ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	Managing the Variance Process - Evaluation of Strategies Utilized on Two Major Pipeline Projects
AUTHOR(S):	Stephen Craycroft - scraycroft@essexenv.com Essex Environmental, Inc. Half Moon Bay, CA, USA George McLachlan - gamclachlan@duke-energy.com Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. Hampton, NH , USA Mike Tyrrell - mtyrrell@earthtech.com Earth Tech Concord, MA, USA
Designing, planning, permitting, and constructing large-scale linear construction projects poses tremendous challenges with identifying every contingency of detail for regulatory consideration and approval. As a result, no matter how well the project is planned and designed, minor amendments to project specifications to meet site-specific conditions and project needs, and approval of additional access roads and extra workspaces are often needed quickly during construction to facilitate construction progress, and to minimize resource impacts. An effective variance process provides the mechanism for obtaining rapid approvals for minor project changes during project construction. This paper evaluates the variance processes utilized on two large-scale construction projects in the natural gas pipeline industry. The Maritimes & Northeast Phase II Pipeline Project (Maritimes) and the TransColorado Gas Transmission Project, Phase II (TransColorado) developed and implemented effective strategies for managing variances during the projects. A summary of effective components of variance processes and strategies is provided as a guide for future projects. Keywords: Maritimes, compliance, inspection, TransColorado, constructability Ref#: 14-9