# Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AR44657 ## Record - **Collection:** Congressional research report - **Document type:** CRS Report - **Published:** March 21, 2017 - **Citation:** R44657 ## Text Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases ,name redacted, Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy March 21, 2017 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R44657 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases 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, 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 climaterelated 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 SCCO2 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 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-updatesocial-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 Federalregister.gov. Congressional Research Service 1 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases 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 Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 IPCC 2007 Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial RefrigeratorFreezers Without Doors; and Remote Condensing Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial RefrigeratorFreezers. 73 FR 50072. 10/07/08 DOE final ECPb for Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Packaged Terminal IPCC 2007 Air Conditioner and Packaged Terminal Heat Pump Energy Conservation Standards. 73 FR 58772. 10/17/08 DOE proposed ECP: Energy Conservation Standards (ESC) for Commercial IceCream Freezers; Self-Contained Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial Refrigerator- Freezers Without Doors; and Remote Condensing Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial RefrigeratorFreezers. 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 IPCC 2007 Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial (corrects Refrigerator- Freezers Without Doors; and Remote Condensing year of Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Commercial dollars) Refrigerator-Freezers. 74 FR 1092. Congressional Research Service 2 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 Congressional Research Service 3 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 Congressional Research Service 4 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 ChlorAlkali 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 Mediumand 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 Congressional Research Service 5 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 IndustrialCommercial-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, AirConditioning, 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, AirConditioning, 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 EPA lifts stay on 2008 final rule Standards of Performance for final rule 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 Congressional Research Service 6 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 Affordability Determinations: Energy Efficiency preliminary Standards. 79 FR 21259. determination 2013b Congressional Research Service 7 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Cooling Water Intake Structures at Existing Facilities and Phase I Facilities; Requirements. 79 FR 48299. 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 Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: EGUs in Indian Country and U.S. Territories; MultiJurisdictional Partnerships. 79 FR 65481. 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 Congressional Research Service 8 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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, AirConditioning, and Water-Heating Equipment. 80 FR 42613. 2013b Congressional Research Service 9 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 Congressional Research Service 10 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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, final NHTSA Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles-Phase 2. 80 FR 40137. 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 Congressional Research Service GWP and 2015 11 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action Action Version of Estimate Useda b 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 Congressional Research Service 12 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Date Regulatory or Related Agency Action final Action Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources. 81 FR 35823. Version of Estimate Useda b 06/03/16 EPA 2015 06/13/16 EPA and final NHTSA 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, final NHTSA 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. 77 FR 62623. Sensitivity analysis onlyd 07/13/16 EPA, final NHTSA 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 Congressional Research Service 13 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases 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. Notes: “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. “SCN2O” 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. “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,’’ 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; “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; “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. “2015” means the July 2, 2015 revision to the Technical Update document. 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); “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. c. “ECP” means Energy Conservation Program. “ECS” means Energy Conservation Standard(s). Congressional Research Service 14 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases 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-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. Congressional Research Service 15 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Appendix. Versions of the Social Cost of GHG Used in Federal Regulatory Actions, 2010 to 2015 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; 0.31.9 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-forcommercial-and-industrial-equipment-energyconservation-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.” Congressional Research Service 16 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Table A-2. 2010 Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Carbon (2007 dollars per metric ton of CO2) Discount 5% Rate Average 3% 2.5% Average 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 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,” February 2010. 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% 3% Average 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. Congressional Research Service 17 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases 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% 3.0% Average 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-5. August 2016 Revision of the Social Cost of Carbon in 2007 dollars per metric ton CO2 Discount Rate: 5% Average 3% Average 2.5% Average 3% 95th percentile 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. Congressional Research Service 18 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Table A-6. 2015 Social Cost of Methane (SC-CH4) in 2007 dollars per metric ton of CH4 Discount Rate 5.0% Average 3.0% Average 2.5% 3.0% Average 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. Table A-7. August 2016 Social Cost of Methane (SC-CH4) in 2007 dollars per metric ton CH4 Discount Rate: 5% Average 3% Average 2.5% Average 3% 95th percentile 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. Congressional Research Service 19 Federal Citations to the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Author Contact Information (name redacted) Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy [redacted]@crs.loc.gov, 7-.... 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