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Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases

Changes from October 19, 2016 to December 6, 2016

This page shows textual changes in the document between the two versions indicated in the dates above. Textual matter removed in the later version is indicated with red strikethrough and textual matter added in the later version is indicated with blue.

Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases

October 19December 6, 2016 (R44657)

Introduction

Executive Order 12866 requires that federal agencies assess the cost and the benefits of intended regulations as part of their regulatory impact analyses (RIAs). The 1993 executive order stated that "recognizing that some costs and benefits are difficult to quantify, [each agency shall] propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its costs."1 In 2008, a federal appeals court remanded a rule in part because, despite acknowledging the uncertainty, because the agency did not monetize climate-related benefits of anticipated emission reductions in its RIA.2 In response, in 2008, federal agencies began using various values of the social cost of carbon (SCC or SC-CO2) as a means to estimate the climate-related benefits of abating emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Since then, they have begun using similar estimates for the benefits of reducing emissions of other greenhouse gases (GHG), including methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).

The SC-CO2 is an "estimate of the monetized damages associated with an incremental increase in carbon emissions in a given year," according to a federal Interagency Working Group (IWG).3 This group developed a range of SC-CO2 values "to make it possible for agencies to incorporate the social benefits from reducing carbon dioxide emissions into cost-benefit analyses of regulatory actions that have small, or 'marginal,' impacts on cumulative global emissions."4 In the United States, the SC-CO2 has been expressed as U.S. dollars per metric ton of carbon dioxide ($/t CO2) for a given year's emissions. Agencies primarily used their own, differing SC-CO2 values until the IWG recommended in 2009 a set of values to improve consistency across regulations. Estimations of the social cost of methane (SC-CH4) and the social cost of nitrous oxide (SC-N2O) have used methods similar to those for the SC-CO2. Federal agencies began using the SC-CO2 in regulatory actions in 2008, the SC-CH4 in 2015, and SC-N2O in 2016. Since August 2016, federal agencies collectively call these analyses and applications the social cost of greenhouse gases (SC-GHG).

This report compiles a table of Federal Register notices related to federal regulatory actions that specifically cite the SC-CO2, SC-CH4, SC-N2O, or SC-GHG. The actions listed in Table 1Error! Reference source not found. were identified by searches online of the Federal Register5 for the terms "social cost of carbon," "social cost of methane," and "social cost." The table below reflects searches completed by October 12December 5, 2016.Error! Reference source not found., 2016.

Table 1 first lists the actions that used the SC-CO2 estimate and then the actions citing other SC-GHG estimates. The table includes proposed, final and additional actions, sometimes for the same rule (so a simple count of entries in the table would double-count the number of regulations with benefits calculated using the SC-GHG estimates). Almost all non-regulatory notices are omitted, including notices of funding availability for grant programs. A few entries contain commentary that identifies notices of key stages in development of an interagency SC-GHG—for example, that an interagency process was underway or the first use of an interagency value. One column identifies which version of the SC-CO2, SC-CH4, or SC-N2O was cited in each regulatory action. In this report, CRS does not analyze the social cost values or methods used in the cited agency actions. It does not review or analyze the listed actions.

Table 1. U.S. Federal Regulatory Actions Referring to the Social Cost of Carbon (SC-CO2), the Social Cost of Methane (SC-CH4), or the Social Cost of Nitrous Oxide (SC-N2O)

08/05/16

ECS for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products. 81 FR 75194.

08/29/16

Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation.

 

Date

Agency

Regulatory or Related Action

Action

Version of SC-CO2, SC-CH4, or SC-N2O Estimate Used cd

a b
 

  

  

SOCIAL COST OF CARBON ACTIONS

  

7-Apr-04/07/08

DOE

proposed

Energy Conservation Program (ECP)c for Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner and Packaged Terminal Heat Pump Energy Conservation Standards. 73 FR 18858.

IPCC 2007

2-May-05/02/08

DOT

proposed

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, Passenger Cars and Light Trucks; Model Years 2011-2015. 73 FR 24352.

own

30-Jul-07/30/08

EPA

advance notice

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under the Clean Air Act. 73 FR 44354.

none

25-Aug-08/25/08

DOE

proposed

Commercial Ice-Cream Freezers; Self-Contained Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial Refrigerator- Freezers Without Doors; and Remote Condensing Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial Refrigerator- Freezers. 73 FR 50072.

