ESM 595P

Seminar in Regulatory Analysis

 

 

As some of you may have noticed, the White House,  the EPA and NHTSA jointly proposed accelerating the new car fuel efficiency rules and resolving the dispute between California, the auto companies and the EPA over the Pavley bill -- California's attempt to impose greenhouse gas standards on autos.  This action also paves the way for regulation of GHG by EPA in that the new rules explicitly targets GHG.

The proposed rule has a 60 day comment period with three hearings:

October 21: Detroit

October 23: New York

October 27: Los Angeles

 

Comment Due Date:   November 27, 2009

 

Meeting Times (all in BH 1520):

Wed. 9/30: 4-6 p.m.
Wed. 10/7: 4-6 p.m.
Wed. 10/14: 4-6 p.m.
Thurs. 10/22: 5-7 p.m.
Tues. 10/27: Hearing in LA
Thurs. 11/5: 5-7 p.m.
Tues. 11/10: 5-7 p.m.
Tues. 11/17: 5-7 p.m.

 

Objectives of Seminar:  The purpose of this seminar is to develop comments on the proposed rule. Ideally, we will either find errors or reach conclusions different than those of NHTSA/EPA.

 

Format:  This will be a student-directed effort to familiarize ourselves with the rule and find specific aspects we think could be improved (for example) and prepare comments for official submission.  For instance, the social cost of carbon (SOC) is discussed at length -- the conclusion is that it should be about $20 per ton of CO2 for regulatory analysis.  Discounting is another issue as is problems of consumer choice with respect to energy efficient appliances and capital.  (Of course we dont need to comment on everything -- and wouldnt want to.)

 

Registering:  All participants should register for ESM 595P.  Economics students can get an add-code from Amy Burgard if necessary.  Course should be up by Oct 1.

 

Source Material:

 

President Obama’s May 2009 Statement

 

NY Times Article [Sept. 15, 2009]

 

Summary from EPA

 

EPA Details Page [check back – it keeps getting updated]

 

Proposed Rule with Backup (684 pages) – redundant now that the Federal Register version has been published

 

Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) [337 pages]

 

Draft Joint Technical Support Document [203 pages]

 

Docket – supplementary information that may be useful (including journal articles)

 

Federal Register Listing – official proposed rule

 

National Academy of Science 2001 CAFÉ Report

 

National Academy of Science 1992 CAFÉ Report

 

2006 NHTSA Final Rule on CAFÉ for light trucks [includes footprint discussion]

 

 

 

 

 

November 7, 2009