9.1.1
This section
further elaborates the requirements of environmental monitoring and audit
(EM&A) for the construction and operation phases of the Project, based on
the assessment results of the various environmental issues. The objectives of carrying out EM&A for
the Project include the following:
·
provide a database against which any short or long term
environmental impacts of the Project can be determined;
·
provide an early indication should any of the
environmental control measures or practices fail to achieve the acceptable
standards;
·
monitor the performance of the Project and the effectiveness
of mitigation measures;
·
verify the environmental impacts predicted in the
Environmental Study;
·
determine project compliance with regulatory
requirements, standards and government policies;
·
take remedial action if unexpected problems or unacceptable
impacts arise; and
·
provide data to enable an environmental audit.
9.1.2
The following
sections summarise the recommended EM&A requirements for the Project. Details of the specific requirements are
provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
9.2.1
Potential
dust impacts would be generated mainly from excavation, material handling and
wind erosion from the site.
9.2.2
With the
implementation of mitigation measures stipulated in the Air Pollution Control
(Construction Dust) Regulation, no adverse air quality impact arising from
construction works would be expected.
Hence, no air quality monitoring would be required during construction
of the Project. It is recommended that
regular site inspections be undertaken to inspect the construction activities
and works areas in order to ensure all the recommended mitigation measures as
stipulated in the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation are
properly implemented.
9.3.1
Construction noise
impacts from this Project were predicted at the identified NSRs. Appropriate
mitigation measures would be required in order to alleviate the noise impacts
to meet the EIAO-TM criteria. Noise monitoring during construction phase should
be carried out to ensure such mitigation measures would be implemented
properly.
9.3.2
Noise
monitoring stations are proposed in the vicinity of Pak Ngau Heung River, Tai
Tei Tong River, Luk Tei Tong River and Luk Tei Tong By-pass Channel. The
construction noise level measured in terms of the A-weighted equivalent
continuous sound pressure level Leq(30 min) shall be used as the monitoring
parameter for the time period between 0700-1900 hours on normal weekdays.
Detailed monitoring requirements are addressed in a stand-alone EM&A
Manual.
9.4.1
The water
quality assessment concluded that the identified water quality impacts could be
minimized by implementing the recommended working method controls and mitigation
measures for the river channel drainage improvement works. No unacceptable residual water quality
impact was expected. Any effluent
discharges from the site would be required to comply with the terms and
conditions of a discharge licence, issued by EPD, under the WPCO.
9.4.2
The
monitoring of downstream water quality during the construction activities in
the upper sections of the river channels was recommended since the river
channels discharge into Silver River which ultimately discharges into Silver
Mine Bay. In addition, it was
recommended that regular site inspections be undertaken to inspect the
construction activities and works areas in order to ensure the recommended
mitigation measures are properly implemented.
9.5.1
Waste
management would be the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that all wastes
produced during the construction of the proposed drainage improvement works are
handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with the recommended good waste
management practices and EPD’s regulations and requirements. The mitigation measures recommended in
Section 6 should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be
developed by the Contractor at the construction stage.
9.5.2
It was
recommended that the waste arisings generated during the construction
activities should be audited periodically to determine if the wastes are being
managed in accordance with approved procedures and the site Waste Management
Plan. The audits should look at all aspects
of waste management including waste generation, storage, transport and
disposal. An appropriate audit
programme would be to undertake a first audit near the commencement of the
construction works, and then to audit on a quarterly basis thereafter. In addition, the routine site inspections
should check the implementation of the recommended good site practices and
other waste management mitigation measures.
9.6.1
The proper implementation
of mitigation measures recommended in Section 7.9 should be audited.