IPCC 2007

7-Oct-10/07/08

DOE

final

ECPb for Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner and Packaged Terminal Heat Pump Energy Conservation Standards. 73 FR 58772.

IPCC 2007

17-Oct-10/17/08

DOE

proposed

ECP: Energy Conservation Standards (ESC) for Commercial Ice-Cream Freezers; Self-Contained Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial Refrigerator- Freezers Without Doors; and Remote Condensing Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial Refrigerator- Freezers. 73 FR 44354.

none

11-Nov-/11/08

EPA & DOT

advance notice

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under the Clean Air Act. FRL-8694-2.

own

9-Jan-01/09/09

DOE

final

ECS for Commercial Ice-Cream Freezers; Self-Contained Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial Refrigerator- Freezers Without Doors; and Remote Condensing Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial Refrigerator-Freezers. 74 FR 1092.

IPCC 2007 (corrects year of dollars)

30-Mar-03/30/09

DOT

final

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards Passenger Cars and Light Trucks Model Year 2011. 74 FR 14196.

2009

1-Apr-04/01/09

DOT

notice of intent

Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for New Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 74 FR 14857.

none

8-Apr-04/08/09

DOE

final (amended)

Amends final rule ECSb for Certain Consumer Products (Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, Microwave Ovens, and Electric and Gas Kitchen Ranges and Ovens) and for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Commercial Clothes Washers), and additional actions. 74 FR 16040. The Federal Register notice stated that DOE and other federal agencies were reviewing methodologies on the monetary value of reductions of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions and would consider comments that are part of the public record on issues in this and other rulemakings. 74 FR 16040. (FR p. 16079)

own

13-Apr-04/13/09

DOE

proposed

ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 74 FR 16920.

own

26-May-05/26/09

DOE

proposed

ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 74 FR 24904.

own

26-May-05/26/09

EPA

proposed

Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program. 74 FR 24904.

own

29-May-05/29/09

DOE

proposed

ECS for Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 74 FR 26020.

own

14-Jul-07/14/09

DOE

final

ECS and Test Procedures for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 74 FR 34080.

own

22-Jul-07/22/09

DOE

final

ECS Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Commercial Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Water-Heating Equipment. 74 FR 36312.

own

31-Aug-08/31/09

DOE

final

Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 74 FR 44914.

own

25-Sep-09/25/09

DOT

proposed

Proposed Rule and Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for New Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards; Notice of Public Hearing. 74 FR 48894.

own

28-Sep-09/28/09

EPA & DOT

proposed

Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 74 FR 49454. This action marks the first FR notice of the federal interagency working group's 2010 values for SC-CO2. The rule uses joint EPA/DOT values for SC-CO2.

own

9-Nov-11/09/09

DOE

proposed

ECS for Certain Consumer Products (Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, Microwave Ovens, and Electric and Gas Kitchen Ranges and Ovens) and for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Commercial Clothes Washers). 74 FR 57738.

own

24-Nov-11/24/09

DOE

proposed

ECS for Small Electric Motors. 74 FR 61410.

2009

11-Dec-12/11/09

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Water Heaters, Direct Heating Equipment, and Pool Heaters. 74 FR 65852.

own

8-Jan-01/08/10

DOE

final

ECS for Certain Consumer Products (Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, Microwave Ovens, and Electric and Gas Kitchen Ranges and Ovens) and for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Commercial Clothes Washers). 75 FR 1121.

own

9-Mar-03/09/10

DOE

final

ECS for Small Electric Motors. 75 FR 10874.

2009

26-Mar-03/26/10

EPA

final

Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program. 75 FR 14669.

2009

16-Apr-04/16/10

DOE

final

ECS for Residential Water Heaters. 75 FR 20112.

2010

7-May-05/07/10

EPA & DOT

final

Light Duty Vehicle GHG Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 75 FR 25324. The notice states, "As part of the interagency group, EPA and NHTSA have critically evaluated the new SCC estimates and endorse them for use in these regulatory analyses, for the reasons presented below."

