Steps c and d 



41. Development of a project from the point of problem identification 

 through construction and performance evaluation involves consideration of five 

 general issues: 



a. Technical feasibility. 



b. Economic justification. 



c. Political feasibility. 



d. Social acceptability. 



e. Legal permissibility. 



Technical feasibility concerns the magnitude of the wave, current, and 

 sediment transport processes at the site; availability of construction 

 materials; potential constraints on project design because of external 

 factors; limitations on access to the site; and experience and knowledge of 

 the staff. Economic feasibility concerns the potential benefits of the 

 project and is usually the major justification of a project. Funding for 

 project planning and design staff, construction, maintenance, and monitoring 

 also enter into the economic justification. Economic justification, political 

 feasibility, social acceptability, and legal permissibility are closely 

 related, since local, state, and Federal governments are usually partners in 

 the funding and permitting of a project. 



42. Evaluation of alternatives involves simultaneous assessments of 

 technical and economic feasibility to arrive at a cost-beneficial design. 

 During the detailed investigation of alternatives and use of the data base 

 developed at Step b, it may become apparent that the original problem state- 

 ment and judgment criteria for the project need to be refined. For example, 

 project planning may be initiated to satisfy a local need, but later evolve to 

 consider the primary (site -specific) problem and associated secondary effects 

 on a regional scale. 



Step e 



43. Once the best alternative is selected, it is necessary to optimize 

 the design so that the greatest benefit is obtained for the least cost. As an 

 example, consider a hypothetical shore-protection project at a state park 

 which has a beach that is used only lightly for bathing but attracts many 

 beach walkers and campers. Alternatives identified at Step c are beach fill, 



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