PIANC WG 175—A Practical Guide to Environmental Risk Management (ERM) for Navigation Infrastructure Projects

In prior guidance, the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure’s (PIANC) Environmental Commission (EnviCom) developed procedures addressing various aspects of environmental risk assessment of dredging and dredged material disposal related to waterborne transport infrastructure. While providing a scientific basis for making decisions based on environmental risk assessment data, these reports did not specifically address methodologies for managing environmental risks. Recognizing this gap, an effort was undertaken through PIANC Workgroup 175 to develop a practical guide derived from existing methods and approaches to inform and assist decision makers managing environmental risk associated with waterborne transport infrastructure projects. Published in October 2019, the EnviCom WG 175 report A Practical Guide to Environmental Risk Management for Navigation Infrastructure Projects provides technical guidance to decision makers regarding the risk management process. The target audience for this guidance includes engineers, scientists, water resource managers, and other stakeholders and decision makers tasked with evaluating and managing environmental impacts of navigation and navigation-related infrastructure.