2010

1-May-05/01/10

DOT

final

Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS–B) Out Performance Requirements to Support Air Traffic Control Service. 75 FR 30160.

2010

21-Jun-06/21/10

EPA

other

Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Special Wastes; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities. 75 FR 35127.

2009

2-Aug-08/02/10

EPA

proposed

Federal Implementation Plans to Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone. 75 FR 45210.

2010

27-Sep-09/27/10

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers. 75 FR 59469.

2010

14-Oct-10/14/10

EPA

proposed

Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Sewage Sludge Incineration Units. 75 FR 63260.

2010

30-Nov-11/30/10

EPA & DOT

proposed

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles. 75 FR 74151.

2010

8-Dec-12/08/10

EPA

proposed

2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE Standards: Supplemental Notice of Intent.

none

14-Mar-03/14/11

EPA

proposed

National Emission Standards for Mercury from Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants. 76 FR 13852.

2010

21-Mar-03/21/11

EPA

final

National Emission Standards for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. 76 FR 15608.

2010

21-Mar-03/21/11

EPA

final

National Emission Standards for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. 76 FR 15554.

2010

21-Mar-03/21/11

EPA

final

Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units. 76 FR 15703.

2010

21-Apr-04/21/11

DOE

final and proposed

ECS for Residential Clothes Dryers and Room AC. 76 FR 22454.

2010

10-May-05/10/11

DOT

notice of intent

Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for New Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 76 FR 26996.

none

27-Jun-06/27/11

DOE

final and proposed

ECS for Residential Furnaces and Residential Central AC and Heat Pumps. 76 FR 37408.

2010

8-Aug-08/08/11

EPA

final

Interstate Transport of Fine PM and Ozone. 76 FR 48208.

2010

23-Aug-08/23/11

EPA

proposed

Oil and Natural Gas Sector: New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews. 76 FR 52737.

2010

15-Sep-09/15/11

EPA & DOT

final

GHG Emission Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles. 76 FR 57105.

2010

15-Sep-09/15/11

DOE

final

ECS for Residential Refrigerators. 76 FR 57516.

2010

14-Nov-11/14/11

DOE

final

ECS for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts. 76 FR 70548.

2010

1-Dec-12/01/11

EPA & DOT

proposed

2017 and Later Model Year Light Duty Vehicle GHG Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 76 FR 74854.

2010

23-Dec-12/23/11

EPA

proposed

New Source Performance Standards: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units. 76 FR 80452.

2010

17-Jan-01/17/12

DOE

proposed

ECS for Commercial Heating, AC, and Water Heating Equipment. 77 FR 2356.

2010

10-Feb-02/10/12

DOE

proposed

ECS for Distribution Transformers. 77 FR 7282.

2010

14-Feb-02/14/12

DOE

proposed

ECS for Standby Mode and Off Mode for Microwave Ovens. 77 FR 8526.

2010

16-Feb-02/16/12

EPA

final

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units and Standards of Performance for Fossil-Fuel-Fired Electric Utility, Industrial-Commercial-, Institutional, and Small Industrial-Commercial-Institutional Steam Generating Units. 77 FR 9303.

2010

27-Mar-03/27/12

DOE

proposed

ECS for Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies. 77 FR 18477.

2010

13-Apr-04/13/12

EPA

proposed

Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources; Electric Utility Generating Units. 77 FR 22391.

2010

16-May-05/16/12

DOE

final

ECS for Certain Industrial Equipment: Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Commercial Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Water-Heating Equipment. 77 FR 28927.

2010

30-May-05/30/12

DOE

final

ECS for Certain Industrial Equipment: Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Commercial Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Water-Heating Equipment. 77 FR 28927.

2010

30-May-05/30/12

DOE

final

ECS for Residential Dishwashers. 77 FR 31917.

2010

31-May-05/31/12

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Clothes Washers. 77 FR 32381.

2010

31-May-05/31/12

DOE

final

Direct final rule ECS Residential Clothes Washers. 77 FR 32307.

2010

16-Aug-08/16/12

EPA

final

Oil and Natural Gas Sector: New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews. 77 FR 49489.

