BUILDING STRONG
®
US Army Corps of Engineers
BUILDING STRONG
®
BASIC AND OVERALL PROJECT PURPOSE
Fall 2006 Consultant Workshop
DRAFT
BUILDING STRONG
®
OBJECTIVES
Identify and define purpose and need for projects
Identify the difference between basic and overall purpose
Avoid purpose that’s too narrow or too broad
Identify when the Corps should question project need
DRAFT
BUILDING STRONG
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Purpose and Need Statement
Purpose
► What are you trying to
accomplish
► Required by 404(b)(1)
Guidelines
► Objective
Need
► What should be done
to address a problem
► Required by Corps
public interest review
(33 CFR 320.4)
► Subjective
Both are required to be addressed by NEPA
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Basic Project Purpose
Fundamental purpose of proposed project
Determines “Water Dependency”
►Water Dependency – Project/Activity HAS to be
located in/on a special aquatic site
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Basic Project Purpose
Example of water dependent projects
► Docks
Examples of NON water dependent
projects
► Residential housing developments
► Commercial developments
► Roads
► 99.9999999% of projects
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Basic Project Purpose - Examples
to provide housing
to provide sufficient water supply
to increase the capacity of the school system
to provide/improve transportation efficiency
The USACE has determined that the basic
purpose of the proposed project is to provide a
residential development
.
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Overall Project Purpose
More specific – defines applicant’s NEED
► Geographical location
► Type of project
Used for evaluating practicable alternatives
Should be concisely stated
Determined by Corps from applicant’s
perspective
Subject to review/revision during permit process
Must not be too restrictive or too broad
DRAFT
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Intersection of I-95 and I-16
Too Specific!
PERMITTED
PERMITTED
PERMITTED
50 –acre site
available
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BUILDING STRONG
®
Overall Project Purpose - Example
The USACE has determined that the overall project
purpose is the construction of a biomass fired power plant
to produce 100 MW of electricity, necessary to meet 30-
year contracts with four electric cooperatives located in
southwest Georgia, southeast Alabama and the panhandle
of Florida.
DRAFT
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Overall Project Purpose - Example
The USACE has determined that the overall project
purpose is to provide a mixed use commercial development
to serve the residents in a developing area of Brunswick,
Glynn County, Georgia. This overall project purpose
serves to limit the geographic area for potential off-site
alternatives to a specific area of Glynn County.
DRAFT
BUILDING STRONG
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CLOSING COMMENTS
Develop your definition of overall project purpose after
considering the type of project and a reasonable
geographic area making sure not to define it to narrowly
or broadly
Get the information you need to conduct a professional
evaluation.
DRAFT
