Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Environmental regulation in the United States often involves the coordinated efforts of federal and state governments in key policy activities. Many federalism studies of environmental regulation focus on the supporting role that states play in implementing federal environmental policies, and the implications thereof. Less attention has been paid to the unique cases of environmental regulation in which federal and state governments are granted shared authority to develop and implement policies that regulate a common subject. In such circumstances, the following key questions emerge: (i) what is the extent of collaboration between federal and state actors in developing and implementing policies;  and (ii) how do policies developed at different levels of government overlap, complement, and contradict each other? We respond to these questions in this paper in the context of federal and state policies designed to regulate vehicle emissions. Specifically, we look at interactions in the design of federal corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) and vehicle greenhouse gas emission policies and California's zero emission vehicle regulation. We conclude this paper by highlighting key policy recommendations regarding the design of these policies.