166
H.Grann
15.6
Environmental Management of Construction Activities
In order to meet the stringent German environmental requirements and to ensure a
high level of environmental performance, a comprehensive environmental protection
plan was developed for each of the project planning, construction and operation phases.
This plan included environmental studies and impact assessments, ecological monitoring programs, environmental audits and, as a special feature, a detailed program for
environmental management of the construction activities. For the latter, the British
Standard BS 7750 was used as a guide in the development of a methodology which
enabled the identification of environmentally critical operations, developme,nt of effective protection measures, and, above all, development of simple work instructions
for the first line construction supervisors and their crews. For more details see
Schuchardt and Grann (this Vol.).
Considerable training and instruction efforts were required to effectively implement the environmental management system and this was initially viewed by the contractors with much scepticism. However, as the project progressed, the attitudes changed
positively and in the end some contractors even expressed the view that they had gained
a valuable experience which would benefit their competitiveness in future construction projects. There is no doubt that the environmental management approach adopted
has been effective in preventing the occurrence of environmental incidents.
15.7
Concluding Remarks
The Europipe landfall project went through a very difficult planning and approval process. The development of a project concept which would satisfy all interested parties
proved to be a considerable challenge to the German authorities as well as to Statoil.
New and unproven technology was needed to comply with the strict authority requirements for working in the National Park area. With this background, however, the project
was technically well executed, considerable care and attention was given to the environmental aspects of the project, and it is believed that the ecological monitoring programs will document that the Europipe project has been implemented without permanent adverse effects on the National Park ecosystem.
& regards the early project planning and development phases, important lessons
have been learned, particularly with respect to the development of an improved integrated management approach which incorporates the environmental impact assessments throughout the entire project. For more details on this point see Schuchardt and
Grann (this Vol.).This experience is being utilized in the Europipe II project, presently
under construction.
The total cost of the Europipe project was in the order of DM 4 billion, of which
DM 1 billion was spent on the landfall facilities. The additional costs of the tunnel solution under the sensitive mud flats was DM 250 million as compared to the original plan
of a direct open trench via the island of Norderney. The tunnel alternative was chosen
by the authorities after a long planning and approval process as the environmentally
best solution. From a total environmental point of view this decision has been questioned, considering the resource- demanding tunnel construction works and the ex-
H.Grann
15.6
Environmental Management of Construction Activities
In order to meet the stringent German environmental requirements and to ensure a
high level of environmental performance, a comprehensive environmental protection
plan was developed for each of the project planning, construction and operation phases.
This plan included environmental studies and impact assessments, ecological monitoring programs, environmental audits and, as a special feature, a detailed program for
environmental management of the construction activities. For the latter, the British
Standard BS 7750 was used as a guide in the development of a methodology which
enabled the identification of environmentally critical operations, developme,nt of effective protection measures, and, above all, development of simple work instructions
for the first line construction supervisors and their crews. For more details see
Schuchardt and Grann (this Vol.).
Considerable training and instruction efforts were required to effectively implement the environmental management system and this was initially viewed by the contractors with much scepticism. However, as the project progressed, the attitudes changed
positively and in the end some contractors even expressed the view that they had gained
a valuable experience which would benefit their competitiveness in future construction projects. There is no doubt that the environmental management approach adopted
has been effective in preventing the occurrence of environmental incidents.
15.7
Concluding Remarks
The Europipe landfall project went through a very difficult planning and approval process. The development of a project concept which would satisfy all interested parties
proved to be a considerable challenge to the German authorities as well as to Statoil.
New and unproven technology was needed to comply with the strict authority requirements for working in the National Park area. With this background, however, the project
was technically well executed, considerable care and attention was given to the environmental aspects of the project, and it is believed that the ecological monitoring programs will document that the Europipe project has been implemented without permanent adverse effects on the National Park ecosystem.
& regards the early project planning and development phases, important lessons
have been learned, particularly with respect to the development of an improved integrated management approach which incorporates the environmental impact assessments throughout the entire project. For more details on this point see Schuchardt and
Grann (this Vol.).This experience is being utilized in the Europipe II project, presently
under construction.
The total cost of the Europipe project was in the order of DM 4 billion, of which
DM 1 billion was spent on the landfall facilities. The additional costs of the tunnel solution under the sensitive mud flats was DM 250 million as compared to the original plan
of a direct open trench via the island of Norderney. The tunnel alternative was chosen
by the authorities after a long planning and approval process as the environmentally
best solution. From a total environmental point of view this decision has been questioned, considering the resource- demanding tunnel construction works and the ex-