ABSTRACT
The study of institutions plays a two-fold role in the conduct of integrated impact assessment. First, institutions may be deeply involved in the initiation of a project or technology, that is, they may influence the course of its development. Second, they may be impacted by the project or technology. The chapter focuses on the first role of institutions. It offers both a brief summary of the theoretical background, and a concrete approach to analysis of the role of institutions in impact assessment. The Binghamton Wastewater Management Study conducted by the Baltimore District, Army Corps of Engineers presents an example of a workable institutional approach, intertwined with the economic and social impact analyses. The importance of such an institutional analysis is that it aids in the identification of governmental and private entities that can carry out various technical elements of a plan, and thus it strengthens both the plan and its implementation.