9.6.2
A specific monitoring
programme of improved sections of PNH and LTT Rivers channels constructed to
replace the existing rivers is recommended. The programme should provide data
on the re-establishment of aquatic/riparian and marsh communities in the
channels, and allow an assessment of the relative success of mitigation
measures to be made. Baseline data should be collected on at least one occasion
2-3 months before the commencement of the construction phase, with monitoring
conducted 4on
a monthly basis times a year during the construction phase, and 4every two months times a year
for 34 years after the completion of
works. For the purposes of baseline, construction and operation phase
monitoring, the improved sections of the PNH and LTT rivers should be divided
into 50m long sections, and data collected from each of the sections should
include the following parameters:
§
Water quality (e.g., dissolved
oxygen, pH, conductivity, salinity, BOD, suspended sediments, ammonia, nitrate
and phosphate concentrations);
§
Sediment characteristics;
§
Water flow;
§
Avifauna species and
densities;
§
Aquatic macroinvertebrate
community species composition and abundance;
§
Fish community species composition and
abundance;
§
Adult odonate community species composition and
abundance; and
§
Aquatic, emergent and
riparian vegetation community species composition and abundance.A specific
monitoring programme of improved sections of Pak Ngau Heung and Luk Tei
Tong Rivers is recommended. The
programme should provide data on the re-establishment of aquatic/riparian
communities in the channels, and allow an assessment of the relative success of
mitigation measures to be made. Baseline data should be collected several
months before the commencement of the construction phase, with monitoring
conducted on a monthly basis during the construction phase, and every two
months a year for 4 years after the completion of works. Data collected should
include the following parameters:
§
Water
quality (e.g., dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, salinity, BOD, nutrient
concentrations);
§
Sediment
characteristics;
§
Water
flow;
§
Avifauna
species and densities;
§
Aquatic
macroinvertebrate community species composition and abundance;
§
Fish
community species composition and abundance;
§
Adult
odonate community species composition and abundance; and
§
Aquatic,
emergent and riparian vegetation community species composition and abundance.
9.6.3
Reports on
the findings of each monitoring trip should be submitted to Agriculture,
Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and EPD for review. A final report
summarising the monitoring results over the entire monitoring period should be
prepared to serve as a reference for future projects of this kind. Monitoring
should be conducted by a qualified ecologist(s) with over 6 years relevant
experience.
9.6.4
Monitoring of the LTT (2) Bypass
Channel would be required to confirm that the proposed Channel design has
provided suitable compensation for impacts to Luk Tei Tong Marsh. It is
suggested that ecological monitoring of habitats within the Channel should be
undertaken for a period of at least 4 years. Data collected should include the
following key parameters:
§
Water quality (e.g.,
dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, salinity, BOD, suspended sediments,
ammonia, nitrate and phosphate concentrations);
§
Sediment characteristics;
§
Water depth and flow;
§
Avifauna species and
densities;
§
Aquatic macroinvertebrate
community species composition and abundance;
§
Fish community species
composition and abundance;
§
Herpetofauna community
species composition and abundance;
§
Adult odonate community
species composition and abundance; and
§
Aquatic, emergent and
riparian vegetation community species composition and abundance.Monitoring
of the Luk Tei Tong Bypass Channel would be required to confirm that the
proposed Channel design has provided suitable compensation for impacts to Luk
Tei Tong Marsh. It is suggested that ecological monitoring of habitats within
the Channel should be undertaken for a period of at least 4 years. Data
collected should include the following key parameters:
§
Water
quality (e.g., dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, salinity, BOD, nutrient
concentrations);
§
Sediment
characteristics;
§
Water
depth and flow;
§
Avifauna
species and densities;
§
Aquatic
macroinvertebrate community species composition and abundance;
§
Fish community
species composition and abundance;
§
Herpetofauna
community species composition and abundance;
§
Adult
odonate community species composition and abundance; and
§
Aquatic,
emergent and riparian vegetation community species composition and abundance.
9.6.5
To provide baseline data, it
is suggested that the same parameters are measured along a strip of existing
marsh habitat adjacent to the Channel alignment. A comparison of species
diversity and densities along the Bypass Channel alignment and at the reference
site would allow the effectiveness of habitat creation to be assessed.
Monitoring of both the Channel and Reference Site should be conducted 6 times a
year for 4 years after the completion of works. For the purposes of monitoring,
the Channel and Reference site should be divided into 50m long sections, with
the majority of biotic and abiotic
parameters listed in section 9.6.4 monitored in each of the 50m sections. However,
water quality (e.g., dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, salinity, BOD,
suspended sediments, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate concentrations) would be
measured at four locations along the channel and reference site alignments
only, as there would be little expected variation in water quality along the
length of the channel. Reports on the findings of each monitoring trip should
be submitted to AFCD and EPD for review. A final report summarising the results
of monitoring over 4 years should be prepared to serve as a reference for
future projects of this kind. Monitoring should be conducted by a qualified
ecologist(s) with over 6 years relevant experience appointed by the Project
Proponent.To provide baseline data, it is suggested that the
same parameters are measured along a strip of existing marsh habitat adjacent
to the Channel alignment. A comparison of species diversity and densities along
the Bypass Channel alignment and at the reference site would allow the
effectiveness of habitat creation to be assessed. Monitoring of both the
Channel and Reference Site should be conducted 6 times a year for 4 years after
the completion of works. Reports on the findings of each monitoring trip should
be submitted to AFCD and
EPD for review. A final report summarising the results
of monitoring over 4 years should be prepared to serve as a reference for future
projects of this kind. Monitoring should be conducted by a qualified
ecologist(s) with over 6 years relevant experience.
