Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499),
Section 5(7)
Environmental Impact Assessment Study Brief No. ESB-133/2005
(hereinafter
known as the "Project")
Name of Applicant
: THE HONGKONG
ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
(hereinafter
known as the "Applicant")
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 An application (No.
ESB-133/2005) for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study brief under
section 5(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was
submitted by the Applicant on 21 September 2005 with a Project Profile (No.
PP-261/2005) (the Project Profile).
1.2
The
proposed Project is to retrofit two existing 350MW coal-fired generating units,
namely L4 and L5, of the Lamma Power Station with Flue Gas Desulphurization
(FGD) plant for reducing the overall sulphur dioxide emission from the Lamma
Power Station. It is proposed to adopt the “Wet Limestone- Gypsum” process for
the FGD plants. Location of the Project is given in the Figure No. 2.4a of the
Project Profile and is reproduced in Appendix A.
1.3
The
scope of the Project includes the following major works:
-
Installation
of FGD plants with FGD efficiency of 90% for the two 350MW coal-fired Units L4
and L5 by adding the followings equipments :
s
Two
sets of FGD absorbers and associated ductworks;
s
Two
sets of booster fans;
s
Two
sets of gas-gas heaters;
s
FGD
Switchgear and Equipment Building; and
s
Gypsum
dewatering system comprising two sets of hydrocyclones and belt filters; and
-
Demolition
of the existing Numbers 4 and 5 Light Oil Tanks, each of 250m3
capacity, and relocation of some pipeworks to provide areas for the
installation of FGD plants.
1.4
The
Project is a material change to an exempted designated project, the Lamma Power
Station as a Public Utility Electricity Power Plant (Item D.1 Part I Schedule
2 of the EIAO), under the EIAO because of the changes induced by the FGD
operations to the types and quantities of emissions, wastes and effluents. In
addition, the demolition of two existing Light Oil Tanks is a designated
project under item 16 Part II (Decommissioning Projects) Schedule 2 of
the EIAO (i.e. A store for oil with a storage capacity exceeding 200 tonnes).
1.5
Pursuant
to section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the Director of Environmental Protection (the
Director) issues this EIA study brief to the Applicant to carry out an EIA
study.
1.6
The purpose of this EIA study
is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts
arising from the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Project and
related activities that take place concurrently. This information will
contribute to decisions by the Director on:
(i) the overall
acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that is to arise as a
result of the Project and the associated activities of the Project;
(ii)
the
conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction, operation and decommissioning of the
Project to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences; and
(iii)
the
acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are
implemented.
2. OBJECTIVES
OF THE EIA STUDY
2.1 The
objectives of the EIA study are as follows:
(i)
to
describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and
environmental benefits for carrying out the Project;
(ii)
to
identify if there are other types of Designated Projects under Schedule 2 of
the EIAO to be covered in the Project;
(iii)
to identify and describe the elements of the
community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and/or to likely
cause adverse impacts to the Project, including both the natural and man-made
environment and the associated environmental constraints;
(iv)
to identify and quantify emission sources and
determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential
affected uses;
(v)
to identify and quantify any potential land
contamination caused, to determine the significance of the impact and to
propose measures to mitigate the impact;
(vi)
to propose the provision of infrastructure or
mitigation measures to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and
nuisance during construction, operation and decommissioning of the Project;
(vii)
to investigate the feasibility, practicability,
effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;
(viii)
to identify, predict and evaluate the residual
environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) and the cumulative
effects expected to arise during the construction, operation and
decommissioning phases of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers
and potential affected uses;
(ix)
to identify, assess and specify methods,
measures and standards, to be included in the detailed design, construction,
operation and decommissioning of the Project which are necessary to mitigate
these environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to
acceptable levels;
(x)
to investigate the extent of the secondary
environmental impacts that may arise from the proposed mitigation measures and
to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in
the EIA study, as well as the provision of any necessary modification; and
(xi)
to design and specify the environmental
monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the
recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.
3. DETAILED
REQUIREMENTS OF THE EIA STUDY
3.1 The
Purpose
The
purpose of this study brief is to scope the key issues of the EIA study and to
specify the environmental issues that are required to be reviewed and assessed
in the EIA report. The Applicant
has to demonstrate in the EIA report that the criteria in the relevant sections
of the Technical Memorandum on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process of
the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (hereinafter referred to as “the
TM”) are met.
3.2 The Scope
The
scope of this EIA study shall cover the Project proposed in the Project Profile
and shall include the works and facilities mentioned in Sections 1.2 and 1.3
above. The EIA study shall address
the key issues described below, together with any other key issues identified
during the course of the EIA study and the cumulative environmental impacts of
the Project, through interaction or in combination with other existing,
committed, planned and known potential developments in the vicinity of the
Project:
(i)
the hazards and environmental impacts associated
with the potential land contamination arising from demolition of the two
existing Numbers 4 and 5 Light Oil Tanks, and the secondary hazards and
environmental impacts that may arise from remediation of contaminated land;
(ii)
the potential air quality impacts, both positive
and negative, caused by the FGD plants during operation of the Project; and
(iii)
the potential water quality impact and waste
management implication caused by the FGD plants during operation of the
Project.
