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, 401 U.S. at 416, 91 S.Ct. 814. The Court may not “lightly set aside agency action based on the exercise of [the agency’s] accumulated expertise merely because, were [it] trying the matter anew, [it] might reach a different result.” Simeon Mgmt. Corp. v. FTC, 579 F.2d 1137, 1142 (9th Cir.1978); see Chevron, 467 U.S. at 844 n. 14, 104 S.Ct. 2778 (“The court need not conclude that the agency construction was the only one it permissibly could have adopted to uphold the construction, or even the reading the court would have reached if the question initially had arisen in a judicial proceeding”). Under this “exceedingly deferential” standard, the Court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency, but may only set aside the Corps’ decision for “substantial procedural or substantive reasons as mandated by statute.” Fund for Animals, Inc. v. Rice, 85 F.3d 535, 541-42 (11th Cir.1996). C. NEPA Standard The underlying purpose behind NEPA is to establish a national policy in favor of protecting and promoting environmental quality. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321, 4331(a) (West 1994); Hughes River Watershed Conservancy v. Glickman, 81 F.3d 437, 443 (4th Cir.1996). In order to achieve this policy, NEPA requires federal agencies to follow certain procedures set out in the statute before and during the undertaking of any project that affects the environment. See Glickman, 81 F.3d at 443 (“If the adverse environmental effects of the proposed action are adequately identified and evaluated, the agency is not constrained by NEPA from deciding that other values outweigh the environmental costs”). By forcing agencies to evaluate the environmental consequences of any proposed action, the NEPA is able to achieve its substantive goals. See Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332, 350, 109 S.Ct. 1835, 104 L.Ed.2d 351 (1989); Kleppe v. Sierra Club, 427 U.S. 390, 410 n. 21, 96 S.Ct. 2718, 49 L.Ed.2d 576 (1976). “NEPA merely prohibits uninformed — rather than unwise — • agency action.” Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332, 351, 109 S.Ct. 1835, 104 L.Ed.2d 351 (1989). Because NEPA does not contain judicial-review provisions, compliance with NEPA is- reviewed under the APA. See Sierra Club v. Penfold, 857 F.2d 1307, 1315 (9th Cir.1988); Life of the Land v. Brinegar, 485 F.2d 460, 469 (9th Cir.1973) (indicating that action by an agency under NEPA is subject tó judicial review under 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A) of the APA). Consequently, an agency’s EIS may only be reversed or remanded if it is arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion. See Marsh v. Oregon Natural Res. Council, 490 U.S. 360, 376-77, 109 S.Ct. 1851, 104 L.Ed.2d 377 (1989). This requires the court to ensure that the agency took a “hard look” at the environmental consequences of its actions. See Friends of the Payette v. Horseshoe Bend Hydroelectric Co., 988 F.2d 989, 993 (9th Cir.1993). It is “well settled that NEPA itself does not mandate particular results, but simply prescribes the necessary process.” Robertson, 490 U.S. at 350, 109 S.Ct. 1835; Mor- ongo Band of Mission Indians v. Fed. Aviation Admin., 161 F.3d 569, 575 (9th Cir.1998). NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare an EIS for all “major Federal actions significantly affecting the human environment.” 42 U.S.C.A. § 4382(2)(C) (West 1994). The purpose for the EIS is “to provide decision makers with sufficiently detailed information to aid in determining whether to proceed with the action in light of the environmental consequences and to provide the public with information and an opportunity to participate in the information gathering process.” Northwest Res. Info. Center, Inc. v. Nat’l Marine Fisheries Serv., 56 F.3d 1060, 1064 (9th Cir.1995); see Methow Valley Citizens Council v. Regional Forester, 833 F.2d 810, 814 (9th Cir.1987), rev’d on other grounds, 490 U.S. 332, 109 S.Ct. 1835, 104 L.Ed.2d 351 (1989). “This detailed statement ‘insures the integrity of the agency process by forcing it to face those stubborn, difficult-to-answer objections without ignoring them or sweeping them under the rug’ and serves as an ‘environmental full disclosure so that the public can weigh a project’s benefits against its environmental costs.’ ” National Audubon Soc’y v. Hoffman, 132 F.3d 7, 12 (2d Cir.1997) (quoting Sierra Club v. United States Army Corps of Eng’rs, 772 F.2d 1043, 1049 (2d Cir.1985)). NEPA specifies five specific issues that must be addressed in the EIS: (1) the environmental impact of the proposed action, (2) any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented, (3) alternatives to the proposed action, (4) the relationship between local short-term uses of man’s environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and (5) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented. See 42 U.S.C.A. § 4332(2)(C) (West 1994). The Fifth Circuit “has set forth three criteria for determining the adequacy of an EIS: (1) whether the agency in good faith objectively has taken a hard look at the environmental consequences of a proposed action and alternatives; (2) whether the EIS provides detail sufficient to allow those who did not participate in its preparation to understand and consider the pertinent environmental influences involved; and (3) whether the EIS explanation of alternatives is sufficient to permit a reasoned choice among different courses of action.” Mississippi River Basin Alliance v. Westphal, 230 F.3d 170, 174 (5th Cir.2000); see Isle of Hope Historical Ass’n, Inc. v. U.S. Amy Corps of Eng’rs, 646 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir.1981). The information satisfying these three criteria must be in the EIS and the conclusions upon which the EIS is based must be supported by the evidence in the administrative record. Mississippi River Basin Alliance, 230 F.3d at 174-75. “Because