hallstrom tillamook county argued october decided november subsection citizen suit provision resource conservation recovery act rcra permits person commence civil action alleged violator waste disposal regulations promulgated act except provided subsection subsection entitled ctions prohibited provides suit may commenced prior days plaintiff given notice violation environmental protection agency epa federal body charged enforcing rcra state alleged violation occurred alleged violator believing respondent sanitary landfill violated rcra standards petitioners owners farm next landfill sent respondent written notice intent sue one year later commenced action respondent moved summary judgment ground district lacked jurisdiction petitioners failed notify state oregon epa required petitioners notified state federal agencies suit district denied respondent motion ground petitioners satisfied rcra notice requirement notifying agencies trial held respondent violated rcra appeals remanded action instructions dismiss concluding petitioners failure comply notice requirement deprived district subject matter jurisdiction held party suing rcra citizen suit provision fails meet notice delay requirements action must dismissed barred terms statute pp plain language statute establishes compliance notice provision mandatory optional condition precedent suit may disregarded discretion actions commenced prior days notice prohibited language expressly incorporated reference acts specific limitation citizen right bring suit pp none petitioners arguments giving statute flexible pragmatic construction require disregard statute plain language argument notice requirement deemed satisfied suit commenced without proper notice stayed days notice given rejected whether stay fact functional equivalent precommencement delay staying judicial action suit filed honor prohibition filing complaint notice requirement fulfilled although congress excepted parties complying delay requirement elsewhere rcra petitioners situation may create exception congress declined contention notice provision subject equitable modification cure also unavailing equities weigh favor modifying statutory requirements procedural default caused petitioners failure take minimal steps necessary preserve claims petitioners failure excused ground unfair hold laypersons strict compliance statute since suit like rcra citizen suits generally filed trained lawyer zipes trans world airlines distinguished petitioners reliance legislative history citizen suit provisions also misplaced since nothing history militates honoring plain language notice requirement fact requiring citizens comply notice delay requirements furthers congress goal striking balance encouraging citizen suits avoiding burdening federal courts excessive numbers suits since notice allows government agencies alleged violators achieve compliance without need suit petitioners assertion giving effect literal meaning notice provisions allow violations go unchecked waiting period persuasive since problem results balance knowingly struck congress developing citizen suit provisions since likely compliance notice requirement trigger appropriate federal state enforcement actions prevent serious damage moreover irrational require citizen wait days commence suit agencies alleged violators specifically declined act response notice citizen since violator agency may change mind threat suit becomes imminent pp light literal interpretation statutory requirement question whether jurisdictional strict sense term merely procedural need determined requiring dismissal noncompliance notice provision supported epa judicial efficiency relieving courts need make determinations whether failure comply fatal pp although merit petitioners contention requiring dismissal action wastes judicial resources factors led apply decisions nonretroactively present decision establish new rule law overrule clear past precedent litigants may relied statute put petitioners notice requirements bringing suit retroactive operation decision congress purpose giving agencies alleged violators nonadversarial period achieve compliance rcra regulations moreover dismissal deprive petitioners right day since remain free give statutorily required notice file suit pp delivered opinion rehnquist white blackmun stevens scalia kennedy joined marshall filed dissenting opinion brennan joined post kim buckley argued cause petitioners briefs michael esler franklin hunsaker argued cause respondent brief james driscoll brain martin argued cause amicus curiae urging affirmance brief solicitor general starr acting assistant attorney general carr deputy solicitor general wallace anne almy john stahr michael traynor filed brief sierra club et al amici curiae urging reversal justice delivered opinion citizen suit provision resource conservation recovery act rcra stat amended ed supp permits individuals commence action district enforce waste disposal regulations promulgated act least days commencing suit plaintiffs must notify alleged violator state environmental protection agency epa intent sue notice provision modeled upon clean air amendments stat amended since number federal statutes incorporated notice provisions patterned case must decide whether compliance notice provision mandatory precondition suit disregarded district discretion petitioners commercial dairy farm located next respondent sanitary landfill april believing landfill operation violated standards established rcra petitioners sent respondent written notice intention file suit year later petitioners commenced action march respondent moved summary judgment ground petitioners failed notify oregon