US Army Corps of Engineers BUILDING STRONG ® Step 6: Selection Of The Recommended Plan Planning Principles & Procedures – FY11

BUILDING STRONG ® References:  ER ; Chapters 2, 3, & 4; Appendix E  Planning Manual, Chapter 11  EC , Planning Civil Work Projects Under The Environmental Operating Principles

BUILDING STRONG ® Objectives  To be able to identify the plans that can be recommended.

BUILDING STRONG ® Plan Selection Requirements  Select a single plan from all alternatives considered.  Consider a sufficient number of alternatives.  The recommended plan should be “preferable” to No Action.  Selection criteria depend on type of project and outputs.

BUILDING STRONG ® Plans That Can Be Recommended  National Economic Development (NED) Plan  National Ecosystem Restoration (NER) Plan  Combined NED / NER Plan (Combined)  Locally Preferred Plans (LPP)

BUILDING STRONG ® Plan Selection - NED Benefits Only RULE: Reasonably maximize net economic benefits (NB = B - C).

BUILDING STRONG ® Plan Selection - NER Benefits Only RULE: Reasonably maximize ecosystem restoration benefits compared to costs (CE/ICA)

BUILDING STRONG ® NER Plan – Incremental Cost Display A B C Is It Worth It?

BUILDING STRONG ® Plan Selection - Combined NED & NER Benefits Rule: Achieve the best balance and synergy between net NED and net NER benefits. Procedures (EC ): Formulate plans for the primary purpose. Identify NED or NER plan. Formulate plans to address other purpose(s). Rank plans for decision criteria. Determine justification of each purpose. Compare highest ranked justified plan to NED or NER Plan. Consider tradeoffs, benefits foregone, benefits gained, differences in cost and other decision criteria. Document rationale for selecting highest ranked Combined plan over NED or NER plan.

BUILDING STRONG ® LPP Smaller Than NED / NER / Combo Plan Categorically exempted when:  LPP scale is based on sponsor constraints  LPP has greater net benefits than smaller plans  Consider sufficient number of plans  Identify tradeoffs and opportunities foregone  Flood control: residual risk is not unreasonably high  LPP complies with laws and policies WRDA cost sharing applies

BUILDING STRONG ® LPP Larger / Different Than NED / NER / Combined Plan ASA(CW) exemption likely when:  NED / NER / Combined Plan does not meet Local objectives  LPP complies with laws and policies  LPP outputs are similar in-kind and  outputs of NED / NER / Combined Plan  Other outputs are allowed Sponsor pays all costs > NED / NER / Combined Plan

BUILDING STRONG ® NED Plan Is Less Than 1% Chance Flood Protection ASA(CW) considerations for exemption to participate in 1% Protection:  NED Plan leaves significant residual risk  Unique characteristics of protected area  LPP reduces NFIP enforcement  LPP incremental costs are not unreasonable WRDA cost sharing applies

BUILDING STRONG ® NED & Locally Preferred Plans

BUILDING STRONG ® NER & Locally Preferred Plans

BUILDING STRONG ® Combined & Locally Preferred Plans  Combined Plan is highest ranked justified plan  The LPP would be a lower ranked justified plan  HQ needs to address cost sharing policy

BUILDING STRONG ® Systematic Formulation and Plan Selection Options Formulate small plan that makes sense  Add justified increments If Sponsor constraint: Stop.  Select LPP  NED / NER / Combined Plan If no Sponsor constraint: Maximize net benefits.  Select NED / NER / Combined Plan If NED / NER / Combined Plan does not meet objectives: Add Unjustified Increments.  Select LPP > NED / NER / Combined Plan

BUILDING STRONG ® Agency Decision Making: Who Selects the Recommended Plan?  District Project Delivery Team (PDT) selects with input.  Chain-of-command decision-makers (Vertical PDT) may agree or disagree.  MSC Commander approves CAP projects.  Decision is ultimately made by the Congress via authorization and appropriation.

BUILDING STRONG ® Cleveland Harbor - Which Plan Was Selected?

BUILDING STRONG ® Summary The following plans can be recommended:  National Economic Development Plan (NED)  National Ecosystem Restoration Plan (NER)  Combined NED / NER Plan (Combined)  Locally Preferred Plans (LPP) ► LPP < NED / NER / Combined Plan ► LPP > NED / NER / Combined Plan ► 1% Flood Protection