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.