Accession Number:

ADA326248

Title:

Evaluation of Environmental Investment Procedures: Overview Manual,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARMY ENGINEER INST FOR WATER RESOURCES FORT BELVOIR VA

Personal Author(s):

• Harrington, Keith W.
• Feather, Timothy D.

Report Date:

1996-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

70.0

Abstract:

For over a decade the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Corps has actively been involved in ecosystem restoration projects. As this new direction for the Corps has evolved, it has become increasingly clear that environmental restoration projects pose different planning challenges than traditional water resources development projects. The Evaluation of Environmental Investments Research Program EEIRP was initiated by the Corps to develop planning methodologies that respond to these challenges. Specifically, the EEIRP was intended to address what have become known as the site and portfolio questions 1 How can the Corps determine whether the recommended action from a range of alternatives is the most desirable in terms of the environmental objectives 2 How should the Corps allocate limited resources among many most desirable environmental investment decisions The Corps six-step planning process is based upon the U.S. Water Resources Councils Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies PG, promulgated in 1983. The PG provides a decision-making framework that is equally applicable to traditional water resources projects and environmental restoration projects. However, the differences between these projects, such as restorations predominance of nonmonetary benefits, require tailoring the planning process for ecosystem restoration. The Corps ongoing adaptations of the planning process include 1 promulgating the various forms of guidance for environmental planning, 2 documenting field experience with planning environmental projects i.e., case studies, and 3 developing the process and products provided by the EEIRP. This report, prepared under the EEIRP Evaluation Framework work unit, is part of that effort.

Descriptors:

• *RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• *ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
• *ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
• *WATER RESOURCES
• METHODOLOGY
• DECISION MAKING
• INVESTMENTS
• WATER
• CASE STUDIES
• ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
• LAND AREAS

Subject Categories:

• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Hydrology, Limnology and Potamology
• Water Pollution and Control

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE