An Introduction to Environmental Management

for incoming graduatesSimon Bell

Senior HS&E Adviser – South and West Region

Environment and Sustainability

• Why environmental management and sustainability is important

• How we do it

• Key areas of concern and potential pitfalls

Question:Why do you think Environmental Management is important to a business like ours?

Environmental Management – WHYDirect and Indirect Drivers/Benefits

• LEGAL

• Regulatory framework and enforcement

• MORAL

• Protect and enhancing economic value

• Human health and wellbeing

• FINANCIAL

• Reduce unnecessary use of resources

• Ensure programme progression

Perception

LEGAL

EUROPEAN Directives – Binding on member states – generally require adoption into a country’s legislatione.g.• EIA Directive• Freedom of access to information directive• Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive• Habitats Directive• Water Framework Directive• Waste Framework Directive• Landfill Directive• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

LEGAL Continued

UK LegislationWildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Environmental Protection Act 1990 Town and County Planning Act 1990Water Resources Act 1991Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Area) Act 1990

The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001

LEGAL Enforcement and Advisory Services

Local Authorities

MORAL

Minimise the impact on the surrounding environment

MORALAround half of non-renewable resources that humans consume are used in construction

MORALClimate Change Impact

Delivering carbon reductions through a long-term strategy

MORALImprove Biodiversity

MORALAdd value and develop good relationships with local communities being a “good neighbour”

Working with Business in the Community to improve our Corporate Responsibility

MORAL

Happy Workforce, Happy Clients, Happy Customers

Looking after people and planet whilst also delivering profits“People, Planet, Profit”

Financial

•Programme progression• Many Environmental aspects require significant work during the

planning stage of a project. If these are not completed in a timely fashion then construction work is likely to be delayed. This can be very costly

For Example: Watercourse Crossings on a recently delivered major strategic water main project. (CONTENT REMOVED FROM PRESENTATION FOR SECURITY)

Financial•Resources and Efficiency

• Some materials have a limited shelf life• Over ordering leads to additional wastage, costing both at the ordering

and disposal stage. Poor planning can lead to unnecessary costs• BREEAM In-Use Assessments – More sustainable workplaces

Financial

•Opportunities• A company with a good environmental track record is more attractive

to potential Clients.• New materials, technologies, and working practices are likely to be

more efficient and therefore offer a cost saving.

•Direct Financial Implications• Fines • Remediation

Other General Drivers

• Client Relations• Public Relations• Positive Press

All relating to the company brand and how we are viewed in both the business sector and the communities that we work.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AT OUR COMPANY

IMS

OHSAS 18001

ISO 14001

ISO 9001

Integrated Management System –

Policy

Planning

Implementation and Operation

Monitor

Review

Continual Improvement

Environmental Support

Central Team:

Function: Governance, Direction, Sustainability

Contract Support: Environmental Advisers working in the regional HS+E teams under the regional directors.

Function: Advise, Monitor, Investigate, Enforce

Key Areas – a flavour of issues on site

• Archaeology

• Trees and Vegetation

• Ecology

• Protected Sites

• Water Management

• Fuel

• Waste

Archaeology• Desk based study• Watching Brief or Strip, Map, and Sample• E.g. HS2 due to be largest archaeological dig

ever in UK

• Treasure finds must be reported to the District Coroner (police in Scotland)• objects other than coins that are at least 10% gold or silver and are

over 300 years old

• coins from the same find that are at least 300 years old

• any other object found in the same place as another object that is treasure

• If human remains are discovered work must not continue without a licence granted by the relevant Secretary of State

Trees and Vegetation

• Root Protection areas• TPOs• Conservation Areas• Hedgerows• Ecological/designation

constraints

Ecology - Birds

It is an offense to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird. Also, to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst it is in use or being built.Fine: £5000 per egg – Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Ecology - Badgers

Badgers are protected and so are the setts (burrows) they live in. It is an offence to: Willfully kill, injure or take a badger (or attempt to do so).If disturbing a sett is unavoidable a License must be obtained from Natural England. This is a lengthy and potentially costly process.Enforcement: For a summary offence in the magistrates court: 6 months in prison and an “unlimited” fine

Ecology – European Protected Species Some Species are specifically protected due to their rarity across Europe.

The Great Crested Newt is relatively common in southern England • Needs suitable ponds to breed• Can travel up to 500m from pond to pond

Ecology – European Protected Species So if pond within 500m of project:

1. Habitat suitability study – Index style output indicating likelihood of presence

2. If high likelihood – Surveying (torch, pitfall, bottle traps, netting etc…). Minimum of 6 visits, some night time. Must be carried out by an ecologist licenced to work with Great Crested Newts.

3. Surveys can only be carried out during active season March-July (ish).4. Put together method statement and submit application with survey data

to Natural England.5. Common method – “Sterilise” works area by erecting exclusion fencing

and then trapping out the works area. Usually 60 day trapping period.6. Maintain and inspect fencing throughout works.

