13 Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements
This section provides descriptions of the environmental and operation variables and parameters to be monitored, and the purpose for which each should be monitored, e.g. as an indication of general background conditions or as an indicator of unacceptable environmental impact.
In accordance with the requirements as stipulated in Annex 21
of the TM-EIAO, it is considered necessary to conduct the Environmental
Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme during the construction, operation,
restoration and aftercare phases of the Project and to define the relevant
scope of EM&A requirements, including:
· Provision of a database against which to determine any short- or long-term environmental impacts of the Project;
· Provision of an early indication that any of the environmental control measures or other operation practices are failing to achieve the required standards;
· Provision of data to determine the effectiveness of any mitigation or control measures implemented through amendments in procedures during the life of Project;
· Provision of data to enable an environmental audit of the construction, operation, restoration and aftercare works to be undertaken; and
· Assessment of compliance with the environmental and pollution control and operation requirements.
A
project organisation consisting of the Engineer’s Representative (ER),
Independent Environmental Checker (IEC), Environmental Team (ET), Project
Proponent (MTR) and Contractor
should be established to take on the responsibilities for environmental protection for the Project. The IEC will be appointed by the Project
Proponent to conduct independent auditing on the overall EM&A programme
including environmental and operation
monitoring, implementation of mitigation measures, EM&A submissions,
and any other submission required under the Environmental Permit (EP). The
organisation, responsibilities of respective parties and lines of communication
with respect to environmental protection works are given in the EM&A
Manual.
EM&A is an important aspect in the EIA process which specifies the timeframe and
responsibilities for the implementation of environmental mitigation measures. The requirements on environmental
monitoring (including baseline and impact monitoring) are given in the
EM&A Manual.
A project
specific EM&A Manual to the
Project was prepared with
reference to the latest design information available and EPD’s generic EM&A Manual. The
project specific EM&A Manual highlights
the following issues:
· Organisation, hierarchy and responsibilities of the Contractor, Engineer’s Representative, Project Proponent, ET and IEC with respect to the EM&A requirements during construction and operational phases of the Project;
· Information on project organisation and programming of construction activities;
· Requirements with respect to the construction schedule and necessary EM&A programme to track the varying environmental impacts;
· Details of methodologies to be adopted, including all field, laboratory and analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance;
· Procedure for undertaking on-site environmental audits;
· Definition of Action and Limit Levels;
· Establishment of Event and Action Plans;
· Requirements of reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of non-compliance of environmental criteria and complaints;
· Requirements for reviewing the implementation of mitigation measures, and effectiveness of environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted; and
· Presentation of requirements for EM&A data and appropriate reporting procedures.
An
Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule (EMIS) has been prepared and
included in the EM&A Manual to summarise all the required mitigation
measures need to be implemented during the construction and operational phases
of the Project. The implementation responsibilities are also identified in the
EMIS. The EM&A Manual will also
present the requirements for environmental monitoring and auditing (e.g.
monitoring and audit frequency), throughout the entire construction phase.
The
Contractor should review the mitigation measures and EMIS with respect to the
design developments and construction methodology. In case the Contractor needs
to update the mitigation measures and EMIS, the EM&A Manual should be
updated accordingly.
Detailed
requirements of the EM&A programme are described in the EM&A
Manual. Measurements and activities are
summarised as follows:
· Baseline monitoring (construction dust and airborne noise etc.);
·
Impact
monitoring (construction dust and airborne noise etc.);
· Remedial actions in accordance with the Event and Action Plan within the timeframe in case the specified criteria in the EM&A Manual were exceeded;
· Logging and keeping records of monitoring results; and
· Preparation and submission of Monthly and Final EM&A Reports.