ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	The Implementation of an Environmental Management System for Distribution Pipeline Construction
AUTHOR(S):	Mario Buszynski - mbuszynski@senes.on.ca Beak International Incorporated Brampton, ON, Canada
Most natural gas distribution pipelines are constructed in public rights-of-way such as road allowances. A common perception is that these rights-of-way have previously been disturbed and therefore construction will have minimal effect on the social and natural environment of these areas. In fact, there is a potential for significant impacts to the natural and social environment through possible erosion and sedimentation of watercourses, slope instability, damage to specimen trees, property damage and other issues. This paper describes the development and implementation of an Environmental Management System for pipeline projects by using the Orangeville Reinforcement Pipeline as a case study. It begins with a review of the environmental commitments made during the approval process and the mechanisms to ensure that these commitments are carried through the construction phase. A description of the pre-construction environmental activities is presented to illustrate the method by which environmental impacts are anticipated and remediated. The documentation and record keeping process is described and examples given to illustrate why this is a vital part of the management system. Examples are provided to illustrate how unanticipated environmental incidents are managed. Project completion activities are discussed, including recommendations for improvement and post-construction environmental monitoring studies. Keywords: Environmental Management Systems, Orangeville reinforcement pipeline, audit, risk Ref#: 14-8