technology or special environment protection technology are assessed from the position of preventing possible damage. In the work the damage Is considered by a wide spectrum ofits possible sources In the process of Interaction of new technology and nature: loss of natural resources. Ineffective utilization of natural resources, Impact exerted by unfavourable environment on technology wear-out, decrease of production output and quality. As It Is seen from this enlarged I 1st the damage must be assessed In a complicated "technology-damage-nature-damage-technology" cycle with possible extension of this chain. Difficulties of economic assessment of the damage which can result from new type of technology are conditioned by the fact that besides the Indicated "Internal" chain of Interaction there may exist many "external" chains of Interaction connecting the assessed technology via nature with other types of technology and various production; Moreover, In some branches of these chains the damage can be quite considerable whereas It Is utmostly difficult to track all chains and calculate the total damage. In this respect methodological background of solving this problem presently lags behind the actual requirements of modern stage of S and T progress. At the same time, however, the plans of enterprises annually envisage expenditures on environment protection and rational use of natural ·resources. These data are al"so present In annual statistical reports of Industrial enterprises. Assessment of new technology variants In the field of environment protection from the position of socio-economic efficiency Is done through the comparison of Input variants and social output (result). For example, various projects of purification works for discharge water of Industria~ enterprises are compared by cap Ita I Investment and prIme costs. of purification, I.e. by· reduced costs, output and quality of purification, volume of discharge water and presence of detrimental Impurities. These Indicators exert their Impact on a 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the assessment of new technology variants in the field of environment protection and rational use of natural resources, considering the socio-economic efficiency and the impact of technology on nature. It highlights the difficulties of economic assessment of the damage that can result from new technology and the importance of considering the "technology-damage-nature-damage-technology" cycle. The text also mentions the plans of enterprises to invest in environment protection and rational use of natural resources.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Science and technology