28 THE: A'U DUB ON B Ubersite 
intensive 1969 project revisions, 
the Corps claims that the old 1962 
authorization is still in effect. In 
this way the Corps is able to use 
the outdated rate, and they figure 
the revised project has a benefit- 
cost’ ratio of 1.3, or an average 
benefit of $13 for each $10 of es- 
timated costs. However, if the new 
rate is used, the project has a bene- 
fit-cost ratio of about 1.1. And if 
the actual rate on government bor- 
rowing, which approaches 5 3/4 
per cent, is used, the project goes 
in the red. 
(4) The Corps outstripped its 
initial authorization. The Corps 
moved ahead—without additional 
authorization or public hearings— 
on the revised Oakley project. 
(These revisions required the pur- 
chase of 24,000 acres of land in- 
stead of the original 6,200 acres 
and an expenditure of $75 million 
instead of the original $29 million.) 
The Committee on Allerton re- 
peatedly sought hearings on the re- 
vised project. But the Corps did 
not regard these changes as ma- 
jor, explaining that, “such ad- 
vanced engineering and design al- 
most always involves some refine- 
ments of the project.” 
The Committee on Allerton 
threatened the Corps with legal 
action if it would not make public 
the Army’s regulations on public 
hearings. The Committee’s lawyer 
contended these regulations are in- 
formation in the public domain. 
After a year of requests on hear- 
ings, the regulations on how to 
apply for a hearing were finally 
released. A local governing body 
had to make the official request 
(one county and one city council 
then made such a request), and 
within three months hearings | 
held on 14 technical alternatiy 
the original project. 
The Corps Retreats 
For two years the Committe 
Allerton has continued to ¢ 
the Corps’ data. The Commit 
engineers, lawyers, and ecor 
ists have scored against their C 
counterparts repeatedly. The C 
replaced three of its top peop! 
an effort to meet this unusual « 
lenge. But after two years of 
ing severely drubbed on al 
plans, the Corps turned the p 
lem over to the State of Illi 
The state waterways engir 
proposed a Waterway Altern: 
that was agreed to in May 196 
the City of Decatur, the Boar 
Trustees of the University of 
nois, and the State of Illinois. 
Key conservation victories ir 
Waterways Alternative are: 
(1) Allerton Park is prote 
from permanent flooding by ¢ 
turn to the originally proposed 
foot conservation pool and by 
development of a major sto 
capability on a nearby tributai 
the Sangamon. During perioc 
flood, the discharge rate from 
reservoir is to be adjusted t 
tain, as nearly as possible, the 
tural seasonal flooding condi 
in the park. 
(2) Decatur is denied the u: 
the Sangamon River for se 
dilution, which means the 
must turn to advanced se 
treatment. 
(3) A 22,500-acre_ recreati 
greenbelt is to be developed a 
the lower Sangamon River in 
of the much more expensive 
severely destructive prop 
channel improvement. 