the ‘analysis of the relevant documents requires a high level of technical expertise, courts must defer to the informed discretion of the responsible federal agencies.’” Mississippi River Basin Alliance, 230 F.3d at 175 (quoting Marsh, 490 U.S. at 377, 109 S.Ct. 1851). The Court should not second guess the experts if the EIS is a good-faith, objective, and reasonable presentation of the subject areas mandated by NEPA. See Manygoats v. Kleppe, 558 F.2d 556, 560 (10th Cir.1977). Plaintiffs bear the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that Defendants have failed to adhere to the requirements of NEPA. See Sierra Club v. Morton, 510 F.2d 813, 818 (5th Cir.1975); Sierra Club v. Callaway, 499 F.2d 982, 992 (5th Cir.1974). III DISCUSSION A. Count 1: Violation of § 706(2) (A) of the APA Through Improper Manipulation of Computer Model Estimates of Flood Levels With respect to count 1, Plaintiffs state: [T]he decision by Major General Hans Van Winkle to recommend implementation of the DFE project was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and constitutes bad faith in violation of the APA because the hydrologic and hydraulic models underlying this analysis were manipulated by the Corps’ Fort Worth District to produce false flood elevations, thereby creating economic benefits for the DFE project that would not and do not exist. (Pis.’ Mot. for Summ. J. at 8.) Plaintiffs assert that the 1987 REIS produced by the COE utilized updated computer models that reflected “September 1986 conditions of urbanization in the watershed and established flood elevations for both the 100-year and SPF flood events” and concluded that the Dallas Floodway was adequate to control flooding. (Pis.’ Br. at 8-9.) Plaintiffs further allege that the COE, in the 1988 ROD, established a review process that was to be used to evaluate any potential action that was to occur in the Trinity River corridor. (Id. at 9.) As part of this process, the 1988 ROD established the following criteria: [Tjhere- would be no increase allowed in the level of the 100-year and SPF floods from the baseline established in the [1987 R]EIS, that the maximum allowable loss in storage capacity of the 100-year and SPF discharges would be 0% and 5% respectively, that erosive water velocities could not be created or increased and that the flood plain could be altered only to the extent it is done equally. (Pis.’ Br. at 9.) Plaintiffs allege that when the COE performed its hydrologic and hydraulic analysis in the 1990s with respect to the DFE project, the new models indicated that the SPF levels were projected to rise to a higher elevation than the Dallas Floodway levees, leading to an overtopping of the levees and flooding in downtown Dallas. (Pis.’ Br. at 9.) Plaintiffs assert that the new computer models were manipulated to raise the flood elevation for the SPF seven feet higher than the flood elevation found by the computer models used in the 1980s. As a result of this seven-foot increase, the DFE project suddenly became economically feasible. (Id.) In other words, Plaintiffs assert that Defendants, in essence, “manufactured” the seven-foot increase in the projected flood elevations in order to justify the construction of the DFE project. Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that the new computer models were manipulated in four ways: (1) the hydrologic (HEC-1) and hydraulic (HEC-2) computer models were improperly calibrated because the 1999 EIS shows the calibration results for flow to only one gauge and the establishment of flood elevation to the second gauge, whereas Plaintiffs contend that both flow and elevation results must be computed to past events at both gauges to properly calibrate the models (Defs.’ Mem. at 7.); (2) as a result of the improper calibration, the flows utilized by the COE for analyzing and justifying the DFE project were overstated by 30%, which led to an overestimation of flood elevation levels by about two feet; (3) the COE did not follow the instructions in the user guide for the HEC-2 computer model and impermissibly allowed flow in areas where the user guide states that flow should not be allowed, which artificially increased the flood elevation by about two feet; and (4) the COE manipulated the hydrologic and the hydraulic computer models to prevent any floodwa-ters from leaving the Dallas Floodway by way of overtopping the levees, which resulted in higher flood levels being computed than would really occur. In addition, Plaintiffs complain that the COE’s failure to include any discussion in the 1999 EIS about the seven-foot increase in the SPF flood elevations from those contained in the 1987 REIS also violates the APA. (Pis. Br. at 21-22.) With respect to the first four allegations of manipulation, the parties, in their cross motions for summary judgment, responses, and replies, engage in an extremely technical and wordy battle over whether the COE did, in fact, properly calibrate their computer models in order to achieve accurate results with respect to the feasibility of the DFE project. The record before the Court indicates that there is a factual disagreement among the parties regarding whether the computer models were properly calibrated. On judicial review, the role of the Court is not to attempt to become a tie-breaking technical expert. The Court cannot designate itself as a computer-calibration expert. See Druid Hills Civic Ass’n, Inc. v. Federal Highway Admin., 772 F.2d 700, 711 (11th Cir.1985); see also Movement Against Destruction v. Trainor, 400 F.Supp. 533, 552-556 (D.Md.1975). “Because analysis of the relevant documents ‘requires a high level of technical expertise,’ we must defer to ‘the informed discretion of the responsible federal agencies.’ ” Marsh v. Oregon Natural Res., 490 U.S. 360, 377, 109 S.Ct. 1851, 104 L.Ed.2d 377 (1989) (citing Kleppe v. Sierra Club, 427 U.S. 390, 96 S.Ct. 2718, 49 L.Ed.2d 576 (1976); see Baltimore Gas & Elec. Co. v. Natural Res. Defense Council, Inc., 462 U.S. 87, 103 S.Ct. 2246, 76 L.Ed.2d 437 (1983) (“When examining this kind of scientific determination ... a reviewing court must generally be at its most deferential”)). Instead, the role of this Court is to determine whether Defendants’ implementation of their methodology had a rational basis that was consistently applied. See Druid Hills Civic Ass’n, 772 F.2d at 711. After reviewing the record, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have failed to show that Defendants’ calibration of the computer models was arbitrary and capricious. See Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, 401 U.S. at 416, 91 S.Ct. 814; Marita, 46 F.3d at 619; see also 40 C.F.R. §§ 1052.8, 1500.4(d), 1502.1, 1502.2(a) & (c) (stating that an EIS must be concise, clear, and to the point and written in plain language so that the public can easily understand it); City of Davis v. Coleman, 521 F.2d 661, 676 (9th Cir.1975) (stating that reasonable forecasting and speculation is implicit in NEPA); Valley Citizens for a Safe Env’t v. Aldridge, 969 F.2d 1315, 1318 (1st Cir.1992) (stating that “the place to attack standard methodology, at least in the first instance, is before the agency, not before a reviewing court”) (citing Valley Citizens for a Safe Envt. v. Aldridge, 886 F.2d 458, 469 (1st Cir.1989)). With respect to the COE’s failure to include any discussion in the 1999 EIS about the seven-foot increase in the SPF flood elevations from those contained in the 1987 REIS, the Court is not aware of any requirement imposed by the APA or, for that matter, NEPA, that would call for such a discussion. As stated above, NEPA requires a federal agency to prepare a detailed statement on the environmental impact of any proposed action that affects the environment. See 42 U.S.C. § 4382(e); 40 C.F.R. § 1502.2(g). The Court agrees with Defendants that the seven-foot increase in the elevations of the SPF was not the result or consequence of a proposed federal action. See Defs.’ Mem. at 23-24. With respect to the computer models and any increase in the flood elevations, the 1999 EIS states: The SPF flood elevations used to establish the original design grade of the [Dallas Floodway] levees were computed using hand backwater calculations. Subsequent studies, using an LRD-1 hydraulic model, confirmed the original SPF flood elevations. The HEC-2 hydraulic model compiled for this study, updated for current conditions, computes higher water surfaces downstream of the Dallas Floodway than those computed with the earlier model. (HCAR at 33.) In addition, page A-10 of the 1999 EIS states: Examination of historical aerial photographs revealed that a gradual increase in the density of the vegetative cover on the floodplain has occurred and increased the hydraulic roughness of the floodplain over time. This has resulted in the computation of higher flood levels within the study reach than in previous studies. Several landfills placed within the floodplain in the study reach have also raised flood levels due to the reduction of flow conveyance area and the reduction of available valley storage of floodwater. (HCAR at 242-43.) On page 3-2 of the 1999 EIS, the COE stated: Continued urbanization throughout the watershed is a significant factor influencing both the current and future flood problems. Various Federal and non-Federal flood control projects have been constructed to alleviate the flooding problems .... Channel capacities of the Trinity River within the study area are inadequate to confine events beyond the 2-year frequency. Increased urbanization in the upper watershed area and increased vegetation growth in the primary area of concern has intensified the flooding problem. In order to accurately assess the need for flood damage reduction measures, an analysis of annual damages under existing conditions was performed. Due to the complexity and length of this study, the existing conditions^] hydrology, hydraulic, and economics models used in the initial investigation phase (1991-1993) were modified to reflect more recent topographic data, and changes in design and economic parameters. (HCAR at 53.) In addition, a section in the 1999 EIS detailing general information on the Hydraulic Models states: The PC version 4.6 of the HEC-2 Water Surface Profiles computer program was used to hydraulically model and compute water surface profiles for this study. Several HEC-2 backwater models with differing input data sets have been used for this study. Initially HEC-2 models were produced using cross-sections obtained from the City of Dallas topographic maps developed in 1997 and was* the most recent topographic information available at the time the model was prepared. When the topographic mapping used for the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study became available later in the study, the decision was made to update the models with the more recent topographic data. Therefore, models for this study would be consistent with the HEC-2 models used for the Upper Trinity Feasibility Studies. The City of Dallas topographic maps used for the “existing conditions” HEC-2 models developed initially were updated as much as possible to represent current conditions. The City of Dallas topographic maps were compiled from aerial photography flown in March 1977, and have a contour interval of two feet and a scale of one inch equals two hundred feet. Cross-sections for the model were taken directly from the topographic maps on average every 1,000 feet of river distance. Channel geometry was input from surveyed cross-sections used in previous Trinity River LRD-1 hydraulic models. The 1977 topographic maps were updated to reflect the contours of two City of Dallas landfills located in the floodplain of the Trinity River that were completed after 1977 and was reflected in the City of Dallas Topographic maps. Information relating to current conditions for the McCommas Bluff Landfill located near I.H. 20 was not available to