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

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 Feasibility study +EIA Project design +EIA This presentation 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 knowledge and experience Development of env. req.

Client knowledge and experience Development of env. req. Environmental requirements

Client knowledge and experience Development of env. req. Environmental requirements 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 knowledge and experience Development of env. req. Environmental requirements Interpretation by contractors and client representatives Contractor knowledge, economy and resources Driver knowledge

Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.Echium vulgare L.

Operation Client knowledge and experience Development of env. req. Environmental requirements 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 Environmental requirements

Development of environmental requirements, indicators and baseline Implementation Environmental requirements 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 Environmental requirements 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 Environmental requirements Environmental training and development of working processes Operation FEEDBACK Follow-up of contractor performance Follow-up of environmental effectiveness Results of the EIA, Environmental objectives, legislation, problems and research EIA

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 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