**1. Introduction**

Critical infrastructures around the globe serve human beings in multiple aspects by supplying their essential needs for energy, water, food, healthcare, and transportation to name a few. These facilities are vital for the health, well-being, and economic growth of nations and are pivotal contributors to sustainable development. On the other hand, critical infrastructures can directly or indirectly affect the environment, economy, and society in a negative way [1–3]. For example, in the United States, almost 30% of all electricity is generated from coal. Coal power plants generate 42% of mercury emissions. This emission can damage the digestive, nervous, and immune systems, and is a critical threat to child development. While only 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat [4]. As seen in **Table 1**, the EPA reports show that only in 2014, US coal plants generated 45,676 pounds of mercury [5].

The negative impacts of critical infrastructure are not only environmental. The ripple effect of ecological degradation can significantly affect the health and


*\*Particulate matter.*

*\*\*Volatile organic compounds.*

#### **Table 1.**

*Pollutants created by coal plants in the in 2014 in the USA*

#### **Figure 1.**

*Factors causing a deviation from the predicted interaction of infrastructure with its surrounding environment.*


#### **Table 2.**

*The reasons for the shutdown of some nuclear power plants in the USA [8].*

well-being of human beings as well as the economy of the hosting community. For instance, in the example above the pollutants generated by the coal-fired power plants contribute to cancer, heart and lung diseases, neurological problems, and asthma, [4]. Additionally, the resultant acid rain can damage and degrade properties and affect the economy of neighboring areas.

Considering the immense impacts of critical infrastructure facilities on the sustainability triple bottom line [6], it is crucial to develop a comprehensive plan throughout the life-cycle of these facilities to maintain their sustainable performance. While these impacts are mainly studied and the strategies to control them

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sustainability.

**Figure 2.**

*Four critical infrastructures shutdown in the USA [8].*

*Maintaining the Sustainability of Critical Infrastructure DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85915*

are established at the pre-design phase [7], due to a large number of internal and external factors (see **Figure 1**), all the potential effects of critical infrastructure on

The impacts of the critical infrastructure on the economy, immigration, ecosystem, and environment may take a direction different from the forecasted scenarios. Examples are the shutdown of four nuclear power plants in the USA (see **Figure 2** and **Table 2**) which wasted billions of dollars from the taxpayers. The unpredictable aspects of infrastructure are primarily because many external factors that can impact the sustainability performance of infrastructure are not predictable. Additionally, the external factors can affect the tolerance of the hosting environment in dealing with the negative impacts. Hence, the sustainability maintenance plans of infrastructure must be updated to effectively respond to the changes and

**2. Best practices to maintain the sustainability of infrastructure projects**

This section discusses the best practices to maintain the sustainability of infrastructure projects during their service life. These practices are explained in five categories as it can be seen in **Figure 3**. In each category, the recommended policies and practices are sub-categorized and discussed. These practices can be applied to any infrastructure facility or specific ones. Facility managers, decision-makers, and maintenance operation personnel must understand the necessity of investing in the implementation of these practices and motivate other personnel to a collaborate effort for maintaining a high quality of service from the facility as well as minimizing the negatives impacts of the infrastructure on the triple bottom lines of

the sustainability cannot be predicted until the facility starts its operation.

decelerate the sustainability deterioration of critical infrastructure.

*Maintaining the Sustainability of Critical Infrastructure DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85915*

*Infrastructure Management and Construction*

*Pollutants created by coal plants in the in 2014 in the USA*

*\*Particulate matter. \*\*Volatile organic compounds.*

**Table 1.**

**14**

**Figure 1.**

*Factors causing a deviation from the predicted interaction of infrastructure with its surrounding environment.*

**start**

March 13, 1977

December 1973

**Shutdown year**

February 5, 2013

Clinton, Illinois 1987 June 1, 2017 Becoming extremely

1968 June 2013 Long time-repair and

**Reason of shutdown**

High price of repairs (\$3.44 billion)

high restart costs

uneconomical

May 7, 2013 No buyer for the plant

**Pollutant Hg SO2 NOx PM\* Pb Cd CO VOC\*\* As** Amount 45,676 3.1 × 106 1.5 × 106 197,286 41.2 9332 576,185 22,124 77,108 Unit pounds tons tons tons tons pounds tons tons pounds

well-being of human beings as well as the economy of the hosting community. For instance, in the example above the pollutants generated by the coal-fired power plants contribute to cancer, heart and lung diseases, neurological problems, and asthma, [4]. Additionally, the resultant acid rain can damage and degrade proper-

Considering the immense impacts of critical infrastructure facilities on the sustainability triple bottom line [6], it is crucial to develop a comprehensive plan throughout the life-cycle of these facilities to maintain their sustainable performance. While these impacts are mainly studied and the strategies to control them

ties and affect the economy of neighboring areas.

**Power plant name Location Operation** 

Florida

Kewaunee Wisconsin

San Clemente, California

*The reasons for the shutdown of some nuclear power plants in the USA [8].*

Crystal river Crystal river,

Kewaunee nuclear

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

Clinton Nuclear

station

Plant

**Table 2.**

#### **Figure 2.** *Four critical infrastructures shutdown in the USA [8].*

are established at the pre-design phase [7], due to a large number of internal and external factors (see **Figure 1**), all the potential effects of critical infrastructure on the sustainability cannot be predicted until the facility starts its operation.

The impacts of the critical infrastructure on the economy, immigration, ecosystem, and environment may take a direction different from the forecasted scenarios. Examples are the shutdown of four nuclear power plants in the USA (see **Figure 2** and **Table 2**) which wasted billions of dollars from the taxpayers. The unpredictable aspects of infrastructure are primarily because many external factors that can impact the sustainability performance of infrastructure are not predictable. Additionally, the external factors can affect the tolerance of the hosting environment in dealing with the negative impacts. Hence, the sustainability maintenance plans of infrastructure must be updated to effectively respond to the changes and decelerate the sustainability deterioration of critical infrastructure.
