1. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS
Purpose of the Environmental Monitoring and
Audit (EM&A) Manual
1.1.1
The
purpose of this EM&A Manual is to guide the setup of an EM&A Program to
ensure the effective implementation of mitigation measures recommended in the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study, relevant environmental protection,
and pollution prevention and control legislation. The EM&A programme will
be used to assess the effectiveness of, inter alia, the implementation of, recommended
mitigation measures, and to identify any further need for additional mitigation
measures or remedial actions.
1.1.2
This
Manual outlines the monitoring and audit programme for the construction and
operation phases of the proposed Project, namely “Secondary Drainage Channel
KT13” (hereinafter referred to as “the Project” or “KT13”). It aims to provide
systematic procedures for monitoring, auditing and minimizing the environmental
impacts associated with the construction works.
1.1.3
Findings,
recommendations and requirements of the EIA, all relevant requirements under
the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and other environmental
legislation, the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) are
adopted in the preparation of this EM&A Manual.
1.1.4
Technical
memoranda and guidelines of all environmental related legislation are adopted
in the preparation of this EM&A Manual. Reference has also been made to
EPD’s “Environmental Monitoring and Audit Guidelines for Development Projects
in
1.1.5
The
EM&A Manual describes the following:
(a)
duties of
the Environmental Team (ET), the ET Leader, the Independent Environmental
Checker (IEC), Engineer’s Representative and Contractor, in relation to the
project’s environmental monitoring and audit requirements during construction;
(b)
information
on the project organisation and programming of construction activities;
(c)
the project
construction schedule and the necessary environmental monitoring and audit
programme to track the environmental impacts;
(d)
requirements
for the review of pollution sources and working procedures in the event of
non-compliance of the project’s environmental performance criteria;
(e)
environmental
auditing procedures;
(f)
requirements
for the documentation of environmental monitoring and audit data, and
appropriate reporting procedures; and
(g)
complaint
resolution procedures.
1.1.6
Figure
1.1 summarize the procedures to be adopted under this EM&A programme.
Background
1.1.7
Black
& Veatch Hong Kong Limited (B&V HKL) (formerly Binnie Black &
Veatch Hong Kong Limited) was commissioned by the Drainage Services Department
(DSD) to carry out the preliminary and detailed design and construction
supervision of the Yuen Long, Kam Tin, Ngau Tam Mei & Tin Shui Wai Drainage
Improvement, Stage 1 Project (the Assignment).
1.1.8
The
Assignment comprises a number of elements, one of these elements, the
construction and operation of Secondary Drainage Channel KT13 (the Project) in
the vicinity of Ho Pui and Ma On Kong constitutes a Designated Project as
defined under the EIA Ordinance pursuant to Item I.1(b)(vii) and Item Q.1 of
Schedule 2 Part I of the Ordinance. An Environmental Permit (EP) from the
Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is required for the construction and
operation of KT13. In applying for the EP, an EIA Report is required to be
approved by the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP).
1.2 Location of Designated Project and Existing Environment
1.2.1
Secondary
drainage channel KT13 is in the vicinity of a recognized egretry, the Ho Pui
Egretry. The site is located between two villages, Ma On Kong and Ho Pui in
southern Kam Tin in
1.3 Secondary Drainage Channel KT13
1.3.1
Secondary
drainage channel KT13 has been proposed in the Yuen Long, Kam Tin, Ngau Tam Mei
and Tin Shui Wai Drainage Master Plan (YLDMP) to drain the areas in Ma On Kong
where the existing streamcourse is insufficient, to deal with catchwater
overflows for Ho Pui Reservoir to the south and to provide infrastructure for
future development.
1.3.2
In
order to improve the hydraulic performance of the streamcourse, the downstream
section (Section A) of the streamcourse is widened and deepened to a
trapezoidal channel with 5 m wide gabion base and banks, and depth of
3 m. The upstream section (Section B) is also trained to
a trapezoidal channel with 5 m wide gabion base and banks with a
constant depth of 2 m.
1.3.3
A
concrete bypass culvert will be built for the middle section of Ma On Kong streamcourse
with the maintenance access to be formed above the bypass culvert. The bypass
culvert is a twin cell box culvert. With the bypass culvert, the flow in the
middle section of Ma On Kong streamcourse can be controlled so that there will
be no overbank flow during a 1 in 50 years storm, while maintaining dry weather
flow similar to existing condition in the unmodified middle section of the KT13
stream to ensure protection of egretry and associated habitat.
