Major Accidents and Disasters

Transcription

1 Major Accidents and Disasters in a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project 13 th July 2017 Juliet Mian Associate Director, Infrastructure Advisory Beth Emberton Senior Environmental Consultant

2 Overview Legislative Context NSIP Experience o Terminology o Baseline o Significance o Exclusions o Methodology Summary 2

3 Legislative Context Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 Devolved to England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Directive 2014/52/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 Includes England, Wales and for limited purposes Scotland Other legislation expected significant effects arising from the vulnerability of the proposed development to major accidents or disasters that are relevant to that development. TCP (EIA) Regs 2017 Part 1, 4(4) 3

4 Other Legislation Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASW). Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) 2015 Regulations. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999). Other UK safety related regulations within UK law, including for example the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989 No. 635) Other assessments Relevant information available and obtain through risk assessments pursuant EU legislation (TCP (EIA) Regs 2017 Schedule 4 Par 8) 4

5 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project Experience

6 Terminology Risk - defined as the likelihood of an impact occurring, combined with effect or consequence(s) of the impact on a receptor if it does occur. Major accident - events that threaten immediate or delayed serious damage to human health, welfare and/or the environment. Disaster - naturally occurring extreme weather events (e.g. storm, flood, temperature) or ground-related hazard events (e.g. subsidence, landslide, earthquake) with the potential to cause an event or situation. Disaster and natural disaster are used interchangeably. Serious damage - loss of life or permanent injury and/or permanent or long-lasting damage to an environmental receptor which cannot be restored through minor cleanup and restoration efforts. Forest Fires, Portugal, Source: The Telegraph Tōhoku earthquake, Japan, Source: Imgur Manchester, UK, 2015 Source: Independent Eschede, Germany 1998 Source: ITV.com 6

7 Baseline Risk Registers (TCP (EIA) Regs 2017 Schedule 4 Par 8). Consider the baseline of other disciplines. Features external to the scheme boundary. Existing features within the construction boundary which may pose a risk to the proposed development. Receptors. 7

8 Significance A significant adverse effect was considered to mean the loss of life or permanent injury, and/or permanent or long-lasting damage to an environmental receptor. Deepwater Horizon, US, Source: Guardian 8

9 Exclusions Low likelihood low consequence events, and high likelihood high consequence events as these should be addressed elsewhere. If there is no source pathway receptor linkage. Effects on employees working on site - developer should have other health and safety obligations implemented to protect them. Any impact that is local, temporary and reversible and as such is unlikely to be considered significant against criteria typically used in ES although this is project/site dependent.

10 Methodology Stage 1 Risk Identification Screening Risks Defining and documenting impact 10

11 Methodology Stage 2 Likelihood Review of risk mitigation measures, both pre- and post-event Risk management options 11

12 Summary 1. Begin with understanding of existing information. Don t set out to undertake an additional risk assessment if potential Major Accidents and Disaster risks are adequately covered elsewhere. 2. Focus on where there might be gaps in terms of environmental receptors not adequately considered. 3. Signpost to existing information if sufficient to demonstrate your conclusion. 4. Consider this exercise as a positive means to engage with and reassure stakeholders that unplanned events are considered. 12

13 13 Thank you