2010

12-Sep-09/12/12

EPA

lifted stay on final rule

EPA lifts stay on 2008 final rule Standards of Performance for Petroleum Refineries; Standards of Performance for Petroleum Refineries for Which Construction, Reconstruction, or Modification Commenced after May 14, 2007. 77 FR 56421.

2010

1-Oct-10/01/12

DOT

final (confirms)

Confirms final rule Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Dishwashers. 77 FR 59712.

2010

15-Oct-10/15/12

EPA & DOT

final

2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 77 FR 62623.

2010

31-Jan-01/31/13

EPA

final

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. 78 FR 7137.

2010

18-Apr-04/18/13

DOE

final

ECS for Distribution Transformers. 78 FR 23335.

2010

7-Jun-06/07/13

EPA

proposed

Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. 78 FR 34431.

2010

17-Jun-06/17/13

DOE

final

ECS for Standby Mode and Off Mode for Microwave Ovens. 78 FR 36315.

2013a

16-Aug-08/16/13

DOE

request for comments

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Landmark Legal Foundation; Petition for Reconsideration.

none

20-Aug-08/20/13

DOE

proposed

ECS for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures. 78 FR 51463.

2013a

11-Sep-09/11/13

DOE

proposed

ECS for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers. 78 FR 55889.

2013a

11-Sep-09/11/13

DOE

proposed

ECS for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment. 78 FR 55781.

2013a

25-Oct-10/25/13

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Furnace Fans. 78 FR 64067.

2013a

6-Dec-12/06/13

DOE

proposed

ECS for Commercial and Industrial Electric Motors. 78 FR 73589.

2013b

8-Jan-01/08/14

EPA

reproposed

Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 79 FR 1429

2013b

10-Feb-02/10/14

DOE

final

ECS for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures. 79 FR 7745.

2013b

10-Feb-02/10/14

DOE

final

ECS for External Power Supplies. 79 FR 7845.

2013b

4-Mar-03/04/14

DOE

proposed

ECS for Commercial Clothes Washers. 79 FR 12301.

2013b

17-Mar-03/17/14

DOE

proposed

ECS for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers. 79 FR 14845.

2013b

28-Mar-03/28/14

DOE

final

ECS for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment. 79 FR 17725.

2013b

15-Apr-04/15/14

HUD, USDA

notice of preliminary determination

Preliminary Affordability Determinations: Energy Efficiency Standards. 79 FR 21259.

2013b

29-Apr-04/29/14

DOE

proposed

ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 79 FR 24067.

2013b

29-May-05/29/14

DOE

final

ECS for Commercial and Industrial Electric Motors. 79 FR 30933.

2013b

3-Jun-06/03/14

DOE

final

ECS for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers. 79 FR 32049.

2013b

18-Jun-06/18/14

EPA

proposed

Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 79 FR 34829.

2013b

18-Jun-06/18/14

EPA

proposed

Carbon Pollution Standards for Modified and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 79 FR 34959.

2013b

3-Jul-07/03/14

DOE

final

ECS for Residential Furnace Fans; Final Rule. 79 FR 38129.

2013b

9-Jul-14

DOT

intent to prepare EIS

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Improvement Program Standards: Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 79 FR 38842.

none

15-Aug-08/15/14

EPA

final

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Cooling Water Intake Structures at Existing Facilities and Phase I Facilities; Requirements. 79 FR 48299.

2013b

11-Sep-09/11/14

DOE

revised analysis

ECS for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers: Availability of Revised Rulemaking Analysis; Notice of Data Availability (NODA). 79 FR 54215.

2013b.

16-Sep-09/16/14

DOE

proposed

ECS for Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners and Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR). 79 FR 55537.

2013b

30-Sep-09/30/14

DOE

proposed

ECS for Small, Large, and Very Large Air-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioning and Heating Equipment. 79 FR 58947.

2013b

14-Oct-10/14/14

DOE

proposed

Fossil-Fuel-Generated Energy Consumption Reduction for New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations of Federal Buildings. 79 FR 61693.

2013b

4-Nov-11/04/14

EPA

proposed

Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: EGUs in Indian Country and U.S. Territories; Multi-Jurisdictional Partnerships. 79 FR 65481.

