Experiences from environmental risk management of chemical grouting agents used during construction of the Romeriksporten tunnel

Abstract This paper discusses experience gained from environmental risk management of grouting agents used in the construction of the Romeriksporten railroad tunnel. Technical feasibility studies had shown that grouting agents were an important measure against unacceptable water leakage in a construction project already facing unacceptable damaging of neighbouring structures, drainage of lakes, and levels of water pollution. Through the Romeriksporten project, a foundation for knowledge and understanding of the functionality, health, and environmental aspects of chemical grouting agents was established. The understanding of the environmental aspects was especially important, since the available environmental data for the products considered was limited, and the monitoring in Romeriksporten had shown that grouting agents were a significant source of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and di-n-butyl phthalate release to the environment. This paper presents experiences gained by a group of interdisciplinary experts involved in this project, hoping that it can be useful to planners of similar infrastructure projects. Systematic planning and investigation of the environmental consequences of the chemical to be used in such complex projects, risk communication to stakeholders, and training of workers can result in considerable savings of time, environment and costs. In future projects new environmental regulations will require environmental risk assessment of grouting chemicals to be an integrated part in the development and planning process of complex infrastructure construction projects.