Issue 115: Research at the Ready

Earlier this year, the northeastern states, under pressure to improve urban air quality, moved to adopt California's strict standards for motor vehicle emissions. This action is likely to have far-reaching repercussions for the region and the auto industry—and it's far from clear that California's standards are the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions from cars, trucks, and buses.

For nearly seven years, researchers at RFF have been exploring many different transportation options to improve air quality. Alternatives under scrutiny have included imposing strict emissions standards on all new cars; regularly inspecting on-the-road vehicles; and requiring changes in the types of fuels that cars can use.

In this issue, Winston Harrington and Margaret Walls draw on this research to evaluate the many options for reducing auto emissions and make recommendations about the programs that produce the best results for the least cost. Their conclusions throw into question prevailing legislative and regulatory trends. (The researchers, along with Virginia McConnell, also summarized the findings of the transportation research program at an RFF council meeting in April—see "Inside RFF".)

In a companion piece, Anna Alberini, David Edelstein, and McConnell analyze one specific option for reducing auto emissions: accelerated vehicle-retirement programs. The researchers describe a project they designed and executed in Delaware that bought and scrapped older, often more polluting cars.

Eliminating pollution is a long-standing goal of environmental policy. Now a new concern has surfaced—whether the effects of environmental pollution fall disproportionately on minorities and the poor. Last fall, RFF invited Vicki Been, a law professor at New York University, to discuss the research she has done on this topic. An article based on her presentation appears inside.

Another question stirring lively discussion these days asks whether there is a fundamental conflict between environmental quality and economic growth. In December, David Gardiner, assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, and RFF Vice President Paul Portney discussed this issue before a packed audience at another of RFF's popular weekly seminars. Written versions of their remarks are included in this issue.

"Inside RFF" recounts several recent occasions—including a panel discussion, a forum, and congressional testimony—on which RFF researchers were asked to help policymakers grapple with other difficult issues, such as environmental risk assessment and Superfund reform.

This edition of Resources demonstrates well how RFF's research staff often begins research on issues years before those issues become "hot," so we will have information and analysis ready when decisions need to be made. We greatly appreciate the farsightedness of organizations and individuals who understand the importance of impartial research and generously support RFF's programs.

— Robert W. Fri, President