EP 1165-2-1
30 Jul 99
of the project. An example would be a hiking trail on a flood control
levee. In these cases, any incremental aesthetic costs associated
with the recreation purpose should be allocated to the recreation
purpose and cost shared with the non-Federal sponsor on a 50-percent
basis.
f. Definition in the Feasibility Phase. Project measures to
preserve and restore aesthetic quality should be fully defined (i.e.,
described and displayed) in the feasibility report with engineering
appendix and reflected in the project cost estimate. The report
should include a description of the project setting and the
relationship of aesthetic features of the project to the setting. To
the extent practical, all the incremental costs of the project
aesthetic features should be identified, recognizing that some
aesthetic considerations are completely integral to the project design
and are not separable. This complete description and display of costs
will allow any issues on the reasonableness of the aesthetic measures
to be addressed prior to project authorization and be reflected in the
authorization document. Increases in levels of project costs for
aesthetics during pre-construction engineering and design, beyond
inflation, will not be approved.
3-18. Mobilization. The Corps of Engineers is one component of the
United States Army team. The Congress, by assigning the Chief of
Engineers' national missions of civil works for water resources
development in addition to the military missions, has provided the
nation a vital element of insurance for the rapid mobilization and
discharge of military engineering, construction and logistic services
in time of emergency. The civil works program and the peacetime
military construction program provide the base for maintenance of a
well rounded organization providing engineering, construction and
logistic services to the Army. In times of emergency those civil
works projects not essential to National defense will be rapidly
curtailed to provide an immediate working staff to execute military
engineering work. Inasmuch as all phases of rapid mobilization depend
on rapid construction, appropriate elements of the Corps of Engineers
maintain plans for mobilization. The civil works program is
accomplished in a manner which enhances this mobilization capability.
(EP 500-1-2)
3-19. Mitigation Banks for Corps Civil Works Projects. In the
context of Federal activities, and in accordance with "Federal Guidance
for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Mitigation Banks" (Federal
Register, Volume 60, No. 228, November 28, 1995), mitigation banking
means the restoration, creation, enhancement and, in exceptional
circumstances, preservation of wetlands and/or other aquatic resources
expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation in
advance of authorized impact to similar resources. "Authorized
impacts" refers to impacts resulting from federally regulated
activities or impacts resulting from Federal projects or programs. To
date, there is no established Federal policy on the establishment, use
and operation of mitigation banks to compensate for impacts on upland
resources. Therefore, mitigation banks will not be used to compensate
for upland impacts of Corps civil works projects.
a. General Policy. As defined in "Federal Guidance for the
Establishment, Use and Operation of Mitigation Banks", the objective
of a mitigation bank is to provide for the replacement of the
chemical, physical and biological functions of wetlands and other
aquatic resources which are lost as a result of authorized impacts.
Conceptually, there is no net gain in ecological value as a result of
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