Environmental management Environmental management instruments for port areasinstruments for port areas

Luc Hens & Lien VerbeeckHuman Ecology Department Free University of BrusselsLaarbeeklaan 103, 1090 BrusselsHuman.ecology@vub.ac.behttp://www.vub.ac.be/MEKO/

Environmental problems related Environmental problems related to port activitiesto port activities

• Changes in sea flow patternsChanges in sea flow patterns• Coastal erosion and siltationCoastal erosion and siltation• Disturbance of benthic organismsDisturbance of benthic organisms• Oil pollutionOil pollution• Loss of habitatLoss of habitat• Air pollutionAir pollution• Noise and vibrationsNoise and vibrations• Disposal of wastewaterDisposal of wastewater• Land useLand use

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Instruments to manage Instruments to manage environmental problemsenvironmental problems

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)• Environmental Management Systems (EMS)Environmental Management Systems (EMS)• Risk Assessment (RA)Risk Assessment (RA)

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EIAEIA

• Procedure for Procedure for encouraging decision makersencouraging decision makers to to take account of the possible effects of take account of the possible effects of development investments on environmental development investments on environmental quality and natural resource productivityquality and natural resource productivity

• Tool for collecting and assembling data planners Tool for collecting and assembling data planners need to make development need to make development projects more projects more sustainable and environmentally soundsustainable and environmentally sound

• Goal: Goal: preventionprevention of environmental damage or of environmental damage or degradation as result of human actiondegradation as result of human action

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Procedure for EIAProcedure for EIA

Monitoring

Decision

Public involvement

Review

Environmetal impact statementEIS

Public involvement

Scoping

Screening

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ScreeningScreeningStep 1: Is the project listed in Annex I or II (Directive Step 1: Is the project listed in Annex I or II (Directive

85/337/EEC)? 85/337/EEC)? No : EIA not requiredNo : EIA not required yes: Step 2yes: Step 2Step 2: Is the project on a mandatory list of the member Step 2: Is the project on a mandatory list of the member

State?State?Yes: EIA requiredYes: EIA requiredNo: Step 3No: Step 3

Step 3: Is the project on an exclusion list?Step 3: Is the project on an exclusion list?Yes: EIA not requiredYes: EIA not requiredno: Step 4no: Step 4

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Step 4: Case by case: Is the project likely to have Step 4: Case by case: Is the project likely to have significant effects on the environment?significant effects on the environment?Yes: EIA requiredYes: EIA requiredNo: EIA not requiredNo: EIA not required

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Scoping Scoping

Baseline study:Baseline study:• Description of the project and possible Description of the project and possible

alternativesalternatives• Description of the existing environmentDescription of the existing environment• Description of the aspects, methods and Description of the aspects, methods and

depth of EISdepth of EIS

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Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)This report contains:This report contains:• A summary (conclusions, areas of controversy, issues A summary (conclusions, areas of controversy, issues

to be resolved)to be resolved)• Project descriptionProject description• Description of alternatives (location, project design, Description of alternatives (location, project design,

technology,…)technology,…)• Aspects of the environment likely to be affected: Aspects of the environment likely to be affected:

description and assessmentdescription and assessment• Measures to prevent, reduce or offset adverse impactsMeasures to prevent, reduce or offset adverse impacts• Non-technical summaryNon-technical summary• Technical deficiencies and lack in know-howTechnical deficiencies and lack in know-how

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ReviewReview

• Quality controlQuality control• Review of the adequacy of EIS Review of the adequacy of EIS • Before EIS can be used for decision Before EIS can be used for decision

making making • By the competent authority or By the competent authority or

independent expertsindependent experts

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Public involvementPublic involvement

• Right of the public (Arhus convention)Right of the public (Arhus convention)• At 2 stages of the procedure: after scoping At 2 stages of the procedure: after scoping

and after EIS reviewand after EIS review• Active versus passive pubic involvementActive versus passive pubic involvement

