Integrated Planning: What Are the Right Economic Questions To Ask and How Do We Get the Answers

EPA’s official statements about Integrated Planning make reference to a number of economic concepts and criteria. Often these references appear in the context of language about broader principles and program elements. A better understanding of certain economic considerations can help clean water agencies develop integrated plans that are more effective and affordable. Five key terms frequently used by EPA have important economic implications that usually are not fully understood or appreciated.Among the key words and phrases that appear in EPA’s Integrated Planning Framework and memos, “cost-effective” and “sustainable” are two terms frequently used to broadly characterize the anticipated benefits of an Integrated Planning Approach; “financial capability” and “affordability” focus on community resources for making infrastructure investments and the impacts on community residents; and “priorities” is a term that ties economics to the role of stakeholders in establishing value and the importance of choices and consequences.