update the 1977 topography. [A] calibration of this model was accomplished by the methods described under “Calibration Model” to closely match the May 1990 Flood. This model was used for initial plan formulation and the initial determination of the National Economic Development (N.E.D.) Plan. In 1994, the existing conditions model discussed above was abandoned and a new model was created which was based on mapping made available as a result of the concurrent Upper Trinity Feasibility Study. Basic input data for the current model was obtained from cross-sections taken from digitized topographic mapping produced by photogrammetry. The cross-sections were taken electronically from the digitized mapping data rather than from topographic maps and contain ground points having elevations mapped to one tenth of one foot. The cross-section locations are identical to those used in the initial HEC-2 models. The mapping was compiled from aerial photography flown in February 1991. The mapping complies with National Map Accuracy Standards and has a vertical accuracy of plus or minus 0.5 ft. The following description applies to the development of HEC-2 models derived from both sets of topographic data described above. Four highway bridges and three railroad bridges were modeled by the HEC-2 Normal Bridge method using the best available as-built bridge plans. The 1-45 bridge was not modeled in the normal manner because of several factors. First, the bridge crosses the entire floodplain with no contraction of flows caused by the bridge abutments. Secondly, the bridge crosses the floodplain on an extreme skew making it impractical to model by usual methods. Thirdly, the low steel of the bridge is sufficiently high that it would not influence the highest flood flow that would be analyzed. Therefore, the pier losses were accounted for by the use of the Manning’s roughness coefficient in each successive cross-section. Due to the broad and varied nature of the floodplain, “NH” records were used in the models to vary the Manning’s roughness coefficients horizontally, to more accurately model the floodplain roughness. The White Rock Creek confluence to the Trinity River and the low lying residential areas north of the Rochester Park Levee store significant volumes of flood water during major flood events. This created a need to compile separate HEC-2 models to calculate flood volumes. One model was used to compute water surface profiles by representing only conveyance areas of the floodplain. Another was used to compute storage volumes for the various floods under consideration so that peak discharges would be more accurately computed. This was done for both the initial HEC-2 model and the current one. The stage-discharge relationship of the conveyance model was retained during computation of the storage volumes by use of rating curve input to the model cross-sections. Calibration Model A recent major flood event occurring in May 1990 provided a reasonable basis for calibrating the HEC-2 backwater models because the flood was estimated to be the highest magnitude since 1942 and high watermarks were established for the study reach following the flood. When the Upper Trinity Feasibility Study topographic data became available, development of a common HEC-2 model to be used for each of the two concurrent studies was needed. Therefore, another model calibration was needed to establish the hydraulic roughness values in the floodplain consistent with the new topographic date. The 1991 topographic data represented hydraulic conditions at the time of the May 1990 flood sufficiently to be used without revision for the calibration. (HCAR at 245-246; see HCAR at 247-48.) In addition, there are aerial photos from various years in the administrative record that support the COE’s statements in the 1999 EIS that vegetation and other land characteristics have changed; thus, causing the flood elevations to potentially increase. {See HCAR at 14546, 14545, 14122-14130, 14142-14150 and 13872-13878). Based on the above-quoted passages and the evidence in the EIS detailing the computer models, see, e.g., HCAR at 186-90, the Court is convinced that the COE adequately disclosed the reasons for any increase in the flood elevations. This disclosure reflects that the COE satisfied the goals of the APA and of NEPA by taking a “hard look” at the environmental consequences of the DFE project and providing the public with enough information to participate in the process. See Envtl. Defense Fund, Inc. v. Corps of Eng’rs of U.S. Army, 492 F.2d 1123, 1136 (5th Cir.1974) (stating “it is entirely unreasonable to think that Congress intended for an impact statement to document every particle of knowledge that an agency might compile in considering the proposed action[;]” rather “[t]he detail required is that sufficient to enable those who did not have a part in [the EIS’s] compilation to understand and consider meaningfully the factors involved”). Therefore, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on count 1. B. Count 2: Violation of NEPA by Failing to Fully Disclose Environmental Impacts and Discuss Alternatives With respect to count 2, Plaintiffs assert that Defendants violated NEPA by failing to fully disclose three things: (1) the cumulative impacts of the DFE project and past actions on water surface elevations, (2) the flooding resulting from overtopping of the existing levees, and (3) alternative courses of action for reducing the flooding. 1. Past Cumulative Impacts Plaintiffs allege that the 1999 EIS violates NEPA because it fails to address the cumulative impact of the DFE project and past actions on water surface elevations. Specifically, Plaintiffs argue that the seven-foot rise in the SPF flood levels was not fully discussed or disclosed as a cumulative impact in the 1999 EIS, as required under NEPA. (Br. in Support of Pis.’ Obj. and Resp. To Def.’ Cross Mot. for Summ. J. (“Pls.Resp”) at 11.) Plaintiffs claim that NEPA, the 1987 REIS, and the 1988 ROD required Defendants to discuss the seven-foot increase. (Pis. Br. at 24, Pis. Resp. at 13). Plaintiffs assert that Defendant’s failure to include a discussion of the seven-foot increase in the SPF from the 1987 REIS to the 1999 EIS is not full disclosure and is an attempt to conceal the fact that the COE has “manipulated” the increase. (Pis.’ Resp. at 10-14.) A cumulative impact is defined as “the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such other actions.” 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7 (2000). “Actions” are defined as follows: (a) Actions include new and continuing activities, including projects and programs entirely or partly financed, assisted, conducted, regulated, or approved by federal agencies; new or revised agency rules, regulations, plans, policy’s, or procedures; and legislative proposals (§§ 1506.8,1508.17).... (b) Federal actions tend to fall within one of the following categories: (1) Adoption of official policy, such as rules, regulations, and interpretations adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act ...; treaties and international conventions or agreements; formal documents establishing an agency’s policies which will result in or substantially alter agency programs. (2) Adoption of formal plans, such as official documents prepared or approved by federal agencies which guide or prescribe alternative uses of Federal resources, upon which future agency actions will be based. (3) Adoption of programs, such as a group of concerted actions to implement a specific policy or plan; systematic and connected agency decisions allocating agency resources to implement a specific statutory program or executive directive. (4) Approval of specific projects, such as construction or management activities located in a defined geographic area. Projects include actions approved by permit or other regulatory decision as well as federal and federally assisted activities. 40 C.F.R. § 1508.18 (2000). Defendants argue that they are not required by NEPA to discuss the seven-foot rise in the SPF in the 1999 EIS because it was not due to or caused by the DFE project or the consequence of a past federal action. (Defs.’ Br. at 24-26; Defs.’ Mem. in Opp’n to Pis.’ Response (“Defs.’ Resp.”) at 5-6.). The Court agrees. As discussed above in section III.A, the 1999 EIS adequately explains the data used in the computer models that resulted in the flood elevation levels used in the study. In addition, the 1999 EIS contains a discussion of the 1987 REIS and the 1988 ROD. {See HCAR at 186-87.) The seven-foot rise in the SPF from the 1987 REIS to the 1999 EIS was not an environmental consequence or impact of the DFE project itself or a federal “action,” but was instead the result of changing conditions and improved data. Consequently, NEPA did not require that it be discussed in the 1999 EIS as a cumulative impact. Thus, the Court concludes that it was not arbitrary and capricious for the COE to omit an explicit discussion concerning the seven-foot increase, beyond that already contained in the 1999 EIS, and Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on this issue. 2. Flooding Resulting from Overtop-ping the Levees Plaintiffs allege that the 1999 EIS fails to show exactly where the potential flooding of downtown Dallas would occur if the DFE project was not implemented and fails to clearly state that the majority of the DFE project benefits are to downtown Dallas. (Pis.’ Br. at 28.) Defendants claim that they were not required to detail the environmental flooding impacts on downtown Dallas because these are not impacts that would result from the project; instead, these are impacts that would occur if the DFE project were not constructed. (Defs.’ Mem. at 27.) In addition, Defendants assert that they did clearly indicate in the 1999 EIS that the majority of the economic benefits from the DFE project were obtained outside the boundaries of the project. (Defs.’ Resp. at 17.) With respect to the claim that the EIS did not fully disclose the extent of flooding in downtown Dallas and the associated costs, the Court agrees with Defendants that such flooding would occur only if the DFE project were not constructed. The COE, in compliance with NEPA, did consider the alternative of “no action” by considering the impacts that would result if the DFE project were not constructed. The COE then determined that the alternative of “no action” was not the best course of action. (See, e.g., HCAR at 100-02.) Under 40 C.F.R. § 1502.14, once the COE decides to eliminate a reasonable alternative, the COE is only required to briefly discuss the reasons for having eliminated such alternative. The 1999 EIS contains such a discussion, and the Court concludes that the COE’s analysis of the economic impacts of flooding on downtown Dallas that would result if the DFE project were not constructed was not arbitrary and capricious. With respect to the claim that the 1999 EIS did not fully disclose the economic benefits to downtown Dallas,- the Court notes that the 1999 EIS contains information about these economic benefits in multiple places. On page D-7 of the 1999 EIS, the COE clearly indicates that it was considering a “secondary study area” in its reach determination that included downtown Dallas: The study area is located along the Trinity River in the southern sector of the city of Dallas. The initial area of investigation can be defined as that portion of the Trinity River between the confluence of Five Mile Creek, near Interstate-20 (1-20) downstream and the terminus of the existing Dallas Flood-way Levee System upstream. However, preliminary analysis revealed significant hydraulic correlations between the extension area and the existing levee system upstream. Specifically, implementation of flood control projects in the extension area significantly influences the performance of the Dallas Floodway Levee System. Subsequently, about eight miles of the Dallas