Earlier this week the 7^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the U.S. Department of Energy's application of the Social Cost of Carbon in rulemakings that govern the federal government’s evaluation of environmental impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Created behind closed doors by an interagency working group led by the Office of Management and Budget, the Social Cost of Carbon is a controversial statistical model that is being incorporated into federal agencies’ environmental reviews under NEPA. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) released the following statement:

“The social cost of carbon was unilaterally inserted into the federal regulatory framework. Virtually any economic activity with a federal nexus—projects as harmless as the construction of a local shopping mall to energy development and transportation infrastructure—is now weighed down by subjective interpretation, incalculable analysis and infinite delay. This case marks the beginning of the growing fury of litigation spurred by this harmful and illogical policy.

“This ruling sets a dangerous precedent. We intend to conduct further oversight and will work to reign in this audacious abuse of executive authority.”