department environmental quality deq epa intent sue required respondent claimed failure comply notice requirement deprived district jurisdiction march petitioners notified agencies suit district denied respondent motion reasoned petitioners cured defect notice formally notifying state federal agencies march agencies days take appropriate steps cure violation respondent landfill noted purpose notice requirement give administrative agencies opportunity enforce environmental regulations case neither state federal agency expressed interest taking action respondent therefore concluded dismissing action stage waste judicial resources civ apr action proceeded trial district held respondent violated rcra ordered respondent remedy violation refused grant petitioners motion injunctive relief civ later order district denied petitioners request attorney fees petitioners appealed rulings respondent denial summary judgment motion appeals ninth circuit concluded petitioners failure comply notice requirement deprived district subject matter jurisdiction relying plain language appeals determined permitting plaintiff proceed without giving notice constitute judicial amendment clear statutory command quoting garcia cecos citation omitted appeals also determined strict construction notice requirement best goal giving environmental agencies rather courts primary responsibility enforcing rcra therefore appeals remanded action district instructions dismiss granted certiorari resolve conflict among courts appeals regarding correct interpretation notice provision ii repeatedly noted starting point interpreting statute language statute consumer product safety gte sylvania section permits person commence civil action alleged violator regulations established rcra except provided subsection subsection actions prohibited action may commenced paragraph section prior sixty days plaintiff given notice violation administrator epa state alleged violation occurs alleged violator permit standard regulation condition requirement order petitioners contend language provision ambiguous rather assert given flexible pragmatic construction thus petitioners argue suit commenced without proper notice stayed days notice given district deem notice requirement satisfied see pymatuning water shed citizens hygienic environment eaton according petitioners stay serve function delaying commencement suit give government opportunity take action alleged violator give violator opportunity bring compliance whether stay fact functional equivalent precommencement delay interpretation flatly contradicts language statute rule federal rules civil procedure civil action commenced filing complaint reading light rule plaintiff may file suit fulfilling notice requirement staying judicial action suit filed honor prohibition congress excepted parties complying notice delay requirement indeed carved exception amendments rcra see supp abrogating delay requirement danger hazardous waste discharged rcra however contains exception applicable petitioners situation liberty create exception congress declined petitioners argue decision zipes trans world airlines rcra notice provision subject equitable modification cure zipes held timely filing charge discrimination equal employment opportunity commission required title vii civil rights act stat amended ed charge section shall filed within one hundred eighty days alleged unlawful employment practice occurred jurisdictional prerequisite suit subject waiver estoppel equitable tolling decision help petitioners first noted zipes language legislative history indicate filing period operated statute limitations running statutes traditionally subject equitable tolling see honda clark holding consistent overall congressional purpose traditional equitable tolling principle applied statutory limitations period unlike statute limitations rcra notice provision triggered violation giving rise action rather petitioners full control timing suit need give notice appropriate parties refrain commencing action least days equities weigh favor modifying statutory requirements procedural default caused petitioners failure take minimal steps necessary preserve claims johnson railway express agency excuse petitioners failure ground technical reading particularly inappropriate statutory scheme laymen unassisted trained lawyers initiate process zipes trans world airlines supra quoting love pullman initial charge title vii proceeding normally filed aggrieved individual see citizen suits rcra like lawsuit generally filed trained lawyers presumed aware statutory requirements indeed counsel petitioners case admitted oral argument knew notice provisions inadvertently neglected notify state federal agencies tr oral arg circumstances unfair require strict compliance statutory conditions precedent suit petitioners next contend literal interpretation notice provision defeat congress intent enacting rcra support argument cite passages legislative history first citizen suit statute clean air amendments indicating citizen suits encouraged see pp senate committee public works legislative history clean air amendments pp comm print reliance legislative history misplaced held bsent clearly expressed legislative intention contrary words statute conclusive consumer product safety gte sylvania nothing legislative history citizen suit provision militates honoring plain language notice requirement one rare cases literal application statute produce result demonstrably odds intentions drafters ron pair enterprises quoting griffin oceanic contractors rather legislative history indicates intent strike balance encouraging citizen enforcement environmental regulations avoiding