EP 1165-2-1
30 Jul 99
project. Reimbursement rates are based upon the computed rates except
for water supply, recreation and irrigation for which rates are
specified by legislation.
5-8. Procedures for Evaluating Environmental Quality (EQ) Outputs.
Environmental planning is more similar to traditional water resources
planning than it is dissimilar. Only two important differences
between planning for environmental outputs and planning for NED
outputs exist. Both result from the absence of readily estimated and
generally accepted monetized environmental benefits. This absence
means environmental outputs' worth must be based on some other sense
of value, and following from this, that a decision rule for
identifying best projects completely analagous (simple, quantified,
objective) to the NED decision rule does not exist. A reasonable and
workable decision rule can be developed however. In most other
respects planning for environmental outputs is the same as for NED
outputs.
a. Missions. Outputs considered Corps priority outputs change
or evolve over time. Chronologically, these descriptors have been
used to give specificity to, identify and label Corps environmental
missions: "mitigation", "fish and wildlife habitat restoration",
"protection", and "ecosystems restoration". Regardless of how
narrowly or broadly the mission is described, and how the range of
environmental outputs for which planning may be conducted is modified,
the same planning considerations and principles apply.
b. Planning Considerations. Paragraph 5-6 (above, "The
Planning Process") applies generally to planning for environmental
outputs. Alterations are in some cases appropriate. For example, for
mitigation, specification of problems and opportunities would be
truncated. Those portions of paragraph 5-7 (above, "Procedures for
Evaluating NED") that deal specifically with monetized benefit
estimation are not relevant. Much of the rest of the paragraph is
relevant.
c. Special Emphasis. Risk of redundancy notwithstanding,
several planning considerations are worth special emphasis. First,
environmental planning is quantified planning. Outputs should be
precisely defined, with appropriate units of measurement. Second,
formulation of alternative plans and plan scales is as much a part of
environmental planning as it is for NED planning. All or nothing, or
inappropriately limited options available for decision makers is not
acceptable. Third, a justified plan is to be recommended. The
incremental cost analysis/cost effectiveness technique is an
acceptable tool for identifying the most cost effective and efficient
environmental restoration plan. The rationale for justification and
selection of a recommended plan must be fully documented and
reasonable.
d. EQ Planning Procedures. Detailed environmental quality
planning procedures (i.e., how to do it) similar to those for NED
evaluation (i.e., the NED Manuals) have been developed as well as
comprehensive environmental restoration policy and procedures guidance
(i.e., what to do, with some how to do it information). The following
three key ideas, or fundamentals, from that guidance form a cursory
analysis.
(1) Outputs. Environmental projects produce outputs. These
outputs are precisely defined, unambiguous and quantitative. Examples
might be habitat units of a particular species; habitat units of a mix
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