1.3.4
With
the widening and deepening of both the upstream and downstream sections and a
bypass culvert for the middle section, the Ma On Kong streamcourse will have
adequate flow capacities to convey the maximum predicted flows within bank. Figures 1.3a and 1.3b show details of
KT13.
1.4 Design and Construction Programme
1.4.1
The
construction of the secondary drainage channel KT13 is scheduled to commence in
mid 2007 and is expected to be completed in mid 2010. The construction of secondary drainage channel
KT13 is expected to take approximately 36 months.
1.4.2
The
endorsed environmental mitigation measures in the EIA Report will be
incorporated in the detailed design of the channel.
1.5 Mitigation Measures listed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report
1.5.1
Mitigation
measures to be implemented during construction phase for air quality, noise,
water quality, waste management, ecology, and landscape & visual impact are
included in separate Chapters of this EM&A Manual. The implementation
schedule for the full list of mitigation measures proposed under the EIA is
included in Appendix A of this Manual.
1.6.1
The
project organisation and lines of communication with respect to environmental
protection works are shown in Figures 1.4 and 1.5 respectively.
Contractor
1.6.2
The
Contractor shall be responsible for:
(a)
employ an Environmental Team (ET) to undertake monitoring, laboratory
analysis and reporting of environmental monitoring and audit;
(b)
implementing environmental controls and mitigation as set out in this
manual as well as any additional measures necessary for compliance with the
environmental control standards;
(c)
following any reasonable directions and corrective actions given by the
Engineer or the ER(s) particularly as the result of the implementation of
event/action plan and co-operate with the environmental performance review
undertaken by the IEC;
(d)
each Contractor shall comply with and observe all Ordinances, bye-laws,
regulations and rules for the time being in force in Hong Kong governing the
control of any form of pollution, including air, noise, water and waste
pollution, and shall implement environmental controls and mitigation as set out
in this manual as well as any additional measures necessary for compliance with
the environmental control standards;
(e)
each Contractor shall carry out all works in such a manner as to cause
as little impact as possible to environs and the Contractor shall be held
responsible for any claims which may arise from such impacts; and
(f)
operate and strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Environmental
Management Plan (EMP) developed by the Contractor.
The Engineer
1.6.3
The
Engineer will be responsible for:
(a)
ensuring that the EM&A programme is fully implemented in accordance
with the Environmental Permit issued upon approval of the EIA and this EM&A
Manual;
(b)
ensuring that the Contractor is implementing environmental controls and
mitigation as set out in the contract specifications, Environmental Permit
issued upon approval of the EIA and this EM&A Manual as well as any
additional measures necessary for compliance with the environmental control
standards;
(c)
ensuring that the Contractor is implementing and enforcing event/action
plans when exceedances of Action and Limit (AL) levels or complaints occur;
(d)
reviewing the monitoring and audit reports submitted by the Contractor’s
ET leader;
(e)
implementing a `stop work' action if repeated exceedance of target
levels justifies this action;
(f)
follow up and close out corrective actions in accordance with the
event/action plans; and
(g)
investigating and auditing the Contractor’s equipment and work
methodologies with respect to pollution control and environmental mitigation,
and to anticipate environmental issues that may require mitigation before the
problem arises.
1.6.4
The
division of the responsibilities under the Engineer are given in the following
paragraphs.
The Engineer's Representative (ER(s))
1.6.5
The
ER(s) have a key role to play with the EM&A programme, undertaking:
(a)
an engineering audit of environmental reports;
(b)
site liaison;
(c)
implementing and enforcing event/action plans under the Contract when
exceedances of
(d)
ensuring that measures to protect the environment are sufficient,
properly and regularly maintained under the Contract.
The
Contractor’s Environmental Team (Contractor’s ET)
1.6.6
The
Contractor’s ET led by Contractor’s ET leader will hold a key position with the
EM&A programme.
1.6.7
Appropriate
staff shall be included in the Contractor’s ET to fulfil the following EM&A
duties:
(a)
environmental monitoring of various aspects such as noise, air quality
and water quality as required by this EM&A Manual and using the procedures
outlined in this EM&A Manual;
(b)
recording activities or operations taking place at the site before or
during the monitoring period;
(c)
recording factors such as weather conditions at the time of sampling or
data collection;
(d)
undertaking regular maintenance and calibration of equipment so that
accurate data are collected with precision;
(e)
reporting to the Contractor’s ET leader any abnormality in monitoring
process and any difficulties encountered; and
(f)
ensuring that monitoring results are sent to both the ER and the ET
leader within the time frame as agreed by the ER.
