Bridging the gap between EIA and procurement

+EIA and then what?

– Client and contractor responses to environmental requirements

Charlotta Faith-Ell, WSP Civils

Berit Balfors, Kristina Lundberg & Annika Varnäs

Royal Institute of Technology

2007-06-05

Road planning in theory and practice

Feasibility study+EIA

Initial study+(EIA)

Project design+EIA

Building document Construction Operation and

maintenance

Initial study+(EIA)

Procurement Procurement

Feasibility study+EIA

Project design+EIA

This presentation

Procurement Procurement Procurement

Building document Construction Operation and

maintenance

The application of environmental requirements in road construction and maintenance contracts

Two different studies

One case study of road maintenance contracts– (interviews, participatory observations, content

analysis, inventories)

– 1997 – 2003

One case study of road construction contracts– (questionnaires and interviews)

– 2005 – 2007

Environmental requirements in road maintenance contracts

Vegetation and fauna

Natural resources

Noise and dust

Pollution of soil and water

Waste

Chemicals and products

Vehicles

Product declaration

Environmental management

Development and implementation of environmental requirements

Client knowledgeand experience

Development of env. req.

Client knowledgeand experience

Development of env. req.

Environmentalrequirements

Client knowledgeand experience

Development of env. req.

Environmentalrequirements

Interpretation by contractors and

client representatives

Intentions behind requirements on mowing

Use of cutting tools, not shredding tools

Removal of cut of material

Late mowing dates

Annual mowing

Operation

Client knowledgeand experience

Development of env. req.

Environmentalrequirements

Interpretation by contractors and

client representatives

Contractor knowledge, economy

and resources

Driver knowledge

Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. Echium vulgare L.

Operation

Client knowledgeand experience

Development of env. req.

Environmentalrequirements

Interpretation by contractors and

client representatives

Contractor knowledge, economy

and resources

Driver knowledge

Result?

Why is this a problem?

SRA will not be able to verify the impact of most of the environmental requirements

The benefit to the environment by stating environmental requirements on road maintenance is difficult to assess

No follow-up of the EIA

How should the process look like?

Results of the EIA, Environmental objectives,

legislation, problems and research

Development of environmental

requirements, indicators and baseline

Environmentalrequirements

Development of environmental

requirements, indicators and baseline

Implementation

Environmentalrequirements

Environmental training and development of working processes

Results of the EIA, Environmental objectives,

legislation, problems and research

Development of environmental

requirements, indicators and baseline

Implementation

Environmentalrequirements

Environmental training and development of working processes

Operation

Results of the EIA, Environmental objectives,

legislation, problems and research

Development of environmental

requirements, indicators and baseline

Implementation

Environmentalrequirements

Environmental training and development of working processes

Operation

FEEDBACK

Follow-up ofcontractor

performance

Follow-up of environmental effectiveness

Results of the EIA, Environmental objectives,

legislation, problems and researchEIA

Where are we now?

Feasibility study+EIA

Initial study+(EIA)

Project design+EIA

Building document Construction Operation and

maintenance

Initial study+(EIA)

Feasibility study+EIA

Project design+EIA

Procurement Procurement Procurement Procurement Procurement

Building document Construction Operation and

maintenance

What do this mean for EIA in the Swedish context? We are seeing changes in the writing of the

EIS into more specific requirements that can be translated into the tender documents

Some players have introduced ‘Environmental Plans’ that translates the requirements in the EIS to the tender documents

The SRA have started to place requirements on EIA training among the consultants

Swedish planning is today lacking people with construction experiences both among engineers and environmentalists. This means that some of the decisions made in the planning might not be feasible during the construction. Early contractor involvement in the planning process might lead to: An increased understanding of the environmental

requirements among the contractors and client representatives and a reduction of the need for interpretation of the requirements

Stronger relationships between different players which might mean an even higher will to avoid conflicts

Increase or decrease in transparency

Conclusion