burdening federal courts excessive numbers citizen suits see cong rec comments muskie see also note notice citizen plaintiffs environmental litigation rev reviewing legislative history clean air amendments requiring citizens comply notice delay requirements serves congressional goal two ways first notice allows government agencies take responsibility enforcing environmental regulations thus obviating need citizen suits see gwaltney smithfield chesapeake bay foundation bar citizen suits governmental enforcement action way suggests citizen suit meant supplement rather supplant governmental action many cases agency may able compel compliance administrative action thus eliminating need access courts see cong rec comments hart second notice gives alleged violator opportunity bring complete compliance act thus likewise render unnecessary citizen suit gwaltney supra policy frustrated citizens immediately bring suit without involving federal state enforcement agencies giving full effect words statute preserves compromise struck congress petitioners next assert giving effect literal meaning notice provisions compel absurd futile results american trucking essence petitioners make two arguments first petitioners amici contend strictly enforcing delay provision give violators opportunity cause damage actually accomplish objective citizen attempting stop see save sound fisheries assn callaway supp ri army corps engineers violated three environmental statutes order award dredging contract citizen suit enjoin dredging commence similarly assert courts precluded giving essential temporary injunctive relief days elapsed although underestimate potential damage environment ensue waiting period problem arises result balance struck congress developing citizen suit provisions congress addressed dangers delay certain circumstances made exceptions required notice periods accordingly see clean water act added stat ed citizen suits may brought immediately cases involving violations toxic pollutant effluent limitations clean air amendments stat ed citizen suits may brought immediately cases involving emissions standards specified compliance orders moreover likely compliance notice requirement trigger appropriate federal state enforcement actions prevent serious damage second petitioners argue strict construction notice provision cause procedural anomalies example petitioners contend citizen notified government agencies violation agencies explicitly declined act pointless require citizen wait days commence suit result may frustrating plaintiff irrational appeals first circuit noted ermitting immediate suit ignores possibility violator agency may change mind threat suit becomes imminent garcia cecos sum conclude none petitioners arguments requires us disregard plain language long run experience teaches strict adherence procedural requirements specified legislature best guarantee evenhanded administration law mohasco silver therefore hold notice delay requirements mandatory conditions precedent commencing suit rcra citizen suit provision district may disregard requirements discretion parties framed question presented case whether notice provision jurisdictional procedural light literal interpretation statutory requirement need determine whether jurisdictional strict sense term see fair assessment real estate mcnary brennan concurring judgment requirement exhaustion state administrative remedies certainly mandatory precondition suit sense jurisdictional prerequisite general rule action barred terms statute must dismissed thus baldwin county welcome center brown approved district determination claimant failed file complaint within statutory time period mandated title vii ed forfeited right pursue claim accordingly rejected appeals eleventh circuit conclusion generous interpretation required remedial nature title vii claimant filing letter tolled period cf oscar mayer evans requiring dismissal refiling serve purpose creation additional procedural technicality district may comply age discrimination employment act stat ed holding action abeyance pendency mandatory waiting period citation omitted noted dismissal rcra suit serves important federal goals see supra indeed epa federal agency charged enforcement rcra interprets notice provision requiring dismissal noncompliance tr oral arg remedy actions filed violation judicial efficiency courts need make determinations whether failure fulfill notice requirement fatal party suit petitioners urge us require dismissal action years litigation determination merits contend dismissal unnecessarily waste judicial resources sympathetic argument complex environmental legal issues involved litigation consumed time energy district parties nearly four years nevertheless factors led us apply decisions nonretroactively present case see chevron oil huson decision establish new rule law overrule clear past precedent litigants may relied moreover statute put petitioners notice requirements bringing suit retroactive operation decision congressional purpose giving agencies alleged violators nonadversarial period achieve compliance rcra regulations dismissal action inequitable result depriving petitioners right day petitioners remain free give notice file suit compliance statute enforce pertinent environmental standards accordingly hold party suing citizen suit provisions rcra fails meet notice delay requirements district must dismiss action barred terms statute judgment appeals affirmed ordered footnotes courts appeals first seventh circuits well appeals ninth circuit case construed notice provision mandatory prerequisite suit see garcia cecos construing notice provision rcra highland park