Environmental monitoring in the road influence zone - obligations and actual status

Abstract

Monitoring the state of the environment in the road's impact zone is a systematic measurement, examination, and assessment of indicators, i.e., monitoring of environmental parameters (water, air, soil, etc.). Monitoring and reporting on the state of the environment is a necessary condition for fulfilling legal reporting obligations in accordance with the adopted Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the section in question. Environmental monitoring based on the implementation of the adopted Environmental Management Plan for the road section. It defines the measurement program during the regular exploitation and maintenance of each environmental parameter separately, as well as the appropriate legal bases related to sampling and measurement procedures, execution methods, sampling locations, sampling time, and length.  Monitoring provides insight into the state of the environment in the zone of influence of the road section in question. Monitoring enables obtaining important information for undertaking appropriate protection measures in order to prevent or reduce further environmental pollution and establish an early warning system. The paper presents the activities undertaken in JP "Roads of Serbia" with an emphasis on the difference between the reporting obligations adopted as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study and the current situation on the ground, based on which the Monitoring Plan was agreed and adopted.