New World First Bus Services Limited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Impact Assessment

New World First Bus Permanent Depot

at Chai Wan

Volume 2

 

Environmental Management Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:

Westwood Hong & Associates Ltd

Supported by

ERM-Hong Kong Ltd

 

 

 

DECEMBER 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION *

2. purpose of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) *

3. Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements *

3.1 Introduction *

3.2 Air Quality *

3.3 Noise *

3.4 Waste Management Plan *

3.5 Contamination Avoidance Plan *

3.6 Hazard *

4. Compliance with Legal Requirement *

4.1 Introduction *

4.2 Air Quality *

4.3 Noise *

4.4 Waste Management *

4.5 Land Contamination *

4.6 Hazard *

5. Environmental Management System (EMS) *

5.1 Introduction *

5.2 Background *

5.3 EMS Development and Implementation *

6. operational agreement *

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.3.1 Listing of Quiet PME items *

Table 4.2.1 Hong Kong Air Quality Objectives *

Table 4.3.1 Acceptable Noise Levels for day, evening and night periods *

Table 4.3.2 ANLs for Construction other than Percussive Piling, dB(A) *

Table 4.3.3 ANLs for daytime, evening and night-time periods *

Table 5.3.1 List of Environmental Aspects *

Table 5.3.2 Summary of Key Environmental Impacts and EMS Recommendations *

 

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1

Site Location

Figure 3.1

Proposed Bus Ingress/ Egress Routeing

LIST OF APPENDIX

Appendix A

Project Organisation

 

  1. INTRODUCTION

      1. The project is proposed to provide a new permanent depot building for bus parking, maintenance facilities and provision of office accommodation. The new depot is proposed to replace the existing bus depot at Chai Wan Road and the existing temporary bus servicing/parking site located to the south-west of the proposed project site. The location of the project site is shown in Figure 1.1.

      2. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the New World First Bus Permanent Depot at Chai Wan was prepared in response to the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-034/1999 issued to the New World First Bus Services Ltd (NWFB) on 23 July 1999 by the Hong Kong Government’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

      3. The Study Brief was issued based on the information provided in the Project Profile submitted by NWFB on 14 June 1999 under the statutory provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).

      4. The approach adopted by the EIA Study Team follows the requirements of the EIAO and is in compliance with the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIA-TM) issued under the EIAO.

      5. As part of the EIA Report, an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been prepared and the details are presented in the following Sections.

     

  2. purpose of Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

      1. An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is proposed for the construction and operation of the proposed NWFB Permanent Depot at Chai Wan to confirm the effectiveness of all the proposed mitigation measures in achieving satisfactory environmental performance. The EMP will:-

    1. include the Environmental Management and Audit (EM&A) requirements during the construction and operation phases as outlined in the EM&A Manual with recommendations for regular review and update;

    2. assure compliance with all relevant existing legislation, standards, guidelines, code of practices, environmental policy in Hong Kong;

    3. recommend the future operator of the proposed bus depot to develop and implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) and, be certified to internationally recognized standard; and

    4. include recommendations for specific operational agreement to be incorporated into the agreement between the Government and NWFB, to ensure its implementation.

  2. Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

    1. Introduction

      1. The EM&A requirement for the construction and operation of the depot are identified based on the findings and recommendations of the EIA Study. These will form the basis on which the NWFB’s environmental performance will be judged during later stages of the project. By the implementation of the EM&A requirement, it can be ensured that the recommendations in the EIA Study are correctly incorporated and the environmental impacts are adequately controlled.

      2. An Implementation Schedule of all the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA Report during the construction and operation phases is detailed in EM&A Manual. This schedule lists the proposed mitigation measure requirements, the location where the mitigation measure is to be implemented and the timing for the implementation, the implementation agent and the key EM&A requirements as outlined in the EM&A Manual of the project.

      3. A detailed EM&A Manual has been prepared under this EMP. The recommended mitigation measures and EM&A requirements to address environmental issues are summarised in the following sections.

       

    2. Air Quality

      1. Although the predicted results of the dust assessment are well within the HKAQO limits, the following control measures are recommended according to Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation to minimize the dust emissions for the construction works:-

    • Watering program - A watering program with a frequency of four times daily shall be provided to give a full coverage of these frequently trafficked areas, such as the entrance, exit and access road. Wheel-washing facilities including a "wheel-washing trough" and water jet spraying should also be provided at the exit of the site. Such a watering program, if effectively carried out, is capable of reducing dust emissions by about 50 per cent.

    • Good Site Practice - Stockpiles of dusty materials shall be adequately enclosed and be stored as far as practicable away from sensitive receptors. The load carried by vehicles should be covered by impervious sheeting to ensure no leakage of dusty materials from the vehicles. Enclosed chutes or hoists should be used to lower debris from upper floors.

      1. Continuous surveillance of the implementation of dust mitigation measures as mentioned above shall be carried out on a weekly basis to ensure effective control of dust emissions.

    1. Noise

      2. Construction Phase

      1. A limited amount of daytime noise monitoring for 30 active minutes on a bi-weekly basis shall be carried out. The preferred locations for noise monitoring would be at the HK Technical College (Chai Wan) and Staff Quarters, Heng Fa Chuen and Tsui Wan Estate.

      2. Although the predicted results of the construction noise assessment comply with the noise criterion, the following mitigation measures to reduce further the construction noise impact shall be adopted:-

Table .1 Listing of Quiet PME items

 

Powered Mechanical Equipment (PME)

Maximum SWL, dB(A) (or SPL at 7m)

Reference

Excavator

104

BS 5228: Part 1: 1997 Table 7

Lorry

105

BS 5228: Part 1: 1997 Table 7

Concrete Pumps

106

BS 5228: Part 1: 1997 Table 9

Concrete Mixers

92

BS 5228: Part 1: 1997 Table 9

Compressors

96

BS 5228: Part 1: 1997 Table 10

Generators

75

GW - TM CNP102

      1. Good site practice and noise management can considerably reduce the impact of the construction sites’ activities on nearby NSRs. The following measures shall be followed during each phase of construction:

    • only well-maintained plant shall be operated on-site and plant shall be serviced regularly during the construction programme;

    • machines and plant (such as trucks) that may be in intermittent use shall be shut down between work periods or shall be throttled down to a minimum;

    • plant known to emit noise strongly in one direction, shall, where possible, be orientated so that the noise is directed away from nearby NSRs;

    • silencers or mufflers on construction equipment shall be utilised and shall be properly maintained during the construction period;

    • mobile plant shall be sited as far away from NSRs as possible; and

    • material stockpiles and other structures shall be effectively utilised, where practicable, to screen noise from on-site construction activities.

