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.”
Social cost, carbon, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, greenhouse gases, regulatory impact analysis, cost-benefit analysis, benefit-cost analysis, Interagency Working Group, Office of Management and Budget, Circular A-4
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, 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 group4 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."5 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 of 160 federal regulatory actions that specifically cite the SC-CO2, SC-CH4, SC-N2O, or SC-GHG. The actions listed in Table 1 were identified by searches online of the Federal Register6 for the terms "social cost of carbon," "social cost of methane," "social cost of nitrous oxide," and "social cost." The table below reflects searches completed by March 20, 2017. 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). All non-regulatory notices are omitted, including notices of funding availability for grant programs. 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. In addition, this report does not review or analyze the listed actions.
Table 1. U.S. Federal Regulatory Actions Referring to the Social Cost of Carbon, the Social Cost of Methane, or the Social Cost of Nitrous Oxide
|
Date |
Agency |
Regulatory or Related Action |
Action |
|
|
SOCIAL COST OF CARBON ACTIONS |
||||
|
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 |
|
05/02/08 |
DOT |
proposed |
Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, Passenger Cars and Light Trucks; Model Years 2011-2015. 73 FR 24352. |
own |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
7/30/08 |
EPA & DOT |
advance notice |
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under the Clean Air Act. FRL-8694-2. |
own |
|
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) |
|
03/30/09 |
DOT |
final |
Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards Passenger Cars and Light Trucks Model Year 2011. 74 FR 14196. |
2009 |
|
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 |
|
04/13/09 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 74 FR 16920. |
own |
|
05/26/09 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 74 FR 24904. |
own |
|
05/26/09 |
EPA |
proposed |
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program. 74 FR 24904. |
own |
|
05/29/09 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 74 FR 26020. |
own |
|
07/14/09 |
DOE |
final |
ECS and Test Procedures for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 74 FR 34080. |
own |
|
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 |
|
08/31/09 |
DOE |
final |
Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 74 FR 44914. |
own |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
11/24/09 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Small Electric Motors. 74 FR 61410. |
2009 |
|
12/11/09 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Water Heaters, Direct Heating Equipment, and Pool Heaters. 74 FR 65852. |
own |
|
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 |
|
03/09/10 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Small Electric Motors. 75 FR 10874. |
2009 |
|
03/26/10 |
EPA |
final |
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program. 75 FR 14669. |
2009 |
|
04/16/10 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Residential Water Heaters. 75 FR 20112. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
05/01/10 |
DOT |
final |
Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS–B) Out Performance Requirements to Support Air Traffic Control Service. 75 FR 30160. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
08/02/10 |
EPA |
proposed |
Federal Implementation Plans to Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone. 75 FR 45210. |
2010 |
|
09/27/10 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers. 75 FR 59469. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
12/08/10 |
EPA |
proposed |
2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE Standards: Supplemental Notice of Intent. |
none |
|
03/14/11 |
EPA |
proposed |
National Emission Standards for Mercury from Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants. 76 FR 13852. |
2010 |
|
03/21/11 |
EPA |
final |
National Emission Standards for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. 76 FR 15608. |
2010 |
|
03/21/11 |
EPA |
final |
National Emission Standards for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters. 76 FR 15554. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
04/21/11 |
DOE |
final and proposed |
ECS for Residential Clothes Dryers and Room AC. 76 FR 22454. |
2010 |
|
06/27/11 |
DOE |
final and proposed |
ECS for Residential Furnaces and Residential Central AC and Heat Pumps. 76 FR 37408. |
2010 |
|
08/08/11 |
EPA |
final |
Interstate Transport of Fine PM and Ozone. 76 FR 48208. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
