Environmental Cost Estimating Tools

Guide to Developing & Documenting Remedial Alternative Cost Estimates During the Feasibility Study (2000) – Updates and clarifies previous EPA guidance for developing and documenting complete and accurate remedial alternative cost estimates during the feasibility study.

Environmental Cost Element Structure (ECES) – A standardized, comprehensive, hierarchical list of elements that might be required to accomplish environmental projects. ECES is comprised of activities conducted throughout the life-cycle of a project or program and the essential parameters that impact project cost and schedule. It includes new and baseline technologies, environmental restoration, waste management, decontamination and decommissioning (D&D), long-term stewardship, and other tasks.

Historical Cost Analysis System (HCAS) – A PC-based stand-alone system which is used to collect and store historical cost data for hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste (HTRW) remedial action projects. Project costs are stored in the program using the Remedial Action Work Breakdown Structure (RAWBS).

Remedial Action Cost Engineering Requirements (RACER) System – A PC-based tool for preparing cost estimates for environmental remediation, which provides location-specific estimates based on annually updated multi-agency pricing data and is suited for estimating full life-cycle costs for CERCLA and RCRA hazardous wastes, petroleum releases, and radioactive facility decontamination and decommissioning.

Extensible Markup Language (XML) Standards – A platform that bridges systems by allowing for developing models independent of the systems. XML consists of three components: parametric cost model standard practice; an electronic standard for data definition, transmission, and application; and a cost model library, repository, and network that can be either centralized, or decentralized and distributed.

Cost Risk – A risk analysis program applied to determine the amount of contingency needed to provide a certain level of confidence in an overall estimate.

Micro-Computer Aided Cost Estimating System (MCACES/M2)– A multi-user software program used to prepare detailed construction cost estimates for military, civil works, and environmental projects.

HTRW Area Cost Factors – Development of dimensionless numbers representing relative costs for hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste (HTRW) remediation work in order to adjust cost data from one location to another at 29 locations across the country.

Decontamination & Decommissioning (D&D) Models –Cost models developed by DOE for sampling and analysis, surface decontamination, site characterization, final site survey, and segmenting and dismantling of structures in the remediation of fixed nuclear facilities; six additional models in development (as of mid-2003).

Munitions Response Modules – A proposed mapping between RACER technologies and integrated CERCLA phases for unexploded ordinance (UXO) identification and removal.

Cost-To-Complete System – A planning, programming, and budgeting system that supports the estimation and development of credible budgetary requirements and financial statement liabilities for the Navy's environmental restoration program.