Operational Phase

      1. The following mitigation measures are recommended to avoid adverse noise impact on the NSRs:-

    • Buses run through the nearby will adhere to the suggested routeing prepared by the Traffic Consultant (MVA (HK) Ltd) (Figure 3.1);

    • Buses will not be allowed to travel on the section of Shing Tai Road facing Heng Fa Chuen during mid-night return and early morning leaving;

    • Monitoring of operational plant to ensure the source terms derived for the operational noise assessment are achieved both in terms of the vendor’s sound power specifications and the operational and maintenance assumptions.

    2. Waste Management Plan

      1. This section summarises the waste management plan that are recommended to minimise potential adverse impacts associated with solid waste and wastewater arising from the construction and operation of the new depot.

        2. Solid Waste Management

      2. Waste Management Hierarchy – The various waste management options can be categorised in terms of preference from an environmental viewpoint.

    • The options considered to be more preferable have the least impacts and are more sustainable in a long term context. Hence, the hierarchy is as follows:-

    • avoidance and minimisation (i.e. avoiding or not generating waste through changing or improving processes, practices and design);

    • reuse of materials, thus avoiding disposal (generally with only limited reprocessing);

    • recovery and recycling, thus avoiding disposal (although some form of reprocessing is usually required); and

    • treatment and disposal, according to relevant laws, guidelines and good practice.

    • This hierarchy shall be used to evaluate waste management options, thus allowing maximum waste reduction and often reducing costs. For example, by reducing of eliminating over-ordering of construction materials, waste is avoided and costs are reduced both in terms of purchasing of raw materials and in disposing of wastes.

      1. Excavated materials – They are not considered likely to cause adverse impacts with respect to their disposal, since they will be delivered to public filling areas or other reclamation sites for reuse. Excavated materials shall be segregated from other wastes to avoid possible contamination, thereby allowing reuse on-site or at the public filling areas. The amount of excavated material to be generated from the construction activities will be small.

      2. Construction and Demolition Waste – In order to minimise waste arisings and keep environmental impacts within acceptable levels, the mitigation measures described below shall be adopted.

    • Careful design and planning and good site management can minimise over ordering and generation of waste materials such as concrete, mortars and cement grouts. The design of formwork shall maximise the use of standard wooden panels so that high reuse levels can be achieved. Alternatives such as steel formwork or plastic facing shall be considered to increase the potential for reuse.

    • The Contractor shall recycle and reuse as much as possible of the C&D material on-site. Proper segregation of wastes into different waste and material types on-site will increase the feasibility that certain components of the waste stream can be recycled by specialised contractors. Concrete and masonry, for example, can be crushed and used as fill and steel reinforcing bar can be used by scrap steel mills. Different areas of the site can be designated for such segregation and storage, depending on site-specific conditions.

    • The remaining inert materials shall be disposed of at public filling areas. Waste containing putrid materials shall be disposed of at landfill. At present, Government is developing a charging policy for the disposal of waste to landfill. When it is implemented, this will provide additional incentive to reduce the volume of waste generated and to ensure proper segregation to allow free disposal of inert material to public filling areas.

    • The requirements for the handling and disposal of bentonite slurries, construction effluent, sewerage and trade effluent should follow the Practice Note For Professional Persons: Construction Site Drainage, Professional Persons Consultative Committee, 1994 (ProPECC PN 1/94).

    • In order to monitor the disposal of C&D materials at public filling facilities and landfills, and control fly-tipping, a trip-ticket system shall be included in the tender document and implemented by the Environmental Team. Independent Checker (Environment) should be responsible for auditing the result of the system.

      1. Chemical Waste – The following mitigation measures shall be adopted to minimise chemical wastes:-

    • For those processes that generate chemical waste, it may be possible to find alternatives which generate reduced quantities or even no chemical waste, or less dangerous types of chemical waste.

    • Chemical wastes that is produced, as defined by Schedule 1 of the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation, should be handled in accordance with the Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical. Containers used for the storage of chemical wastes should:

    • be suitable for the substance they are holding, resistant to corrosion;

    • have a capacity of less than 450 litres unless the specifications have been approved by EPD; and

    • display a label in English and Chinese in accordance with instructions prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Regulation.

    • The chemical wastes will be segregated and stored in different containers, skips or stockpiles to enhance reuse or recycling of materials and their proper disposal. An on-site temporary storage area shall be provided.

    • The storage area for chemical wastes should:

    • be clearly labelled and used solely for the storage of chemical waste;

    • be enclosed on at least 3 sides;

    • have impermeable floor and bunding, of capacity to accommodate 110% of the volume of the largest container or 20% by volume of the chemical waste stored in that area, whichever is the greatest;

    • have adequate ventilation;

    • be covered to prevent rainfall entering (water collected within the bund must be tested and disposed of as chemical waste if necessary); and

    • be arranged so that incompatible materials are adequately separated.

    • Disposal of chemical waste shall be:

    • via a licensed waste collector; and

    • to a facility licensed to receive chemical waste which offers a chemical waste collection service and can supply the necessary storage containers; or

    • to a reuser of the waste, under approval from EPD.

      1. General Refuse – The following mitigation measures shall be adopted to minimise general refuse:-

    • General refuse generated on-site shall be stored in enclosed bins or compaction units separate from construction and chemical wastes. A reputable waste collector shall be employed by the Contractor to remove general refuse from the site, separately from construction and chemical waste, on a daily or every second day basis to minimise odour, pest and litter impacts. The burning of refuse on-site is prohibited by law.

