Environmental challenges facing the Central Artery/Tunnel Project

Numerous environmental challenges must be overcome during development and implementation of the Central Artery/ Tunnel Project in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). These challenges occur both during the construction of the project and upon completion, during the operation of the project. During the construction phase of the project more than 500 environmental regulatory approvals and permits must be acquired in accordance with an aggressive, fast-track construction schedule. Compliance with all of these approvals and permits must be assured in order to avoid regulatory enforcement actions and resultant schedule delays and cost increases. Assuring regulatory compliance is not only complicated by the large volume of permits and regulatory commitments, but by the location of the project in a densely populated urban area with considerable marine construction required. Detailed compliance assurance and inspection programs have been developed in the areas of air quality control, storm water runoff and dewatering discharge treatment and control, construction noise control, fish and wildlife management, and materials disposal. Many of these programs have lead to the development of compliance methods worthy of consideration by other projects. This paper focuses upon the implementation phase of the project, after the conceptual approval for the project had been achieved. Operation of the completed project is also regulated. These impacts are primarily in the areas of air quality related to tunnel ventilation, traffic noise, and storm water runoff management. Both acquisition of permits and regulatory approvals and compliance assurance functions are performed by a centralized group as part of the management consultant team for the project.