WSP01521

• File Number: 8443.400
• Description: Narrows Unit Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 6/15/1974
• Author: US DOL BOR
• Title: Draft Social Assessment of the Proposed Narrows Unit and Alternatives Thereto
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ment include both those which directly affect human beings,

and those that indirectly affect human beings through adverse

affects on the environment." Examples provided of social

impacts include effects upon population distribution and con-
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centration, damage to life systems, urban congestion, threats

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to health, etc.

The statement calls for the "integrated use

of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design

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arts in planning and decision making which may have an impact

on man's environment."

This social assessment is one of a number of assessments

of the Narrows unit and alternate courses of action which have

been prepared consistent with the intent of the Act. Other

components of the Environmental Impact Statement include an

Environmental Statement, an Economic Statement, various engi-

neering statements and an analysis of historical and archeo-

logical impacts.

COllectively these comprise the total Environ-

mental Impact Statement.

The conduct of a social assessment poses certain problems

for any agency involved in public investment in infrastructure.

The enactment of legislation which requires assessment of the

social impacts of projects does not, in and of itself, mean

that it is easily achieved.

In contrast to the assessment of

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engineering considerations and, more recently, of economic

and environmental considerations, social assessment presents

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certain problems.

First, there is not a fully developed theory

in the social sciences as to what are the most important consi-

derations in assessment of man's social nature.

Second, and as

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