    • General refuse is generated largely by food service activities on site, so reusable rather than disposable dishware shall be used if feasible. Aluminum cans are often recovered from the waste stream by individual collectors if they are segregated or easily accessible, so separate, labelled bins for their deposit shall be provided if feasible.

    • Office wastes can be reduced through recycling of paper if volumes are large enough to warrant collection. Participation in a local collection scheme shall be considered if one is available.

Wastewater Management

 

      1. Construction effluent including, inter alia, sewage and trade effluent arising from construction phase of the site will be treated to comply with ProPECC PN 1/94 and the Technical Memorandum under Water Pollution Control Ordinance. Wastewater generated from all operational processes including bus washing and kitchen will be treated with interceptors before discharging into government sewers for ultimate disposal. An in-house treatment system with oil interceptors and grease traps and independent drainage system to storage tanks shall be provided within the depot. The treated effluent discharge should be complied with the limits stipulated in the Technical Memorandum on Standards for Effluents Discharged into Drainage and Sewerage Systems, Inland and Coastal Waters under Water Pollution Control Ordinance.

      2. In view of the close proximity of Chai Wan Cargo Handling Basin, no discharge of waste or wastewater will be made directly into the basin during both construction and operational phases. The operation of the depot shall be designed in order to minimise the production of wastewater. This may include the implementation of recycling or reuse of the treated wastewater for operation within the depot and other management and operation practices that could help minimise the wastewater at source.

      3. Adequate soil and waste and rain water drainage system, including peripheral channel around the site, shall be provided for collection of drainage from the site. Adequately designed pretreatment facilities (e.g. oil interceptor, silt trap, etc) will be provided.

        4. Records of Wastes

      4. A recording system for the amount of wastes generated, recycled and disposal (including the disposal sites) will be proposed by NWFB with reference to the reporting requirements as given in Section 7.

        5. Training

      5. Training will be provided by NWFB to workers about the concepts of site cleanliness and appropriate waste management procedure. All site personnel will be encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle wastes.

        6. Audits

      6. It is recommended that auditing of each waste stream shall be carried out annually by an IC (Environmental) to determine if wastes are being managed in accordance with approved procedures and the site waste management plan and to see if waste reduction can be enhanced. The audits shall look at all aspects of waste management including waste generation, storage, recycling, transport and disposal.

 

    2. Contamination Avoidance Plan

      1. The following section summarises the contamination avoidance plan which is recommended to prevent land contamination associated with contaminants arising from the construction and operation of the new depot.

        2. Prevention Measures for Diesel Fuel Spillage

      2. The procedures proposed in sections 3.5.3 to 3.5.17 are procedures and instructions for handling diesel fuel with respect to prevention of land contamination. Parallel measures will also be undertaken to protect the health and safety of depot personnel and to minimise water pollution in the event of diesel fuel spillage.

        3. Tank Construction

      3. It is proposed that diesel fuel will be stored in a below ground double skinned tanks situated within a concrete pit. It is proposed that leak detection equipment to monitor the interstitial space in the double skinned tank will be provided.

        4. Operation Procedures

      4. The tank will be fitted with a filling line with an isolating valve and non-return valve. A tank drain will also be provided. The filling and drain valves will be kept closed and locked, and the keys will be kept under the control of the engineer-in-charge.

      5. The diesel fuel storage tank will be inspected daily. The inspection will cover:-

    • verification of valve positions and security; and

    • tank level checks (i.e. volume of diesel infilled, used and left in the tanks);

      1. Any leakage identified will be reported to the engineer-in-charge. The remaining diesel fuel in the leaking tank will immediately be transferred to appropriate containers. Daily inspection records of the tank will be kept in the site office.

      2. Tank integrity testing will be carried out on an annual basis by an independent qualified surveyor or structural engineer to ensure that the diesel fuel tanks are in good order.

        3. Tank Filling Operation

      3. Filling will be undertaken by experienced staff of the fuel company under supervision of the operator. The procedures will be as follows:-

    • The diesel fuel storage tank will be checked to ensure that the filling valves are closed and locked.

    • On receipt of confirmation from the diesel fuel storage tank area, the transfer valve will be opened on the diesel fuel storage tank. The fluid level of the storage tank will be monitored.

    • The diesel fuel tanker filling valve will be opened to start filling.

    • The level will be noted when the storage tank high level is reached.

    • The filling valve on the diesel fuel tanker and the transfer valve on the storage tank will be closed and the tank level recorded.

Handling Oily Waste and Sludge from Oil/Petrol Interceptor

      1. Oil/Petrol interceptors will be inspected on a daily basis. If oily waste or sludge is found to accumulate inside the interceptor, it will be reported to the engineer-in-charge. The oily waste or sludge will be removed under supervision. The sludge recovered will be put into drums and labeled as chemical waste, which will be collected and delivered by a licensed operator to a licensed chemical waste treatment facility (e.g. the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) at Tsing Yi) for disposal. A record of cleaning and disposal of sludge will be kept.

        2. Training and Exercises

      2. To ensure that appropriate actions are taken promptly in the event of diesel fuel spillage, and to prevent land contamination, training will be given to relevant staff so that they can respond effectively to the emergency situation. The training will cover:-

    • familiarisation with resources to combat diesel fuel spillage;

    • general methods to deal with diesel fuel spillage; and

    • procedures for emergency drills.

General Procedures

      1. Any spillage within the bus depot will be reported to the engineer-in-charge with the following details:-

    • location of spillage;

    • source and possible cause of spillage; and

    • extent of spillage.

      1. The engineer-in-charge will immediately tend to the spillage and initiate any appropriate health and safety and environmental actions to confine and clean up the spillage. The prime objectives in combating diesel fuel spill are:-

    • to identify and isolate the source of the spillage as soon as possible;

    • to contain the diesel fuel spillage and avoid infiltration into soil and discharge to sea;

    • to remove diesel fuel using absorbent materials;

    • to use dispersants to emulsify the diesel fuel, as required; and

    • to clean up the contaminated area using appropriate detergent.

