10.2190/3XT4-YP5F-E1R7-LJFU 3XT4YP5FE1R7LJFU 1 Quantitative Assessment of Environmental Impact 247 256 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 3XT4YP5FE1R7LJFU.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=3XT4YP5FE1R7LJFU 4 Bruno Loran Systems Division, The Ralph M. Parsons Company, Pasadena, California The history of environmental impact and the current requirements, guidelines, and coverage of environmental impact statements are briefly reviewed. A procedure for the assessment of environmental impact is presented, of the following design. The individual components of the environment induced by a proposed action and of the natural environment of the project area are listed, and each impact generated by their interaction is assigned value ratings. The ratings are assembled in an impact-incidence matrix, which is then reordered using a data analysis technique, the bond energy algorithm. The new matrix obtained displays interrelated clusters of high-valued ratings, corresponding to critical environmental areas. The impacts comprising each area are grouped according to similarity of action and effect, and their association may suggest environmental alternatives. The environmental impact from the construction of an additional wastewater treatment plant in a resort area is assessed to illustrate the effectiveness of the procedure. F. R. Anderson and R. H. Daniels, "<i>NEPA in the Courts</i>," Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Md., 1973. Council on Environmental Quality, "Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements: Guidelines," <i>Federal Register, 38</i>:147, pp. 20550-20562, August 1, 1973. U. S. Water Resources Council, "1972 OBERS Projections, Economic Activity in the U. S. by Economic Areas, Water Resources Regions and Subareas, and State, Historical and Projected, 1929-2020," <i>1-5</i>, Washington, D. C., 1972. R. P. Mark and S. Myers, "Outdoor Recreation," in "Measuring Benefits of Government Investments," R. Dorfman, (ed.), Brookings Institution, Washington, D. C., 1965. L. B. Leopold, F. E. Clarke, B. B. Hanshaw and J. R. Balsley, "A Procedure for Evaluating Environmental Impact," U. S. Geological Survey Circular 645, Washington, D. C., 1971. D. Elliot and D. Picard, "Use of the Impact-Incidence Matrix: Airport Locations as an Example," M. I. T. Department of Civil Engineering Research Report, R70-34, Cambridge, Mass., June 1970. W. T. McCormick, S. B. Deutsch, J. J. Martin and P. J. Schweitzer, "Identification of Data Structures and Relationships by Matrix Reordering Techniques," National Technical Information Service Report No. AD-754012, Springfield, Va., 1973. R. DeNeufville and J. H. Stafford, "<i>Systems Analysis for Engineers and Managers</i>," McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, N. Y., 1971.