Upcoming Stakeholder Dates (see details below):
October 25, 2006 5:00 pm -- Input due on scenarios and other issues
November 1, 2006 9:00 am -- Stakeholder Conference Call
February 16, 2006 10:00 am -- Stakeholder Briefing on Report (Presentation slides available here in PDF format)
February 1 - 22, 2007-- Review of Report and three week comment period
February 22, 2007 5:00 pm -- Comments on report due

Click here to see Stakeholder Comments provided.

Stakeholder Input Process:
The University of Maryland RGGI project team recognizes the importance of ensuring adequate stakeholder input into the study. To assist with the stakeholder input process, CIER and the project team will be working with the Environmental Finance Center (EFC), located at the University of Maryland in College Park. EFC will coordinate and manage the Project Outreach Committee and serve as a liaison between stakeholder interests and organizations and the project team leaders.

Given the short timeline necessary for completing the study, it is essential that the stakeholder input process be constructed in a way that ensures efficient, accurate, and effective communication between stakeholder organizations and the project team leaders. This process incorporates the existing goals and procedures of the RGGI program to:

-- Provide a mechanism for informing the public and stakeholders of the Maryland RGGI project team’s research process;

-- Provide an early opportunity for input from stakeholders on key elements of the modeling and research process;

-- Maintain an ongoing dialogue between the Maryland RGGI project team and stakeholders; and,

-- Establish opportunities for the public and stakeholders to submit formal comments to the RGGI project team leaders at key decision points in the research and modeling process.

Because of the complexity of the various modeling tools, as well as the truncated project timeline, it is critical that stakeholder comments related to the research and modeling process itself be provided soon enough to allow for effective analysis. To ensure that the stakeholder input process is efficient and effective, EFC staff, as well as the Project Outreach Team, will be incorporating the following tools and resources into the outreach process:

Direct Engagement with Key Stakeholder Interests:
The project team recognizes that there are many stakeholder organizations, research experts, and advocacy organizations that have a direct and ongoing role to play in the RGGI process. In addition, because of the short timeline, it is essential that the project team engage these critical stakeholder groups early in the process. EFC staff, as well as critical project team leaders, will be directly contacting these organizations and experts through teleconference calls and local face-to-face meetings.

Model Assumption Input -- The first phase of this process for input specifically on the model assumptions concluded September 25, 2006 at 9:00 AM EST. On September 27, 2006, a conference call was conducted with the project modelers and interested stakeholders to discuss the results of the stakeholder process and any resulting refinements to the assumptions. A briefing summary memo was provided on October 5, 2006 and general model assumptions are provided on this site, as well as comments provided from stakeholders.

Recommended Scenarios and Other Issues for Consideration -- In the second phase, stakeholder input was solicited on scenarios for future studies. In addition, stakeholders were able to submit data and information for consideration in the study. See the final report Appendix for scenario recommendations for further study. Comments during this phase were due October 25, 2006. In addition, a conference call was held November 1, 2006 to discuss the input and next steps for the study.

Stakeholder input from each of these processes has been incorporated into the final report.

Stakeholder Briefing -- The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and CIER will give an overview of the study's findings on Friday, February 16, 2007 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at MDE's offices. Space is limited so please register with Julie Damiloski at jdamiloski@mde.state.md.us or 410-537-3245. Power Point slides from the presentation are now available in PDF format.

Report Review -- The study team invites review and comment on the report during a three week comment period. Any comments provided will be compiled into an Addendum to the report and posted online at this web site. The report was released on February 1, 2007 and comments will be due in writing to as described below by 5:00pm on February 22, 2007.

Broader Outreach Efforts:
The Project Outreach Team will also be working with key stakeholder groups to help disseminate information on the Maryland RGGI project and the stakeholder input process. Our goal is to leverage communication tools such as web sites, list serves, publications, and conferences and workshops. In addition, the Project Outreach Team has developed this web site for information on the RGGI process and the Maryland study.

To provide comments on the Final Report, due at 5:00 PM, February 22:
please send comments in writing to:
dnees@umd.edu
Maryland RGGI Study
Environmental Finance Center
Preinkert Field House, Room 1102
College Park, MD 20740

For additional information, please contact Dan Nees, Director, Environmental Finance Center, University of Maryland at 301-466-9964 or dnees@umd.edu.