Cost Benefit Analysis

Modern U.S. Environmental Policy Lesson 2.2 United States Environmental Policy Modern U.S. Environmental Policy National Environmental Policy Act: Requires government agencies and contractors to evaluate the environmental impact of a project; led to the formation of the EPA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Responsible for monitoring, enforcing, and researching environmental quality

Environmental Impact Statement A plan that explains how a proposed action will impact the environment and any alternatives that were considered Example: building a camp ground in the forest Building a dam on a river Putting in a new freeway Building an oil pipeline

Keystone XL Pipeline http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/archive/dos_docs/feis/

Keystone XL environmental impact statement Impact to aquifers Impact to land (agriculture and nature preserves) Impact to people’s property https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/tag/keystone-xl-pipeline/

Cost Benefit analysis https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/39/775.11 Cost benefit analysis is used in the process of writing an environmental impact statement It looks at what is sacrificed and what is gained OR PROs and CONS Costs can be: money and negative impacts to the environment, people, the economy Benefits can be: profit, positive impacts to the environment, people, or the economy

Costs and Benefits of Keystone XL Pipeline Costs Benefits Money to build pipeline more oil for gasoline Pollute groundwater jobs Taking people’s property friendly country to work with Disrupting critical wildlife habitat