Work Package 5: Practice Document for Geotechnical Working Methods vs Environmental Impact

General
Environmental impact may arise as a result from geotechnical working methods such as vibration, compaction, grouting, injection, abstraction of water, land sealing, damming, drainage and the use of residues as alternative construction materials. In work package 5 (WP5) the overall objective of the activities is to minimize the risk for a severe environmental impact as a result from geotechnical works. Special attention is paid in this work package to the impacts on groundwater and surface waters. The final deliverable is a best practice document for evaluation of the environmental impact associated with geotechnical working methods, with specific references to the new Water Framework Directive (WFD) and to the specific conditions in each member country.

The WFD, which was enforced Oct 23 2001, highlights the need for a comprehensive approach for management of our surface- and groundwater resources to achieve the overall goal of "good status" in all waters. To identify and quantify significant anthropogenic environmental pressures at the level of a river basin and to enforce measures to prevent deterioration of ground- and surface water are key activities in the implementation of the WFD. The WFD will have a large influence on the future geotechnical works and the ambitions of WP5 are therefore also to:

- Raise the awareness from   owners, contractors and engineers of the
  future WFD and of the possible need to change current
  construction techniques and materials.

- To contribute with material that may influence the implementation of the
   WFD so that the regulators consider earthworks in a proper way.

Planned activities
The planned work is divided into four different sub packages, WP 5.1-5.4. The focus, scope and methodology of the WP5 were actively discussed at a workshop during the GEOTECHNET kick-off meeting held in Amsterdam April 15th of 2002. Jan Hartlén, being the work package leader presented the idea with WP5 and invited thereafter the ordinance to an open discussion. The general opinion was that the most important task during the first year is to do an inventory of the current situation in the different member states. The following activities defines the content of sub package WP5.1 "Inventory and overview of current situation":

- Establishing a matrix that lists the member countries versus the most
  commonly employed working methods.

- Establishing a matrix that lists relevant working methods
  versus associated environmental impact. 

- Establishing a matrix that lists the different member countries
   versus environmental assessment methods.

- Provide an overview of other organizations and networks
  that address similar questions.

- Provide a summary of all relevant information of the Water
  Directive and the ongoing work for developing common
  implementation strategies.

Information about the situation in the different countries will be gathered by sending out a questionnaire to the work package participants. A document that summarizes this first phase (WP 5.1) will be presented as an intermediate deliverable in November 2002.

The other sub-packages are:

WP 5.2. Development of evaluation method for environmental impact with specific reference to the Water Directive

WP 5.3. Evaluation of the environmental impact from the listed working methods and presentation of a first draft of the practice document.

WP 5.4. Presentation of practice document

Organization
Prof. Jan Hartlén is the leader of work package 5. Prof. Jan Hartlén is the owner of JH GeoConsulting AB, which is an independent consulting company with an annual turnover of almost 400,000 Euro. The company is engaged in complicated infrastructure projects providing expertise to clients, consultants and contractors.