2013b

15-Dec-12/15/14

DOE

final

ECS for Commercial Clothes Washers. 79 FR 74491.

2013b

19-Dec-12/19/14

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Dishwashers. 79 FR 76141.

2013b

24-Dec-12/24/14

CEQ

other action

Revised Draft Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in NEPA Reviews. 79 FR 77801.

none

30-Dec-12/30/14

DOE

proposed

ECP for Certain Industrial Equipment: ECS for Single Package Vertical Air Conditioners and Single Package Vertical Heat Pumps. 79 FR 78613,

2013b

8-Jan-01/08/15

DOE

proposed

ECP for Certain Industrial Equipment: ECS and Test Procedures for Commercial Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Water-Heating Equipment. 80 FR 1171.

2013b

26-Jan-01/26/15

DOE

final

ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 80 FR 4041.

2013b

28-Jan-01/28/15

DOE

final

ECS for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers. 80 FR 4645.

2013b

4-Feb-02/04/15

DOE

proposed

ECP for Certain Industrial Equipment: ECS for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces. 80 FR 6181.

2013b

9-Feb-02/09/15

DOE

proposed

ECP for Consumer Products: ECS for Hearth Products. 80 FR 7081.

2013b

12-Mar-03/12/15

DOE

proposed

ECP for Consumer Products: ECS for Residential Furnaces. 80 FR 13119.

2013b

16-Mar-03/16/15

EPA

proposed

Standards of Performance: New Residential Wood Heaters, New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces. 80 FR 13671.

2013b

31-Mar-03/31/15

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Boilers. 80 FR 17221.

2013b

2-Apr-04/02/15

DOE

proposed

ECP Standards for Pumps. 80 FR 17825.

2013b

6-May-05/06/15

USDA, HUD

final

Final Affordability Determination Energy Efficiency Standards. 80 FR 25901.

2013b

21-May-05/21/15

DOT

proposed

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis for Plastic Pipe Rule. Posted in docket.

2013b

3-Jun-06/03/15

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Dehumidifiers. 80 FR 31645.

2013b

10-Jun-06/10/15

DOE

proposed

ECP: ECS for Residential Conventional Ovens. 80 FR 33029.

2013b

9-Jul-07/09/15

DOE

proposed

ECP: ECS for Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves. 80 FR 39485.

2013b

13-Jul-07/13/15

EPA

proposed

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles-Phase 2. 80 FR 40137.

2013b

17-Jul-07/17/15

DOE

final

ECP for Certain Industrial Equipment: Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Commercial Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Water-Heating Equipment. 80 FR 42613.

2013b

21-Jul-07/21/15

DOE

final

ECP: ECS for Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners and Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps. 80 FR 43161.

2013b

27-Jul-07/27/15

DOI

proposed

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Stream Protection Rule. 80 FR 44435.

2013b

13-Aug-08/13/15

DOE

proposed

ECP: ECS for Ceiling Fan Light Kits. 80 FR 48623.

2013b

19-Aug-15

DOE

proposed

ECP: ECS for Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 80 FR 50461.

2015

27-Aug-08/27/15

EPA

proposed

Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 80 FR 52099.

2015

1-Sep-09/01/15

DOE

proposed

ECP: ECS for Battery Chargers. 80 FR 52849.

2015

23-Sep-09/23/15

DOE

final

ECP: ECS for Single Package Vertical Air Conditioners and Single Package Vertical Heat Pumps. 80 FR 57437.

2015

23-Oct-10/23/15

EPA

proposed

Federal Plan Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Electric Utility Generating Units Constructed on or Before January 8, 2014; Model Trading Rules; Amendments to Framework Regulations. 80 FR 64965.

2015

23-Oct-10/23/15

EPA

final

Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 80 FR 64661.

2015

3-Nov-11/03/15

EPA

final

Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. 80 FR 67837.

2013b

20-Nov-11/20/15

FS

proposed

Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado. 80 FR 72665.

2015

3-Dec-12/03/15

EPA

proposed

Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. 80 FR 75705.

2015

6-Jan-01/06/16

DOE

final

ECP: ECS for Ceiling Fan Light Kits. 81 FR 579.

