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Examines the political obstacles that affected the implementation of the REgional CLean AIr Market (RECLAIM) in Los Angeles, California. History of the RECLAIM emission program; Analysis of the decisions concerning RECLAIM; Political barriers presented by consumer groups.

This article documents the methodology used to compare policy alternatives considered for RECLAIM, an emissions trading program for Los Angeles which commenced January 1994. RECLAIM reduces NOx and SOx emissions from stationary sources with declining emissions credit allocations. The emissions trading model (ETM) includes credit supply and demand, spatial restrictions, and opportunity costs of owning credits. The ETM solves interactively with a regional model that estimates economic impacts. Predicted emissions distributions are input into airshed and exposure models. The models predict similar improvements in air quality and public health as command and control regulations, but with lower costs and employment impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]