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<br />ou" '13 J' <br />I l ""' L. <br /> <br />I 9 <br /> <br />I <br />I David G. Unger, National As sodation of Conservation Districts <br /> <br />". . . The intere st rate used in evaluating' proposed water <br />resources projects should not exceed the current cost of long- <br />term money to the government or the current yield to the 'govern- <br />ment on its long-term loans. <br /> <br />"NACD believes that the task force proposals to substitute <br />a multi-objective approach in place of current reliance on <br />economic factors represents a substantial step forward in natural <br />resources planning. National economic development, regional <br />economic development, environmental quality, and social well- <br />being should all be evaluated and taken into account in the decision- <br />making process. <br /> <br />"The determination of all beneficial and adverse effects of <br />proposed plans would give the public and project planners the <br />best possible information upon which to base their decisions. And <br />the formula.tion of alternative plans designed to achieve different <br />lets of objectives would make public participation in the planning <br />"ocess truly meaningful. All too often in the past, project plan- <br />1 has left the public and sponsors with only two choices, take <br />leave it. <br /> <br />The original task force proposals. as we view them. <br />repr.! nt the best possible approach to incorporating all per- <br />tY~1'''nt factors in 'water resources planning. We feel that the <br />present proposal weakens the quality and comprehensiveness of <br />the original proposals and that its adoption would seriously damage <br />water resources development programs that are urgently needed <br />by the citizens of this nation. " <br /> <br />* * * * * <br /> <br />"The objective of national economic efficiency, we believe, <br />is fundamental. So is the incorporation of environmental values. <br />As conservationists, we support the environmental objective <br />wholeheartedly and believe that the Environmental Account is the <br />vehicle to use in determining environmental costs and benefits. <br />not the discount rate. <br /> <br />"1 might point out that the multi-objective approach will be <br />most useful in dealing with the controversial subject of channel <br />improvement in water and watershed projects, making it possible <br />to identify and consider all of the environmental and economic <br />effects of channel modifications and alternative plans. <br />, <br /> <br />470-~57 0 _ 72 - 2 <br />