Final answer:
The staff is focusing on economic analysis that includes assessing the environmental impact of operations or policy decisions. They evaluate the benefits, costs, and marginal external costs of actions, often documented in environmental impact statements, to balance economic development with environmental protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When staff are describing the environmental effects on operations, they are focusing on a form of economic analysis that considers environmental impact in relation to policy and operational decisions. This analysis often encompasses assessing the benefits and costs of environmental protection, the effects of activities like ecotourism, and the use of marginal analysis to determine the marginal costs and marginal benefits of actions such as reducing pollution. Moreover, environmental analysis is vital when considering large projects, like pipeline construction, as it involves evaluating potential short-term and long-term effects on ecosystems and global climate change, as well as fiscal implications for the involved stakeholders.
For instance, in the discussion of policy decision-making regarding economic growth and a pipeline project, an economist would examine both the marginal benefits and potential marginal external costs. These typically are detailed in environmental impact statements, used to inform decisions and ensure that areas like environmentally fragile zones and aquifers are protected or avoided to prevent harm to "most resources", as described in assessments such as those by the Nebraska Department of State.