EPR Projects

Projects for Economic Analysis
Statewide Economic Benefits Assessment, Various Renewable Electricity Transmission Lines, Northwestern Energy, Inc., Montana A number of transmission line and wind energy projects are currently proposed for Montana. Developed economic benefits assessments for the Montana Renewables Collector System lines, the Mountain States Transmission Intertie, and Colstrip Upgrades. Researched and developed profiles for each project for project purchases and labor, and used statewide version of IMPLAN®, model to estimate impacts. Important to the impact assessment was appropriate “sectoring” of project demands for labor and by industrial sector for suppliers. Back to the project list.
Socioeconomic Impacts and Planning Studies, Relocating Marines from Okinawa, Visiting Aircraft Carrier Berthing, and Army Air Missile Defense Task Force, Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Military Relocation, U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) The DoD, pursuant to agreements between the governments of Japan and the U.S., is planning to relocate military base and related operations from Okinawa, which would greatly impact the economies and societies of the receiving islands, including by far their largest construction capital investments ever and preliminarily, an overall long-term population impact of up to about 30 percent. Conducting baseline and impact studies to estimate the impacts and implications for land use, infrastructure (ports, roads, water and sewer, power, schools, social infrastructure), and fiscal conditions for the receiving governments. Back to the project list.
Socioeconomic Impact Analysis, Synthetic Fuel Facility, International Coal Refining Company, Owensboro, Kentucky Project manager for major study of the local and regional economic and population impacts for a proposed coal-to-liquid fuel plant with planned work force of approximately 1,500. Also oversaw production of econometric model to assess impact on six counties in the project region. Back to the project list.
Economic Forecasts, EPA Region 10 Developed economic forecasting models for all four states in EPA Region 10 (Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho). Forecasted 20-year-ahead employment, State Gross Product, and income for all four states. The models utilized a variety of techniques, including input-output, base-nonbase, and econometrics. Back to the project list.
Socioeconomic Analysis, Jackrabbit Transmission Line, Montana , for Northwest Energy, Inc. As subcontractor to Power Engineers, conducted economic, population, demographic, and public services/facilities analyses for 30-mile 161 kV transmission line near Bozeman, MT, traversing 4 counties. Conducted economic evaluations using IMPLAN. Back to the project list.
VISION 2020 Regional Plan and SEPA EIS, Puget Sound Council of Governments As Principal Investigator, developed large fiscal and demographic database and econometric model to evaluate the economic/fiscal impacts of five Plan alternatives on public service costs (including environmental, land, water, and infrastructure programs) for 80 jurisdictions in the Seattle region. Evaluated various states' revenue sharing programs. Assessed capacity of the region's infrastructure to accommodate population and employment growth under each alternative, and evaluated PSCOG's forecasting models. The reports were praised by PSCOG Project Manager as the best of the approximately 20 subcontractors for this major, standard-setting regional plan. Results also reported in Rao and Clark (see publications list). Back to the project list.
National and Regional Physical Development Plan for Qatar Deputy Project Manager for a $3.5 million comprehensive 25-year development plan for world's richest (per capita) country, covering ground-up analysis and policy development for environmental protection, land use, urban hierarchy, infrastructure, institutional effectiveness, housing, transportation, social and cultural resources, and economic development. Developed the first-ever economic and population forecasting and policy impact analysis model ("QAPSIM") for Qatar. Authored Future Development Requirements, Major New Development Impacts, and the (exhaustive) National and Regional Strategic Plan Alternatives Reports. Conducted multi-attribute goals/objectives, fiscal, full-cost, and economic cost-benefit analyses for alternative and proposed programs and policies. Contributed to local community land use plans as member of multidisciplinary team of planners, architects, engineers, and GIS specialists. Conducted workshops for government officials and advisory committees, including Supreme Council staff in hands-on workshops at the Emiri Diwan (Emir's Palace). This is the world's first national plan to be conducted entirely using a Geographic Information System, integrated with socioeconomic and transportation models. Back to the project list.
Management Effectiveness Studies, Oregon State Department of Transportation Conducted survey, econometric, and other analyses addressing seven state transportation departments for comparison to Oregons state program, as part of a broad management consulting project for the Department Back to the project list.
