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CONSAD Reports and Papers on the Web

Allegheny County Police Booking Center Study

The criminal identification and arraignment process that currently operates in Allegheny County contains notable inefficiencies. This CONSAD study prepared under the sponsorship of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency,  and Allegheny County has identified the principal sources of the inefficiencies, and has analyzed alternative policies, procedures, or practices that can greatly reduce the inefficiencies and their adverse consequences. 

The study is available on this web site: Criminal Identification and Arraignment Options for Allegheny County

SBA study on Compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act by Federal Agencies

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released a study prepared by CONSAD on the extent to which Federal agencies comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).

Under this regulation, initially passed in 1980 and amended in 1994, agencies are required to identify and, if possible, to lessen the burdens of Federal regulations on small entities which includes firms, governments and non-profits.

The findings of the study indicate that agencies have improved their compliance with the RFA regulation, but they still have not completely complied with the law.  The findings also encourage the SBA Office of Advocacy to be more aggressive in demanding that agencies involve the small business community in finding ways to tailor regulations to the businesses ability to comply.

The full report is available from the SBA website in PDF format by clicking on the title: An Evaluation of Compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act by Federal Agencies

Comments on EPA's draft Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter

In March 2001, EPA released its second external review draft of its Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter, and later published a request in April 2001 for comments on this document.

Because of CONSAD’s prior involvement in these issues and their importance to Pittsburgh’s remaining industry, CONSAD vice president Frederick Rueter prepared and submitted comments. You can access an HTML file of those comments here.

Estate Tax Impacts: Testimony before Senate Finance Committee

On  March 15, 2001 Dr. Wilbur Steger, president of CONSAD Research, testified before the Senate Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight. The subject of his testimony was a study, recently completed by CONSAD for the Food Marketing Institute, of the impact of the estate tax on family-run businesses and the national economy.

A complete copy of Dr. Steger's written testimony is available here as is a copy of the original study "The Federal Estate Tax: An Analysis of Three Prominent Issues "

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

CONSAD's reports to the PCCD are available on its website:

Impacts of Changing Process Safety Management Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is examining the impact of changing the Process Safety Management Standard 29CFR1910.1200, by adding additional reactive chemicals. OSHA has released the December 15, 1998 report prepared by CONSAD. You can get it here.

The Kyoto Protocol: A Flawed Treaty Puts America At Risk

With the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in December 1997, the United States and other industrialized nations agreed to reduce emissions during the five year period 2008-2012. CONSAD has prepared an analysis of the implications of this treaty on America. The report and tables are available on this web site.

Impacts of The Expanded Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act

For the National Federation of Independent Business Foundation (NFIB) CONSAD examined the impacts of the Expansion of Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997 (EPHIC) that was proposed in the House. EPHIC would permit certain groups like trade associations to form health insurance pools, with the aim of providing affordable and convenient health insurance plans to their member organizations. Links: Read the project summary or a copy of the report on this website.

Estimated Benefits of Controlling Dimensional Variation in Automobile Body Manufacturing

What is the role of government funded research? How does pre-competitive research enhance the ability of American firms to compete in the world marketplace. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) asked CONSAD to examine the economic impacts of in a case study The Development of Advanced Technologies and Systems for Controlling Dimensional Variation in Automobile Body Manufacturing . This final report utilized the REMI economic model in establishing the economic benefits of supporting manufacturing research in the automotive industry.

Framing a Coherent Climate Change Policy

In Framing a Coherent Climate Change Policy, published by the Center for the Study of American Business, Dr. Rueter analyzes the science and economics of such global climate change policies as carbon taxes and tradable emissions permits. The monograph was published in October 1997

Estimating the Population-at-risk For an Economic Analysis

Counting Concepts, by Alex Botkin, discusses elements in the estimation of the population-at- risk for an economic analysis. The paper also illustrates the ways in which the analysis is shaped by the availability of data. Presented at the National Occupational Injury Research Symposium, October 15, 1997.

Critical Review of EPA's Clean-Air Policy

Clearing the Air: EPA’s Self-Assessment of Clean-Air Policy- a critical review of EPA's regulatory impact analysis by Robert W. Crandall, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, Frederick H. Rueter, vice president and Wilbur A. Steger, president of CONSAD Research Corporation. was published in issue number 4, 1996 of

Metairie Railroad Corridor Study

CONSAD Research Corporation assisted the Federal Railway Administration in the development of recommendations, cost and schedule estimates for resolving the railroad-community conflicts in the Old Metairie railroad corridor, near New Orleans, Louisiana. The final report prepared by CONSAD and the FRA describes and evaluates alternatives for resolving the conflicts which include:

Employee Assistance Program Handbook

The Employee Assistance Program Handbook was developed by CONSAD with a team of researchers and specialists under an SBIR Grant to synthesize the knowledge available on the creation and evaluation of EAPs.

The EAP Handbook is now available on our web site to assist those charged with leading and managing EAPs.