[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9288]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 14, 1994]


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Part V





Executive Office of the President





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Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Personal Motor Vehicles; Intent To Form a 
Policy Dialog Advisory Committee
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

 

Intent To Form a Policy Dialog Advisory Committee to Assist in 
the Development of Measures To Significantly Reduce Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions From Personal Motor Vehicles

AGENCY: Executive Office of the President.

ACTION: Intent to Form a Policy Dialog Advisory Committee under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act.

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SUMMARY: To address the danger of global climate change from emissions 
of greenhouse gases, on April 21, 1993, President Clinton announced the 
nation's commitment to reduce emissions of these gases in the United 
States to their 1990 level by the year 2000 and to produce a cost-
effective plan to continue the trend of reduced emissions thereafter. 
On October 19, 1993, the President released the Climate Change Action 
Plan (CCAP), which commits the federal government, in partnership with 
the private sector, to a broad range of measures in many sectors to 
meet the target for the year 2000. Studies of greenhouse gas emission 
trends leading up to the CCAP confirmed that, particularly in the years 
after 2000, the personal transportation sector is expected to be the 
fastest growing contributor to carbon dioxide emission levels, as a 
result of continuing fast growth of vehicle miles travelled and 
relatively slow improvement in vehicle fuel economy. Although the CCAP 
contains several measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the 
transportation sector, there is a need for significant cost-effective 
longer-term efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles 
and light duty trucks.
    The CCAP directed three policy offices in the Executive Office of 
the President--the Office of Environmental Policy (OEP), the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Economic Council 
(NEC)--to co-chair a process to develop policies to significantly 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from personal motor vehicles in the 
years after 2000. The three offices, in consultation with the 
Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Energy (DOE), 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) and Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), have established a 
process under which a Policy Dialog Advisory Committee, constituted 
pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, will be convened. The 
Advisory Committee will develop recommendations on the sets of policies 
that would, if adopted, most cost-effectively obtain a return to 1990 
levels of greenhouse gas emissions from personal motor vehicles by the 
years 2005, 2015 and 2025, with no upturn thereafter. This framework of 
achievement of 1990 emissions levels in three alternative years is 
designed to focus the issues and the Committee's recommendations. 
Decisions on the amount and timing of reductions in greenhouse gas 
emissions from personal motor vehicles, and the policies to attain 
them, remain the responsibility of the federal government. However, the 
Administration has stated that it is committed to significant 
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from personal motor vehicles.
    This notice includes the charter of the Advisory Committee. The 
Executive Office of the President requests public comment on whether it 
has properly identified interests that are affected by the issues 
identified and that should be seated on the Advisory Committee, and 
requests suggestions for potential members of the Advisory Committee.

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: Comments must be received by May 4, 1994.

ADDRESS FOR COMMENTS: Comments should be submitted in duplicate, if 
possible, to EPA Air Docket #A-94-24, room M-1500, 401 M Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:   For information pertaining to the 
substantive issues to be dealt with by the Advisory Committee, contact: 
Ellen Seidman, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, 
Washington, DC 20500, phone (202) 456-2802, fax (202) 456-2223; Henry 
Kelly, Assistant Director for Technology, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, phone (202) 456-6034, fax (202) 456-6023; Wesley 
Warren, Associate Director, Office on Environmental Policy, phone (202) 
456-6224, fax (202) 456-2710; or Alan Krupnick, Senior Economist, 
Council of Economic Advisors, phone (202) 395-5012, fax (202) 395-6853. 
For information pertaining to the establishment of the Advisory 
Committee and associated administrative matters contact: Deborah 
Dalton, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20460, phone (202) 260-5495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Goal of the Advisory Committee