 

Spillage During Tank Filling Operations

      1. Should spillage occur during filling of a storage tank, the filling procedures will immediately be stopped by closing the transfer and filling valves and the engineer-in-charge will be notified.

      2. Following inspection of the spillage, the engineer-in-charge will decide upon the best way to remove the spillage. Uncontaminated diesel will be recovered using a portable pump. Contaminated diesel not suitable for use as fuel will be removed using absorbent materials. The recovered material will then be put into drums, labeled as chemical waste and taken by a licensed collector to a licensed chemical waste treatment facility.

      3. If the spillage is to be removed via the oil (diesel) interceptor, this will be done in a controlled manner and staff will be posted at the spill and oil interceptor throughout the process. The flow of oil entering the interceptor will be controlled and monitored to ensure the satisfactory operation of the oil interceptor. When removal of the spillage is complete, the contaminated surface areas will be cleaned using suitable detergent.

        4. Diesel Fuel Spill Along the Pipelines

      4. In the event of a spillage along the diesel fuel pipelines, pumping should be stopped immediately and appropriate isolating valves closed. The spill product will then be removed using absorbent materials and put into appropriate drums, labeled as chemical waste, and then taken by a licensed collector to a licensed chemical waste treatment facility for disposal.

        5. Prevention Measures for Chemical Spillage

      5. The procedures proposed in sections 3.5.18 to 3.5.22 are procedures and instructions for handling chemicals with respect to prevention of land contamination. Parallel measures will also be undertaken to protect the health and safety of plant personnel and to minimise water pollution in the event of chemical spillage.

        6. Storage of Chemicals and Chemical Wastes

      6. The same preventative approach as stated in Section 3.4.6 will apply to the storage of chemicals and chemical wastes.

        7.  

        Emergency Procedures

      7. Any spillage will be reported to the engineer-in-charge who will attend to the spillage and initiate any immediate actions required to protect workers and to confine and clean up the spillage.

        8. Spillage/Leakage of Liquid Chemical/Waste at Storage Area

      8. Where the spillage/leakage is contained in the enclosed storage area, the material will be transferred back into suitable containers by appropriate equipment, such as hand-operated pumps, scoops or shovels. If the spillage/leakage quantity is small, it will be covered and mixed with suitable absorbing materials. The resultant slurry will be treated as chemical waste and transferred to suitable containers for disposal.

        9. Spillage/Leakage at Other Areas

      9. For spillage/leakage in other areas, immediate action will be taken to contain the spillage/leakage. Suitable absorbing materials will be used, as appropriate, to cover the spill. The resultant slurry will be treated as chemical waste and transferred in to containers for proper disposal.

      10. Areas that have been contaminated by chemical waste spillage/leakage will be decontaminated. For aqueous chemicals or wastes and water soluble organic waste, water will be used to clean the contaminated area. For organic chemical wastes that are not soluble in water, kerosene or turpentine will be used. The waste from the cleanup operation will be treated and disposal of as chemical waste.

        11. Recording of Incidents

      11. A detailed incident report will be compiled by the engineer-in-charge as soon as possible after any incident. The report will contain details of the incident, including an estimate of any amounts spilled, and any actions taken. The incident report will be used to evaluate any environmental impacts due to the spillage and to assess the effectiveness of the measures taken, so that improvements can be made to the response procedures for future incidents.

        12. Procedures for Disposal of Waste

      12. Used or expired chemicals, deteriorated synthetic lube oil, expired or non-usable paint and similar materials will be collected by a licensed collector and disposed of at a licensed chemical treatment facility. To avoid prolonged storage of chemical waste on site which may increase the potential for land contamination, waste will be removed from the depot on a regular basis.

        13. Audits

      13. It is recommended that auditing shall be carried out annually by an IC (Environmental) to determine if procedures and instructions in the contamination avoidance plan have been followed.

 

    1. Hazard

      1. The following recommendations shall be adopted to avoid potential hazard due to the operation of the bus depot:-

    • The following recommendations regarding the building design and layout shall be adopted to minimise the potential hazard impact:-

    • Openings on the side of the building facing the CRC oil terminal shall be minimised;

    • The materials used for the construction of the exterior of the building on the side facing the CRC oil terminal should be non-combustible;

    • Refueling area shall be segregated by drencher system, which can be activated by the operation of any heat detector along the drencher line of the associated protected compartment plus manual control;

    • For vehicle entry points, it shall be located on the sides of the building facing away from the oil terminal; and

    • Offices shall be located away from the oil terminal and re-fueling area.

    • Flammable materials shall be kept away from the refueling area.

    • Road tankers shall keep at low speeds in area around the Bus Depot to avoid collisions with other vehicles, tankers or objects.

    • An Emergency Plan shall be developed covering the following:-

    • types of incidents which could arise at the CRC oil terminal and the Bus Depot and their potential effects;

    • means of alerting occupants of the Bus Depot and Government Depot; roles and responsibilities of key personnel at the Bus Depot;

    • interface with external emergency services;

    • emergency control points;

    • evacuation arrangement;

    • ending of the emergency; and

    • communication arrangements.

    • Training shall be provided for key personnel involved in implementation of the emergency plan. Exercises, including fire drills, shall be regularly undertaken (at least once every 3 months) to enhance their capability to handle emergencies.

  2. Compliance with Legal Requirement

    1. Introduction

      1. There are environmental protection and pollution control laws in Hong Kong which the construction and operation activities shall comply with.

      2. In order that the works are in compliance with the legal requirements, all the works method statements submitted by the Contractor to the NWFB for approval shall be sent to the Environmental Team (ET) Leader for vetting to check whether sufficient environmental protection and pollution control measures have been included.

      3. The ET Leader shall also review the progress and programme of the works to check that relevant environmental laws have not been violated, and that the any foreseeable potential for violating the laws can be prevented.

    2. Air Quality

      3. Construction Dust Criteria

      1. According to Annex 4 of the "Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process" (EIA-TM), the Air Sensitive Receptors (ASRs) should meet the hourly TSP concentration of 500m g/m3 for construction dust impact assessment.

