14.
environmental monitoring and audit requirements
Introduction
14.1.1
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. Details of
the EM&A programme are presented in an EM&A Manual, which are released
as a separate document.
Mitigation measures have been recommended in this Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) report to prevent potential adverse impacts from the
construction of the project.
Implementation of
EIA Findings and Recommendations
14.1.2
Chapters 4 to 13 have, where appropriate, identified
and recommended the implementation of mitigation measures in order to minimize
the potential construction and operational phase impacts of the Project. These findings and recommendations form
the primary deliverable from the whole EIA process. Once endorsed by the Environmental
Protection Department, they will form an agreement as to the measures and
standards that are to be achieved. It is therefore essential that mechanisms
are put in place to ensure that the mitigation measures prescribed in the
Implementation Schedule are fully and effectively implemented during
construction.
14.1.3
The required format for the Implementation Schedule is
specified in the EIA Study Brief.
The format requires the specification of implementation agent(s),
timing, duration and location for each of the recommended mitigation measures.
14.1.4
Apart from the mitigation measures defined in the EIA,
there is also scope for other requirements to be included within the finalised
Implementation Schedule. Prior to
the issue of an Environmental Permit, there is an EIA Determination Period. During this period the EIA Report is
reviewed and commented upon by both public and professional bodies. Where recommendations are made and
accepted by either the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) or its EIA
subcommittee, these measures will be included within the Implementation
Schedule, where appropriate.
Statutory
Requirements
14.1.5
As the Project constitutes a Designated Project under
the EIAO, an Environmental Permit must be obtained before construction or
operation of the proposed project can commence.
14.1.6
Upon approval of the EIA Report, the Project Proponent
can apply for an Environmental Permit.
If the application is successful, the Environmental Permit will, in most
circumstances, have conditions attached to it, which must be complied with. In addition, the Project Proponent and
its appointed Contractors must also comply with all other controlling
environmental legislation and guidelines, which are discussed within the
specific technical chapters of this report. Failing to comply with these legislative
requirements could lead to prosecution under the various Pollution Control
Ordinances.
Environmental
Management Plan
14.1.7
For construction of the Project, it is envisaged that
the contractual documentation will require the Project Proponent’s Contractors
to define mechanisms for achieving the environmental requirements. This will most likely be achieved by
requiring the Contractor to produce and implement an Environmental Management
Plan (
14.1.8
14.1.9
The
EM&A Manual
14.1.10
The
14.1.11
The EM&A Manual provides a description of the
organisational arrangements and resources required for the EM&A programme
based on the conclusions and recommendations of this EIA. The EM&A Manual stipulates details
of the construction monitoring required, and actions that shall be taken in the
event of exceedances of the environmental criteria. In effect, the EM&A Manual forms a
handbook for the on-going environmental management during construction.
14.1.12
The EM&A Manual comprises descriptions of the key
elements of the EM&A programme including:
·
appropriate background information on the construction
of the Project with reference to relevant technical reports;
·
organisational arrangements, hierarchy and
responsibilities with regard to the management of environmental performance
functions during the construction phase to include the EM&A team, the Contractor's
team and the Employer’s representatives;
·
a broad construction programme indicating those
activities for which specific mitigation is required, as recommended in the
EIA, and providing a schedule for their timely implementation;
·
descriptions of the parameters to be monitored and
criteria through which performance will be assessed including: monitoring
frequency and methodology, monitoring locations (in the first instance, the
location of sensitive receivers as listed in the EIA), monitoring equipment
lists, event contingency plans for exceedances of established criteria and
schedule of mitigation and best practice methods for minimising adverse
environmental impacts;
·
procedures for undertaking on-site environmental
performance audits as a means of ensuring compliance with environmental
criteria;
·
procedures for handling/resolution of complaints; and
·
reporting procedures.
14.1.13
The EM&A Manual will be a dynamic document which
will undergo a series of revisions to accommodate the progression of the construction
programme.
Objectives of
EM&A
14.1.14
The objectives of carrying out EM&A for the
Project include:
·
to provide baseline
information against which any short or long term environmental impacts of the
projects can be determined;
·
to provide an early
indication should any of the environmental control measures or practices fail
to achieve the acceptable standards;
·
to monitor the
performance of the Project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures;
·
to verify the
environmental impacts predicted in the EIA Study;
·
to determine Project
compliance with regulatory requirements, standards and government policies;
·
to take remedial action
if unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts arise; and
·
to provide data to
enable an environmental audit to be undertaken at regular intervals.
14.1.15
The following sections broadly summarise the
recommended EM&A requirements; further details are provided in the EM&A
Manual.
Air Quality
14.1.16
Potential dust impacts will be generated from site
clearance, excavation, materials handling and wind erosion. The construction works are controlled
under the Air Pollution Control
(Construction Dust) Regulation. Mitigation measures have been
proposed. With the implementation
of the proposed dust suppression measures, good site practices and comprehensive
dust monitoring and audit, the
14.1.17
Dust monitoring requirements in terms of 1-hr and
24-hr
14.1.18
Baseline monitoring to establish the background air
quality environment will be required and should be carried out for at least 14
consecutive days prior to the commencement of the project.
