10                Environmental Monitoring and audit requirements

Introduction

10.1            This section elaborates 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:

 

l             Provide a database against which any short or long-term environmental impacts of the Project can be determined.

l             Provide an early indication should any of the environmental control measures or practices fail to achieve the acceptable standards.

l             Monitor the performance of the Project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.

l             Verify the environmental impacts predicted in the EIA Study.

l             Determine project compliance with regulatory requirements, standards and government policies.

l             Take remedial action if unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts arise.

l             Provide data to enable an environmental audit.

 

10.2            Details of the specific requirements are presented in a stand-alone EM&A Manual. 

 

Air Quality

 Construction Phase

 

10.3            With implementation of the proposed dust suppression measures stipulated in the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation, good site practices and comprehensive dust monitoring and audit, the dust impact would be further diminished.

 

10.4            Dust monitoring and auditing is recommended in the EM&A Manual to ensure the efficacy of the control measures.

 

 Operation Phase

 

10.5            During operation of the new crematorium, the air pollutants of concern include respirable suspended particulate, total organic carbon, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, mercury, dioxins, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide.  In accordance with the assessment results, the predicted air quality at the nearby air sensitive receivers would comply with the AQOs and relevant air quality guidelines with the implementation of recommended mitigation measures.  By limiting joss paper burning activities through administration procedures and incorporation of flue gas treatment system, nuisance arising from joss paper burning is anticipated to be negligible.

 

10.6            In order to ensure compliance with the legislation requirements, the on-line monitoring and periodic measurement stipulated in the BPM12/2(06) – A Guidance Note on the Best Practicable Means for Incinerators (Crematoria), published by EPD, will be conducted.  The monitoring of the above air pollutants shall comply with the requirements of BPM and future Specified Process License of new crematorium, to be issued by EPD under the APCO.  Calibration on the monitoring equipment has to be done by means of parallel measurements with the reference methods as agreed by EPD

 

10.7            Continuous monitoring of the in-stack exhaust gas and the process shall be carried out.  The continuous monitoring data should be transmitted instantaneously to EPD by telemetry system or the real time and logged monitoring data shall be accessible by EPD in such manner and format agreed with EPD. The monitoring requirement should be agreed by EPD under the Specified Process Licence.

 

10.8            Periodic measurements of particulates, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, gaseous and vaporous organic substances, mercury and dioxins would be conducted to confirm the compliance with the emission limits set out in Annex 1 of BPM12/2(06).  The sampling frequency will be determined by EPD.  The measurement results will be recorded, processed and presented in a summary report as agreed by EPD.

 

10.9             A commissioning test will be arranged prior to the normal operation of the crematorium in order to evaluate the performance and the emission of air pollutants to meet the requirements under the Specified Process License.

 

Waste Management

 Construction Phase

 

10.10        To maintain uninterrupted cremation services, further site investigations are recommended to be carried out after decommissioning and prior to demolition of existing crematorium. Building structures asbestos investigation and dioxins ash waste investigation are recommended around cremators, chimney, flues and surrounding areas to confirm the quality and quantity of contaminated materials requiring treatment and disposal.

 

10.11        A supplementary site investigation plan, devised by consultants who are experienced in the abatement of chemical waste, shall be submitted to EPD for approval prior to the sampling works.

 

10.12        The ETWB TCW No.19/2005 “Environmental Management on Construction” includes procedures on waste management requiring contractors to reduce the C&D material to be disposed of during the course of construction. Under this ETWB TCW No.19/2005, the Contractor is required to prepare and implement an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and the Waste Management Plan (WMP) becomes part of the EMP.

 

10.13        A waste management audit will be carried out to ensure compliance with all appropriate environmental protection and pollution control measures during the Construction Phases 1 and 2 of the Project.

 

10.14        Details of the waste management monitoring and audit requirements are provided in a separate EM&A Manual.

 

 Operation Phase

 

10.15        Bone ash and non-combustible residues, chemical waste, fly ash and general refuse will be generated. No adverse impact would be anticipated with a proper handling, storage, treatment and disposal methods.  Monitoring is not considered necessary during operation phase.