09/15/11 |
EPA & DOT |
final |
GHG Emission Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles. 76 FR 57105. |
2010 |
|
09/15/11 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Residential Refrigerators. 76 FR 57516. |
2010 |
|
11/14/11 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts. 76 FR 70548. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
12/23/11 |
EPA |
proposed |
New Source Performance Standards: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units. 76 FR 80452. |
2010 |
|
01/17/12 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Commercial Heating, AC, and Water Heating Equipment. 77 FR 2356. |
2010 |
|
02/10/12 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Distribution Transformers. 77 FR 7282. |
2010 |
|
02/14/12 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Standby Mode and Off Mode for Microwave Ovens. 77 FR 8526. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
03/27/12 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Battery Chargers and External Power Supplies. 77 FR 18477. |
2010 |
|
04/13/12 |
EPA |
proposed |
Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources; Electric Utility Generating Units. 77 FR 22391. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
05/30/12 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Residential Dishwashers. 77 FR 31917. |
2010 |
|
05/31/12 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Clothes Washers. 77 FR 32381. |
2010 |
|
05/31/12 |
DOE |
final |
Direct final rule ECS Residential Clothes Washers. 77 FR 32307. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
10/01/12 |
DOT |
final (confirms) |
Confirms final rule Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Dishwashers. 77 FR 59712. |
2010 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
04/18/13 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Distribution Transformers. 78 FR 23335. |
2010 |
|
06/07/13 |
EPA |
proposed |
Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. 78 FR 34431. |
2010 |
|
06/17/13 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Standby Mode and Off Mode for Microwave Ovens. 78 FR 36315. |
2013a |
|
08/16/13 |
DOE |
request for comments |
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Landmark Legal Foundation; Petition for Reconsideration. |
none |
|
08/20/13 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures. 78 FR 51463. |
2013a |
|
09/11/13 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers. 78 FR 55889. |
2013a |
|
09/11/13 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment. 78 FR 55781. |
2013a |
|
10/25/13 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Furnace Fans. 78 FR 64067. |
2013a |
|
12/06/13 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Commercial and Industrial Electric Motors. 78 FR 73589. |
2013b |
|
01/08/14 |
EPA |
reproposed |
Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 79 FR 1429 |
2013b |
|
02/10/14 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures. 79 FR 7745. |
2013b |
|
02/10/14 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for External Power Supplies. 79 FR 7845. |
2013b |
|
03/04/14 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Commercial Clothes Washers. 79 FR 12301. |
2013b |
|
03/17/14 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers. 79 FR 14845. |
2013b |
|
03/28/14 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment. 79 FR 17725. |
2013b |
|
04/15/14 |
HUD, USDA |
notice of preliminary determination |
Preliminary Affordability Determinations: Energy Efficiency Standards. 79 FR 21259. |
2013b |
|
04/29/14 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 79 FR 24067. |
2013b |
|
05/29/14 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Commercial and Industrial Electric Motors. 79 FR 30933. |
2013b |
|
06/03/14 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers. 79 FR 32049. |
2013b |
|
06/18/14 |
EPA |
proposed |
Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 79 FR 34829. |
2013b |
|
06/18/14 |
EPA |
proposed |
Carbon Pollution Standards for Modified and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 79 FR 34959. |
2013b |
|
07/03/14 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Residential Furnace Fans; Final Rule. 79 FR 38129. |
2013b |
|
08/15/14 |
EPA |
final |
2013b |
|
|
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. |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
11/04/14 |
EPA |
proposed |
2013b |
|
|
12/15/14 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Commercial Clothes Washers. 79 FR 74491. |
2013b |
|
12/19/14 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Dishwashers. 79 FR 76141. |
2013b |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
01/26/15 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps. 80 FR 4041. |
2013b |
|