Ecology – European Protected Species

Ecology – European Protected Species

Ecology – European Protected Species

Protected Sites• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)• National Parks• Special Areas of Conservation (European level designation)• Local Nature Reserves• Area’s of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)• Special Protection AreasMay require special permissions to work in these areas.Time implications – Submit method statements with applicationsRegulator: Usually Natural England• Crown Estate• MoD• Conservation Areas

Protected SitesTo give you an idea of the extent of this constraint this is a summary of protected sites directly affecting one of our major clients (SEW):

• 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), • One National Nature Reserve • Two Local Nature Reserves. • 34% of supply area lies within various Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 10% of supply area is within the new South Downs National Park• Numerous Conservation Areas

Water ManagementRIVERS AND STREAMS

Works within 8m of a main river fall under the Environmental Permitting Regulations.• Works may qualify for a notifiable exemption• Or they may require a bespoke permit – up to 12 weeks application time.

Applications must be made well in advance of construction to the Environment Agency or to Local Authority.

Crossings might be open cut or trenchless e.g.(CONTENT REMOVED FROM PRESENTATION)

Example of trenchless methodology

Water ManagementWaste Water

• Groundwater in excavations• Surface run-off• Water from burst mains• Water from pressure testing/chlorination (new water mains)• Water associated with construction activities

Water Management

Relevant Legislation: Water Resources Act Section 163http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/57/section/163

Factors to considerWhere does the water go?

• Into a watercourse • Down a drain (into a watercourse)• Onto land (into a watercourse)

What damage can it do?• Contamination with chemicals e.g chlorine• Contamination with silt - “coating” of flora and fauna restricting oxygen

transfer, essentially suffocating the watercourse

Water ManagementWaste WaterSilt Control: Dechlorination: Trade Effluent:

Fuel• Fuel represents a major pollution risk.• A very small amount of fuel will contaminate a very large area of water• Fuel will also penetrate hydrocarbon based materials • Remediation can be extremely costly• Fuel is expensive both in £££ and associated carbon cost

Fuel

“Any substance or object which the owner discards, intends to discard or is required to discard” – EA Waste Framework Directive

Waste or Resource?

Waste

Waste

Waste• A “Duty of Care” follows waste from the moment of production to final destination

– importer, producer or carrier of controlled waste– person who keeps, treats or disposes of controlled waste

(a Waste Manager – such as a landfill operator)– broker who has control of waste (intermediate point such as a Transfer Station)– Duty of care is tracked by Waste Transfer Notes

Producer

Carrier

Disposer

Waste Disposal Site

Waste

Disposal OptionsWe can only dispose of waste at an appropriately licensed site.

• Landfill (most expensive)• Transfer Station• Recycling Facility• Exempt site (cheapest)

Before we use any of the above options we have to check their what wastes they are allowed to accept. This will be detailed on the environmental permit for the specific site

Waste

Waste falls into three categories:• Inert waste is waste which is neither chemically or biologically reactive and

will not decompose.• We are often able to send this to transfer stations who might use the waste

to make a new product, or use it for groundworks.

Waste

Non-Hazardous Waste contains some material that is reactive or may break down over time.

Inert processing centres/landfill sites like the one discussed on the previous slide cannot accept these waste streams therefore disposal options are more limited and more costly.

Examples:Wood, Glass, Plastic, bituminous materials not containing coal tar.

The above are ALL recyclable. Segregation is well worthwhile.

WasteHazardous waste includes:

• Asbestos• Solvents• Paints• Contaminated ground

Most expensive by far to dispose of and most highly controlled.Some waste streams have specific legislation covering their storage and disposal e.g. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012Encourage treatment and if possible, avoidance of production by designing out.

Waste

Requires forward planning of waste• How can we best maximise segregation?• Can we plan for on site re-use/ recycling?• Can we make use of off-site recycling facilities and transfer stations (tax

exempt)

Case ExampleThe Client has asked us to design and build 6km of large diameter strategic water main connecting two covered reservoirs through a forest.• The Forest is a Special Area of Conservation, and SSSI, and contains a scheduled

ancient monument.

• Part of the scheme is on land owned by the Crown Estate, part on land owned by the MoD

• Areas of the forest are known to be home to the ground nesting protected “Dartford Warbler”

• Areas of the forest are suspected to have high populations of Great Crested Newts

• Due to the diameter of the main the pipe will be installed using open cut methodology, and will require a full width easement for the entire length.

• The forest is popular with cyclists, dog walkers and other general recreational activities.

Discuss

Summary

Environmental Management affects all areas of our business:• Project concept and scope

• Environmental constraints could be prohibitive to a project going ahead at all

• Project Design• Route selection, construction methodology, material selection

• Construction phase• Pollution prevention, client relations, energy, regulator involvement, waste

management

• Operational Phase• Design and operating parameters

• End of Life• Disposal