The economic damages component of the natural resource damage assessment model system

This paper discusses the economic damages submodel of the natural resource damage assessment model for coastal and marine environments (NRDAM/CME). The economic damages submodel uses the output of the biological effects submodel and information provided by the user to measure damages, which are defined as the in-situ lost use value of the injuries to the specific categories of publicly controlled natural resources included in the model. Damages are measured for injuries to (1) lower trophic biota, (2) commercial and recreational fisheries, (3) waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds, (4) marine mammals (fur seals) and (5) public beaches. The measurement of damages includes those resulting from short-term, long-term, direct and indirect injuries to natural resources. The paper develops the concepts underlying the measurement of damages and explains the data sources and methodology used to implement the economics submodel. Example applications of use of the economics component to generate pollution damage functions are presented in a companion paper in this issue.