Land Contamination

Construction Phase

 

10.16        Since the cremators were still in operation and the proposed trial pit location (TP-1) was possessed by CEDD during the preparation of CAR & RAP, further site investigation for TP-1 and the cremation rooms shall be carried out prior to any demolition works.  Upon completion of further site investigation, a supplementary CAR and, as necessary, a supplementary RAP shall be prepared to present the findings of the further site investigations and recommended remediation action for EPD’s approval.

 

10.17        During removal of the underground storage tank, appropriate precautions should be taken to avoid contamination.  After removal of the underground storage tank, confirmatory soil sample(s) underneath the tank should be collected and tested for TPH, VOCs and Pb to ensure that no contamination due to fuel leakage.

 

10.18        The contaminated soil identified at BH1 (1.5m -1.95m) should be excavated and treated on-site by cement solidification/stabilization (CS/S) during demolition of the existing crematorium. Regular site audit should be carried out to ensure recommended environmental mitigation measures and health and safety measures are implemented properly and effectively.  Confirmation sampling/testing recommended during the course of remedial works should be implemented during the decontamination works of the Project.  Detailed requirements are provided in the EM&A Manual.

 

 Operation Phase

 

10.19        In accordance with the findings of the EIA study, all the potential contaminated areas identified will be remediated before commencement of any earthworks.  It would not pose any significant and direct impacts to the Project during operation phase, therefore no EM&A is considered necessary.

Visual Impact

Construction Phase

 

10.20          All visual monitoring should carry out on site audit with authorize register landscape architect (RLA) for supervision. The design, implementation, maintenance and management of visual mitigation measures shall be checked monthly to ensure that they are fully effectuated. Any potential conflicts between the proposed visual measures and any other project works or operational requirements shall also be recorded for the Contractor to resolve in early stage, without compromising the intention of the mitigation measures.

 

l             to check the status of the visual resources within, and immediately adjacent to, the construction sites and works areas;

l             to determine whether any change has occurred to the status of the visual resources since the EIA;

l             to determine whether amendments in the design of the visual mitigation measures are required for those changes; and

l             to recommend any necessary amendments to the design of the visual mitigation measures.

 

10.21        The design, implementation and maintenance of visual mitigation measures will be checked monthly to ensure that they are fully required. Details of the programme are provided in the EM&A Manual.

 

 Operation Phase

 

10.22        All visual mitigation measures shall be monitored monthly during the first year of the operation phase to check the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. Details of the programme are provided in the EM&A Manual.

Noise

 Construction Phase

 

10.23        Construction noise impacts from this Project would be expected at the representative noise sensitive receivers (NSRs) identified in this EIA.  By adopting silenced equipment and good site practices, the mitigated construction noise levels at the NSRs will comply with the daytime construction noise standard as set out in the EIAO-TM. Noise monitoring during construction phase will be recommended to verify that such mitigation measures would be implemented properly.  Details of the programme are provided in the EM&A Manual.

 

 Operation Phase

 

10.24        With the proper designs of the proposed crematorium, including provision of acoustic louvers for fan rooms and general exhaust fans for plant rooms as well as acoustic barriers for radiators, the potential operation noise impacts at representative NSRs will be controlled within acceptable levels. Operation noise monitoring will not be considered necessary. Nevertheless, noise measurements at King Tsui Court and the staff quarters of Cape Collinson Crematorium before the full commissioning of  the crematorium are recommended in order to ensure compliance of the operational noise levels with the respective recommended noise criteria as shown in Appendix 7.2 of EIA Report.

Water Quality

 Construction Phase

 

10.25        No off-site water quality impact will be expected from the proposed construction and demolition activities, marine water quality monitoring is not considered necessary.  It is recommended that regular site inspections be undertaken to inspect the construction activities and works areas in order to ensure that the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.  Monitoring of the construction site effluent should be carried out in accordance with the WPCO license which is under the ambit of regional office (RO) of EPD.

 

 Operation Phase

 

10.26        The Project would not cause any adverse water quality impact during operational phase. No monitoring is therefore required.