9.6.6
The newly
constructed Pak Ngau Heung and Luk Tei Tong Rivers, and Luk Tei Tong Bypass
Channel are expected to provide a similar habitat to the habitats they would
replace. It is therefore anticipated that wildlife found in the existing rivers
and marsh would successfully re-colonise the new channels. However, if the
post-construction phase monitoring demonstrates that re-colonisation is
unsuccessful the following contingency plan should be implemented:
§
Baseline/reference
data should be compared with post-construction phase data. Any substantial
differences in habitat characteristics (e.g., water quality, aquatic/emergent vegetation)
should be noted.
§
The potential
cause of differences between baseline/reference and post-construction phase
habitat characteristics (e.g., changes in water depth, sediment
characteristics) should be identified.
§
Measures to
further rehabilitate the habitat characteristics of the channels should be
implemented. Such measures could include:
-
Minor re-profiling of the channel bed(s) could be
implemented to increase micro-habitat diversity within the channels. By
excavating small areas of the bed, areas of slow flowing water would be created
within river habitats, and small pools of very slow-flowing or standing water
would be created within the marsh.
-
Increasing heterogeneity of substratum would again
increase micro-habitat diversity: providing substrates of different sizes would
provide niches for organisms preferring small sediments (e.g., burrowing
dragonfly larvae) and larger cobbles/boulders (e.g., Heptageniid mayfly
nymphs).
-
Planting of suitable aquatic, emergent and riparian
vegetation could serve to increase vegetative cover.
-
Management of water levels within the Luk Tei Tong
Bypass Channel could be implemented by modifying the height of the weirs at
either end of the Channel; thus optimizing conditions for wetland habitat
establishment within the Channel.
·
Further monitoring of abiotic and biotic parameters
should be conducted to determine the relative success of the contingency
habitat rehabilitation measures.
9.6.7
A specific monitoring
programme for the White-shouldered Starlings is recommended. A qualified
ecologist with over 6 years relevant experience should conduct the monitoring.
Monthly baseline surveys of the Disused Watchtowers should be undertaken in the
wet season prior to the commencement of construction phase activities. The aim
of baseline surveys should be to establish whether or not any breeding
Starlings are still present. If breeding activities are identified, the number
of breeding pairs, the success of breeding and responses to any disturbance
should be recorded. During the construction phase, monthly surveys of the
Watchtowers are recommended. Information should be collected on behaviour,
breeding activity, and any response to disturbance. The source of any disturbance
impacts should be identified. A simple Event and Action Plan is recommended in Table
9.1.
Table 9.1 Monitoring
White-shouldered Starlings: of Event and Action Plan
|
Event
|
Action
|
|
Environmental Manager
|
Contractor
|
|
Identification of
disturbance to breeding White-shouldered Starlings
|
1.
Increase
frequency of monitoring to twice weekly.
|
1.
Check
all construction actions and working methods.
|
|
2.
Notify
Site Engineer
|
2.
Submit
proposals for remedial action to prevent abandonment of the breeding site.
|
|
3.
Review
construction activities of pervious week.
|
3.
Implement
remedial action.
|
|
4.
Identify
any changes in construction activities in previous week.
|
4.
Liaise
with EM regarding effectiveness of remedial actions.
|
|
5.
Discuss
remedial actions with Site Engineer.
|
|
9.7.1
Mitigation measures have been
recommended to minimise the potential impacts on the areas of archaeological
potential during the construction U-channel near Ling Tsui Tau Tsuen within the
Chung Hau Archaeological Site, as well as to minimise potential vibration
impacts to the existing retaining wall and the associated structures of the
Yuen Compound.
9.7.2
Further archaeological investigation
is recommended for the areas within the Chung Hau Archaeological Sites,
including Area E and the site of the abandoned factory as well as the woks area
not covered by the previous archaeology survey. The construction of the
proposed U-channel at Ling Tsui Tau Village should minimise any excavation
works within the boundary of the Chung Hau Archaeological Site. Subject to the
findings of the further investigation, a watching brief is recommended for any
excavation works undertaken by a qualified archaeologist approved by AMO in
order to record and collect any artefacts and/or archaeological data during
excavation. If significant archaeological deposits are found, a rescue
excavation may need to be undertaken.
9.7.3
Specific construction method should be
selected to avoid vibration impact on the retaining wall and buildings of the
Yuen Compound during construction of the proposed retaining wall and rubble
seawall. Monitoring of vibration impacts should be conducted during the construction
works to ensure no damage to the existing structures of the Compound.