Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OG2483 <br /> <br />is misleading and needs to be changed. The statement in the <br />following paragraph, i.e., tIr, third paragraph on Page 55, <br />is also very misleading. It i.s stated, "the benefit-cost <br />ratio employed in Federal wat ':r project evaluation is determined <br />by comparing such benefits an] cost. This criteria provides <br />an overall measure of the extent to which a given alternative <br />will enhance or detract from .the nation's output of marketed <br />goods and services of all kinds." This statement implies <br />that broad comprehensive benefit cost analysis has been made <br />by the authors. This is not the case, as indicated in Table 16. <br /> <br />At the bottom of Page 55 several references are made to <br />Table 15. However, Table 15 is only a list and provides no <br />explanation whatsoever of the evaluation criteria for water <br />resource development alternatives. <br /> <br />The second paragraph on Page 57 disousses monetary estimates <br />related to flood control benefits, but does not state whether <br />or not these monetary benefits have been incorporated into <br />cost estimates or the net economic benefits considered in <br />the report. The following paragraph discusses water quality, <br />and fish and wildlife, but does not say how these were <br />treated in the analysis. <br /> <br />The discussion of net energy changes on Page 57 is confusing, <br />and the reader is left with uncertainty regarding how net <br />energy changes are considered. The final statement, "the <br />energy requirements for construction and operation of a given <br />alternative, as well as economic activity generated by the <br />alternative, would be presented as increased needs for <br />electrioity and petroleum products." It is very unolear <br />what this statement means with respect to application of net <br />energy changes to specific projects. . <br /> <br />The scope and methods of the economic analysis need to be <br />reviewed thoroughly by the Advisory Committee. It would <br />appear that additional research is needed into the cost and <br />benefits associated with agricultural, municipal and industrial <br />water, and some additional research is needed to insure that <br />all cost estimates for these various uses of water projects, <br />i.e., municipal, industrial, agricultural water supplies and <br />hydroelectric generation, are on the same basis and comparable <br />among projects. <br /> <br />In general, we believe that the methodology grossly understates <br />the benefits and value of all storage projects in the South <br />Platte Basin by understating the value of water and by ignoring <br />successive use of water. While adjustments may not effect the <br />final ranking of alternatives, statements of benefits would <br />provide the public wi.th a better understanding of the value <br />of these projects. <br /> <br />5 <br />