3.3 Consideration
of Alternatives
3.3.1 Need for the Project
The
Applicant shall present in the EIA the information on the need for and the
environmental benefits of the Project and the Project’s implementation
programme.
3.3.3 Consideration of
Alternative Construction/Decontamination Methods
Having regard to the findings of the land contamination
assessment, the EIA study shall explore alternative
construction/decontamination methods for the Project, with a view to avoiding
hazards and adverse environmental impacts to the maximum practicable extent. A
comparison of the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of applying different
construction/decontamination methods shall be made with a view to recommending
the preferred methods to avoid adverse on-site and off-site environmental
impact to the maximum practicable extent.
3.4 Technical
Requirements
The
Applicant shall conduct the EIA study to address the environmental aspects as
described in Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 above. The assessment shall be based on
the best and latest information available during the course of the EIA study.
The Applicant shall assess the cumulative environmental impacts from the
Project with other interacting projects. The Applicant shall include in the EIA
report details of the construction and decommissioning programme and
methodologies.
The Applicant
shall review previously studies or EIA reports which are relevant to the
Project and extract relevant information for the purpose of this EIA study. The
following studies or EIA reports shall be referred to :
-
Environmental Impact Assessment of Units L7 and
L8 Lamma Power Station (EIAO Register No. EIA-012/BC);
-
Environmental Impact Assessment of a 1,800MW
Gas-Fired Power Station at Lamma Extension (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-010/1999);
and
-
Project Profile - Lamma Power Station Conversion
of Two Existing Gas Turbines (GT5 and GT7) into a Combined Cycle Unit (EIAO
Register No. PP-093/2000)
The EIA study
shall meet the following technical requirements on specific impacts, unless
otherwise approved by the Director specifically in writing.
3.4.1 Land Contamination
3.4.1.1 The Applicant shall
follow the guidelines as stated in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of Annex 19 in the TM
for evaluation and assessing potential land contamination issues due to
the demolition of the existing Light Oil Tanks and the relocation of pipeworks
of the Project, as stipulated in Section 1.3 above.
3.4.1.2 The Applicant shall provide a clear and
detailed account of the present land use (including description of the
activities, chemicals and hazardous substances handled with clear indication of
their storage and location by reference to a site layout plan), the relevant
past land use history in relation to possible land contamination (e.g. accident
records, etc.) and the presence of any contaminated materials.
3.4.1.3 The Applicant shall submit a contamination
assessment plan (CAP) to the Director for agreement prior to conducting a
contamination assessment of the site. The CAP shall include proposals on
sampling and analysis required and shall aim at determining the nature and
extent of the contamination of the site.
3.4.1.4 Based on the agreed CAP, the Applicant shall
conduct a land contamination assessment and compile a Contamination Assessment
Report (CAR) to document the findings and to confirm whether the site is
contaminated or not. If land contamination is confirmed, a remediation
action plan (RAP) shall be prepared to formulate in detail any necessary
remedial measures for management of the contaminated soil and materials.
3.4.1.5 The field investigation and sampling work
should be conducted in a safe and proper manner and the RAP shall provide
necessary measures for ensuring that the contaminated soil and materials will
be handled and managed in a safe and proper manner.
3.4.1.6 The Applicant shall prepare the CAP, CAR and,
if necessary, the RAP in accordance with ProPECC Practice Note No. 3/94
“Contaminated Land Assessment and Remediation” and other relevant guidance
notes.
3.4.1.7 The Applicant shall address any hazards and
environmental impacts associated with the potential land contamination, if
confirmed, and the secondary hazards and environmental impacts that may arise
from remediation and disposal of contaminated soil and materials. The
assumptions, methodology, data, findings, recommendations and conclusions of
CAP, CAR and, if necessary, the RAP shall be included in the EIA report.
3.4.2 Air Quality Impact
3.4.2.1 The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines as stated in
Section 1 of Annex 4 and Annex 12 of the TM for evaluating and assessing the
air quality impact due to the operation of the Project, as stipulated in
Sections 1.2 and 1.3 above.
3.4.2.2 As stipulated in Section 1.2 above, the Project is for reducing the
overall sulphur dioxide emission from the Lamma Power Station. The Applicant
may carry out a comparative study to demonstrate if the stack emission impacts
of the coal-fired Units L4 & L5 before and after the Project will lead to
lower air quality impacts at the Air Sensitive Receivers (ASRs) including the
areas of Lamma Island, Cheung Chau as well as Southern District and Central
& Western District of Hong Kong Island by using either a simple screening
tool such as ISCST3 Gaussian model or a more sophisticated tool, such as wind
tunnel test, if necessary. If result of the comparative study shows that the air
quality impacts at ASRs are worsened, the air quality impact assessment
following the technical requirements as described in Section 3.4.2.5 below
shall be carried out to evaluate the cumulative impacts at the identified ASRs
against the criteria set out in section 1 of Annex 4 of the TM. The cumulative
assessment for the stack emission impact shall take into account the project
specific impacts together with a regional-wide emission impact for background
concentration.