Basalt Waste Isolation Project Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations, U.S. Department of Energy Task manager for Socioeconomic and Fiscal Analysis Studies for USDOE's proposed alternative nuclear waste repository for Hanford, WA, incorporating numerous policy alternatives. Managed socioeconomic and fiscal characteristic profiles and impact monitoring system design. In collaboration with Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), developed state-of-the-practice economic and demographic forecasting and impact assessment model for Tri-Cities and Washington state (later modified to incorporate Oregon and Puget Sound as well). Back to the project list.
Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations, U.S. Department of Energy Task manager for Socioeconomic studies for USDOE's proposed nuclear waste repository for the Las Vegas, NV region., incorporating numerous policy alternatives. In collaboration with REMI, developed state-of-the-practice economic and demographic forecasting and impact assessment model for Clark County, proximate counties, southern and northern Nevada, and the state as a whole. Successfully performed analyses/modeling under Congressional mandate, extremely tight time frame and budget. Back to the project list.
Development Impact Analysis, Kennecott, Salt Lake City Projected local and regional water supply and demand in Salt Lake City, Utah, to evaluate economic costs and effect on economic development of potential major loss of water supply due to mine leaches. Estimated social costs should the water resource be lost. Managed development of groundwater pollution monitoring and mitigation program. Back to the project list.
Economic Impacts, Proposed Electricity Rate Increases, Upper Midwest States Conducted input-output analyses and special industry pricing studies for a project to evaluate the impact of electricity rate increases that would result from regulations requiring major new expenditures in pollution abatement equipment, for a consortium of electric utilities in the upper Midwest. Back to the project list.
Socioeconomic Impacts, Nuclear Plant Decommissioning, USDOE, Hanford, WA Conducted detailed evaluations of the population, economic and public facilities impacts of the proposed decommissioning of a nuclear power plant a the Hanford Reservation, WA. Managed development of an integrated economic/demographic model and its use for the project. Back to the project list.
Market Feasibility, Winslow Village Shopping Mall, Bainbridge Island, WA Evaluated retail expenditure patterns by zip code for the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island to predict the market feasibility of a mid-sized shopping mall. Back to the project list.
Market Feasibility and Competitive Position Analysis, Veazey Quarry, Enumclaw, WA Projected supply and demand for quarry rock in the Puget Sound region, and evaluated competitive strengths and weaknesses of potential competitors for this large proposed rock quarry. Back to Project List
Feasibility Study, Expansion of Legal Practice, Pacific Northwest For multioffice legal firm, projected future economies and economic interaction for six cities in the Pacific Northwest. Back to the project list.
Managers Handbook, Measuring the Economic Benefits of Improvements in Water Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Edited and added many sections to handbook on quantifying the economic benefit of water quality protection programs. Back to the project list.
Fiscal Analysis, Auburn Supermall, WA Conducted projection of revenues for local taxing jurisdictions that would accrue due to construction and operation of the Supermall. Back to the project list.
Impacts on the Washington State Economy from Alternative State Tax Reform Measures With REMI model, and Washington State Revenue Model, evaluated the impacts of three alternative tax reform policies on the State economy. The alternatives included one which would shift the direct tax burden toward businessess and away from households, one which would increase the direct taxes on households while reducing those on businesses, and a mid-range alternative. Presented results to the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel on Tax Reform and the Washington Association of Businesses. Results were published in Pacific Northwest Executive Magazine (see Publications List on the main page). Back to the project list.
Economic Benefits Assessment, Expansion of Sheraton Poipu Resort, Kauaâi, Hawaii Assessed direct employment, population and tax payments to Kauaâi and the State. Using State Input-output model, developed full estimates of indirect impacts, including those arising from spending by both timeshare (382 new units) and hotel (18 new units) occupants at the proposed resort expansion. Back to the project list.
Incorporation Feasibility Study, Evergreen, CO Managed study of the fiscal feasibility of incorporation for a large mountain community (Evergreen). In order to provide a basis for the analysis, used three scenarios involving geographic and population size. Surveyed other regional cities to develop comparable public service standards and mechanisms for police, fire, general government, and other public services. Estimated receipts from reasonable sales tax rates and other revenue sources, using property tax rates as residuals to equate total revenues and costs for each scenario, involving projected city population size, geography, assessed valuation, and service level. Back to the project list.