        2. Air Pollution Control Ordinance

      2. Air quality is regulated under the provisions of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO). Under the current legislation, the Hong Kong Air Quality Objectives (HKAQO) provides the statutory AQOs for different air pollutants, as shown in Table 4.2.1.

      Table .1 Hong Kong Air Quality Objectives

       

      Concentration in micrograms per cubic metre (i)

      Pollutant

      1 Hour (ii)

      8 Hours (iii)

      24 Hours (iii)

      3 Months (iv)

      1 Year (iv)

      Sulphur Dioxide

      800

      		  

      350

      		  

      80

      Total Suspended Particulate

      		    

      260

      		  

      80

      Respirable Suspended Particulate (v)

      		    

      180

      		  

      55

      Carbon Monoxide

      30000

      10000

      		      

      Nitrogen Dioxide

      300

      		  

      150

      		  

      80

      Photochemical Oxidants (as ozone) (vi)

      240

      		        

      Lead

      		      

      1.5

      		  

      Notes : (i) Measured at 298K(25o C) and 101.325 kPa (one atmosphere).

      (ii) Not to be exceeded more than three times per year.

      (iii) Not to be exceeded more than once per year.

      (iv) Yearly and three monthly figures calculated as arithmetic means.

      (v) Respirable suspended particulate means suspended particles in air with nominal aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres and smaller.

      (vi) Photochemical oxidants are determined by measurement of ozone only.

    3. Noise

      1. The principal legislation for the control of construction and operation noise is given in the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO). The guidelines for the assessment of construction and operational noise are given in the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO). Various Technical Memoranda (TMs), which stipulate the control approaches and criteria have been issued under the NCO and EIAO. The following TMs are applicable to the control of noise from construction activities and plant operation:-

    • Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIA-TM);

    • Technical Memorandum on Noise from Construction Work other than Percussive Piling (GW-TM);

    • Technical Memorandum on Noise from Construction Work in Designated Areas (DA-TM);

    • Technical Memorandum on Noise From Percussive Piling (PP-TM); and

    • Technical Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from Places other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites (IND-TM).

Construction Noise Criteria

      1. Construction work should comply with the requirements of the NCO, EIA-TM, GW-TM and DA-TM as the site lies within the Designated Area.

      2. Noise standards for daytime construction activities are given in Table 1B of the EIA-TM. The noise standards are dependent on the uses of the NSRs. The day-time construction noise (on any day not being a Sunday or general holiday) should be limited to 75dB(A) (Leq, 30-mins) at the sensitive residential buildings with opened windows and, 70dB(A) and 65dB(A) (during examinations) at the school and educational buildings in the neighbourhood, as given in Table 4.3.1. EIA-TM states that the noise criteria for construction or decommissioning of designated projects, shall be met as far as practicable. All practicable mitigation measures shall be exhausted and the residual impacts are minimized.

        3. Table .1 Acceptable Noise Levels for day, evening and night periods

         

         

        Noise Standards, dB(A), Leq (30 mins)

        Uses

        0700 to 1900 hours on any day not being a Sunday or general holiday

        1900 to 0700 hours or any time on Sundays or general holiday

        All domestic premises including temporary housing accommodation

        75

        (see Note 3)

        Hotels and hostels

        75

        (see Note 3)

        Educational institutions including kindergartens, nurseries and all others where unaided voice communication is required

        70

        65

        (during exam.)

        (see Note 3)

        Note 3: The criteria laid down in the relevant technical memoranda under the Noise Control Ordinance for designated areas and construction works other than percussive piling may be used for planning purpose. A Construction Noise Permit (CNP) shall be required for the carrying out of the construction work during the period.

      3. GW-TM will cover the use of specified powered mechanical equipment (PME) including compressors, bored piling, concrete pumps, concrete mixers, generators, excavators, etc.

      4. DA-TM governs construction works to be carried out within a Designated Area during restricted hours. It covers Prescribed Construction works including erection or dismantling of formwork or scaffolding; loading, unloading or handling of rubble, wooden boards, steel bars, wood or scaffolding material; and hammering. As the entire reclamation site lies outside the Designated Areas, DA-TM does not apply. Construction activities during restricted hours will need to comply with GW-TM only.

      5. A Construction Noise Permit (CNP) is required for any construction work carried out during the night-time (2300 to 0700 hours), evening (1900 to 2300 hours) and any time on general holidays, including Sunday.

      6. The control of percussive piling is governed at all times by PP-TM.

      7. The NCO requires that the construction noise levels to comply with the specified Acceptable Noise Level (ANL) as given in GW-TM and DA-TM. The ANL is dependent on the Area Sensitivity Rating for the NSR.

        8.  

      8. The ANLs from GW-TM for Construction other than Percussive Piling are given in Table 4.3.2 with no correction applied to allow for noise contribution from construction work associated with more than one CNP. The Authority should be approached for clarification of an appropriate correction for multiple permit situations.

        9. Table .2 ANLs for Construction other than Percussive Piling, dB(A)

         

        Area Sensitivity Rating (ASR)

        Time Period

        A

        B

        C

        All days during the evening (1900 to 2300 hours), and general holidays (including Sundays) during the day-time and evening (0700 to 2300 hours)

        60

        65

        70

        All days during the night-time (2300 to 0700 hours)

        45

        50

        55

      9. In addition, other noise regulations, Noise Control (Hand held percussive breakers) Regulations and Noise Control (Air Compressors) Regulations govern the noise from hand held breakers and air compressors on compliance with the relevant noise emission standards and the fixing of noise emission labels.

        10. Traffic Noise Criterion

      10. In the EIA-TM, peak hour maximum noise levels of 70dB(A) L10 at the facades of domestic premises and 65dB(A) L10 at educational institutions are recommended. These noise limits apply to premises relying on open windows as the primary means of ventilation.

        11. Operational Noise Criteria

      11. The EIA-TM specifies that noise from fixed sources under planning should be 5dB(A) below the ANL listed in Table 2 of the IND-TM or the prevailing background noise level. Therefore, the potential noise impact due to the proposed bus depot shall be 5dB(A) less than the value given in Table 4.3.3, i.e. 60dB(A) during day-time and 50dB(A) during night-time as ASR for the proposed site is "B".

