Dan Pilcher

CACI

Executive Vice President

and Chief Operating Officer

E-Mail: dpilcher@COchamber.com

www.COchamber.com

Friday, December 23, 2011

CDPHE and CACI Discuss “Modeling” and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rules and Regulations

Last Friday, two CACI working groups met with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) staff, to discuss two issues: “modeling” and cost-benefit analysis of rules and regulations.  Members of the CACI Energy and Environmental Council comprise the two working groups.

“Modeling” is the process of using mathematical and numerical techniques to assess the projected impact of a project or site on air quality.  Modeling must show certain results in terms of impact, depending on whatever requirements are particular to the region or type of permit being applied for, in order for a permit to be issued by the CDPHE’s Air Quality Control Division.

The impetus behind the creation of the working groups was a September meeting of the CACI Energy and Environment Council during which CDPHE staff presented a draft of the CDPHE strategic plan.  At that time, the CDPHE staff said that they would like to work specifically with CACI members to address two issues: (a) a way to improve the modeling process and (b) the need for cost-benefit analysis regarding rules and regulations. 

At the meeting last Friday, Martha Rudolph, CDPHE’s Director of Environmental Programs; Karin McGowan Community Relations Director; and Will Allison, Air Pollution Control Division Director, represented CDPHE.

CACI members discussed current concerns, focusing on the fact that there is more than one way to be right in modeling, which is the cause of much of the delays in issuing air quality permits by the Air Quality Control Commission.  Several suggestions were made about how to move forward when there are multiple ways to do the modeling that are consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance but when CDPHE and the permitted source have different preferences.

The CACI modeling work group will meet again in 2012 to discuss recurring themes, the top snags that bog down the process.  CDPHE has expressed a desire to continue meeting with the CACI modeling work group to explore issues that come up often and are hopeful that in a general discussion rather than in reference to a specific permit, participants will be able to be more candid than they can be in an application process.  Additionally, the group will consider options from other states and will revisit a previous stakeholder process on the topic.  Stay tuned for more information on the working group.

The working group on cost-benefit analysis met as well.  CDPHE described the statute that governs the Air Pollution Control Division and requested feedback on what the situations are in which cost-benefit analysis is valuable.  The group discussed the work being done on the topic in the legislature and through the Governor’s Office.  CACI will be requesting feedback from CACI Energy and Environment Council members on areas where cost-benefit analysis would be most helpful in CDPHE activities and will continue to follow the broader efforts on the topic as well.

For more information on these issues and the CACI working groups, contact Carly Dollar, CACI Governmental Affairs Representative, at 303.866.9622.

Register by January 6^th for Annual CACI Business Day at the Capitol

CACI’s Annual Business Day at the Capitol is scheduled for Thursday, January 19^th, with Governor John Hickenlooper set to be the keynote speaker at the 12 Noon Luncheon at the Sheraton Denver Downtown.

CACI members may register on-line.  Individual tickets for members are currently $90 and $150 for non-members until Friday, January 6th.  After January 6^th, ticket prices will increase to $110 for members and $170 for non-members.

The afternoon session from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chamber at the State Capitol will feature legislative leaders who will address important business issues in the 2012 session of the Colorado General Assembly.  The confirmed participants are House Majority leader Amy Stephens (R- Monument), Senator Lois Tochtrop (D-Thornton), Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman (R-Colorado Springs), Senator Lucia Guzman (D-Denver) and Senator Pat Steadman (D-Denver).

The Platinum Sponsor is Apokalyyis, Inc., a CACI Partner.  Lou Hutchison, CEO of Apokalyyis, Inc., is a member of the CCI Board of Directors and serves on the Board’s Executive Committee.

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Tricia Smith, Vice President of Events and Political Fundraising, 303.866.9629.

Key Government Officials to Address CACI Councils in January

Important guest speakers have been scheduled for CACI’s policy-council meetings in January to discuss important state and federal policy issues.  CACI encourages the attendance and participation of its members at these exclusive meetings:

January 13, Tax Council

• Guest speaker: Representative Brian DelGrosso (R-Loveland), Chair of the House Finance Committee

• Sponsor: Anadarko Petroleum

January 17, Energy & Environment Council

• Guest speaker: Jim Martin, Regional Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII

• Sponsor: Climax Molybdenum

January 26, HealthCare Council

• Guest speaker: Patty Fontneau, Executive Director, Colorado Health Benefit Exchange

• Sponsor: Genentech Inc.

Visit the CACI Calendar for the full schedule of CACI council meetings during the 2012 legislative session.

CACI Welcomes New Members

• Silver Partners: UMB Bank, N.A. and Applied Control

• CACI Partners: Genentech Inc., Mayo Aviation and Encon United

• CACI Advocates:  BBVA Compass Bank, Poe Law Office LLC and Luminous Electronics Recycling

• CACI Members: NAIFA-Colorado, Sustainable Oil Service and Centennial Bolt

To learn more about the various levels of CACI membership, visit the CACI Web site.