Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Policy Pressures On Federal Dam Building Decisions And The Cost Benefit Analysis, Richard Martinez

College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs Presentations

This case study will focus on the economic costs associated with the mandates set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1970. This legislation requires an environmental impact assessment for all new infrastructure projects. The Arrowrock Dam, which was built in 1915 before the NEPA regulations, was an engineering marvel of its time. In 2011 the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) acknowledged that the structure was aging, and published a preliminary evaluation of the dam and recommendations for its future. Since its construction, the Arrowrock dam has undergone various safety and efficiency upgrades. The Corps’ recommendations in …