Floodway Levee System was included in the study area. To facilitate the analysis of benefits and inducements in both locations the study area was divided accordingly. The Dallas Floodway Extension is referred to as the Primary Study Area and the Dallas Floodway Levee System as the Secondary Study Area. . (HCAR at 413-14 (emphasis added); see HCAR at 415 (which indicates that downtown Dallas is in Reach 7, which is a part of the Secondary Study Area); HCAR at 33.) In addition, on page 4-1 of the 1999 EIS; the COE indicates that the planning objectives for the 1999 EIS were to include reducing the loss of jobs and wages caused by flooding from the Trinity River within the city of Dallas. (HCAR at 71.) Furthermore, on page 4-2 of the 1999 EIS, the COE explains the economic criteria used for selecting the recommended plan and states that the objective for flood control projects “relates to a plan’s capability to prevent flood damages by comparing the plan’s economic benefits with the project cost.” (HCAR at 72.) In addition, a table on page 4-65 of the 1999 EIS shows that the annual economic benefits to the existing Dallas Floodway, which includes flood protection for downtown Dallas, of the “Chain of Wetlands Both SPF Levees” plan was $ 6,454,578 out of total annual benefits of $11,677,272. (HCAR at 122.) After reviewing the evidence in the record and noting that the evidence indicates that a large portion of the economic benefits from the DFE project is achieved by the additional flood protection to downtown Dallas, the Court is convinced that the COE’s presentation of the information concerning the benefits to downtown Dallas is not arbitrary and capricious. Consequently, the Court concludes that Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on this issue. See Mason Cty. Medical Ass’n v. Knebel, 563 F.2d 256, 265 (6th Cir.1977) (stating that “no matter how well the EIS has been written, someone later can always find fault with it”). 3. Alternatives Section 102(2)(C)(iii) of NEPA requires that an EIS contain a detailed statement of alternatives to the proposed action. The regulations implementing NEPA are promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ”) and contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (“C.F.R.”). According to 40 C.F.R. § 1502.14, agencies must explore and evaluate all reasonable alternatives. See 40 C.F.R. § 1502.14 (2000). Unfortunately, NEPA does not provide an agency much guidance regarding which alternatives must be considered. “The content and scope of the discussion of alternatives to the proposed action varies with the existing circumstances.” Druid Hills Civic Assn., Inc., 772 F.2d at 712. There are two phases an agency must undergo in analyzing alternatives: “[f]irst, the agency must choose from the universe of options a list of alternatives as “finalists” that it will study in detail[, and s]econd, the agency engages in a more rigorous environmental analysis of these selected finalists before making its ultimate decisions.” See Surfrider Found. v. Dalton, 989 F.Supp. 1309, 1325 (S.D.Cal.1998). Federal regulations require that the agency devote “substantial treatment” to and “rigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable alternatives,” and briefly discuss the reasons for the exclusion of the alternatives eliminated from detailed study. See 40 C.F.R. § 1502.14(a) & (b) (2000). The procedural requirement that an agency consider all reasonable alternatives is, however, “bounded by some notion of feasibility.” Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Natural Res. Defense Council, Inc., 485 U.S. 519, 551, 98 S.Ct. 1197, 55 L.Ed.2d 460 (1978). As the Supreme Court has stated: Common sense ... teaches us that the ‘detailed statement of alternatives’ cannot be found wanting simply because the agency failed to include every alternative device and thought conceivable by the mind of man. Time and resources are simply too limited to hold that an impact statement fails because the agency failed to ferret out every possible alternative, regardless of how uncommon or unknown that alternative may have been at the time the project was approved. Vermont Yankee, 435 U.S. at 551, 98 S.Ct. 1197. “An EIS is satisfactory if the treatment of alternatives, when judged against a ‘rule of reason,’ is sufficient to permit a reasoned choice among the various options.” Druid Hills Civic Ass’n, 772 F.2d at 713; see Headwaters, Inc. v. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 914 F.2d 1174, 1180-81 (9th Cir.1990). In this case, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated the provisions of 40 C.F.R. § 1502.14(a) and (c) by failing to consider any alternative means for protecting downtown Dallas from flooding, such as building up the existing Dallas Floodway by approximately two feet, when the majority of the DFE project’s economic benefits resulted from protecting downtown Dallas from flooding. (Pls.’ Mot. for Summ. J. at 30.) Plaintiffs assert that the COE evaluated an alternative that proposed raising the existing Dallas Floodway and that this alternative had the best benefit-to-cost ratio of any other alternative considered by the COE, including the final recommended plan. (Pis.’ Mot. For Summ. J. at 33; see HCAR 16, 160, 15792, 16035, 193.) Plaintiffs assert that there is no discussion in the 1999 EIS or in the administrative record as to why this alternative was rejected. Plaintiffs contend that, under applicable regulations, the COE was required to give the reason for its rejection of this alternative. Defendants argue that the reason that they did not consider in the 1999 EIS the alternative of building up the existing Dallas Floodway is because the COE did not have authorization under the DFE project to design or construct improvements to the existing Dallas Floodway. In addition, Defendants contend that such an alternative was not reasonable because it would not provide flood-reduction benefits to the DFE project area, which was a main purpose of the DFE. project. (Defs.’ Resp. to Pis.’ Mot. Summ. J. at 19.) Thus, the COE was under no obligation to consider it. The first step in identifying reasonable alternatives is to define the purpose of the proposed action. See City of Carmel-By-The-Sea v. U.S. Dept. of Tramp., 123 F.3d 1142, 1155 (9th Cir.1997). In the 1999 EIS, a section titled “Study Purpose and Need” states: The primary purpose of this study was to respond to a request by the city of Dallas to re-activate the authorized Dallas Floodway Extension Project. Following the severe flood event of 1989, the city of Dallas requested reactivation of the authorized Dallas Floodway Extension project. The project was reactivated in 1990 under the provision that a general reevaluation be conducted prior to construction. This reevaluation was required due to new environmental and economic criteria, as well as significant land use changes within the study area. (HCAR at 18.) The authorized DFE project “consisted of a combination flood control channel and floodway levees which would provide a Standard Project Flood (SPF) level of protection^ and] consisted of a 22-mile levee and floodway system with a 9.1 mile residual channel along the Trinity River, 4.1 miles of channel improvements along White Rock Creek, and 5.4 miles of channel improvements to divert Five Mile Creek.” (HCAR at 17.) The EIS indicates that the COE considered a wide number of alternatives, including non-struetural and structural alternatives, in the process of selecting the LPP. (HCAR at 70-153.) Plaintiffs complain that the EIS failed to include the alternative of building up the existing Dallas Floodway or discuss the reason this alternative, which had been previously considered by the COE, was eliminated from consideration. With respect to Plaintiffs first complaint, as stated above, the COE is only required to include reasonable alternatives in their EIS. Although the alternative of building up the existing Dallas Floodway may have provided additional flood protection benefits to downtown Dallas and the other areas protected by the levees, this alternative would not have provided any benefits to the areas in the DFE project area, which are downstream from the areas protected by the Dallas Flood-way. The main purpose of the DFE project, although broadened to include environmental and recreational features, is to expand flood protection for those areas that are downstream from the Dallas Floodway. Consequently, in light of this purpose, the COE was not unreasonable in failing to include building up the Dallas Floodway as an alternative in the EIS. See Headwaters v. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 914 F.2d 1174, 1180-81 (9th Cir.1990) (stating that an agency is under no obligation to consider every possible alternative to a proposed action, nor must it consider alternatives that are unlikely to be implemented or those inconsistent with its basic policy objectives). Also without merit is Plaintiffs’ second complaint that, because the COE had studied such an alternative while evaluating and developing the DFE project, the provisions of 40 C.F.R. § 1502.14(a) required the COE to briefly discuss in the 1999 EIS the reasons this alternative was eliminated. Even if the COE had at some point considered raising the Dallas Flood-way, the COE is only obligated to discuss in the EIS for the DFE project why reasonable, but undesirable, alternatives to the DFE project were eliminated. See 40 C.F.R. § 1502.14(a); City of Carmel-By-The-Sea, 123 F.3d 1142, 1158 (noting that at least a few of the proposed alternatives previously considered and rejected in the draft EIS were not included in the final EIS). Because the alternative of raising the existing Dallas Floodway did not reasonably meet the purposes of the DFE project, the COE was not required to consider it, much less discuss the reasons for its elimination from consideration. Consequently, the Court concludes that the COE was not arbitrary or capricious in failing to include in the 1999 EIS the alternative of raising the existing Dallas Floodway or briefly discussing the reasons for the elimination of this alternative. Thus, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on this issue. C. Count III: Violation of NEPA by Failing to Consider (1) “Connected Actions” and (2) “Cumulative Impacts” “To determine the scope of environmental impact statements, agencies shall consider 3 types of actions, 3 types of alternatives, and 3 types of impacts.” 40 C.F.R. § 1508.25 (2000). Specifically, the agency shall consider connected, cumulative, and similar actions, alternatives and mitigating measures, and direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. Id. The section on connected actions states: Connected actions, which means that they are closely related and therefore should be discussed in the same impact statement. Actions are connected if they: (i) Automatically trigger other actions which may require environmental impact statements. (ii) Cannot or will not proceed unless other actions are taken previously or simultaneously. (iii) Are interdependent parts of a larger action and depend on the larger action for their justification. 40 C.F.R. § 1508.25(a)(1) (2000). The section on cumulative actions states, “Cumulative actions, which when viewed with other proposed actions have cumulatively significant impacts and should therefore be discussed in the same impact statement.” 40 C.F.R. § 1508.25(a)(2) (2000) (emphasis added). As discussed in section III.B.l. supra, “cumulative impact” is defined as: the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. 40 C.F.R. § 1508.7 (2000) (emphasis added). 