    The goal of the Advisory Committee's deliberations will be to 
develop a consensus among major stakeholders on the sets of policies 
that would, if adopted, most cost-effectively return greenhouse gas 
emissions from cars and light trucks to 1990 levels by the years 2005, 
2015, and 2025, with no upturn thereafter. (There will be three 
different sets of policies, one for each year.) The Advisory Committee 
process is structured this way to generate maximum consideration of 
potential policies, their interactions and trade-offs and to increase 
the potential to reach consensus. By law, the Advisory Committee's 
functions must be purely advisory. Therefore the decisions on the 
amount and timing of emissions reductions from personal motor vehicles 
and the policies to attain them, ultimately remain the responsibility 
of the federal government. However, in the CCAP the Administration 
stated its intention to take action--regulatory, legislative or 
otherwise--immediately after the process is completed to begin 
responding to the problem of increased greenhouse gas emissions from 
personal motor vehicles, with or without consensus among the 
stakeholders.
    The Advisory Committee will consider a broad range of policy 
alternatives, including policies affecting: (i) Demand for personal 
vehicle travel, (ii) vehicle and fuel technology changes (including 
increases in vehicle and fuel system operating efficiency); and (iii) 
shifts in consumer choice among vehicle and fuel technology options. 
Policies to be considered will focus on those that can be implemented 
by the federal government, but such policies will be considered in the 
context of what can and should be accomplished at the state, local and 
regional levels, and by private parties, both consumers and producers. 
Groups of policies designed to achieve 1990 levels of greenhouse gas 
emissions in each of the three targeted years will be evaluated on the 
basis of costs and projected reductions in metric tons of carbon 
equivalents (greenhouse gas emissions). Policy groups will also be 
evaluated on the basis of the speed, reliability, sustainability and 
efficiency of greenhouse gas reductions; the potential impact of 
options on urban air pollution and on safety; the cost of alternative 
policies affecting this sector (including their impact on consumers, 
jobs, competitiveness and mobility); improvements in energy security; 
and the feasibility of adoption and ease of implementation.

Membership; Steering Committee

    The Advisory Committee will consist of up to thirty members, 
appointed for a term of one year from the date of the Committee's first 
meeting. No employee of the federal government will be a member of the 
Committee. The Advisory Committee will make recommendations to the 
President through a steering committee chaired by representatives of 
the OEP, OSTP and NEC, and consisting of representatives of the other 
agencies named above. A member or representative of the steering 
committee will serve as Executive Director of the Advisory Committee 
and at least one member of the steering committee will attend each 
meeting of the Advisory Committee and any subcommittees. The 
deliberations of the Advisory Committee will be assisted by a 
facilitator under contract to EPA, who will serve as Chair of the 
Advisory Committee.
    Members of the Advisory Committee will be chosen by the President, 
upon the recommendation of the steering committee, to achieve balanced 
representation of the following stakeholder interests:
     State, local and regional governments and agencies, 
including those responsible for land use, transportation, energy use 
and air quality;
     Automobile and light truck manufacturers and related 
parties such as suppliers, dealers and the insurance industry;
      Labor;
     Transportation fuel (including potential alternative fuel) 
industry; and
     Public interest groups, including environmental, safety, 
consumer and low income groups and those representing the driving 
public.

This list of interests is illustrative, and is not meant to imply that 
each named interest will be represented by any specific number of 
Advisory Committee members.
    We invite suggestions for members of the Advisory Committee. In 
making a suggestion, please indicate the interest or interests proposed 
to be represented. Suggestions may be in the form of groups or 
individuals, although names of specific individuals are preferred. 
Proposed members of the Advisory Committee should be prepared to devote 
significant time to the project and to engage in meaningful 
consultation and negotiation.

Operation of the Advisory Committee

    The Advisory Committee will be expected to meet approximately eight 
times over a period of one year. Meetings are expected to be two days 
in duration. Although most meetings will be held in Washington, DC, one 
to two meetings may be held in other locations to maximize public 
participation. Meetings will be open to the public. To maximize the 
opportunities for participation by those representing the public, the 
federal government may pay travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
of subsistence, of Advisory Committee members representing not-for-
profit entities and state or local governments who would not otherwise 
be able to participate. On-line facilities will be used to enhance the 
operation of the Advisory Committee, to broaden opportunities for 
public participation, and to reduce costs. The Advisory Committee and 
steering committee will be able to work with an interagency analytical 
support team led by the CEA.
    The Advisory Committee will issue an interim report within six 
months of the date of its first meeting. This report shall advise the 
President, through the steering committee, of the Advisory Committee's 
proceedings. The Committee shall submit its final report to the 
President, through the steering committee, within on year of the date 
of its first meeting, unless this period is extended by the President.

Advisory Committee Charter

    Following is the charter that has been adopted for the Advisory 
Committee.

Charter--Advisory Committee on Personal Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas 
Reductions

1. Committee's Official Designation

    Advisory Committee on Personal Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas 
Reductions (the ``Advisory Committee'' or ``Committee'').

2. Authority

    Presidential Review Directive NEC-1, concerning the implementation 
of a process to develop measures to significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions from personal motor vehicles.

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities

    The Climate Change Action Plan directed the National Economic 
Council (NEC), the Office of Environmental Policy (OEP), and the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to co-chair a process to 
develop measures to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 
personal motor vehicles, including cars and light trucks. This process, 
called the Personal Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Project, 
will be directed by a steering committee responsible for making 
recommendations to the President at the close of the project. The 
steering committee will consist of representatives of the NEC, OEP, 
OSTP, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Management and Budget and Council of 
Economic Advisors. A representative of the Office of the Vice President 
will participate in meetings of the steering committee. As set forth in 
section 4 of this Charter, the Advisory Committee shall provide to the 
President, through the steering committee, advice and recommendations 
concerning cost-effective groups of policies that would, if adopted, 
return total greenhouse gas emissions from use of personal motor 
vehicles to their 1990 levels by the years 2005, 2015 and 2025 (and 
then stabilize or continue to reduce such emissions).

