Dec. 29, 2000—EPA today released the most far-reaching internal guidance ever to assist its employees in analyzing the economic impacts of environmental regulations and policies.
The guidelines will ensure that valuation of costs and benefits are treated consistently in all Agency economic analyses. Entitled "Guidelines for Preparing Economic Analyses," the economic framework will assist EPA policy makers and analysts charged with developing environmental and health standards at the lowest cost.
Recent advances in theoretical and practical work in the field of environmental economics were incorporated into the new framework. The guidelines assess costs and benefits in various segments of the population, particularly focusing on disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
After an extensive peer review, EPA's Science Advisory Board, an independent outside group, approved the new guidelines and confirmed that they represent the best economic analysis available.
The guidelines, and further information on the office that developed them, the EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics, are available at: http://www.epa.gov/economics.
