Review Procedures for Water Resources Project Planning (2002) / Chapter Skim
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1 Report Purpose and Scope
1 Report Purpose and Scope
Pages 10-18
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From page 10... ...
As the nation's watersheds have become more heavily developed and as social preferences have changed, the Corps has become involved in ecosystem restoration projects and is faced with the challenge of adjusting operations of existing projects in highly controlled watershed and river systems. Before submitting proposed water projects to Congress for approval, the Corps conducts feasibility studies that assess the economic, engineenng, and environmental dimensions of potential projects.
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From page 11... ...
As a result, the Department of Me Army requested that the National Academiesi provide an independent review of He Corps' draft feasibility study, focusing on Be study's economic analysis. The committee appointed by We Academies' National Research Council (NRC)
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From page 12... ...
1h these contexts, the term 'peer review" connotes independence from the agency 2 As this panel was charged to comment on both independent review and the current technical review procedures, the term "peer review" is not used in this report. See preface, p.
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From page 13... ...
As this panel was requested to comment on bow independent review and the existing review process, the panel chose not to use the terms "peer" or 'peer review," and instead simply refers to both procedures as "review." The panel distinguishes between review that is internal and review that is external. The report's focus is on review of Corps planning studies, with careful attention given to the need for independent, external reviews by panels of well-qualified and impartial experts for large, complex, expensive, and controversial projects.
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From page 14... ...
The Corps often faces a great deal scrutiny of its water resources project planning studies for several reasons: a willingness by the public to question federal agencies and to seek participation in Heir decision making procedures; improvements in scientific understanding of environmental impacts of large water projects; He desire of some members of He public to reduce expenditures of federal tax dollars; and a proliferation of engineering and scientific analysts outside the Corps. The Corps also operates under a complex set of mandates that reflect diverse interests and often contradictory views of water resources management.
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From page 15... ...
Indeed, independent review is a necessary component of comprehensive water resources planning, as it ideally creates a process Hat is transparent and accountable. But such reviews should not be expected to resolve tensions regarding proposed water projects or operations alternatives.
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From page 16... ...
concluded that many Corps planning studies do not necessarily require external, independent review, and that, in many instances, Corps of Engineers professional staff should participate in reviews of technically focused planning studies. As planning studies become more sophisticated and expand beyond traditional engineering analyses, however, independent expert opinion would increase the review's comprehensiveness and credibility.
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From page 17... ...
The Corps' water resources project planning procedures, reviewed in a 1999 National Research Council committee report ARC, 1999) , are surnrnarized in Chapter 3.
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From page 18... ...
18 Review Procedures for Water Resources Project Planning Chapter 6 summarizes recommendations that Me Corps' complex planning studies be subjected to external review and that a new A~T~inis~ative Group for Project Review be created to coordinate review procedures. Chapter 6 also summarizes recommendations for the creation of a Review Advisory Board which would provide periodic Independent advice regarding review procedures for the Corps' planning studies.
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