Environmental Protection: How Much It Costs and Who Pays (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
April 16, 1997 |
| Report Number |
97-459 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
John E. Blodgett, Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
A recurring issue in environmental policy is the cost of pollution control imposed on individuals,
businesses, and governments. To inform policymakers about these costs, a number of surveys and
analyses have been conducted over the years. Consistent, basic sources have been an annual survey
of costs to manufacturers, conducted by the Bureau of Census (BOC), and an annual analysis of total
costs, prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Overall, the BEA analysis showed the
nation spent $122 billion for pollution abatement and control in 1994, or about 1.76% of Gross
Domestic Product. Personal consumption expenditures for pollution control were $22 billion,
government $35 billion, and business $65 billion. These 1994 data represent the end of the annual
series: the BOC survey and BEA analysis have been discontinued.
