Environmental management is important for three main reasons - legal compliance, financial benefits, and moral responsibility. Legally, there are many regulations that must be followed at national and European levels. Financially, environmental management can reduce costs through efficiency and being an attractive partner. Morally, businesses have a duty to protect human and environmental health for current and future generations. At our company, environmental management is integrated into all aspects of work from early planning to project delivery to operations. Key areas of focus include protected wildlife and habitats, water protection, waste management, and engaging with local regulators and communities.

1. An Introduction to
Environmental Management
for incoming graduates
Simon Bell
Senior HS&E Adviser – South and West Region

2. 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?

3. Environmental Management – WHY
Direct 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
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4. LEGAL
EUROPEAN Directives – Binding on member states – generally require
adoption into a country’s legislation
e.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

5. LEGAL Continued
UK Legislation
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Town and County Planning Act 1990
Water Resources Act 1991
Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Area) Act 1990
The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010
The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001

6. LEGAL
Enforcement and Advisory Services
Local Authorities

7. MORAL
Minimise the impact on the surrounding environment

8. MORAL
Around half of non-renewable resources that
humans consume are used in construction

9. MORAL
Climate Change Impact
Delivering carbon reductions through a long-term strategy

10. MORAL
Improve Biodiversity

11. MORAL
Add value and develop good relationships with local
communities being a “good neighbour”
Working with Business in the Community to improve our Corporate Responsibility

12. MORAL
Happy Workforce, Happy Clients, Happy Customers
Looking after people and planet whilst also delivering profits
“People, Planet, Profit”

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AT OUR
COMPANY

18. IMS
OHSAS
18001
ISO
14001
ISO
9001
Integrated Management System –
Policy
Planning
Implementation and Operation
Monitor
Review
Continual Improvement

19. Environmental Support
Central Team:
Function: Governance, Direction, Sustainability
Contract Support:
Environmental Advisers working in the regional HS+E teams under the r
egional directors.
Function: Advise, Monitor, Investigate, Enforce

20. Key Areas – a flavour of issues on site
• Archaeology
• Trees and Vegetation
• Ecology
• Protected Sites
• Water Management
• Fuel
• Waste

21. 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

22. Trees and Vegetation
• Root Protection areas
• TPOs
• Conservation Areas
• Hedgerows
• Ecological/designation
constraints

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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.

27. Ecology – European Protected Species

28. Ecology – European Protected Species

29. Ecology – European Protected Species

30. 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 Areas
May require special permissions to work in these areas.
Time implications – Submit method statements with applications
Regulator: Usually Natural England
• Crown Estate
• MoD
• Conservation Areas

31. Protected Sites
To 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

32. Water Management
RIVERS 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)

33. Example of trenchless methodology

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

35. Water Management
Relevant Legislation: Water Resources Act Section 163
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/57/section/163
Factors to consider
Where 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

36. Water Management
Waste Water
Silt Control: Dechlorination: Trade Effluent:

37. 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

38. Fuel

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

40. Waste

41. 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

42. Waste
Disposal Options
We 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

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. Waste
Hazardous 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 2012
Encourage treatment and if possible, avoidance of production by designing out.

46. 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)

47. Case Example
The 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

48. 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