Electronic reporting for environmental inspection

Electronic reporting for environmental inspection on natural gas pipeline construction programs has been used in the past on projects such as the Tuscorora Gas Pipeline Project (McCullough, 1997). Electronic reporting provides for rapid information exchange and the development of a search-capable database that documents environmental compliance. In addition, electronic reporting systems allow field and management staff to direct construction activity effectively within and between construction spreads. An electronic Environmental Inspection Reporting System (EIRS) was developed for use during the construction of the Alliance Pipeline System. The Canadian version (CanEIRS((C))) and its US counterpart (USEIRS(C)) were developed to document compliance with Certificate Terms and Conditions, Federal Regulations and Provincial and State issued permit conditions, and to allow for efficient exchange of environmental information. Key tools of the environmental construction management program have been highlighted, including reporting forms, the Daily Inspection Newspapers, and construction photographs. Environmental inspection reporting systems produced a daily "newspaper" that provided both management and construction supervisory personnel on each spread with the summary of the previous day's environmental inspection reports. These reports allowed the construction management team to quickly respond to compliance issues, identify trends, and keep informed on the day-to-day issues associated with this large construction project. The electronic reporting of environmental inspection enabled a compliance database to be established. The database provided for trend analysis and documentation of compliance and monitoring as a tool for reclamation planning and environmental post-construction report compilation. Through the use of the electronic reporting systems, Alliance was able to maintain a high level of environmental compliance in three Canadian provinces (on nine mainline spreads and the construction of the lateral system in Canada) and in four US states (on seven construction spreads).