1. Connected Actions Plaintiffs assert that the COE violated NEPA by failing to analyze other foreseeable future projects that are connected to the DFE project. Plaintiffs claim that the Trinity River Corridor project, the Chain of Lakes, the Trinity Parkway, the Woodall Rogers Bridge, the Elm Fork Levee project and, the Great Trinity Forest are “connected” actions under NEPA and, thus, are required to be analyzed in a single EIS. Plaintiffs claim that they are connected because of the following reasons: (1) financial support for all of these projects, including the DFE project, was obtained through a single bond package known as Proposition 11 that was passed by voters in a May 1988 bond election (see HCAR at 14806, 15541); (2) a document in the administrative record identifies the “interdependencies” between these projects in fourteen separate categories, including the DFE Lamar levee being a necessary element for the Trinity Parkway, the Trinity Parkway being built on material excavated from the Chain of Lakes, and the Trinity Parkway hydraulic impacts being mitigated by the construction of the Chain of Lakes (see HCAR at 14816); (3) the HEC-1 and HEC-2 analysis used by the COE in the DFE project study area is based on the model developed as part of the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study; (4) the fact that the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study is cross-referenced in many places in the administrative record, including in the 1999 EIS; (5) and notes and descriptions of meetings in which these projects were discussed in connection with each other and decisions were made that affected more than one of the projects (see, e.g., HCAR at 15676-77, 15712-13). Plaintiffs further argue that they believe the DFE project is the baseline for the other projects and that the DFE project was chosen to be built first in order to preserve the economic benefits of the project of protecting downtown Dallas. (Pis.’ Br. at 39.) On the other hand, Defendants argue that the DFE project is not a connected action because: (1) it “was authorized as a stand-alone project to reduce flood damage in certain sections of the City of Dallas[;]” (2) “Kits authorization was not dependent on or related to other proposed projects[;]” (3) “[i]ts authorizations [sic] did not automatically trigger other actions that would require an environmental impact statement;]” and (4) “[t]he project was not dependent on other action taken either previously or simultaneously in order to proceed.” (Defs.’ Mem. at 42.) According to a document detailing the various propositions included in the 1988 capital bond election, the Trinity River Corridor Project is made up of several “interdependent projects that are to be implemented over 10 years, including the DFE project, the Elm Fork Levee, the Trinity Corridor Transportation Improvements, the Great Trinity Forest, and the Chain of Lakes.” Based on the above three factors and the descriptions of the various projects, the Court concludes that the DFE project and the other projects, although obviously related by geographic features, their association with the Trinity River, and the overall goal of improving the area, are not “connected actions.” (See, e.g., HCAR at 11217, 11272, 11273.) First, there is no evidence in the record that the building of the DFE project will automatically trigger any of the other projects. Although all of the projects were approved by the voters in a bond election, such approval does not automatically indicate that they will all be constructed. In addition, there is no evidence, beyond Plaintiffs’ speculative belief, that the DFE project cannot proceed unless the other projects are built before or at the same time as the DFE project. Finally, there is no evidence in the record that the DFE project, whose purpose is to provide flood protection to certain areas, is an interdependent part of any of the other projects. See 40 C.F.R. § 1508.25(a)(1) (2000). Consequently, because the success or failure of the DFE project does not depend on any of the other projects, the Court concludes that the COE’s failure to analyze the other projects in the 1999 EIS was not arbitrary and capricious. See North Cascades Conservation Council v. United States Forest Serv., 98 F.Supp.2d 1198, 1199 (W.D.Wash.1999); 40 C.F.R. § 1508.25(a)(1) (2000). 2. Cumulative Actions and Impacts of Future Actions Plaintiffs assert that the COE violated NEPA by failing to address in the 1999 EIS the cumulative impacts of the series of projects that are all part of the Trinity River Corridor Project. (Pis. Br. at 34-36.) Plaintiffs claim that the 1999 EIS does not discuss these reasonably foreseeable future projects or any of the possible cumulative environmental impacts resulting from these projects and the DFE project. (Pis. Br. at 36.) Defendants claim that these future projects were not discussed in the 1999 EIS as cumulative impacts because they were not actually “proposals” and because Defendants “had insufficient detail to provide [a] detailed discussion of cumulative impacts.” (Defs.’ Mem. at 43.) Defendants further state “that the components of the plans discussed which might impact existing Corps of Engineer projects are areas within the regulatory program of the Corps of Engineers and will not produce adverse cumulative impacts because of existing Corps mandates to disallow projects that would cumulatively adversely impact environmental or economic conditions in or [sic] area of jurisdiction.” (Defs.’ Mem. at 43-44.) Defendants further point out that the 1999 EIS does discuss the cumulative effect of the proposed Trinity Parkway, which Defendants claim was, at that time, “part of a study to develop a LPP of action to solve transportation problems along the Trinity Corridor in Dallas.” (Defs.’ Mem. at 44.) The Court notes that there is some confusion between the parties and in the case law over the terms “cumulative impact” and “cumulative actions” and whether a discussion on cumulative impacts of foreseeable future projects is required only if a foreseeable project has actually been proposed Compare Kleppe v. Sierra Club, 427 U.S. 390, 96 S.Ct. 2718, 49 L.Ed.2d 576 (1976) with Fritiofson v. Alexander, 772 F.2d 1225 (5th Cir.1985), overruled