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DecisionDecision• Measures to be integrated in (building, Measures to be integrated in (building,

exploitation) permitsexploitation) permits

Follow up

Feed back

MonitoringQuickTime™ and a

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Environmental management system

Management review

Auditing

Communication

Training

Implementation

Planning

Environmental planning

Initial environmental audit

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Initial environmental auditInitial environmental audit

• Identification of environmental aspects:Identification of environmental aspects: ActivitiesActivities ProductsProducts ServicesServices

• Identification of (legal, environmental) Identification of (legal, environmental) requirements related to these aspectsrequirements related to these aspects

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Environmental policy Environmental policy

• Port authorities commitment to Port authorities commitment to environmental improvementenvironmental improvement

• Foundation for the EMSFoundation for the EMS• General by natureGeneral by nature• Framework to set environmental Framework to set environmental

objectives and targetsobjectives and targets• Used for planning and actionUsed for planning and action

Example of an environmental Example of an environmental policypolicy

The port commits to :The port commits to :• Develop projects in a manner that provides for Develop projects in a manner that provides for

sustainable use of the marine ecosystemsustainable use of the marine ecosystem and to design and to design all infrastructures in such a way as to all infrastructures in such a way as to minimise their minimise their environmental impactsenvironmental impacts..

• Minimise any significant adverse environmental impact Minimise any significant adverse environmental impact through preparation and implementation of through preparation and implementation of comprehensive comprehensive environmental management plans..

• Develop Develop indicatorsindicators of environmental performance by of environmental performance by the authority concerned, and includes statistics on these the authority concerned, and includes statistics on these indicators in indicators in annual reports to governmentannual reports to government..

• Run maintenance operations in ways that enables Run maintenance operations in ways that enables adherence to environmental adherence to environmental regulations, prevention regulations, prevention of pollution, reduction of waste, recovery and of pollution, reduction of waste, recovery and recycling materialsrecycling materials wherever possible. wherever possible.

• Maintain the project area in a manner that values its Maintain the project area in a manner that values its vegetationvegetation and its and its aesthetic appearanceaesthetic appearance..

• Involve and Involve and communicate with communitycommunicate with community groups groups sharing common environmental resourcessharing common environmental resources

• Extent environmental Extent environmental education and trainingeducation and training to all to all employees concerned. employees concerned.

• Encourage the use of environmental management Encourage the use of environmental management procedures by procedures by contractorscontractors..

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Planning Planning

• Formulation of a programme to put policy Formulation of a programme to put policy into practiceinto practice

• Designation of responsibilities and time Designation of responsibilities and time framesframes

• Integration with other managerial plans, Integration with other managerial plans, strategies and budgetsstrategies and budgets

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ImplementationImplementation

• Allocation of functions and responsibilitiesAllocation of functions and responsibilities• Training and motivation of employeesTraining and motivation of employees• Communications on environmental issuesCommunications on environmental issues• Identifications of potential emergencies and Identifications of potential emergencies and

procedures to prevent them and respond procedures to prevent them and respond themthem

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TrainingTraining

• Every port member needs to be trainedEvery port member needs to be trained• Significant environmental impacts related Significant environmental impacts related

to their tasks should be clearto their tasks should be clear

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CommunicationCommunication

• Internal communicationInternal communicationCommunication between different functions and Communication between different functions and levels within the portlevels within the port

• External communicationExternal communicationCommunication with the neighbourhood, Communication with the neighbourhood, authorities and the publicauthorities and the public

• Yearly reports, visits, open door events, press Yearly reports, visits, open door events, press conferencesconferences

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AuditingAuditing

• Periodical evaluation of the functioning of Periodical evaluation of the functioning of the EMSthe EMS

• Internal and external evaluationInternal and external evaluation• Identification of problemsIdentification of problems

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EMS reviewEMS review

• EMS is evaluated to optimize its EMS is evaluated to optimize its effectivenesseffectiveness

• Review ensures continuous improvementReview ensures continuous improvement

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The use of EMS in portsThe use of EMS in ports

Results of European projects:

2 DATABASE2 DATABASE•Environmental legislationEnvironmental legislation•Links to relevant studiesLinks to relevant studies•Short descriptions of environmental solutionsShort descriptions of environmental solutions•Case studiesCase studies

1 Self Diagnosis Method (SDM) 1 Self Diagnosis Method (SDM) •Environmental review method for portsEnvironmental review method for ports•Questionnaires covering all fields of environmental Questionnaires covering all fields of environmental topics that face portstopics that face ports

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3 METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE 3 METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE •Working sheets: practical information on a tangible subject Working sheets: practical information on a tangible subject (e.g. painting of ships, dredging)(e.g. painting of ships, dredging)

•Information sheets: general guidelines on the way a port Information sheets: general guidelines on the way a port may adjust environmental activitiesmay adjust environmental activities

4 EMS4 EMS•Environmental Management and Audit scheme for port Environmental Management and Audit scheme for port communitiescommunities•Focuses on port authorities, industrial facilities located Focuses on port authorities, industrial facilities located within the port, companies running port terminalswithin the port, companies running port terminals

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5 Decision Support System5 Decision Support System• Basis: environmental problems that arise from port Basis: environmental problems that arise from port

activitiesactivities• DSS describes effects and solutionsDSS describes effects and solutions

6 Port Environmental Review System6 Port Environmental Review System• Good practices to review and report aspects of port Good practices to review and report aspects of port

environmental managementenvironmental management• First step to implement ISO 14001 or EMASFirst step to implement ISO 14001 or EMAS

7 ECO-WEBSITE contains:7 ECO-WEBSITE contains:• Contact info of participating ports, latest news, Contact info of participating ports, latest news,

information on environmental issues and information on environmental issues and developments in port environmental managementdevelopments in port environmental management

Risk AnalysisRisk Analysis

Risk AnalysisRisk Analysis

Risk management

Risk characterisation

Exposure assessment

Hazard identification

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1 Hazard identification: determines whether 1 Hazard identification: determines whether • a particular danger existsa particular danger exists

• effects associated with the hazard are significanteffects associated with the hazard are significant

2 Exposure assessment2 Exposure assessment• Determines the extend of exposure to the hazardous agentDetermines the extend of exposure to the hazardous agent

3 Risk characterization3 Risk characterization• Describing the nature and magnitude of risks, including Describing the nature and magnitude of risks, including

uncertaintiesuncertainties

4 Risk management4 Risk management• Decisions about accomplishing management to prevent Decisions about accomplishing management to prevent

risksrisks

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Risk analysis in portsRisk analysis in portsImportant steps:Important steps:

• Identification of vessel traffic intensity, vessel Identification of vessel traffic intensity, vessel type, design and constructiontype, design and construction• Identification of characteristics of hazardous Identification of characteristics of hazardous substances handled by the portsubstances handled by the port

• Identification of failure scenariosIdentification of failure scenarios• Determination of accident probabilityDetermination of accident probability• Estimation of the consequences of an incidentEstimation of the consequences of an incident

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Example: RA in case of release Example: RA in case of release of a hazardous substanceof a hazardous substance

Identification of the substance- Name and CAS number of substances released or

markings on tank, car, truck or vessel.- Physical state of released substance

- Source of release - Approximate volume of release and/or total volume of source- Media into which release has occurred and anticipated

movement of spill- Local terrain/ accessibility - Distance to drinking water supplies

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- Distance to population centres and public areas - Distance to sewers

- Distance from other hazardous substances- Distance to food and feed facilities

- Whether conditions currently at site or forecast over next 24 h- Injured people- Threat of fire- Determination of the response procedure- Mechanical: e.g. dredging, skimming, pumping- Physical: e.g. activated carbon or zeolites- Chemical: addition of a reactive chemical

ConclusionConclusion

1 1 General instruments for EM become more and General instruments for EM become more and more specific in their application to portsmore specific in their application to ports

2 Fast development in support systems2 Fast development in support systems

3 Networking among ports3 Networking among ports