What happens after commissioning: environmental monitoring
Environmental monitoring starts before construction and continues while the plant runs. The three phases, what is measured and the mistakes that cost…
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Environmental monitoring
Checks before, during and after construction, for the plant's whole life.
Overview
The site ends, the environmental commitments don't
The environmental impact assessment decision can set conditions and monitoring activities that the applicant must carry out and document. Monitoring compares actual impacts with those forecast and makes it possible to correct course.
Set up well, it also produces knowledge of the site that is useful for running the plant.
The three phases
Before, during and after
The ante operam phase can't be recovered: if it starts late, there is no baseline for comparison.
| Phase | When | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Ante operam | Before construction | Captures the starting condition of each component |
| During construction | During construction | Checks temporary effects and allows quick action |
| Post operam | After the construction site is dismantled | Checks the effects with the plant running |
What is measured
It depends on the technology and the requirements
The mistakes to avoid
The ones that cost the most
01
Starting late
Migratory birds pass in specific seasons: missing one can delay construction by months.
02
Changing method
Different survey points and techniques between phases make the data impossible to compare.
03
Forgetting it in the budget
Monitoring lasts for years and must be in the financial plan from the start.
04
Not reporting the data
Clear, timely reports make dealings with the supervisory authorities easier.
Further reading
Find out more
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