4. Duties of the Committee

    The duties of the Advisory Committee are solely advisory and shall 
be as follows:
    a. The Advisory Committee shall develop recommendations concerning 
the most cost-effective manner in which to return greenhouse gas 
emissions from personal motor vehicles to their 1990 levels by the 
years 2005, 2015 and 2025 (and then to stabilize or continue to reduce 
such emissions). In developing its recommendations, the Advisory 
Committee shall consider a wide range of policy alternatives, including 
policies affecting: (i) Demand for personal vehicle travel; (ii) 
vehicle and fuel technology changes (including increases in vehicle and 
fuel system operating efficiency); and (iii) shifts in consumer choice 
among vehicle and fuel technology options. Policies to be considered 
will focus on those that can be implemented by the federal government, 
but such policies will be considered in the context of what can and 
should be accomplished at the state, local and regional levels, and by 
private parties, both consumers and producers.
    b. In developing recommendations, the Committee shall consider the 
speed, reliability, sustainability and efficiency of greenhouse gas 
reductions; the potential impact of options on urban air pollution and 
on safety; the cost of alternative policies affecting this sector 
(including their impact on consumers, jobs, mobility and 
competitiveness); improvements in energy security; and the feasibility 
of adoption and ease of implementation.
    c. The Advisory Committee may recommend analyses and studies to be 
undertaken by agencies of the federal government to support the 
deliberations of the Advisory Committee.
    d. The Advisory Committee may carry out such additional functions 
as the steering committee may from time to time request.

5. To Whom the Advisory Committee Reports

    The Advisory Committee shall report to the President through the 
steering committee. At least one member of the steering committee shall 
attend every meeting of the Advisory Committee and any subcommittees.
    The Advisory Committee shall submit its final report to the 
President, through the steering committee, within one year of the date 
of the first meeting of the Advisory Committee, unless such period is 
extended by the President. The Advisory Committee shall issue an 
interim report not more than six months after the date of the first 
meeting of the Advisory Committee. The interim report shall advise the 
President, through the steering committee, of the Advisory Committee's 
proceedings and the likelihood that the Committee will be able to 
complete its duties within one year of the date of the first meeting of 
the Committee.

6. Duration and Termination Date

    The Advisory Committee shall terminate thirty days after submission 
of its final report.

7. Agency Responsible for Providing Financial and Administrative 
Support to the Advisory Committee

    Financial and administrative support shall be provided by the 
Department of Transportation, through an Interagency Agreement between 
the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection 
Agency. Financial support may include payment of travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, of Advisory Committee 
members representing not-for-profit entities and state or local 
governments who could otherwise not participate in Advisory Committee 
meetings, as permitted by law for persons serving intermittently in the 
government service (5 U.S.C. sections 5701-5707).

8. Estimated Operating Costs

    The total operating costs of the Advisory Committee shall not 
exceed $250,000.

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings

    The Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or 
the steering committee or otherwise as it deems necessary to complete 
its functions.

10. Subcommittee(s)

    To facilitate functioning of the Advisory Committee, 
subcommittee(s) of members of the Advisory Committee may be formed. The 
objectives of such subcommittee(s) shall be to make recommendations to 
the Advisory Committee with respect to specific matters related to the 
responsibilities of the Advisory Committee. Subcommittee(s) shall meet 
as the Advisory Committee deems appropriate.

11. Consultations

    The Advisory Committee is authorized to consult with public and 
private sector individuals, who need not be members of the Advisory 
Committee. If appropriate, such individuals can be consulted in 
workgroups. Workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of 
the full Advisory Committee, nor can they report directly to the 
steering committee.

12. Members

    Up to thirty Advisory Committee members shall be appointed by the 
President for a term of one year, which may be extended by the 
President. Committee members shall not be compensated for service on 
the Committee. Membership shall be fairly balanced in terms of points 
of view represented.

13. Chairperson and Executive Director

    The facilitator serving the Advisory Committee shall serve as 
Chairperson. A member or representative of the steering committee shall 
serve as Executive Director.

    Dated: April 13, 1993.
W. Bowman Cutter,
Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.
John H. Gibbons,
Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Kathleen A. McGinty,
Director, Office on Environmental Policy.
[FR Doc. 94-9288 Filed 4-13-94; 2:30 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-M