2015

8-Jan-01/08/16

DOE

final

ECP: ECS for Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 81 FR 1027.

2015

13-Jan-01/13/16

DOE

proposed

ECP: ECS for Ceiling Fans. 81 FR 1687.

2015

15-Jan-01/15/16

DOE

final

ECP: ECS for Residential Boilers. 81 FR 2319.

2015

15-Jan-01/15/16

DOE

direct final

ECP for Certain Industrial Equipment: ECS for Small, Large, and Very Large Air-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioning and Heating Equipment and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces. 81 FR 2419.

2015

26-Jan-01/26/16

DOE

final

ECS for Pumps. 81 FR 4367.

2015

27-Jan-01/27/16

DOE

final

ECS for Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves. 81 FR 4747.

2015

9-Feb-02/09/16

FAA

proposed

Stage 5 Airplane Noise Standards. Cost-benefit analysis referenced in 81 FR 1923.

2015

7-Mar-03/07/16

FAA

proposed

Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators.

2015

17-Mar-03/17/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for General Service Lamps. 81 FR 14527.

2015

24-Mar-03/24/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Commercial Packaged Boilers. 81 FR 15835.

2015

13-May-05/13/16

EPA

invites comments

Pipeline Safety: Agency Information Collection Activities. 81 FR 29943.

none

None

19-May-05/19/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Compressors. 81 FR 31679.

2015

31-May-05/31/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Commercial Water Heating Equipment. 81 FR 34439.

2015

13-Jun-06/13/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Portable Air Conditioners. 81 FR 38397.

2015

13-Jun-06/13/16

DOE

final

ECS for Battery Chargers. 81 FR 38265.

2015

13-Jun-06/13/16

DOE

final

ECS for Dehumidifiers. 81 FR 38337.

2015

17-Jun-06/17/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Manufactured Housing. 81 FR 39755.

2015

5-Aug-07/13/16

EPA and NHTSA

final

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles-Phase 2. 80 FR 40137.

GWP and 2015

DOE

proposed

ECS for Uninterruptible Power Supplies. 81 FR 52195.

2015

29-Aug-08/29/16

EPA

final

Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 81 FR 59331.

2015

29-Aug-08/29/16

EPA

final

Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 81 FR 59275.

2015

2-Sep-09/02/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Conventional Cooking Products. 81 FR 60783.

2015

13-Sep-09/13/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Refrigeration Systems. 81 FR 62979.

2015

23-Sep-09/23/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Residential Furnaces. 81 FR 65719.

2015

10/26/16

EPA

Final

Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. 81 FR 74504.

2015

10/28/16

DOE

Final

2015
 

  

  

SOCIAL COST OF METHANE ACTIONS

  

27-Aug-08/27/15

EPA

proposed

Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 80 FR 52099.

2015

18 Sep-09/18/15

EPA

proposed

Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New and Modified Sources. 80 FR 56593.

2015

8-Feb-02/08/16

BLM

proposed

Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation. 81 FR 6615.

2015

23-Feb-02/23/16

FS

notice

Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests; Colorado; Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC-1362&COC-67232. 81 FR 8899.

none

None

3-Jun-06/03/16

EPA

final

Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources. 81 FR 35823.

2015

29-Aug-06/13/16

EPA and NHTSA

final

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles-Phase 2. 80 FR 40137. (Also listed for SC-CO2 and SC-N2O.)

GWP and 2015

EPA

final

Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 81 FR 59331.

2015

29-Aug-08/29/16

EPA

final

Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 81 FR 59275.

2015

09/13/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Refrigeration Systems. 81 FR 62979. (Also listed for SC-CO2 and SC-N2O.)

2015

11/11/16

BLM

final

2015

  

  

SOCIAL COST OF NITROUS OXIDE

  

15-Oct-10/15/12

EPA and NHTSA

final

2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 77 FR 62623.

Sensitivity analysis only

only d

13-Jul-07/13/16

EPA and NHTSA

  

final

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles-Phase 2. 80 FR 40137.

(Also listed for SC-CO2 and SC-CH4.)

GWP and 2015

09/13/16

DOE

proposed

ECS for Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Refrigeration Systems. 81 FR 62979. (Also listed for SC-CO2 and SC-CH4.)

