Modern Delivery of Construction Management Services with Emphasis on Environmental Risk Management for Projects in Marine and Tidal Areas

Abstract

Management of environmental related risk during construction is an integral part of construction management services. Environmental related risk is defined as noncompliance with environmental permits, approvals and regulations. The added and unanticipated costs and lost profits that arise as a result of noncompliance with environmental requirements can be onerous in terms of fines and project delays. Noncompliance with environmental requirements during construction can also impact valuable working relationships with the same regulatory agencies associated with an owner’s future projects. Thus, the permitting and approval process becomes more difficult, time-consuming, and expensive for the owner. There are many variables that can affect the risk that an ongoing construction project will encounter noncompliance with environmental regulations and requirements. The present regulatory environment in which projects are constructed continues to increase in complexity, both technically and dynamically, involving a multitude of regulatory agencies, permits and approvals, and a myriad of technical disciplines. Agencies frequently inspect projects under construction for compliance with permits and other regulatory requirements, and contractors propose means and methods that may not be in compliance with project permits or may require modifications to existing permits. The background and experience of the various engineers and contractors with regard to environmental compliance varies widely. This paper discusses management of environmental risks and actual examples associated with the “Replacement of the Third Avenue Bridge over the Harlem River” (3AB), located in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, in New York City, owned by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), and under construction (replacement) from 2001 - 2006. This was a bridge replacement project over a tidal watercourse, CSX railroad, an expressway, and local streets. The watercourse, the Harlem River, is a tidal body within the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The project is in an urban area with motor vehicles (70,000 ADT), pedestrians, and marine traffic. The role of modern-day construction and construction management (CM) services, through attention to and management of risks with methods that include electronic and hard copy based documentation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are discussed. The discussion cites actual examples of implementation on the 3AB project.