Travel Definition

Updated 02/28/2008

Travel, for CNMP systems, is the "estimated NRCS time (in hours and partial hours) required to develop a conservation plan for the total system (Steps 1 through 7 of the NRCS Planning Process) that includes all practices necessary for the system."

The "steps of the planning Process" are important. "Planning" includes the first 7 steps; "implementation of the plan" is the 8th step and is the very step that the individual practice "application" begins. Travel for Planning then only includes what is necessary to get us to and through the 7th step of planning or "Making Decisions" (which includes documenting the decisions in a 'conservation plan'). Travel for the individual practices comes in the 8th step (and begins with design of the practice, etc).

For a CNMP, we are laying out a specific typical plan that includes practices in TACCP. We break the plan and practices into pieces for cost analysis. The task element for travel should be estimated as if you were working on a system and applications, i.e. travel is not figured as a stand alone element for the system or any of the practices. When we develop cost for CNMPs and practices, travel should contain no double counting.

But on other land uses, you are not allowed to change the system level (WLA is frozen), and practices were developed as stand alone applications. We do not intend for those travel times to be changed unless they contain errors or omissions. When we develop cost for systems, it will contain WLA travel (it's frozen). When we add practices, they were developed as stand alone practices and when combined, they may very well double count some travel time.