2015

10/28/16

DOE

final

ECS for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products. 81 FR 75194. (Also listed for SC-CO2 and SC-CH4.)

GWP and 2015

Source: CRS, from searches in Regulations.gov and FederalRegister.gov. This table includes regulation-related actions only, not other federal actions, such as grant programs. It also does not include notices of comments received except when accompanied by the agency responses to comments.

Notes: Abbreviations for offices, departments, and agencies are as follows:

BLM: Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management

CEQ: Executive Office of the President Council on Environmental Quality

DOE: Department of Energy

DOI: Department of the Interior

DOT: Department of Transportation

EPA: Environmental Protection Agency

FAA: Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

FS: Department of Agriculture Forest Service

HUD: Department of Housing and Urban Development

NHTSA: Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

OMB: Executive Office of the President Office of Management and Budget

USDA: Department of Agriculture

a. The Federal Register notice described two methods to compute the social costs of non-CO2 gases, a "GWP approach" and the "Marten approach." The proposed rule noted that EPA was undertaking peer review of the application of the Marten et al. (2014) non-CO 2 social cost estimates in regulatory analysis. Pending a favorable peer review, EPA planned to include estimated monetized benefits of CH4 and N2O emission reductions in the main benefit-cost analysis of the RIA for the final rule, using the directly modeled estimates of SC-CH4 and SC-N2O from Marten et al. The Federal Register notice sought comments on the use of the Marten approach for non-CO2 GHGs. It also noted that work was in progress to develop methods to calculate the social cost of tropospheric ozone on climate change, though none was applied for this proposal.

b. "ECP" means Energy Conservation Program. "ECS" means Energy Conservation Standard(s).

c. "SCC" and "SC-CO2" both mean Social Cost of Carbon. "SC-CH4" means Social Cost of Methane.

db. Tables of the SC-CO2 values from the 2010 to 2015 references for this column are in an AppendixAppendix to this report. This column provides the date and origin of the values of SC-CO2 or SC-CH4 referred to in the associated federal action. "None" means that, although the SC-CO2 or SC-CH4 may have been mentioned, no quantitative value appeared to be used in that action; some cited actions invite comment on the use of such values. "IPCC" means SC-CO2 values from the 2007 assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); "own" means values developed by an agency (sometimes in collaboration with another) and reported in that regulatory action; "2009" means interim interagency values as published in Table III.H.6–3, p. 29617 of the joint EPA and DOT-NHTSA ''Proposed Rulemaking to Establish Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards,'' Federal Register, vol. 74, no. 186, September 28, 2009; "2010" means agreed interagency values released in Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, "Technical Support Document: Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866," February 2010, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/for-agencies/Social-Cost-of-Carbon-for-RIA.pdf; "2013a" means updated values released in Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, "Technical Support Document: Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866," May 2013, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/inforeg/technical-update-social-cost-of-carbon-for-regulator-impact-analysis.pdf; and "2013b" means revised (corrected) values released in Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, "Technical Support Document: Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866," May 2013, revised November 2013, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/inforeg/technical-update- social-cost-of-carbon-for-regulator-impact-analysis.pdf. "2015" means the July 2, 2015 revision to the Technical Update document, available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/scc-tsd-final-july-2015.pdf. The 2015 source for the SC-CH4CH4 is A. L. Marten et al., "Incremental CH4 and N2OCH4 and N2O Mitigation Benefits Consistent with the U.S. Government's SC-CO2CO2 Estimates," Climate Policy (2014, online publication; 2015, print publication); and Marten et al., "Corrigendum," Climate Policy, vol. 15, no. 5 (2015).

