Environmental Management

What is 'environmental management' in construction?

• AA requirement that applies only to projects above a set contract value or those needing full planning consent
• BControlling construction impacts on the environment: waste, pollution, water, ecosystems, and air quality✓
• COnly tree planting
• DIrrelevant to construction

Answer: Environmental management in construction addresses: waste management, pollution prevention, water management, dust/noise control, and ecological protection.

What is the 'waste hierarchy' in environmental management?

• ALandfill first
• BAny order will do
• CPrevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery, and disposal as last resort✓
• DOnly recycling

Answer: Waste hierarchy (from best to worst): Prevention, Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, Energy recovery, Disposal. Each should be pursued in order before moving to the next.

What is 'duty of care' regarding construction waste?

• AOnly for hazardous waste
• BA duty that passes to the licensed waste carrier as soon as the loaded skip has left the site gate for the transfer station
• COnly if visible waste
• DLegal obligation to handle, store, and dispose of waste responsibly using licensed contractors and documentation✓

Answer: Duty of care for waste requires: proper containment, segregation, storage (secure and protected), use of licensed waste contractors, and documentation of waste transfer.

What is a 'Site Waste Management Plan' (SWMP) and what does it cover?

• ADocument planning waste segregation, reuse, recycling, and disposal routes for different waste streams✓
• BA record of the skip collections booked during the project, which is kept for the client's final account only
• CA plan needed only on projects above a set contract value, agreed between the client and building control
• DA voluntary document with no bearing on compliance, prepared only when the client asks for one at tender

Answer: A SWMP identifies: waste types likely, minimization strategies, reuse/recycling opportunities, licensed contractors, disposal routes, and monitoring procedures.

What are 'construction waste' types and segregation requirements?

• AOnly hazardous waste needs segregating; inert and general waste may be mixed together in a single skip
• BSegregation is dispensed with provided the waste is taken away by a registered carrier under a transfer note
• CWood, metals, plastics, concrete, brick, insulation; segregation required for recovery/recycling✓
• DAll waste is the same

Answer: Construction waste types: concrete, brick, soil, wood, metals, plastics, plasterboard, insulation. Segregation enables recycling: metals can be 95% recovered, wood 95%, concrete 95%.

What is 'pollution prevention' in construction?

• APreventing soil, water, and air pollution through spill control, dust management, and proper chemical storage✓
• BOnly for chemical spills
• CA low priority
• DOnly after a spill occurs

Answer: Pollution prevention includes: secondary containment for fuels/oils, proper drainage, dust suppression, chemical storage (labeling, segregation), and spill response procedures.

What is 'dust control' and what methods are used?

• AOnly on windy days
• BOf minor concern
• COnly sweeping
• DMethods to minimize dust: water spraying, extraction systems, barriers, and work scheduling✓

Answer: Dust control measures: water spraying (damping down), local extraction, hoarding/barriers, work scheduling (avoid dusty tasks in high wind), and respiratory protection.

What is 'noise pollution' control in construction?

• ALimiting noise impact on neighbors through equipment selection, silencers, screening, and restricted hours✓
• BLeft uncontrolled
• COnly ear protection
• DOnly for residential areas

Answer: Noise control: quieter equipment, silencers, acoustic screening, work hour restrictions, monitoring, and neighbor notification. Limits typically 75-85 dB during day, lower at night.

What is 'water management' in construction environmental protection?

• AControls needed only on large sites, as run-off from a small site is too little to pollute a nearby watercourse
• BPumping any standing water off the site and into the nearest surface water drain as quickly as it can be done
• CProtecting water from pollution: silt fences, settling tanks, spill containment, and controlling run-off✓
• DOnly during rain

Answer: Water protection includes: intercepting silt/sediment (silt fences, settling ponds), preventing fuel/chemical spills (containment), managing surface water, and dewatering control.

What is the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and its relevance to construction?

• AInapplicable
• BOnly for demolition
• COnly for large developments
• DAct providing framework for waste management, pollution control, and environmental duties✓

Answer: EPA 1990 establishes: waste management duties, pollution controls, and requires waste management licenses for certain activities. All construction must comply.

What is 'ecological impact' and when is an assessment needed?

• APotential effects on wildlife/habitats; assessment needed for large projects, sensitive locations, or protected species✓
• BA side issue
• COnly if ponds present
• DAn assessment needed only where a building over a certain footprint is proposed on an undeveloped greenfield site rather than on brownfield land

Answer: Ecological surveys and impact assessments are needed for projects affecting: protected species, designated habitats, water bodies, woodlands, or large sites. Mitigation is required.

