4. PROJECT STAGES

The stages of a project are as shown in the following checklists:

Environmental assessment is required at each stage of a project, coupled with reviews of the measures taken to mitigate environmental effects.

The planning and design stages of a project are the key stages in which environmental effects are identified, investigated and their mitigation or means of prevention decided upon. Effects can be avoided/mitigated by exercising major options such as siting, plant size, technology type, energy sources, transport modes and construction types. Conducting an environmental assessment at these early stages, ideally will avoid environmental deficiencies at a later stage, with all the attendant problems and difficulties of modifying the project.

Activities to avoid/mitigate environmental effects during the later phases of a project are more concerned with the proper use of pollution prevention equipment and procedures, including contingency plans for unexpected problems. Environmental assessments may also be needed if significant environmental issues arise during the lifetime of a project.

For very large projects with several construction sites, environmental assessment must be carried out for each construction site at its associated planning stages. Although not all these assessments may need to be formally documented, they should include communication with, and the involvement of, the public and the relevant authorities.

The infrastructure requirements of a project can have significant effects beyond the project site itself. These should also be the subject of environmental assessment.

The engineering design of a project should not be carried out in isolation from the environmental investigations. Environmental investigations are best done using a team approach. If, however, environmental investigations are done by specialist consultants, or by a technical group in a different location to the engineering team there must be regular, on-going documented dialogue between the two groups.

Engineering analyses needed for all stages of an engineering project should be logical and sequential because they deal with measurable factors. In contrast, environmental and social factors are less quantifiable and frequently require alternative methods of research and analysis. These can bear little relation to the methods of engineering analysis. At times the necessary data are lacking - the background research work has not been done, or public opinion has not yet formed and clarified. However, such factors must still be considered, if not directly by the engineer, then by appropriate experts, and incorporated into the environmental investigation.

ASuggested Project Quality Plan with associated checklists for each stage of a project is shown. Checklists 1 to 6 describe the details of each project stage. The checklists are provided as a suggested framework for the development of projectspecific quality plans.

The purpose of the Suggested Project Quality Plan is to ensure that environmental effects and the sustainable use of resources are adequately taken into account throughout the project life cycle.

 

SUGGESTED PROJECT QUALITY PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY

Project ................................................................................... Date .............................

Client ...................................................................................

Engineer to Contract ...................................................................................

Typical Project Sequence and Reference for the Checklists Which Follow

Checklist

Stage

Key Words

Completed

Date

1

Planning

Need

Options

Scoping effects

Public involvement/consultation

Site selection

Statutory approvals

Decision to proceed

    

2

Design

Design Brief & Initial Options :

Constraints/consents

Environmental/engineering interactions

Sustainable technology, cleaner production, waste minimisation considerations

Site ancilliary services effects

Environmental/engineering

Effects assessment

Timetable

Options analysis

Development & Verification:

Detailed design/review

Plant or process malfunctions/ emergency response plans

Statutory consents check

Construction effects controls

Social effects of construction

Design verification

    

3

Construction

Before Construction Starts:

Organise management

Assessment & control

Training

Social/heritage/cultural effects

Resource consent conditions

Verification/compliance

During Construction:

Monitoring/compliance

Waste discharge conditions

Sound attenuation

Effects of project changes

Archaeological protection measures

Social monitoring

Liaison

    

4

Commissioning

Policy

Environmental monitoring

Control plant

O&M manuals/training

Sampling & monitoring

Sampling & control systems

Malfunction assessment

Potential hazards/dangerous goods

Risk control/management

Changes during commissioning

Communication

Project termination provisions

As built documentation

Project validation

    

5

Operation

Policies/plans

Operational & management systems

Safe working/hiring environments

Performance and responsibility

Management representative

Standards, plans & procedures

Monitoring systems

Corrective actions

Technology review

Communications

Emergency control plans

Environmental training

External footprints

Termination provisions

Environmental standards

Product disposal

Product distribution

    

6

Termination

Technological, financial provisions

Historic merit

Review environmental/ restoration requirements

Plan preparation

Monitoring

Liaison

Approvals/clearances

Public involvement

Audit

On-going management

    


 

CHECKLIST 1

PLANNING

Need

  • Who perceives the need and opportunity?