01/28/15 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers. 80 FR 4645. |
2013b |
|
02/04/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECP for Certain Industrial Equipment: ECS for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces. 80 FR 6181. |
2013b |
|
02/09/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECP for Consumer Products: ECS for Hearth Products. 80 FR 7081. |
2013b |
|
03/12/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECP for Consumer Products: ECS for Residential Furnaces. 80 FR 13119. |
2013b |
|
03/16/15 |
EPA |
proposed |
Standards of Performance: New Residential Wood Heaters, New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces. 80 FR 13671. |
2013b |
|
03/31/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Boilers. 80 FR 17221. |
2013b |
|
04/02/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Pumps. 80 FR 17825. |
2013b |
|
05/06/15 |
USDA, HUD |
final |
Final Affordability Determination Energy Efficiency Standards. 80 FR 25901. |
2013b |
|
05/21/15 |
DOT |
proposed |
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis for Plastic Pipe Rule. Posted in docket. |
2013b |
|
06/03/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Dehumidifiers. 80 FR 31645. |
2013b |
|
06/10/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Conventional Ovens. 80 FR 33029. |
2013b |
|
07/09/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves. 80 FR 39485. |
2013b |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
07/21/15 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners and Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps. 80 FR 43161. |
2013b |
|
07/27/15 |
DOI |
proposed |
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Stream Protection Rule. 80 FR 44435. |
2013b |
|
08/13/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Ceiling Fan Light Kits. 80 FR 48623. |
2013b |
|
08/09/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 80 FR 50461. |
2015 |
|
08/27/15 |
EPA |
proposed |
Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 80 FR 52099. |
2015 |
|
09/01/15 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Battery Chargers. 80 FR 52849. |
2015 |
|
09/23/15 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Single Package Vertical Air Conditioners and Single Package Vertical Heat Pumps. 80 FR 57437. |
2015 |
|
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 |
|
10/23/15 |
EPA |
final |
Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 80 FR 64661. |
2015 |
|
11/03/15 |
EPA |
final |
Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. 80 FR 67837. |
2013b |
|
11/20/15 |
FS |
proposed |
Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado. 80 FR 72665. |
2015 |
|
12/03/15 |
EPA |
proposed |
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. 80 FR 75705. |
2015 |
|
01/06/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Ceiling Fan Light Kits. 81 FR 579. |
2015 |
|
01/08/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Refrigerated Bottled or Canned Beverage Vending Machines. 81 FR 1027. |
2015 |
|
01/13/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Ceiling Fans. 81 FR 1687. |
2015 |
|
01/15/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Residential Boilers. 81 FR 2319. |
2015 |
|
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 |
|
01/26/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Pumps. 81 FR 4367. |
2015 |
|
01/27/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves. 81 FR 4747. |
2015 |
|
02/09/16 |
FAA |
proposed |
Stage 5 Airplane Noise Standards. Cost-benefit analysis referenced in 81 FR 1923. |
2015 |
|
03/07/16 |
FAA |
proposed |
Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators. |
2015 |
|
03/17/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for General Service Lamps. 81 FR 14527. |
2015 |
|
03/24/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Commercial Packaged Boilers. 81 FR 15835. |
2015 |
|
05/19/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Compressors. 81 FR 31679. |
2015 |
|
05/31/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Commercial Water Heating Equipment. 81 FR 34439. |
2015 |
|
06/13/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Portable Air Conditioners. 81 FR 38397. |
2015 |
|
06/13/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Battery Chargers. 81 FR 38265. |
2015 |
|
06/13/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Dehumidifiers. 81 FR 38337. |
2015 |
|
06/17/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Manufactured Housing. 81 FR 39755. |
2015 |
|
07/13/16 |
EPA, 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 |
|
08/05/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Uninterruptible Power Supplies. 81 FR 52195. |
2015 |
|
08/29/16 |
EPA |
final |
Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 81 FR 59331. |
2015 |
|
08/29/16 |
EPA |
final |
Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 81 FR 59275. |