What are 'hazardous construction wastes' requiring special handling?

• AOnly substances labelled as very toxic, since anything else can be dealt with in the site's general skip
• BAsbestos, paints, solvents, oils, and batteries requiring licensed disposal and documentation✓
• COrdinary construction rubble and offcuts, which the site team may sort and skip without any special licence
• DAsbestos alone, since paints, solvents and used oils may all be placed in the general waste skip

Answer: Hazardous wastes in construction include: asbestos (licensed disposal), oils/fluids, paints/solvents, batteries, fluorescent tubes (mercury), and PCBs. These require special contracts and tracking.

What is 'air quality' management in construction?

• AIrrelevant on construction sites, where work in the open air keeps emissions below any harmful level
• BMonitoring and controlling emissions: dust, fumes from equipment, and vehicle emissions✓
• CAn issue only on sites inside a city, where an air quality management area has been declared
• DControls limited to exhaust emissions from plant engines, since dust and fumes are not air quality issues

Answer: Air quality management: diesel engine controls (SCR filters), dust suppression, equipment maintenance, traffic management, and monitoring of air quality impacts.

What is 'sustainable construction' and how is it practiced?

• AOnly for certified buildings
• BMinimizing environmental impact through waste reduction, recycling, sustainable materials, and energy efficiency✓
• COnly avoiding materials
• DImpossible in construction

Answer: Sustainable construction: source sustainably-certified materials, minimize waste, maximize recycling, use renewable energy where possible, and reduce water use.

What is 'environmental impact assessment' (EIA) and when is it required?

• AOptional
• BAn assessment required only before demolition work, because building a new structure has no lasting environmental impact of its own
• COnly for mining
• DAssessment of project impacts on environment; required for large projects, sensitive locations, and Schedule 1/2 developments✓

Answer: EIA is required under Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations for certain projects (Schedule 1: always; Schedule 2: if threshold exceeded).

What must be included in an 'Environmental Management Plan'?

• AWaste arrangements only, since pollution, ecology and monitoring are covered by the planning conditions attached to the site
• BA short statement of general intent signed by a director, with the detail left to individual site teams to work out for themselves
• CWaste management, pollution prevention, air/water/soil protection, ecological measures, monitoring, and responsibilities✓
• DA plan needed only on projects above a set contract value, where the client requires one as part of the tender documentation

Answer: Environmental Management Plans should detail: waste management (segregation, disposal), pollution prevention (spill control, dust, noise), resource use (water, energy), and monitoring procedures.

What is 'contaminated land' and what are remediation requirements?

• ALand where contamination is visible at the surface, dealt with by covering it over with clean imported topsoil and turf
• BUnimportant
• CLand with harmful substances; requires assessment and remediation to prevent harm to human health or ecosystems✓
• DOnly from spills

Answer: Contaminated land (Environmental Protection Act 1990) requires: historical survey, risk assessment, remediation if necessary, and safe management/encapsulation if left in place.

What is 'Protected Species' in environmental law and contractor obligations?

• AOutside contractors' remit
• BNesting birds only, since bats, badgers and great crested newts are matters dealt with entirely by the local planning authority
• CSpecies legally protected (newts, bats, badgers); contractors must avoid harm and get licenses for necessary disturbance✓
• DOnly during breeding season

Answer: Protected species (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981): badgers, bats, great crested newts, nesting birds. Contractors must: avoid harm, get licenses for disturbance, and implement mitigation.

What is 'fuel and oil management' on construction sites?

• AArrangements needed only for plant with large fuel tanks, as small bowsers and jerrycans present no real risk of pollution
• BSecure storage with secondary containment, spill prevention procedures, fueling away from water, and safe disposal✓
• CA trivial matter
• DDiesel fuel only, since hydraulic oils and greases are not classed as polluting if they are spilt on the ground on site

Answer: Fuel/oil management: secondary containment (bunds) holding 110% of largest container, storage away from water, labeling, spill kits, regular inspections, and safe fueling procedures.

What does environmental legislation require regarding 'environmental compliance' on construction sites?

• ACompliance needed only on large sites, since smaller projects fall outside the scope of environmental legislation
• BOnly main legislation
• CMeeting the main statutory duties only, since planning conditions and permits are entirely the client's concern
• DCompliance with all applicable laws: EPA, WAHR, EIA, DSEAR, planning conditions, and environmental permits✓

Answer: Construction must comply with: Environmental Protection Act, Water Resources Act, Environmental Permitting Regulations, planning conditions, and site-specific environmental permits.