train cert denied construing notice provision clean air amendments appeals third circuit reached different conclusion holding notice requirement satisfied proper parties notice fact alleged violations days suit filed see proffitt bristol commissioners construing notice provisions clean water act rcra district stayed proceedings days see pymatuning water shed citizens hygienic environment eaton construing notice provision clean water act justice marshall justice brennan joins dissenting purporting rely plain language ed ante holds plaintiff failure comply prior notice provision resource conservation recovery act et seq ed supp necessarily fatal case yet even preferred literal reading statute ante sanction violation notice provision anything clear requiring district courts dismiss every action filed violation ill serves judicial economy congress purposes adopting rcra dissent relevant portion notice provision reads action may commenced paragraph section prior sixty days plaintiff given notice violation administrator environmental protection agency epa state alleged violation occurs alleged violator doubt statute requires notice plaintiff file complaint open debate petitioners failed notify state epa alleged violation days filed complaint district thereby commenced action ante within meaning federal rule civil procedure inescapable facts without analysis concludes sanction violating dismissal fails recognize however necessary connection violation statute particular sanction noncompliance plaintiff failure comply statutory conditions precedent bringing suit necessarily mandate dismissal action apparent decision oscar mayer evans oscar mayer asked interpret age discrimination employment act stat set forth ed provides part suit may brought section title expiration sixty days proceedings commenced state law found section intended give state agencies limited opportunity resolve problems employment discrimination thereby make unnecessary resort federal relief victims discrimination held notice requirement mandatory optional precondition suit compare ante holding rcra notice provision mandatory optional condition precedent suit nevertheless held rather dismissing suit hold abeyance days commencement state proceedings time grievant continue federal suit explained suspension proceedings preferable dismissal leave refile require second filing aggrieved party termination state proceedings serve purpose creation additional procedural technicality technicalities particularly inappropriate statutory scheme laymen unassisted trained lawyers initiate process love pullman charge may held suspended animation deferral period reason suspension pending deferral preferred practice federal courts citations omitted analysis case makes clear purposes notice requirement served equally well order staying proceedings days dismissal broader purposes citizen suit provision better served former identifies two purposes congress intended notice requirement serve first notice allows government agencies take responsibility enforcing environmental regulations thus obviating need citizen suits second notice gives alleged violator opportunity bring complete compliance act thus likewise render unnecessary citizen suit ante quoting gwaltney smithfield chesapeake bay foundation necessary meet concerns delay whether comes immediately immediately filing complaint immaterial indeed even deny stay dismissal accomplish goals see ante expressing view hether stay fact functional equivalent precommencement delay furthermore one congress purposes enacting citizen suit provision notice requirement part encourage citizen suits see pp legislative history identical provision clean air amendments compare ante congress intends facilitate citizen suits salutary purposes notice provision equally well served stay dismissal regime requires dismissal citizen suit consumed time energy district parties nearly four years ante resulted judicial determination respondent violated rcra ante simply inconsistent congress perhaps recognizing repeated invocations statute plain language nothing advance analysis also offers support proposition general rule action barred terms statute must dismissed ante citation baldwin county welcome center brown absence opinion quotation baldwin county welcome center support proposition cited accident case stand proposition case issue appeals whether filing letter district constituted commencement action within meaning federal rule civil procedure finding persuasive justification view constitutes complaint rule different title vii cases federal litigation reinstated district finding letter complaint nowhere much hint recognizing establishing general rule action barred terms statute must dismissed even statutory goals animating rule otherwise served reasoning reduces unexplained assertion followed citation illusory authority conclusion compelled language notice provision congress twin purposes fostering private enforcement rcra conserving judicial resources better served rule permitting district courts stay actions days rather requiring dismissal dissent might read suggest failure comply notice provision deprives jurisdiction thereby obligating dismiss case filed violation notice provision matter defendant raises issue indeed regardless whether defendant see ante plaintiff fails comply notice provision district must dismiss action dispute case respondent timely raised claim petitioners complied notice provision question whether defendant may waive notice requirement resolution question necessarily dictum event understand express view whether notice requirement waivable see ante need determine whether jurisdictional strict sense term