2015 |
|
09/02/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Residential Conventional Cooking Products. 81 FR 60783. |
2015 |
|
09/13/16 |
DOE |
proposed |
ECS for Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Refrigeration Systems. 81 FR 62979. |
2015 |
|
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 |
ECS for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products. 81 FR 75194. |
2015 |
|
11/18/16 |
BLM |
final |
Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation. |
2014 |
|
12/08/16 |
FMCSA |
final |
Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators. 81 FR 88732. |
2015 |
|
12/13/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Residential Dishwashers. 81 FR 90072. |
2015 |
|
12/19/16 |
FS |
final |
Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado. 81 FR 91811. |
2015 |
|
12/20/16 |
SMREO |
final |
Stream Protection Rule. 81 FR 93066. |
2015 |
|
01/06/17 |
DOE |
direct final |
ECS for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps. 82 FR 1786. |
2015 |
|
01/18/17 |
DOE |
direct final |
ECS for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pumps. 82 FR 5650. |
2015 |
|
01/18/17 |
DOE |
final |
ESC for Ceiling Fans. 82 FR 6826. |
2015 |
|
SOCIAL COST OF METHANE ACTIONS |
||||
|
08/27/15 |
EPA |
proposed |
Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 80 FR 52099. |
2015 |
|
09/18/15 |
EPA |
proposed |
Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New and Modified Sources. 80 FR 56593. |
2015 |
|
02/08/16 |
BLM |
proposed |
Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation. 81 FR 6615. |
2015 |
|
06/03/16 |
EPA |
final |
Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources. 81 FR 35823. |
2015 |
|
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 |
|
08/29/16 |
EPA |
final |
Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. 81 FR 59331. |
2015 |
|
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 |
|
11/18/16 |
BLM |
final |
Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation. |
2014 |
|
12/19/16 |
FS |
final |
Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado. 81 FR 91811. |
2015 |
|
01/18/17 |
DOE |
direct final |
ECS for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pumps. 82 FR 5650. |
2016 |
|
SOCIAL COST OF NITROUS OXIDE |
||||
|
10/15/12 |
EPA, NHTSA |
final |
2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 77 FR 62623. |
Sensitivity analysis |
|
07/13/16 |
EPA, 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 |
|
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-CH4.) |
2015 |
|
10/28/16 |
DOE |
final |
ECS for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products. 81 FR 75194. (Also listed for SC-CO2 and SC-CH4.) |
2015 |
|
01/18/17 |
DOE |
direct final |
ECS for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pumps. 82 FR 5650. |
2016 |
Source: CRS, from searches in 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.
"GWP" means Global Warming Potential, an index that weights GHG according to an estimate of their effect on average temperature change relative to the same mass of carbon dioxide.
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
FMCSA: Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
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
SMREO: Department of the Interior, Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office
USDA: Department of Agriculture
a. "SCC" and "SC-CO2" both mean Social Costs of Carbon. "SC-CH4" means Social Costs of Methane. "SC-N2O" means Social Costs of Nitrous Oxide.
b. Tables of the SC-CO2 values from the 2010 to 2016 references for this column are in an Appendix 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. Versions formerly available on whitehouse.gov are no longer available there.
c. "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.
d. "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;
e. "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,'' 74 Federal Register 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;
f. "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;
g. "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.
h. "2015" means the July 2, 2015 revision to the Technical Update document.
i. The 2015 source for the SC-CH4 is 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);
j. "2016" is the Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, "Addendum to Technical Support Document on Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis under Executive Order 12866: Application of the Methodology to Estimate the Social Cost of Methane and the Social Cost of Nitrous Oxide." August 2016.
k. "ECP" means Energy Conservation Program. "ECS" means Energy Conservation Standard(s).
l. 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-CO2 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 GHG. 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.