Noise
14.1.19
Elevated construction noise impacts from this Project
are not anticipated at the identified NSRs in this EIA. Specific measures will not be required during
the construction phase. Noise
monitoring is therefore not recommended during construction and operational
phases of the proposed project.
Water Quality
Construction phase
14.1.20
During the construction phase, regular site auditing
is recommended to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly
implemented.
14.1.21
The water quality assessment has concluded that the
identified water quality impacts could be minimized by implementing the
recommended mitigation measures for the construction works, such as control
measures on silty runoff, turf establishment runoff and drainage from the works
areas to minimise construction run-off,
and proper site management and good housekeeping practices. Residual
water quality impact is in acceptable level. Any effluent discharges from
the site will be required to comply with the terms and conditions of a
discharge licence, issued by
14.1.22
It is proposed to carry out a baseline monitoring of
water quality (prior to commencement of works) at selected sensitive receivers
and monitor the water quality at these same locations during construction, to
identify the presence of any impacts on water bodies within the Project Area. A minimal environmental monitoring and
audit programme is therefore required to ensure effective mitigation, thus, monitoring
locations should be selected to represent the major water bodies within the
Project Area.
14.1.23
Monitoring
and auditing for marine water quality is considered necessary during the
dredging activities of the proposed Project to ensure that the released SS
concentrations from the dredging activities do not adversely affect the
sensitive receivers. This monitoring programme is required to ensure the
implementation of the recommended water quality mitigation measures and to
assess the effectiveness of these measures during the construction works.
If monitoring results indicate that the dredging activities have exceeded the
predicted elevated SS concentrations even, after the implementation of the
recommended mitigation measures, the construction programme should be carefully
reviewed to slow down dredging rates.
14.1.24
Post-construction marine water quality monitoring is
recommended.
14.1.25
Details of water quality monitoring requirements are
presented in the EM&A Manual.
Operational Phase
14.1.26
No exceedance from the desalination plant is predicted
during the operation of the Project.
Contract documents for
the Project should incorporate mitigation measures for water pollution control.
Water
quality monitoring at sensitive receivers is recommended. Details of the operational phase water quality monitoring
procedures are given in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
Waste Management
14.1.27
It will be the contractor’s responsibility to ensure
that all wastes produced during the construction of the Project are handled,
stored and disposed of in accordance with good waste management practices and
14.1.28
It is recommended that the waste generated during the
construction activities should be audited periodically to determine if 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,
recycling, transport and disposal.
An appropriate audit programme would include undertaking a first audit
near the commencement of the construction works, and then a monthly audit
thereafter. In addition, regular
site inspection should check the strict implementation of the recommended good
site practices and other waste management mitigation measures.
Terrestrial Ecology
14.1.29
An assessment of ecological impacts has been conducted
(Chapter 8). No unacceptable
impacts on terrestrial ecology are anticipated. Natural streams identified sensitive would be protected
by buffer
zones during the construction and operation of the
project. Monitoring on the implementation
of the mitigation measures for stream protection, the effectiveness of stream buffer zones, and
the aquatic fauna in streams will be conducted during the entire construction phase.
Marine Ecology
14.1.30
The
transplanted coral colonies will be regularly checked by a qualified marine
ecologist for one year after transplantation. The general conditions of the transplantation sites will also be reported. Monitoring will also be conducted at natural corals and
seagrasses prior to construction, during the entire construction phase, and the first two years during the operation phase. The survival and health conditions of the
coral colonies and the extent, coverage percentage and the health conditions of the seagrasses will be recorded.
Fisheries
14.1.31
An assessment of Fisheries has been conducted (Chapter
10). No unacceptable impacts
arising from the construction and operation of the project are anticipated,
provided that a well-planned
programme of site practices is implemented. No monitoring and
audit will be required.
Land Contamination
14.1.32
If necessary, the requirements for EM&A with
respect to land contamination would be determined upon completion of all
relevant land contamination assessment works.
14.1.33
Site
investigation at the potential contaminated zones should follow the
requirements laid out in the approved
14.1.34
The
Project Proponent should take into account the time required for land
contamination study at the identified sites. Construction works may only be
carried out at these areas until the investigation results are found
acceptable. Recommended mitigation measures should be implemented during the
construction stage of the Project.
Landscape and
Visual Assessment
14.1.35
The proposed landscape and visual mitigation measures
for the construction and operation phases of the Project are described in Chapter
12. These measures are design
measures to be incorporated in the detailed design of the Project. Independent checking of the design
should be undertaken to ensure that the mitigation measures are satisfactorily
incorporated into the design.
Cultural Heritage
14.1.36
As discussed in Chapter 13, the assessment of
potential impact on cultural heritage has concluded that the proposed
construction works for the Project is acceptable. A watching brief will be
undertaken by a qualified and licenced archaeologist during excavation works at
the construction stage in the Wan
Chai Archaeological Site. A
qualified archaeologist should inspect the site when there is excavation work
on site. Grave#5 and Grave#20 will
be removed and a full recording will be conducted. With the appropriate
implementation of mitigation measures, monitoring and auditing will not be
required during the operational phase of the Project.