12.1
To ascertain and verify the
assumptions implicit to and accuracy of EIA study predictions, an EM&A
programme would be needed. This section further
elaborates the requirements of EM&A for the construction and operation of
the Project, based on the assessment results of various issues.
12.2
The following sections summarize the recommended EM&A
requirements. Details of the EM&A
programme are presented in a stand-alone EM&A Manual released
separately.
12.3
Construction noise impacts from this Project would be
expected at NSRs identified in this EIA.
Appropriate mitigation measures would be required in order to alleviate
the impacts to meet the EIAO-TM criteria.
Noise monitoring during construction phase needs to be carried out to
ensure that such mitigation measures would be implemented properly.
12.4
The construction activities will be carried out during
daytime (between 0700 and 1900 hours).
If there is construction work undertaken in restricted hours,
measurements will also be carried out for the following
periods:
·
Between 1900 and 2300 hours;
·
Between 2300 and 0700 hours of next day; and
·
Between 0700 and 1900 hours on Sunday or public holidays
12.5
Noise monitoring should be carried out at all the designated
monitoring stations, and measurement should be undertaken at a minimum logging
interval of 30 minutes for daytime and 15 minutes (as three consecutive Leq,
(5 minutes) readings) for evening time and night time. The Leq, L10 and L90
should be recorded at the specified interval.
Type 1 sound level meters, which comply with the International
Electrochemical Commission (Publications 651:1979 and 804:1985), must be used
for carrying out the noise measurement.
12.6
Ad hoc noise monitoring should also be carried out if
necessary. Prior to the commencement of
the Project, baseline monitoring should be measured for a continuous period of
at least 14 consecutive days at a minimum logging interval of 30 minutes for
daytime and 15 minutes (as three consecutive Leq, (5 minutes)
readings) for evening time and night time. The Leq, L10
and L90 should be recorded at the specified interval. Details of the EM&A programme are
provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
12.7
Prior to the operation phase of the
Project, a commissioning test should be conducted by the Contractor to ensure
compliance of the operational airborne noise levels with the EIAO-TM noise
criteria. The testing results should be
checked and verified by the Environmental Team and Independent Environmental
Checker respectively.
12.8
Monitoring of ground-borne noise
from tunnel boring should be conducted.
The recording of data should proceed whenever the TBM is in
operation. Details of the monitoring
requirements are presented in the EM&A Manual.
12.9
Trackform
mitigation is recommended in this EIA. In order to ensure
compliance of the operational ground-borne noise criteria, a commissioning test
will be included in the Contract document.
More frequent rail and train maintenance, and adjustment of speed
profile at critical locations will be able to further reduce the ground-borne
noise impacts as a contingency measures.
12.10
The currently proposed Type 1a resilient baseplates can be
replaced by Type 1b or Type 2 where practicable and necessary to accomplish a
further 3-6dB(A) noise reduction as a contingency measure (Type 1b and Type 2
baseplates would not be suitable at turnouts due to maintenance and safety
concerns). Changing of the tunnel
dimensions would not be required if these contingency measures have to be in
place. Further measurements would be
conducted to check the accuracy of the noise prediction after the tunnel
construction where necessary.
12.11
The landscape and visual mitigation measures should be
incorporated in the detailed design, so as to ensure the effectiveness of the
mitigation measures described in Table 5.4, Section 5 of EIA report. Any changes to the mitigation measures that
may be recommended to match the baseline review result or to match the ongoing
EM&A should also be incorporated in the detailed
design.
12.12
The design, implementation and maintenance of mitigation
measures should be checked regularly to ensure that they are fully realised and
compliance with the intended aims of the measures. Any potential conflicts among the proposed
mitigation measures, the project works, and operational requirements should
also be identified and resolved early.
The proposed mitigation measures should always be given
priority.
12.13
Landscape proposals and details of architectural design,
chromatic treatment and visual and landscape mitigation measures for all above
ground structures, including station entrances and vent shafts, to demonstrate
that they would be sensibly designed in a manner that responds to the existing
urban context will be submitted to Planning Department for review. The proposals should be submitted 2 months
before the commencement of project construction.
12.14
A landscape specialist with substantial construction site
experience should be responsible for supervising the landscape works during the
Construction Phase to ensure these mitigation measures will be monitored, and
form part of the ongoing site audit programme.
12.15
The implementation of landscape construction works and
maintenance operations during the subsequent 12 month Establishment Period must
be supervised by landscape specialist. The employment of a landscape specialist
for monitoring the tree protection measures is cited in the EIA as a mitigation
measure, and their involvement should be monitored.
12.16
The extent of the agreed works areas should be regularly
checked during the construction phase.
Any trespass by the Contractor outside the limit of the works, including
any damage to existing trees shall be reported to the appropriate authorities.
12.17
The progress of the engineering works should be regularly
reviewed on site to identify the earliest practical opportunities for the soft landscape
works to be undertaken.
12.18
All landscape and visual mitigation measures should be
monitored regularly during the first year of the Operational Phase.
12.19
Monitoring of vibration levels
from tunnel formation along WIL by drill and blast would be required at the
historic buildings. Blasting should be
monitored at either one or two locations per blast location, and all blasting should
be monitored. Monitoring should occur at
the designated sensitive receiver for as long as the blasting is within
12.20
Archaeological watching brief
would be required at the directly impacted areas identified to be of
archaeological potential which are listed in Section 6.28. The watching brief
should be conducted by a qualified and licensed archaeologist to monitor the
excavation works during the construction phase in the identified locations. Details of the frequency
of inspection shall be provided to AMO for review and comment once the detailed
construction programme has been finalized.
12.21
EM&A requirements for landscape
and visual impacts would also be applicable for the protection of heritage
resources.
12.22
Waste management 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 the recommended good waste
management practices and EPD’s regulations and requirements. The mitigation measures recommended in
Section 7 should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to
be developed by the Contractor at the construction stage.
12.23
It is recommended that the waste arisings generated during
the construction activities should be audited periodically by ET 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 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.
12.24
In accordance with the findings of the EIA study, most of
the potential contaminated sites identified at the site inspection are not
likely to pose any significant and direct impacts to the Project, therefore, no
mitigation measure is considered necessary.
12.25
The water quality assessment concluded that the identified
water quality impacts during the construction phase could be minimized by
implementing the recommended mitigation measures to control site runoff and drainage
from surface works areas and to treat tunnelling wastewater prior to discharge. No unacceptable residual water quality impact
was expected. Effluent discharge from
the works areas to the public drain would be required to comply with the terms
and conditions of a discharge licence issued by EPD under the WPCO. As a precautionary measure
against potential impact on tree walls at
12.26
Discharges of sewage and wastewater effluent from the stations to the
foul sewer would be required to comply with the terms and conditions of a
discharge licence issued by EPD under the WPCO.
Additional
water quality impact monitoring during the operational phase would not be
necessary.
12.28
Blasting activities regarding storage, use and transport of
explosives should be supervised and audited by competent site staff to ensure
strict compliance with the blasting permit conditions.