The Engineer Circular (EC), Review of Decision Documents, EC 1165-2-214, dated 15 December 2012, which establishes an accountable, comprehensive, life-cycle review strategy for Civil Works products by providing a seamless process for review of all Civil Works projects from initial planning through design, construction, and operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and rehabilitation (OMRR&R). This guidance establishes enhanced procedures to ensure the quality and credibility of USACE decision documents by adjusting and supplementing the review process, and requiring that studies have a Review Plan. The requirement applies to all feasibility studies and any other reports that lead to decision documents that require a report of the Chief of Engineers, authorization by Congress, or require an Environmental Impact Statement to be prepared. The EC addresses review requirements associated with District Quality Control, Agency Technical Review (formerly Independent Technical Review), and Independent External Peer Review (the most independent level of review which is applied in cases that meet certain criteria where the risk and magnitude of a proposed project are such that a critical examination by a qualified team outside of the USACE is warranted).

At the initiation of each study for which the EC applies, a Review Plan is developed in consultation with the applicable USACE National Planning Center(s) of Expertise. In order to ensure the Review Plan is in compliance with the principles of EC 1105-2-410 and the SPD Planning Quality Management Plan requirements, the Review Plan is then reviewed and approved by the applicable Major Subordinate Command, which in the case of Sacramento District studies is the Commander, South Pacific Division (SPD). Once a Review Plan is approved, the Sacramento District posts the Review Plan to this website so it is accessible by the public. Review Plans are updated as necessary to address changes during the study.

The public may comment on the adequacy of a Review Plan for consideration by the USACE. Contact information can be found in each Review Plan.