  • What methods are being used to introduce the proposal?

  • Is the debate subject to public scrutiny?

  • Is the project contributing to sustainable environmental management and sustainable use of resources?

  • What are the market opportunities and situations?

  • Who benefits, who loses (promoters, local community, taxpayers, environment)?

  • What is the economic justification and economic life of the proposal?

  • Is there enough information for a concept report?

  • Is there an adequate pre-decision appraisal system?

  • Will the outcomes fit Agenda 21 criteria?

Project Options

  • Are there project-specific environmental constraints, thresholds or opportunities :

  • related to size?

  • for siting (internal footprints)?

  • for resource inputs, materials sources, processes and products?

  • for waste treatment minimisation, disposal or recycling?

  • regional or community restraints (external footprints) - eg transport routes, air and water supply purity?

  • for incorporating sustainable and cleaner production technology?

  • for minimisation of wastes?

  • for ecological benefit?

Scoping Environmental Effects

  • What effects will be studied?

  • What is the most suitable environmental assessment procedure?

  • What is the geographical extent of these effects?

  • What are the off-site effects?

  • What are the potential environmental, community and heritage risks of the project?

Public Involvement

  • What steps will be taken to identify and involve interested parties, (these interested parties may then be involved throughout the study) including:

    • regional and local authorities, tangata whenua, members of the public, relevant government departments, Commission for the Environment and public interest groups?

Site Selection

  • What are the criteria for site selection?

  • What is the evaluation methodology?

  • How will the options be ranked?

  • On what basis will the preferred site be identified?

Statutory Approvals

  • What are the relevant statutes under which approvals and consents must be sought?

  • Have RMA requirements been met?

  • Have the provisions of all other relevant legislation and statutory plans been met?

  • What is the timetable for the assessment process in relation to the statutory approvals?

Proceed

  • Has the decision to proceed been taken with adequate investigation, information, consultation and verification?

  • Has the design brief included environmental and resource sustainability?



 

CHECKLIST 2

ENGINEERING DESIGN

Preliminary Design Brief and Initial Design Options

  • Check that all site environmental constraints have been identified during the planning phase and reported to the promoter and that required tasks to obtain consents have been programmed. Incorporate into the design brief.

  • Clearly define the interactions between engineering and environment.

  • Ensure that adequate consideration is given to sustainable technology, cleaner production methods and waste minimisation.

  • Ensure that site ancillary services, workforce housing, project support services and access routes/areas do not endanger environmental conditions. Design in environmental protection and/or rehabilitation work.

  • Develop the appropriate matrix* or other method to encompass all environmental factors. Ensure that environmental factors are given the appropriate level of quantitative investigation related to engineering factors at all stages of the design process. The object is to adjust the balance between environmental and engineering factors to achieve the optimum design.

  • Prepare a timetable for project development, covering the investigation, design and construction phases of the proposal and the various options.

  • Quantify the effects of the proposed project and of the various options, in terms of:

    • engineering implications and development activities (e.g. discharges)

    • direct environmental effects, short and long term

    • indirect and secondary environmental effects, short and long term

    • termination

eg: as in the chart which follows:

Development options

Engineering implications and cost

Direct environmental impact and rankings*

Indirect environmental impact and rankings*

Option 1

     
     

Option 2

     
     

Option 3

     
     

 

Detailed Design Development and Verification

  • Proceed with detailed design when resolution of engineering and environmental factors is completed. A decison to proceed should result from a decision to accept one of the above options, and the resultant acceptance of the outcomes of a full environmental impact audit, and technical, economic and social review on that option. Undertake design review.

  • Assess the potential for plant malfunctions for the option chosen. Provide emergency response plans for malfunctions identified as having an environmental impact.

  • Ensure that the required statutory consents have been applied for before entering the final stages of detailed design and documentation.

