WSP01328

• File Number: 8030
• Description: Section "D" General Correspondence - Other Organizations/Agencies ‎(Alpha, not Basin Related)‎
• Date: 12/21/1971
• Author: WRC
• Title: Proposed Principles and Standards for Planning Water and Related Land Resources-Notice of Public Hearing, Water Resources Council
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

24148

Based upon identified needs and prob-
lems, alternative plans will be prepared
and evaluated in the context of their
contributions to the multtobjectlves. This
involves comparisons among objectives,
and it will be necessary to formulate
alternative plans that. reflect different
relative emphasis among the objectives
for the planning setting.
The number of alternative plans to be
developed for each planning effort will
depend upon complementaritles or con-
filets among specified components of the
objectives, resource capabllltles. techni-
cal posslbUlt1es. and the extent to which
the design of additional alternative plans
can be expected to contribtlte signifi-
cantly to the choice at a recommended
plan, Because planning staJfs are limited,
emphasis should be placed on e~amina-
tieD 01 those waters and land-use plans
which may have appreCiable ,effects on
objectives.
With respect to the number of alterna.-
tive plans there will be a continuing
dialog among the Water Resources COUll-
cil river basin commissions, and other
pl~nnln.g ~roulls, emphasizing on the one
hand the need for national guidelines
and overview of objectives tor which
alternative plat13 are formulated, and
on the other the special insights into
local planning situations that field level
teams may develop.
Appropriate methods and techniques
.for estimating beneficial and ac;iverse ef-
fects win be used to provide rellable esti-
mates of the consequences and fea.si-.
b1Uty of each alternative plan.
In. cases where the trade ofTs among
objectives are judged to be significant
in the context of either national prior-
ities or more local1zed priortties, an
alternative plan. will be fonnulated to
emphasize the contributions to each such
objective. One such alternaUve plan will
be formulated in which optimwn contri-
butions are made to the national eco-
nomic development objective. Addition-
ally. during the planning process at least
one alternative plan wtll be formulated
which emphasizes the contributions to
the environmental quality objective.
other alternative plans reflecting sig-
nificant trade o:IIs among the national
economic development and environ-
mental Quality objectives may be formu-
lated so as not to overlook a best overall
plan.
Alternative plans emphasizing contri-
butions to spec1.fl.ed components of the
regtonaJ. development objectives will be
prepared only with advance approval. .
Major increments proposed for addi-
tion to a. plan intended to serve a single
objective will be included only 11 the
beneficial effects on that objective of the
addition outweigh the adverse effects.
For example, an increment. to an alter-
I native plan proposed for the national
economic development objective would
be added only U the addJ tlonal beneficIal
effects exceeded the additional adverse
effects, and simllarly for all objectives.
For plans emphaslzing some combination
of objectives, the incremental nile ap-
plies to the combination of objectives
that is relevant.

NOTICES

D. ANAL'YSIS OF ALTERNATIVE PLANS

The display of beneficial and adverse
effects for each alternative plan wtll be
prepared so that the dlft'erences among
alternatives can be clearly mown and
accurately analyzed, The analysis will
provide the rationale for the selection
of a recommended plan and the under-
lying evaluation of the various alterna-
tive plans. This analYsis wtll provide the
lnfonnatton on which the planning
organization and others can base judg-
ments as to the most desira.ble mix of
beneficial effects on objectives as com-
pared with the adverse effects.
The trade offs among alternative
plans should be displayed .... fully ..
possible for the components of all objec-
tives and for effects on soclal factors
to faclUtate admlnlstratlve and legisla.-
tive review and dec1slon.

E. RECONSIDERATION OF SPECIFIED COMPO-
NENTS OF THE MuLnOBJEC'I'IVES

As planning proceeds: the speclfled
components will be reviewed and recon-
sidered as appropriate. This reconsidera-
tion may result from new infonnation,
revised proJections. changes in pol1cy, or
technological innovatlOnB. Reconsidera-
tion of com)X>nents may result in modi-
fying alternatives or developing addi-
tional alternative plans.

