WASHINGTON (September 12, 2008) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today published in the Federal Register a notice to solicit public written comments on proposed new draft Principles for the ongoing revision of the “Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies,” dated March 10, 1983.  The Principles and Guidelines (P&G) guide national water resources planning for the Corps and other federal agencies.

Written comments will be accepted through October 15.

The proposed Principles would replace the first two pages of the current Chapter 1, Principles and Standards, and the version that was made available for written comments on that chapter during a public comment period that ended June 5.  The Corps also conducted a public meeting in Washington, D.C., on June 5 to hear oral and take written comments.

Major issues discussed during the earlier public comment period included: watershed planning; collaborative planning; the reliance on benefit-cost ratios for project justification; placing more importance on project environmental values; and non-structural flood damage reduction projects.

The proposed Principles are divided into nine primary sections.  Key topic areas that the public may want to provide written comment on include: actions covered by the Principles (section 1); the language used to describe the national planning objective (section 2); the role of public safety in project formulation (sections 2, 7, and 9); the role of watershed analysis (section 4); the response to uncertainty (sections 5, 6, and 9); ensuring consideration of all reasonable alternatives (sections 6 and 7); the definition of  and preference for non-structural plans (sections 7 and 9); and the plan selection criteria (section 9).  Comments are also specifically invited on the appropriate discount rate to use in formulating proposed water resources projects.

Section 9 includes a proposal to use a higher economic standard to justify recommending projects, project features, and increments of work whose primary purpose is to achieve economic benefits.  A benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.5, rather than the current 1.0 BCR threshold in the 1983 P&G, is proposed.  The higher BCR would result in projects that are more likely to provide a positive net economic return on the federal and local investment.  The proposed new standard would exclude projects, project features, and increments of work that provide a low return to the nation. 

Congress directed the Secretary of the Army to revise the March 10, 1983, guidelines in Section 2031 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-114).  The revision is to be “consistent with a number of considerations enumerated in the statute.  Upon completion the revision will apply to water resources projects, project reevaluations, or project modifications and project feasibility studies carried out by the Secretary except those commenced prior to the completion of the revised guidance.“

While section 2031 of the Water Resources Development Act applies specifically to Corps’ water resources projects, the proposed Principles are drafted more broadly to allow for their possible application by other federal water resource agencies currently covered by the P&G.

Revising Chapter I, Principles and Standards, is the first of two phases planned by the Secretary of the Army to update the guidelines.  The second phase will address revisions to chapters II through IV, Procedures.  No date has been set for the phase 2 public comment opportunity.

Written comments on the proposed principles should be submitted to Mr. Larry J. Prather, Assistant Director of Civil Works, at the following:

• Address: HQUSACE, Attn: P&G Revision, CECW–ZA, 441 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20314–1000
• FAX: 202-761-5649

The Web site also provides links to copies of the Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies, dated March 10, 1983; the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110–114); the proposed Principles; and other relevant documents.  Hard copies of these documents may also be requested by mail or e-mail at the addresses listed above. 

For further information, contact Mr. Larry J. Prather, Assistant Director of Civil Works, at 202-761-0106.