11
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDIT
11.1
Introduction
11.1.1.1
Justification for the
implementation of an environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) programme for
the Project includes the following criteria, as based on the EM&A
Guidelines for Development Projects in Hong Kong:
·
the project
has the potential of causing environmental impacts which are or are likely to
be prejudicial to the health or well being of people, the flora, fauna or
ecosystem if the recommended mitigation measures are not properly implemented;
·
the project involves mitigation measures of which the effectiveness may
require a long period to establish, e.g. compensatory planting of trees; and
·
ascertain
and verify the assumptions implicit to and accuracy of EIA predictions.
11.1.1.2
The following section
summarizes the recommended environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A)
requirements for the construction and operation phases of the Project, based on
the assessment findings 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 EIA.
·
Determine
project compliance with regulatory requirements, standards and government policies.
·
Take
remedial action if unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts arise.
·
Provide
data to enable an environmental audit.
11.1.1.3
Details of the specific
requirements are provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual. The
implementation schedule of the proposed mitigation and protective measures
during the construction and operation phases of the Project for different
environmental issues are detailed in Appendix 11.1.
11.2
Air Quality Impact
11.2.1.1
With the implementation
of practicable dust suppression measures stipulated in the Air Pollution
Control (Construction Dust) Regulation, adverse construction dust impact is not
expected during construction of the Project. Yet, regular site
environmental audits during the construction phase of the Project as specified
in the EM&A Manual should be conducted to ensure that the recommended dust
suppression measures are implemented properly.
11.2.1.2
During
the operation of the STF, the potential sources of air quality impacts would be
the air emissions from the stacks of incineration process and the odour
nuisance from the on-site wastewater treatment plant and the sludge reception
hall. Air pollution control and stack monitoring system will be installed
for the STF to ensure that the emissions from the STF stacks will meet the stringent target emission limits and all the
potential odour emissions associated with the operation of the STF will be
collected and destroyed by the incineration process or ventilated to deodorizer
before discharge to the atmosphere. Monitoring of air quality parameters
of concern due to stack emissions has to be conducted in accordance with the
requirements similar to those stipulated in the “A Guidance Note on the Best
Practicable Means for Incinerator (Municipal Waste Incineration) BPM
12/1”. Besides, odour monitoring should be carried out by odour patrol to
demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed odour mitigation measures and to
ensure the odour impact can be minimized to meet the air pollution control
requirements.
11.3
Health Risk
11.3.1.1
Prior to the occupation
of the STF buildings and quarterly during the first year of operation of the
STF, radon concentration should be measured by professional persons in
accordance with EPD’s ProPECC Note PN 1/99 Control of Radon Concentration in
New Buildings Appendix 2, ”Protocol of Radon
Measurement for Non-residential Building” to ensure the radon concentration
is in compliance with the guidance value.
11.4
Waste Management Implications
11.4.1.1
It would 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. A Waste Management Plan (WMP) which would become part of
the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), should be
prepared in accordance with ETWB TCW No.19/2005 by the Contractor. The
mitigation measures recommended in Section 5 of this EIA Report should
form the basis of the WMP.
11.4.1.2
Waste materials
generated from construction activities, such as construction and demolition
(C&D) materials and general refuse, are recommended to be audited at
regular intervals (at least once per week as part of the regular site
inspections described in EM&A Manual) to ensure that proper storage,
transportation and disposal practices are being implemented. The
Contractor would be responsible for the implementation of the mitigation
measures to minimize waste or redress problems arising from the waste
materials.
11.4.1.3
Besides, during
operational phase of the Project, it is recommended that the incineration
by-products should be tested in accordance with the requirements of the
proposed Incineration Residue Pollution Control Limits as recommended in
Table 5.2 of the EIA Report prior to disposal to landfill. A
number of the land contamination preventive measures are also recommended in
the EIA Report for the operation of the Project.
11.5
Water Pollution
11.5.1.1
To ensure no adverse
water quality impact to the nearby stream due to the discharge of surface
runoff and drainage from the works areas, water quality monitoring of the Tsang
Kok stream is recommended during site formation and the widening of the access
road. Marine water quality monitoring is also recommended during
foundation pilling of the STF to ensure that the foundation construction would
not cause an unacceptable release of PFA leachate into the Deep Bay
waters. Details of the recommended water quality monitoring parameters to
be measured and monitoring locations are provided in the stand-alone EM&A
Manual for the Project. It is also 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.
11.5.1.2
Monitoring of the
discharge quality of effluent from land-based construction sites should be
conducted by the Contractor. A detailed effluent sampling programme for
water quality control during the construction phase should be submitted to EPD
for approval prior to commencement of the construction works.
11.5.1.3
Monitoring of water
quality would not be required during the operation phase of the STF as there
would be no wastewater effluent discharge from the on-site wastewater treatment
plant.
11.6
Ecological Impact
11.6.1.1
The implementation of
the ecological mitigation measures recommended in Section 7 of this EIA
Report should be checked as part of the regular site inspections during the
construction and operation phase.
11.6.1.2
Ecological monitoring
and audit should be conducted by experienced ecologist(s) with over seven year
experience in relevant field.
11.7
Landscape and Visual Impact
11.7.1.1
The Contractor shall
employ a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) with substantial construction
site experience to be in charge of the conduction of the baseline review,
monitoring of the design, implementation and maintenance of the landscape and
visual mitigation measures during the construction and operation phases in
accordance with the EIA Report.
11.7.1.2
The landscape and
visual mitigation measures recommended in Section 9 of this EIA Report
shall be incorporated as soon as possible during detailed design stage, so as
to ensure the mitigation effect and achieve the intended aims. Any changes to
the mitigation measures that may be recommended as a result of the baseline
review or on-going monitoring of the design, construction and establishment
works shall be taken into account.
11.8
Landfill Gas Hazard
11.8.1.1
During construction,
routine monitoring should be carried out in all excavations, manholes,
chambers, relocation of monitoring wells and any other confined spaces that may
have been created.
11.8.1.2
During operation phase
of the Project, it is recommended that several landfill gas monitoring wells be
installed into the ground on the development side of the gas barrier.
Monitoring of landfill gas should be done at these monitoring wells as well as
underground service voids and manholes by the STF contractor to verify the
effectiveness and to ensure the continued performance of the implemented
protection measures.