Contractor’s
Environmental Team Leader (Contractor’s ET Leader)
1.6.8
The
Contractor’s ET leader shall have relevant professional qualifications, or have
sufficient relevant EM&A experience subject to approval of the Engineer.
The Contractor’s ET leader will be responsible for:
(a)
reviewing the EIA final report and the detailed designs to ensure that
the EIA recommendations and any other measures identified during the reviews
are incorporated into the designs;
(b)
ensuring that the contracts, licences and detailed designs of the KT13
incorporate the measures recommended in the EIA report;
(c)
checking that timely implementation of mitigation measures identified in
the EIA final report occurs;
(d)
examining Contractors' rolling works programmes, method statements,
licence application and other relevant documentation so as to ensure the best
practice would be implemented to generate no unacceptable impacts to the
established guidelines/standards;
(e)
identifying any potential unanticipated or greater than expected
impacts;
(f)
formulating any necessary preventative or remedial measures to be
actioned for these potential impacts;
(g)
liaising with the Engineer(s), and Contractors on environmental
considerations both regularly and as necessary;
(h)
undertaking environmental site inspection and audit both regularly and
on ad-hoc basis at a frequency appropriate to the intensity of the works;
(i)
supervising the ET;
(j)
reviewing the monitoring data produced taking into account any factors
which may influence these data;
(k)
interpreting the reviewed data with reference to
(l)
a contemporaneous log-book of each and every instance or circumstance or
change of circumstances which may affect EIA, and each and every non-compliance
with recommendation of the EIA report or the Environmental Permit. The log-book
shall be kept readily available for inspections by all persons assisting in
supervision of the implementation of the EIA Report recommendations and the
Environmental Permit or by the Director of Environmental Protection and his
authorized officers;
(m)
ascertaining whether any extraneous activities, unrelated to the
construction work on the site, may have influenced the data. Cumulative impacts from nearby
construction works should be considered;
(n)
implementing event/action plans when exceedances of
(o)
liaising and consulting with all relevant parties during the
implementation of action plans;
(p)
establishing the A/L levels of water quality and Action Level of air
quality;
(q)
reviewing the EM&A programme after the collection and analysis of
the baseline data. Modifying the
EM&A programme in terms of parameters, sites, sample sizes, frequency etc.
if appropriate in consultation with the Independent Environmental Checker
(IEC), Engineer, EPD and Client;
(r)
modifying the EM&A programme in consultation with the ER(s), EPD and
AFCD if necessary throughout the period of Works;
(s)
producing and circulating reports:
•
on a regular basis as required in Section 9 of this Manual;
•
when action plans are implemented;
•
when responding to public complaints; and
(t)
implementing the complaints procedures.
Independent
Environmental Checker (IEC)
1.6.9
The IEC
shall be employed before the commencement of the Project. The IEC shall have at
least 7 years experience in EM&A or environmental management. The IEC shall
not be in any way an associated body of the Contractor. The appointment of the
IEC is subject to the approval of the ER and DSD.
1.6.10
The
IEC shall audit the overall EM&A programme including the implementation of
all environmental mitigation measures, submissions relating to EM&A, and
any other submission required under the Environmental Permit.
1.6.11
In
addition, the IEC shall be responsible for verifying the environmental
acceptability of permanent and temporary works, relevant design plans,
contemporaneous log-book and submissions under the Environmental Permit.
1.6.12
Arrange
and conduct monthly general site inspections of the different works areas along
the KT13 alignment.
1.6.13
Ensure
that impact monitoring is conducted at the correct locations at the correct
frequency as identified in this Manual.
1.6.14
Report
the findings of the site inspections and other environmental performance
reviews to the Client and the EPD.
1.6.15
The
IEC shall also prepare the following information for inclusion into the monthly
EM&A reports:
(a)
summary of
site audit observations and results;
(b)
comments
and/or recommendations;
(c)
areas of
concern; and
(d)
verification
and certification of the report.
1.7 Approved EIA Report and Environmental Permit
1.7.1
To
deal with key project changes after the approval of the EIA report, the project
proponent or the person in charge of the project shall seek written agreement
from the Director of Environmental Protection (the Director) on those project
changes that would affect the findings and recommendations of the approved EIA
report, and shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director that the same
environmental performance requirements in the approved EIA report can be met by
equivalent or additional measures.
All such information shall be reviewed by the ET leader and verified by
the IEC before submitting to the Director.
Such information shall be made available to the public, as directed by
the Director.
1.7.2
All
parties described in Section 1.6 (where applicable) are required to comply with
all the Environmental Permit (EP) Conditions.