F. PLAN SELECTION

From its analysis of alternative pla.n.s,
the planning organization will select a
recommended plan. The plan selected
will reflect the Importance attlUlhed to
dlft'erent objectives and the extent to
which different objectives can be
achieved by carrying out the plan..
The recommended pian should be for-
mulated so that beneficial and adverse
effects toward objecUves reflect. to the
best of current understandlng and
knowledge. the priorities and preferences
expressed by the pubUc at all levels to
be alfected by the plan,
In addlt10n to the recommended plan
with supporting analysis. other slgnifi-
cant alternative plans embodying dif-
ferent priorities among the desired ob-
Jectives will be pre;ented In the planning
report. Included with the presentation of
alternatlve plans will be an analYsis of
the trade otIs among them. The trade off's
wUl be set forth in explicit tenns. includ-
Ing the basis far choosing the recom-
mended plan from among the aJterna.t1ve
plans,

VI. SYSTEM 01' ACCOUNTS

A System CJ! account.. will be est&b-
Ilshed that dJllPlays beneficial and ad-
verse effects of each plan to the multi-
objectives and beneficial and adverse
etfects on social factors and provides a
basis for comparing altern.ative plans.
The display of beneflcial and adven;e
etIects will be prepared in such manner
that the cUfferent levels of achievement
to each objective can be readJly dis-
cerned and compared, indicating the
trade oft's among alternative plans.
For purpooes of accounting for the re-
gional development obJective, the system
of account.<; will dIsplay the beneflc:tal

and adverse e1fects in the region under
consideration in relation to the other
parts of the Nation. The Water Re60urces
Council wlll establlah a procedure for re-
lating regional accounts to the rest of
the NatJon. The use of such reporting re-
glons will not, however, rule out the u.se
of obher regions whOse delineations are
lJDportant In measuring beneflclal or ad-
verse effects on spectfied COI11POnents of
the regional develop~ent'objeetive.

VII. COST ALLOCATION, REIMBUESEMENT,
AND COST SRARING

A. COST ALLOCATION

On the basis of the identiflcation pro-.
vided for in the system of accounts for
beneficial and adverse effects. an alloca-
tion of appropriate costs shall be made
when an allocation of costs is required
for purposes of establishing reimburse-
ment levels. pricing pollcles. or cost shar-
ing between the Federal Government and
non-FederaJ public and private interests.
All objectives and components of obJec-
tives shall be generally treated compara-
bly in cost allocation arid are entitled
to their-fair share of the advantages re-
sulting from a mult:.1objectlve plan.

B. REIMBURSEMENT AND COST SHARING

Reimbursement and cost-sharlng .pol-
icies shall be directed generallY to the
end that identifiable beneficlarioo bear
an equitable sha.re of cost commensurate
with beneficial e:IIects received in full
cognizance of the multiobjectives. Since
existing cost-sharing policies are not en-
tirely consistent with the multlobjective .
approach to planning: water and land re-
sources, these policies wtll be reviewed
and needed changes will be recom-
mended.

VTII. NATIONAL PROGR.A.M: FOR FEDERAL AND
F'EDERALL y AssISTED ACTIVITIES

The principles set forth in this docu-
ment are concerned with alternative
plans for individual projects, States. re-
gions, or river basins. The evaluation,
systematic dIsplay, and comparison of
alternative plans for a project, State,
region, or river basin provide the basis
for selecting a recommended pla.n.
The formulation of national programs
for Federal and federally a.ssisted water
and land resource activities requires that
prioritieS be estabUshed among reco~-
mended plans for projects. states. re-
gions. and river basins. The system of
accbunts. together with other criteria,
such as available budget resources. na-.
tlonaJ. policy toward the environment or
regional development. and publlc and
private investment alternatJves, will pro-
vide a b~s for formulating national
programs.

IX. IMPLEMENTATION OF PRINCIPLES

The Water Resources Council w1ll im-
plement these Principles by establishing
Standards for planning water and land
resources in accordance with the Water
Resources Planning Act.
The Water Resources Council w111 es-
tablish procedures as necessary to carry
out the established Prlnclples and
standards, '

FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL. 36, NO. 245-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1971