Table .3 ANLs for daytime, evening and night-time periods

 

Area Sensitivity Rating (ASR)

Time Period

A

B

C

Day (0700 to 1900 hours) and evening (1900 to 2300 hours)

60

65

70

Night (2300 to 0700 hours)

50

55

60

 

    2. Waste Management

      1. The criteria for evaluating potential waste management implications are laid out in Annex 7 of the EIA-TM. The following legislation covers the handling, treatment and disposal of wastes will also be considered in the assessment:-

    • Waste Disposal Ordinance;

    • Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation;

    • Crown Land Ordinance;

    • Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance – Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances (Urban Council) and (Regional Council) By-laws; and

Waste Disposal Ordinance

      1. The Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) prohibits the unauthorised disposal of wastes, with waste defined as any substance or article which is abandoned. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is not directly defined in the WDO but is considered to fall within the category of rade waste". Trade waste is defined as waste from any trade, manufacturer or business, or any waste building, or civil engineering materials, but does not include animal waste.

      2. Under the WDO, wastes can only be disposed of at a licensed site. A breach of these regulations can lead to the imposition of a fine and/or prison sentence. The WDO also provides for the issuing of licences for the collection and transport of wastes. Licences are not, however, currently required to be issued for the collection and transport of C&D waste or trade waste.

        3. Waste Disposal (Chemical) (General) Waste Regulation

      3. Chemical waste as defined under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation includes any substance being scrap material, or unwanted substances specified under Schedule 1 of the Regulation if such substance or chemical orrurs in such a form, quantity or concentration so as to cause pollution or constitute a danger to health or risk of pollution to the environment.

      4. A person should not produce, or cause to be produced chemical wastes unless he is registered with the EPD. Any person who contravenes this requirement commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction for a first offence, to a fine of up to HK$200,000 and to imprisonment for up to 6 months.

      5. Producers of chemical wastes must treat their wastes, utilising on-site plant licensed by the EPD, or have a licensed collector take the wastes to a licensed facility. For each consignment of wastes, the waste producer, collector and disposer of the wastes must sign all relevant parts of a computerised trip ticket. This system is designed to allow the transfer of wastes to be traced from cradle to grave.

      6. The Regulation prescribes the storage facilities to be provided on-site, including labelling and warning signs. To minimise the risks of pollution and danger to human health or life, the waste producer is required to prepare and make available written procedures to be observed in the case of emergencies due to spillage, leakage or accidents arising from the storage of chemical wastes. He must also provide employees with training in such procedures.

        7. Crown Land Ordinance

      7. Construction and demolition materials which are wholly inert may be taken to public filling areas. Public filling areas usually form part of land reclamation schemes and are operated by the Civil Engineering Department (CED). The Crown Land Ordinance requires that public filling licences are obtained by individuals or cimpanies who deliver inert C&D material (or public fill) to public filling areas. The licences are issued by the CED under delegated powers from the Director of Lands.

      8. Individual licences and windscreen stickers are issued for each vehicle involved. Under the licence conditions public filling areas will accept only inert building debris, soil, rock and broken concrete. There is no size limitation on the rock and broken concrete, and a small amount of timber mixed with other suitable materials is permissible. The material shall, however, be free from marine mud, household refuse, plastic, metal, industrial and chemical wastes, animal and vegetable matter and any other materials considered unsuitable by the public filling supervisor.

        9. Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances by-laws

      9. These by-laws provide a further control on the illegal tipping of wastes on unauthorised (unlicensed) sites. The illegal dumping of wastes can lead to fines of up to HK$10,000 and imprisonment for up to 6 months.

        10. Additional Guidelines

      10. Other "guideline" documents which detail how the contractor should comply with the regulations are as follows:-

    • Waste Disposal Plan for Hong Kong (December 1989), Planning, Environment and Lands Branch Government Secretarial;

    • Environmental Guidelines for Planning in Hong Kong (1998), Hong Kong Planning and Standards Guidelines, Hong Kong Government;

    • New Disposal Arrangements for Construction Waste (1992), Environmental Protection Department & Civil Engineering Department;

    • Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes (1992), Environmental Protection Department;

    1. Land Contamination

      1. Assessments of land contamination sources and the potential impacts of particular development projects are investigated in accordance with EPD requirements as specified in the EIAO, its "Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process" (EIA-TM), and ProPECC PN 3/94.

      2. The following legislation, EPD guidelines codes of practice are related to the management of wastes in Hong Kong and provide good waste management practices for prevention of land contamination problems:-

    • Waste Disposal Ordinance, in particular the Water Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General Regulation);

    • Water Pollution Control Ordinance, in particular Part III on prohibited discharges and deposits;

    • A Guide to the Chemical Waster Control Scheme;

    • A Guide to the Registration of Chemical Waster Producers;

    • Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labeling and Storage of Chemical Wastes;

    • Code of Practice on Handling, Transportation and Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Waste;

    • Code of Practice on the Handling, Transportation and Disposal of Asbestos Waste; and

    • Technical Memorandum on Standards for Effluents Discharged into Drainage and Sewerage System, Inland and Coastal Waters.

    1. Hazard

      1. The criterion for hazard to human life is to meet the Risk Guidelines as per Annex 4 of EIA-TM, i.e. maximum level of off site individual risk should not exceed 1 in 100000 per year (or 1 x 10-5 / year).

  2. Environmental Management System (EMS)

    1. Introduction

      1. It is recommended that NWFB shall develop and implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) for the new bus depot so as to achieve satisfactory environmental performance. This section presents an outline EMS which provides a framework for the detailed EMS to be developed by NWFB before the commissioning of the new depot.

