4.1 This classification identifies and hierarchically arranges the work elements, activities, and tasks required for environmental projects. This classification increases the level of communication and allows for more effective exchange of cost and performance data between environmental projects.

4.2 This classification defines environmental work elements as major components of environmental projects. It is the common thread linking activities and participants in an environmental project from initial planning through operations and maintenance, D&D, and SLTM.

4.3 The users of ECES include program and project managers, cost estimators, and cost analysts in both the public and private sector.

4.4 This classification uses an increased level of standardization, uniformity, and consistency that provides a common basis for comparing, analyzing, and calibrating cost data. This classification can also be used as a checklist of project activities to be completed.

4.5 Use this classification when:

4.5.1 Developing a company-specific Code of Accounts (COAs) for capturing and reporting cost early in the project development for more effective project controls and management. COA is a logical breakdown of a project into controllable elements for the purpose of cost collection, control, and reporting. COA is organized at lower detailed levels that summarize to higher levels and is company or site, or both, and project-specific.

4.5.2 Developing a work breakdown structure (WBS) early in the project development for proper management of the project. The WBS provides a framework for managing the cost, schedule, and performance objectives of a project. This framework allows the project to be separated into logical components and makes the relationship of the components clear. The WBS defines the project in terms of hierarchically related action and product-oriented elements. Each element provides logical summary points for assessing technical accomplishments and for measuring cost and schedule performance.

4.5.3 Supporting programs and project functions. Use ECES for bid solicitation, collection, and evaluation; communicating project data between installations or agencies and industry; cost and schedule estimating; historical cost and schedule data collection; historical project data collection for technology deployments and project conditions; validating and calibrating cost estimates and software tools; and establishing and disseminating best practices and lessons learned.

4.6 The hierarchical nature of the classification allows for collecting data using more detailed lower level elements or for summarizing data at higher levels.

4.7 ECES, as described in this classification, is being included in the Remedial Action Cost Estimating Requirement (RACER)6 system and the Environmental Cost Analysis System (ECAS).7 RACER is used for estimating cost and ECAS is used to collect, maintain, and analyze the cost of completed projects. Federal agencies performing environmental work intend to incorporate the ECES.

1.1 This standard establishes a classification of the comprehensive hierarchical list of elements for life-cycle environmental work. The classification is based on the Interagency Environmental Cost Element Structure (ECES).2 Elements, as defined here, are major components common to environmental projects.3 The elements represent the life-cycle activities for environmental projects regardless of the project design specification, construction method, technology type, or materials used. The classification serves as a consistent reference for cost estimating, analysis, and monitoring during the various phases of the project life cycle. Using ECES ensures consistency, over time and from project to project, in the cost management and performance measurement of environmental projects. It also enhances reporting at all phases of a project, from assessment and studies through design, construction, operations and maintenance (O&M), and surveillance and long-term monitoring (SLTM).

1.2 This classification applies to all environmental work, including environmental restoration, waste management, decontamination and decommissioning (D&D), surveillance and long-term monitoring, and technology development.

1.3 The use of this classification increases the level of standardization, uniformity, and consistency of collected environmental project costs. Such uniformity and standardization allows for ease of understanding project costs, provides a common “cost language” for sharing and comparing cost information, and allows for easier analysis and calibration of cost data. This standard classification can be used as a checklist of activities to be completed in environmental projects.

1.4 Guide E2637 is intended to facilitate the application of the ECES to any environmental remediation project, without regard to project size.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.