Development & Construction
Management
Environmental Construction Operations (ECO) Plans/Programs
Infrastructure construction projects undertaken on behalf of municipal or other governing agencies (including the City of Calgary, City of Edmonton, and Alberta Transportation) may require an Environmental Construction Operations (ECO) Plan or Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) to be prepared and executed. Envirotech offers a team of highly qualified individuals with construction knowledge, environmental expertise, and legislative/regulatory understanding directly applicable to environmental construction management.
The purpose of the CEMP or ECO Plan is to detail the policies, practices, and procedures to be implemented by construction contractor and their subcontractors to manage, remedy, and mitigate potential adverse environmental effects during the construction phase of the project. The ECO Plans are prepared in accordance with the Environmental Construction Operations (ECO) Plan Framework – Instructions for Preparing ECO Plans for Alberta Transportation, City of Calgary and City of Edmonton Construction Projects, Alberta Transportation, Environmental Regulation, Technical Standards Branch (July 6, 2020). Our standard Plans included the following components:
- Description of Site Activities;
- Potential Environmental Impacts and Controls;
- Hazardous Materials and Waste Management;
- Environmental Emergency Procedures; and
- Plan Implementation (training/monitoring, communication, documentation).
Overall Envirotech will prepare a CEMP or ECO Plan that will outline how a construction project will avoid, minimise or mitigate effects on the environment and surrounding area. It consists of written procedures on the protection measures that the contractor will follow to protect the environment. It also demonstrates how the contractor will comply with all applicable legislation, regulations and approvals during the project. During the implementation of the Plan, Envirotech will support the construction contractor as the project progresses, undertaking routine inspections to ensure the implemented controls are operating effectively and activities are conducted in accordance with the Plan. Any noted deficiencies are communicated through monitoring reports and the Plan is updated as required.
Land Development Planning
Prior to construction projects, land developers and land planners have to navigate, and satisfy, a complex web of municipal permits, development conditions and requirements. Many of these conditions and requirements now relate to environmental issues. Land developers are now considering the early integration of an environmental consultant into their development and construction management team as both a time and cost saving measure for their projects
Envirotech offers a team of highly qualified individuals with development and construction knowledge, technical environmental backgrounds, and directly applicable project management experience, to effectively assist land developers and land planners in the areas of:
- Site Contamination Statements;
- Record of Site Condition Submittals;
- Development and Building Permits;
- Environmental Cost Liability Assessments;
- Project Planning and Scheduling;
- Municipal Variances or Environmental Setbacks;
- PS 3260 Contaminated Site Accounting & Reporting;
- Land Use Re-designations;
- Radon Management Systems; and
- Environmental Planning.
Waste Characterization & Disposal Permitting
Most construction projects completed on both non-contaminated and contaminated sites either generate soil as a waste material or receive soil as a fill material. The construction industry has generally recognized that this soil movement is a source of significant cost risks and environmental liability for landowners. Envirotech provides specialized services which assist with project management and cost reductions in these areas.
The primary risks and liabilities include the following:
- Property owners are subject to short and long-term liability for contaminated soil material leaving their property if the soil is not permitted properly for disposal or received by a third-party property;
- Construction sites, which inadvertently receive contaminated soil fill material, can become contaminated themselves causing significant projects risks (ie. project delays, litigation);
- Property owners who have responsibly characterized soil material on their site as clean may inadvertently, by the act of transporting a soil material offsite, generate contaminated soil (soil defined as clean on an industrial site may not be clean on a residential site); and
- Landfills are requiring soil material to be characterized as being clean prior to receiving the soil material as clean. Uncharacterized soil is, by default, being characterized contaminated and is subject to tipping fees commensurate with contaminated material.
In response to these risks, Envirotech has provides standardized Soil Assessment Programs (SAPs), Hydrovac Soil Assessment Programs (HSAPs), and Soil Management Plans (SMPs). Link each to individual descriptions?
Dewatering Permitting
Wastewater requiring discharge into a municipal storm drainage system is commonly required on construction sites whereby surface run-off water or groundwater collects in an open excavation. Approval to discharge the wastewater must be granted by the governing municipality. Envirotech has extensive experience in providing the services necessary to obtain and maintain a Dewatering Permit. Read More
The following requirements of Dewatering Permitting will be fulfilled by Envirotech:
- Completion of the Dewatering Permit Application;
- Collection and submission of required water sample analyses in accordance with the Dewatering Permit Application;
- If a condition of the permit is to monitor turbidity and pH levels, the on-site personnel will be provided with the training and monitoring equipment necessary to undertake the monitoring activities.
- As needed, the permit will be updated or renewed.