  • Identify the controls required for construction effects. Include appropriate provisions for control within contract documentation, including emergency response plans and proof of competency of staff.

  • Provide for the social effects of construction, e.g. labour source and accommodation, and public and staff safety related to the project construction methods.

  • Undertake verification that the design outputs meet the environmental requirements of the design brief.

* See chapter 7




CHECKLIST 3

CONSTRUCTION

Before Construction Starts

  • Review how construction management is organised, to ensure effective supervision and control of construction effects.

  • Establish management systems for on-going assessment and control of the effects from construction, processes implementation, site contract variations, and/or design changes, and their effect on termination provisions.

  • Consider if the contractor, management or personnel need special training in environmental matters, and if so, ensure these needs are met.

  • Establish management systems for the on-going assessment and control of the effects on the social, heritage and cultural environment, e.g. housing for the construction workforce, materials supply routes and sources, construction noise, fumes and effluents.

  • Implement and monitor the conditions of resource consents granted for construction: assign responsibilities between client engineer and contractor.

  • Establish management systems to verify compliance and traceability of materials, construction standards and processes with the specified environmental requirements.

During Construction

  • Arrange for regular monitoring of environmental effects and compliance with resource consent requirements and conditions.

  • Ensure all waste disposal and discharge requirements and standards have been planned for and are being met.

  • Ensure construction equipment is sound-attenuated and activities on the site are in accordance with the requirements of the relevant standards

  • Assess the environmental implications and take corrective action for changes in project activity and work schedules, (in terms of effects, e.g. extension of ecological damage, extended social effects).

  • Ensure there are procedures to be followed if archaeological discoveries are made, and ensure managers and workers know, understand, and where appropriate, implement these procedures.

  • For large projects, establish and maintain a social environmental monitoring programme and community liaison groups.

  • Ensure there are designated liaison personnel who will advise interested parties, neighbours etc, without delay of major changes in activity.




 

CHECKLIST 4

COMMISSIONING

  • Ensure that a policy for environmental issues/matters has been formulated and accepted by management before commissioning begins.

  • Ensure that the responsibility for environmental monitoring is specifically assigned to personnel within the commissioning team.

  • List, where appropriate, environmental control plant as a separate entity on the commissioning plan and outline the specific requirements of each control plant accordingly.

  • Produce commissioning-phase maintenance and operating manuals, and ensure that environmental control requirements are listed in those manuals and discussed with staff prior to commissioning. Hold staff training exercises before commissioning begins, and implement.

  • Establish and implement sampling and monitoring procedures for environmental effects during commissioning.

  • Check that the frequency and type of sampling analysis and control systems used are appropriate to the special operating and emission conditions occurring during commissioning.

  • Assess the commissioning-phase malfunction potential of plant and equipment before commissioning begins. Provide emergency response plans for the various malfunction cases.

  • Complete a listing, location and route map of all dangerous goods and processes and ensure Local and Regional Authorities and emergency services also receive this information.

  • Prior to commitment of the commissioning programme, in association with Local and Regional Authorities and emergency services :

    • list potential risks to the environment from activities in the commissioning programme

    • develop and maintain strategic plans to minimise the risk together with methods of response in the event of failures.

    • set up and resource the environmental hazard management systems

    • identify and maintain resources, to match the planned response to the listed potential sources of risk.

  • Advise Local and Regional Authorities, Statutory Agencies and the general public of significant changes to on-going plant process or environmental control specifications that have been found to be necessary, and require implementation.

  • Ensure that the public as well as Local and Regional Authorities, and statutory agencies are kept informed of commissioning activities.

  • Ensure that technological and financial provisions have been made for altering project termination provisions resulting from changes to project conditions during commissioning.

  • Ensure that the commissioning phase is not completed until the as-built plant/facility, together with its operating and maintenance standards and methods (including a sustainable environmental management plan), have been documented, approved and implemented.

  • Validation of project against design brief.