, vol. 15, no. 5 (2015). c. "ECP" means Energy Conservation Program. "ECS" means Energy Conservation Standard(s). d. The Federal Register notice described two methods to compute the social costs of non-CO2 gases, a "GWP approach" and the "Marten approach." The proposed rule noted that EPA was undertaking peer review of the application of the Marten et al. (2014) non-CO 2 social cost estimates in regulatory analysis. Pending a favorable peer review, EPA planned to include estimated monetized benefits of CH4 and N2O emission reductions in the main benefit-cost analysis of the RIA for the final rule, using the directly modeled estimates of SC-CH4 and SC-N2O from Marten et al. The Federal Register notice sought comments on the use of the Marten approach for non-CO2 GHGs. It also noted that work was in progress to develop methods to calculate the social cost of tropospheric ozone on climate change, though none was applied for this proposal.
Appendix. Versions of the Social Cost of GHG Used in Federal Regulatory Actions, 2010 to 2015

Table A-1. 2010 Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Carbon

(2007 dollars per metric ton of carbon dioxide)

Discount Rate

5% Average

3% Average

2.5% Average

3%
95th Percentile

2010

4.7

21.4

35.1

64.9

2015

5.7

23.8

38.4

72.8

2020

6.8

26.3

41.7

80.7

2025

8.2

29.6

45.9

90.4

2030

9.7

32.8

50.0

100.0

2035

11.2

36.0

54.2

109.7

2040

12.7

39.2

58.4

119.3

2045

14.2

42.1

61.7

127.8

2050

15.7

44.9

65.0

136.2

Table A-2. May 2013 Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon

Revised social cost of CO2, 2010-2050 (in 2007 dollars per metric ton of CO2)

Discount Rate

5% Average

3% Average

2.5% Average

3%
95th Percentile

2010

11

33

52

90

2015

12

38

58

109

2020

12

43

65

129

2025

14

48

70

144

2030

16

52

76

159

2035

19

57

81

176

2040

21

62

87

192

2045

24

66

92

206

2050

27

71

99

221

Source: Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, "Technical Support Document: Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866," May 2013.

Table A-3. July 2015 Revision of the May 2013 Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon

Revised social cost of CO2, 2010-2050 (in 2007 dollars per metric ton of CO2)

Discount Rate

5.0% Average

3.0% Average

2.5% Average

3.0% 95th Percentile

2010

10

31

50

86

2015

11

36

56

105

2020

12

42

62

123

2025

14

46

68

138

2030

16

50

73

152

2035

18

55

78

168

2040

21

60

84

183

2045

23

64

89

197

2050

26

69

95

212

Source: Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, "Technical Support Document: Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866," May 2013, revised November 2013.

Table A-4. Social Cost of Methane (SC-CH4) 2012-2050a

Revised social cost of CO2, 2012-2050 (in 2007 dollars per metric ton of CO2)

Discount Rate

5.0% Average

3.0% Average

2.5% Average

3.0% 95th Percentile

2012

$430

$1,000

$1,400

$2,800

2015

490

1,100

1,500

3,000

2020

580

1,300

1,700

3,500

2025

700

1,500

1,900

4,000

2030

820

1,700

2,200

4,500

2035

970

1,900

2,500

5,300

2040

1,100

2,200

2,800

5,900

2045

1,300

2,500

3,000

6,600

2050

1,400

2,700

3,300

7,200

Source: A. L. Marten et al., "Incremental CH4 and N2O Mitigation Benefits Consistent with the U.S. Government's SC-CO2 Estimates," Climate Policy (2014, online publication; 2015, print publication); and Marten et al., "Corrigendum," Climate Policy, vol. 15, no. 5 (2015).

Notes: The values are emissions-year specific. Estimates using several discount rates are included because the literature shows that estimates of the SC-CO2 (and SC-CH4) are sensitive to assumptions about the discount rate and because no consensus exists on the appropriate rate to use in an intergenerational context (where costs and benefits are incurred by different generations). The fourth value is the 95th percentile of the SC-CH4 estimates across three models using a 3% discount rate. It is included to represent higher-than-expected impacts from temperature change further out in the tails of the SC-CH4 distribution. Marten et al., adjusted the estimates in this table to reflect the 2015 minor technical corrections to the SC-CO2 estimates.

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Footnotes

1.

"Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993: Regulatory Planning and Review," 58 Federal Register 51735, October 4, 1993.
2.

Center for Biological Diversity v. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 538 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2008).
3.

Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon, Technical Support Document: Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866, Office of Management and Budget, May 2013, revision of July 2015, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/inforeg/technical-update-social-cost-of-carbon-for-regulator-impact-analysis.pdf. This document was revised and released again on July 2, 2015.
4.

Ibid.
5.

Federalregister.gov.