Tunnel drainage waters The water from the tunnel is purified according to legal regulations, cooled and only then discharged into other bodies of water. This process is carried out in water treatment plants, part of a water protection system, located on the various construction sites. Furthermore, hydro-ecologically relevant accompanying parameters (e.g. pH value, ammoniacal nitrogen, turbidity, etc.) are continuously monitored by means of continuous measurements and by taking daily mixed samples which are analysed by a state-accredited testing and inspection body to ensure compliance with statutory limits. The measurements are continually forwarded to the pertinent authorities. All the data gathered can be seen in real time thanks to online monitoring. Protection of flora and fauna The construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel also impacts the habitats of animals and plants, particularly around spoil disposal sites. Most areas are only temporarily in use and are then restored to their original state. Bats have become increasingly rare and need special preservation measures – including the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), one of 24 species of bat in Tyrol. Before works began in the Padaster valley, BBT SE carried out widespread monitoring of the environmental situation. For the preservation of this species of bat, nesting boxes have been installed around the spoil disposal site. Environmental compensation measures The following environmental measures, which have added value both for the public as well as for nature, are being implemented during the construction of the Brenner base Tunnel. Revitalisation of the Tantegert marshy forest area Over the first six months of 2016, the Tantegert marshy wooded area near the Lanser Kopf summit, at the Tantegert tram stop, was restored in cooperation with the city of Innsbruck and private property owners. The water level of the artificially drained moorland was raised again and a space with two tarns was created. The grey elder forest was improved and foreign species were removed. The city of Innsbruck also built a barrier-free path around the moorland and installed display boards and rest areas, creating a barrier-free and high-quality local recreation area which can also be reached using public transport. Orchid meadow in the Padaster valley Small biotopes are a very important part of a linked biotope whole. They include orchid meadows, which can often be found in unfertilized, damp calcareous or alkaline grasslands. In the Padaster valley, BBT SE successfully transplanted a roughly 250 square metre orchid meadow, thus assuring its continued survival. 37 BRENNER BASE TUNNEL
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