 

CHECKLIST 5

OPERATION

  • Ensure that policies, with supporting objectives and associated environmental plans, procedures, and audits on environmental matters have been formulated and accepted by management, and are understood by operating personnel.

  • Ensure that operational and management systems meet the environmental policies and objectives, and are documented and maintained.

  • Maintain safe working/living environments for all operational staff and persons coming into contact with the project or its operational external effects.

  • Regularly review the management organisation to ensure that:

    • environmental responsibilities and authorities are clearly assigned, and that operating effects can be competently resourced, supervised and controlled.

    • responsibility for environmental performance and the taking of appropriate corrective action are assigned to operating/production groups.

  • Ensure that a person/group independent of operational responsibility is appointed, as the representative of the chief executive officer, to check that the environmental management systems are in place and maintained.

  • Ensure that environmental performance standards, management plans and procedures are readily available to the designated personnel.

  • Systematically, regularly and carefully review the monitoring systems used, to ensure that they are providing an accurate log of all environmental effects, including plant operations, resource use, discharges and emissions, plus hazardous materials.

  • Ensure that regular feedback is maintained between management and operating personnel on environmental performance and that corrective actions produce the required outcomes.

  • Continue to review and improve the appropriateness of environmental control specifications and plans with respect to the results of the monitoring programme and technology developments. Consider the operation's current position with respect to "best practicable" or "best available" technology.

  • Assign clear communication channels for dealing with issues and effects that affect or are raised by the public, Local and Regional Authorities, Statutory Agencies and emergency services.

  • Develop, document, maintain, commit and regularly review recovery plans and resources in the event of potential environmental hazards occurring.

  • Develop and maintain a staff having a focus on environmental stewardship through training and reinforcement.

  • Regularly review the external footprints caused by the operation and the impact of the operation on the site (current and at termination) and take corrective action.

  • Ensure that project termination provisions are considered and adjustments made as a result of regular reviews of operational effects, especially when considering asset or operational changes.

  • Establish and maintain procedures and corrective actions for the control and disposal of non-conforming or failed products, plant or by-products.

  • Monitor and control effects of product distribution, servicing, packaging, and handling.

  • Maintain a watching brief on the development of ISO 14000 Environmental Management Series of Standards, environmental legislation and resource sustainability.



 

CHECKLIST 6

TERMINATION

  • Ensure that technological, financial and resource provisions for termination are an integral part of the management process of each prior stage of the project's life.

  • Approximately two-thirds of the way through the projected life span of the plant, assess the historic merit of the project, structures, etc. with appropriate authorities. If historic merit is likely, prepare a modified wind-down plan.

  • It is likely that environmental requirements and restoration possibilities will have changed during the life of the project. It is also likely that the operation of the project has resulted in effects not fully anticipated at its inception. Review the original requirements and modify accordingly, in conjunction with controlling authorities.

  • Define the effects, their outcomes and the environmental priorities and standards that need to be achieved and sustained at completion of the termination of the project. Prepare a plan for termination and the disposal of unwanted by-products, buildings, etc. in compliance with environmental requirements. Obtain the resources to match the requirements in the plan.

  • Monitor the progress and standard of termination work and take corrective action to ensure timely compliance with restoration requirements.

  • As the work proceeds, liaise with the appropriate authorities, adjacent owners, other interested parties, including those proposing to take over the works or any part of them to ensure continuing agreement that the environmental requirements are being met and that all necessary clearances will be given.

  • Provide a timely list of all the formal approvals and clearances required together with all required secondary clearances from landowners and other legal and ethical restraints.

  • Consider public involvement in the process of plant termination and resultant outcomes, including the production of information pamphlets, models of likely scenarios, etc.

  • At completion of the planned termination work, carry out an audit to identify any remaining project footprints that need to be removed and carry out the remedial work.

  • Consider how the on-going liabilities and responsibilities for managing the environmental effects of the project are to be sustained. Develop the necessary operational and management systems and make provision for their maintenance until such time as the Local and Regional Authorities and Statutory Agencies deem the liabilities and responsibilities have been removed.