Construction Environmental Management Plans
Growing Importance of Environmental Protection in Ireland’s Construction Sector
After a long period of uncertainty, Ireland’s construction sector is booming again with a significant increase of on-site activity at sites nationwide. A thriving construction sector is crucial to the country’s economic recovery and paramount to easing the housing crisis however it is important that such activity is not at the expense of our environment.
Increasingly local authorities are demanding that developers pay due care to the environment. As a result, construction environmental management plans (CEMPs) are becoming a standard tool utilised by county councils for developers to outline their clear commitment to protecting the environment during the construction phase of a project.. The purpose of a construction environmental management plan is to address threats and outline suitable mitigation measures to the environment before they happen.
What Is a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)?
Construction Environmental Management Plans outline how a construction project of small, medium or large scale will avoid, minimise or mitigate effects on the natural environment and surrounding local community. CEMPs ensure that environmental impacts associated with a project are managed in a practical yet environmentally friendly way, and activities comply with environmental regulations, local authority guidelines and other statutory legislation.
The CEMP enables measures to protect the environment from all construction-related environmental issues, which can significantly impact the local environment if not reduced. Some typical projects that require a CEMP include the construction of industrial facilities, power generation projects, new residential and commercial developments and infrastructure projects.
Environmental Risks and Mitigation Measures in Construction Projects
Building construction can cause various environmental issues and pollutants, all of which should be assessed in the scope of the CEMP. This should include:
- Air quality
- Waste
- Nature conservation
- Soils/geology
- Visual impact
- Noise
- Archaeology and cultural heritage sites
- Materials
- Water quality
- Transport/traffic
- Energy/resource use
If not properly managed, these can lead to environmental hazards such as groundwater contamination, air pollution, and noise in the locality, with scope for large scale ecosystem damage if issues spiral out of control.
Construction Waste Management and Sustainable Site Practices
Construction and demolition waste is one of the most significant waste streams in the EU. C&D waste amounts to one-third of all waste streams and must be managed effectively and sustainably. A CEMP will include measures to manage waste generation on site, segregating waste types into separate streams and ensure all waste is disposed of at appropriately licensed facilities.
A CEMP outlines the practical procedures and mitigation measures to control the above potential environmental impacts during construction, ensuring practicality and effective control measures which don’t disrupt project flow.
ORS is dedicated to providing services that promote environmental compliance and sustainability in every area of a project’s life cycle in a cost-effective, and sustainable manner. Our team of dedicated environmental professionals have a wealth of experience in the preparation of CEMPs and are at hand to provide a cost-effective solution.
If you require support in preparing or implementing a Construction Environmental Management Plan, please contact our Environmental Team at info@ors.ie or call +353 1524 2060.