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~ :";) (, ,,~ 'rl (..) (.) Section 4. COSTS, BENEFITS, AND PROJECT SUPPORT Preliminary AQUATRAIN costs have been estimated, however, final cost estimates have not been made because opportunities and situations still exist to refine and optimize the project. Costs will be dependent upon a number of variables, such as total throughput, staged construction opportunities, corridor route and transport technology selected, costs for environmental compliance and permitting, and costs for capital equipment, operation, and maintenance. It is estimated that the entire AQUATRAIN pipeline system would cost $2-3 billion (1982 constant do 11 ars) . Planning efforts will focus on the .cst viable ~ans of financing among government and private interests. Savings in commodity transport revenues would be used to support AQUATRAIN's transpor- tation of saline water. Private industry would bear project construction costs and, if necessary for project financial integrity, the Federal government's salinity control program would pay a negotiated share of operation and maintenance costs. The Basin States, through the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum, have introduced legislation which would extend existing cost-sharing provisions to projects such as AQUATRAIN. If approved, the State's 25-percent share of any Federal salinity control expenditure would be provided through revenues from public power sold in the Basin. In assessing the potential costs and benefits of a multi-faceted effort such as AQUATRAIN, many interrelated factors must be considered. Outgrowths of the project may be perceived as pluses by some, and at the same time, as detriments by others. The relative costs and benefits must therefore be weighed and balanced to select the .cst acceptable alternatives and achieve the greatest public good. During project planning, possible environmental, social, and economic impacts of the pipeline system will be addressed. Methods such as environmental assessments and impact statements, engineering studies, and public involvement activities will be employed to identify, avoid and/or minimize effects of pipeline construction and operation. Environmental impacts resulting from AQUATRAIN would be similar to major pipeline systems previously engineered and analyzed. Direct effects would result from soil and vegetation disturbance and access created to previously undisturbed areas. Wildlife might be affected and possible conflicts with existing land uses may arise. Risks to health and safety could also occur from pipeline ruptures. However, the underground pipeline system would provide esthetic benefits by reducing the number of future above-ground facilities needed for energy transportation, such as new railroad lines and long-distance, high-voltage power1ines. 29