Impact Mitigation in Western Energy Boomtowns

Abstract

The planning process for assessing socio-economic and environmental impacts in western boom towns and suggesting mitigation approaches is a multi-step process that begins with the collection of data on the nature and timing of these impacts. Following a discussion of three classes of impact projection models (input-output, economic base, or econometric submodels), the author discusses some of the social problems and disruptions which are difficult to quantify in a model. Later sections discuss how costs enter into decisions on the size of the mitigation effort, the need for front-end financing at the local level and for jurisdictional understanding, and the opportunities for avoiding impacts. The author sees a need for new financial innovations in mitigation and a greater emphasis on prevention. 21 references.