    2. Background

      1. Based on the findings of the EIA Report, the potential environmental impacts of the operation of the NWFB have been identified and evaluated with recommendations given. The EMS shall be developed and implemented to ensure all the potential environmental impacts are controlled. In summary, this can be achieved through both implementation of control procedures/practices and the design of the following facilities and programme:-

    • Noise control;

    • Solid waste handling system;

    • Wastewater handling system; and

    • Ventilation System;

      1. NWFB should ensure these facilities and programme are properly operated and maintained in accordance with the relevant operational requirements and targets. In addition, the potential environmental impacts and effectiveness of the mitigation measures should be monitored according to specific performance objectives, i.e. legal requirements and guidelines.

      2. It is recommended that NWFB shall develop an EMS with reference to the requirements of "ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems – Specification with Guidance for use" published by the International Organisation for Standardisation, "A Simple Guide to Set Up an Environmental Management System", Green Manager in Business" and "A Guide to Environmental Reporting for Controlling Officers" published by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

      3. The EMS should form one of the components of the overall management system of NWFB. It provides a systematic approach to the organisational requirements of such a system through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibilities and continual evaluation in order to control the environmental impacts resulting from the operation of new bus depot. The success of the EMS will depend on commitment from all levels of the organisation.

      4. The objective of the EMS is to achieve continual improvement in environmental performance through the establishment of objectives and targets. NWFB’s approach to the development of the EMS is detailed in the following sections.

 

    1. EMS Development and Implementation

      1. Development of an EMS in advance of operational activities is unusual. The implication is that certain elements of the ISO 14001 Standard are impossible to be addressed in full at this stage. NWFB therefore should try to develop an EMS for the operations of NWFB through the following three stages:-

        2. Stage 1 Identification of Environmental Aspects

        Stage 2 EMS Design and Development

        Stage 3 EMS Implementation and Training

        Stage 1 Identification of Environmental Aspects

      2. The fundamental element of an EMS is the control of the significant environmental aspects. The identification of environmental aspects has been based on the findings of the EIA Report. A list of environmental aspects indicating the potential environmental impacts associated with the operation of the NWFB has been drafted and presented in the following Table 5.3.1.

        3. Table .1 List of Environmental Aspects

         

        Potential Environmental Impacts

        Concern Areas

        Air Quality

        Noise

        Waste

        Land Contamination

        Hazard

        Resources

        Exhaust emissions (from ventilation system and buses)

         

        3

        		         

        Noise emissions (from maintenance areas, workshops, plantrooms, vehicles and air grilles)

        		  

         

        3

        		       

        Material storage

        		      

        3

        		   

        Waste management

        		    

        3

        3

        		   

        Wastewater management (process water from bus washing, depot cleaning, kitchen and toilet)

        		    

         

        3

        		     

        Spillage (from fuel storage system and during refueling)

        		      

         

        3

         

        3

        		 

        Energy/material usage

        		          

        3

        Abnormal operation/Emergency

        		          

        3

        Stage 2 EMS Design and Development

      3. As the operation of bus depot has not yet commenced, the EMS will be developed in advance of the operational activities. Once the operation of the depot commences in August 2001, the EMS will be reviewed and amended where necessary in light of the actual practices/procedures of the depot.

      4. The following steps will be completed during the EMS design and development. The organisation for the EMS is given in Appendix A.

    1. Appoint a Green Manager to take responsibilities for the environmental performance of NWFB.

    2. Set up a Green Management Committee which comprises representatives from different functional or divisions of NWFB. This committee should take responsibility for managing the environmental issues of NWFB under the chairmanship of the Green Manager.

    3. Review the significance of the identified environmental aspects as presented in Table 5.3.1. Prepare a list of significant environmental aspects indicating potential environmental impacts which provides the basis for the EMS design and provides the focus for drafting environmental policy, establishing objectives and targets, operation controls for ultimately achieving continual environmental improvement.

    4. A list of legal and other requirements to which NWFB must be confirmed. NWFB should ensure that all relevant staff have the necessary knowledge and access to this information. A draft list of legal requirement is presented in Section 4.

    5. Finalise the Environmental Policy which will demonstrate the organisation’s commitment to improve it’s environmental performance, compliance with relevant environmental legislation and continual improvement. A Environmental Policy usually address a combination of the following:-

    • Meet all relevant regulatory and legislative requirements.

    • Reduce waste and consumption of resources (materials, fuel and energy), recover and recycle, where feasible.

    • Minimise the production of pollutants to the environment.

    • Adopt technologies and raw materials that will minimise pollution, energy use and waste.

    • Design products in such a way to minimise their environmental effects in production, use and disposal.

    • Minimise the adverse environmental effects of new developments through strategic planning.

    • Provide environmental education and training.

    • Work towards the achievement of sustainable development.

    1. Review and develop where appropriate operational controls focusing on the list of significant environmental aspects. Operational controls shall include but not limited to the following aspects. The operational controls recommended in the EMS requirements as detailed in the EIA Report are presented in the Table 5.3.2. NWFB should develop the EMS based on but not limited to the recommendations given in the table.

    • Air control

    • Noise control

    • Waste management

    • Wastewater management

    • Maintenance of equipment

    • Emergency preparedness and response – emergency situations include mulfunctioning of equipment facilities, adverse weather, spillage, etc.

    1. Identify objectives and targets to translate the environmental policy to a more specific, tangible and measurable basis for implementation in order to achieve the aim of continual improvement in environmental performance.

    2. Environmental Programme will be formulated and implemented for the achievement of the objectives and targets identified. Various kinds of Environmental Programme includes Environmental Awareness Programme, Environmental Training Programme, Energy Reduction Programme, Communication Programme Supporting Compliance, Staff Suggestion Programme, etc.

    3. An EMS Audit Programme and procedures shall be established and maintained to determine whether the EMS has been properly implemented. The audit programme, including schedule, shall be based on the environmental importance and the results of previous audits. In order to be comprehensive, the audit procedures shall cover the audit scope, frequency and methodologies, as well as the responsibilities and requirements for conducting audits and reporting results.

    4. The EMS shall be reviewed once every 3 years to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. The management review process shall ensure that the necessary information is collected to allow management to carry out this evaluation. This review shall be documented. The management review shall address the possible need for changes to policy, objectives and other elements of the EMS, in the light of EMS audit results, changing circumstances and the commitment to continual improvement.

