Project Updates

  • Monday
    April 6th,
    2009

    Comments against draft oil drilling plan

    Within weeks of Congress allowing longstanding offshore drilling bans to lapse, oil prices took a nose dive, which quieted the calls to “drill here, drill now.” However, before leaving office, the Bush Administration released a draft drilling plan that is being taken up by the Obama Administration.

    To collect public comments on the new plan, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar held a series of hearings in several sites across the country. Policy Integrity attended the Atlantic City hearing, contributing comments that argued that the plan disregarded basic economic principles and failed to take into account the potential value of waiting to drill, risking billions of dollars in “option” value. Policy Integrity also released a fact sheet on the issue.

    Issue(s): Energy and Environment   Type: Public Comments

  • Monday
    March 9th,
    2009

    Motion for leave against hazardous truck driver rules

    In November 2008, just weeks before President Obama took office, the Bush Administration finalized a rule increasing the amount of time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel—creating a possible public health and safety hazard. The rule allows truck drivers to drive for 11 hours, one more hour than they were allowed before 2003, and allows them to drive as many as 77 hours in seven days or 88 hours in eight days, over 25 percent more than previously allowed by federal law.

    In March 2009, the Public Citizen and several other groups filed suit in federal appeals court in the District of Columbia challenging the regulation. Two previous versions of the rule were thrown out by the court. In 2004, the appeals court held the rule flawed because it failed to take into consideration the serious health impact of its rule on the regulated drivers.

    Policy Integrity has joined together with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, OMB Watch, the Society for Occupational and Environmental Health, and the Union of Concerned Scientists to participate as amici curiae in the litigation.

    Issue(s): Safety  

  • Wednesday
    March 4th,
    2009

    Policy Integrity’s recommendations incorporated into EECA report

    Today, Policy Integrity received favorable feedback on comments we submitted on draft EPA Guidelines for Preparing Economic Analyses supporting positive changes made in the new draft and suggest additional improvements. The document has been an influential resource for EPA’s consideration of regulatory costs and benefits.

    The Environmental Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC) of the EPA Science Advisory Board reviewed both the draft guidelines and Policy Integrity’s comments, and incorporated several of Policy Integrity’s substantive recommendations into its report.

    Issue(s): Cost-Benefit Analysis, Energy and Environment  

  • Thursday
    January 15th,
    2009

    Comments in support of the rescission of the Physician Conscience rule

    With litigation pending by ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the State of Connecticut and six other states against the physician conscience rule, the new Obama Administration proposed a rescission of the rule. Policy Integrity joined the coalition to submit comments in support of that action.

    Issue(s): Health and Human Services   Type: Public Comments

  • Tuesday
    January 6th,
    2009

    Legal memorandum on stopping midnight regulations

    Shortly after his inauguration, President Obama took steps to halt the adoption or implementation of regulations that went into the pipeline during the final days of the Bush Administration.

    To support the President’s efforts, Policy Integrity issued a legal memorandum detailing ways Obama could effectively stop or rescind Bush’s midnight regulations while minimizing the chance of successful legal challenge.

    Issue(s): Cost-Benefit Analysis   Type: Memos