Table A-1. Social Costs of Carbon Used Prior to Interagency Working Group
per metric ton of carbon dioxide
|
Source |
Estimate(s) Used |
Year of Dollars |
Comments |
|
IPCC 2007 |
0-14a |
Treated as if 2007 |
Derived from mean of a literature review (Tol 2005), inflating year of dollars from 2000 to 2007 then discounting streams of estimated benefits to 2007 present values at 3% and 7% |
|
NHTSA |
7, growing at 2.4% per year of emissions |
2011 |
Based also on Tol 2005, using it as an upper bound with 0 as a lower bound and using the midpoint of that range. Performed sensitivity analysis for 0 and 14. |
|
EPA and NHTSA |
0-11 for global benefits; 0.3-1.9 for domestic benefits |
2006 |
Proposed rules states, "Given the current uncertainty regarding the social cost of carbon, Table VI-2 does not include a monetized value for the reduction in GHG emissions. We present here a number of different values and indicate what impact they would have on the net social benefits for our updated analysis. Presentation of these values does not represent, and should not be interpreted to represent, any determination by EPA as to what the social cost of carbon should be for purposes of calculating benefits pursuant to the Clean Air Act." |
|
IPCC 2007 |
0-20 |
2007 |
In 2009, DOE corrected the year of dollars from that used in IPCC 2007 cited above. It used updated estimate in Tol 2007. See https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/01/09/E8-31449/energy-conservation-program-for-commercial-and-industrial-equipment-energy-conservation-standards. |
Source: DOE, "Energy Conservation Program (ECP)c for Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner and Packaged Terminal Heat Pump Energy Conservation Standards," 73 Federal Register 18858, April 7, 2008; NHTSA, "Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, Passenger Cars and Light Trucks; Model Years 2011-2015," 73 Federal Register 24352, May 2, 2008, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2008/05/02/08-1186/average-fuel-economy-standards-passenger-cars-and-light-trucks-model-years-2011-2015; R. S. J. Tol, "The Social Cost of Carbon: Trends, Outliers, and Catastrophes," Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change, Working Paper FNU-144, Hamburg University, 2007.
Notes:
a. DOE reports, "The literature review (Tol 2005) from which this mean was derived did not report the year in which these dollars are denominated. However, since the underlying studies spanned several years on either side of 2000, the estimate is often treated as year 2000 dollars. Updating that estimate to 2007 dollars yields a SCC of $14 per ton of carbon dioxide."
Table A-2. 2010 Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Carbon
(2007 dollars per metric ton of CO2)
|
Discount Rate |
5% Average |
3% Average |
2.5% Average |
3% |
|
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-3. 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% |
|
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-4. July 2015 Revision of the May 2013 Technical Update of the
Social Cost of Carbon
in 2007 dollars per metric ton of CO2
|
Discount Rate |
5.0% Average |
3.0% Average |
2.5% Average |
3.0% |
|
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.
|
Discount Rate: |
5% Average |
3% Average |
2.5% Average |
3% |
|
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 Greenhouse Gases, "Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12866," May 2013, Revised August 2016.
|
Discount Rate |
5.0% Average |
3.0% Average |
2.5% Average |
3.0% |
|
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.
|
Discount Rate: |
5% Average |
3% Average |
2.5% Average |
3% |
|
2015 |
450 |
1,000 |
1,400 |
2,800 |
|
2020 |
540 |
1,200 |
1,600 |
3,200 |
|
2025 |
650 |
1,400 |
1,800 |
3,700 |
|
2030 |
760 |
1,600 |
2,000 |
4,200 |
|
2035 |
900 |
1,800 |
2,300 |
4,900 |
|
2040 |
1,000 |
2,000 |
2,600 |
5,500 |
|
2045 |
1,200 |
2,300 |
2,800 |
6,100 |
|
2050 |
1,300 |
2,500 |
3,100 |
6,700 |
Source: Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, "Addendum to the Technical Support Document for the Social Cost of Carbon: Application of the Methodology to Estimate the Social Cost of Methane and the Social Cost of Nitrous Oxide," August 2016.
Author Contact Information
| 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. |
The original IWG was comprised of officials from the Executive Office of the President (Council of Economic Advisers, Council on Environmental Quality, National Economic Council, Office of Energy and Climate Change, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Science, and Technology Policy), along with the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Transportation, and Treasury and the Environmental Protection Agency. After 2010, the Department of Agriculture gained participation as well. |
| 5. |
Ibid. |
| 6. |