    5. Preparation of the EMS documentation including the following:-

    • EMS Manual

    • System procedures including but not limited to non-conformance handling, environmental aspects identification and evaluation, EMS audit, monitoring and measurement, document control procedures, etc.

    • Non-system (operational) procedures including but not limited to procedures for waste handling, operation and maintenance of relevant equipment, etc.

    • Environmental policy

    • List of significant environmental aspects

    • List of legal requirements

    • Objectives and targets

    • Environmental management programmes

    • EMS audit programme

    • Management review record

 

 

Table .2 Summary of Key Environmental Impacts and EMS Recommendations

Key Environmental Impact Areas

EMS Recommendations

Legal Requirement/ Guideline/ Reference

Air
  • Depot Ventilation
  • The fresh air inlets should be at the location that they can capture fresh air of a quality which is comparable to the ambient background level. They should be away from any major air pollution sources such as busy roads or polluted air outlets.
  • The exhaust air outlets should be located away from nearby residents or other receptors to avoid causing an air pollutant nuisance.
  • Inside the depot, the fresh air delivery outlets should be positioned at a low level to discharge fresh air towards the occupants, whereas the extraction openings should be placed at high level. The fresh air outlet and the extraction openings should be placed as far away from each other as possible, and should be configured to avoid air short circulation.
  • Inspection and maintenance of the ventilation system should be carried out at regular intervals, to ensure proper operation of the ventilation system and minimize breakdown time.
  • A proper fan operation schedule should be provided and the schedule should be reviewed once every three months, or a pollution level interlocked fan operation system, to ensure that there is always sufficient ventilation.
  • Idling Emissions - instruction should be given to all drivers using the depot to switch off the vehicle engines while waiting.

N/A
 
  • Buses Emission
  • A fleet rejuvenation programme involving 500 new environmentally friendly buses to be implemented.
  • A refurbishment programme comprising engine conversion programme, catalytic converter installation and saloon renovation, to reduce exhaust emissions of the relatively old NWFB air-conditioned buses as much as possible and to pursue a less polluted environment.
  • NWFB will explore the introduction of Euro III engines, the most advanced engine design which is being tested in Europe; for delivery of buses in 2000 and beyond.
  • Engines of 20 old air-conditioned buses, which are below Euro II standard, will be upgraded towards the equivalent of Euro II standard by replacing the old with new engines. Adding to the engine conversion, catalytic converters (CATs) will be installed onto the 177 older buses to enable a further reduction of exhausts by 45-50%.

N/A
 
  • Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD)
  • NWFB will explore the introduction of Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD). ULSD is being used in the UK by FirstGroup, the UK partner of NWFB and has been proven to be as environmentally friendly as liquefied petroleum gas, when used with Euro II engines.

N/A

Noise
  • Plant Noise
  • On-site plant noise survey should be conducted on completion of commissioning of the new depot at a period of peak demand. Further surveys should be carried out following any significant changes in depot design or operational procedures.

NCO
 
  • Fixed Plant
  • For the design of fixed plant noise control treatment, the plant noise emanating from workshops, plantrooms, fresh air intake and discharge air grilles shall be controlled to 50dB(A), measured at 1m from the affected façade of the NSRs in the vicinity and the Development. This will meet the (ANL – 5) limit of 50dB(A) during night-time.

NCO
 
  • Bus Movement
  • To avoid bus movement at the roof level during mid-night return and early morning leaving.

N/A

Waste
  • General refuse
  • Careful design and planning and good site management can minimise over ordering and generation of waste materials.
  • Reduce, reuse and recover as much as possible, e.g. reuse labelled bins, recover aluminium cans, recycle of paper, etc.

N/A
 
  • Chemical waste
  • Find alternatives which generate waste in reduced quantities or even no chemical waste.

N/A
 
  • Process water
  • Good depot operation practice to minimise amount of water use for bus washing facilities.
  • About 80% of the used water from bus wash facilities will be recycled.

N/A

Spillage
  • Fuel storage system and refueling
  • Best practices and comprehensive training to minimise the chance of spillage.

N/A

Resource consumption
  • Electricity
  • Best practices

N/A
 
  • Emergency Generators
  • Best practices and maintenance

N/A

Stage 3 EMS Implementation and Training

      1. The EMS will be implemented with reference to the requirements of the ISO 14001 Standard. EMS implementation is a tool which provides opportunities for continual improvement of the system through regular monitoring audit, identification of non-conformance, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions. Management Reviews are necessary to carry out once every 3 years to report and review the management performance of the new depot. In addition to information including environmental policy and environmental monitoring data, NWFB will consider to submit further environmental information to the Government should it deem to be necessary.

      2. The following five types of training will be provided to relevant employees of the depot in order to ensure that the EMS can be implemented as required. One of the first three types of the training together with emergency preparedness training and operation training will form an integrated training programme.

    1. EMS Awareness and On-the job Training – An EMS awareness training course will be provided to all staff to ensure all employees are aware of the importance of conformance with the environmental policy and procedures, and with the requirements of the environmental management system.

    2. EMS Implementation Training – The training will be aimed at the middle management level staff who will be responsible for implementing and checking the EMS on an continuing basis. The purpose is to provide such managerial staff with a sound understanding of the EMS concept and its implication with respect to day-to day operations.

    3. EMS Audit Training – ISO 14001 requires that the EMS is regularly audited by trained personnel. An audit training course will be provided which aims at training a number of employees who are designated EMS as auditors. The course will include both lectures and workshops.

    4. Emergency Preparedness Training – Recruited staff will be instructed of the necessary emergency handling procedures, as partial fulfillment of the requirement for recruitment.

    5. Operation Training – Operation training will be provided to all levels of staff. It will involve practical training and familiarisation on site.

  2. operational agreement

      1. NWFB agree to minimise the off-site traffic noise impact on the nearby NSRs by proper routeing to avoid buses passing the section of Shing Tai Road facing Heng Fa Chuen during mid-night return and early morning leaving. Following completion of the road network the proposed bus routeing is shown in Figure 3.1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix A

Project Organisation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMS Organisation