Contents
Chapter
8. Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements
8.5. Waste Management Implications
8.1.1. This section provides a summary of the requirements of the environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) for the Project based on the findings of this EIA study. An EM&A programme has been formulated and the details are provided in the separate EM&A Manual prepared in accordance with Annex 21 of the EIAO-TM.
8.1.2.
The objectives of conducting the
EM&A programme for the Project are as follows:
·
To provide a database against which
any short or long-term environmental impacts of the Project can be determined;
·
To provide an early indication should
any of the environmental control measures or practices fail to achieve the
acceptable standards;
·
To monitor the performance of the
Project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures;
·
To verify the environmental impacts
predicted in this EIA study;
·
To determine project compliance with
regulatory requirements, standards and government policies;
·
To take remedial action if unexpected
problems or unacceptable impacts arise; and
·
To provide data to enable an
environmental audit.
8.1.3.
The following section summarises the recommended
EM&A requirements for the Project. Details of the specific requirements and
the implementation schedule are provided in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
8.2.1. With the implementation of the dust suppression measures stipulated in the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation and good site practices, no adverse construction dust impacts would be expected. However, construction dust monitoring should be conducted throughout the construction phase, whilst regular weekly site inspections are recommended to ensure proper implementation of the proposed mitigation measures. Details of dust monitoring under the EM&A programme are provided in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
8.2.2. No adverse air quality impacts are anticipated from the Project. During the operation phase with implementation of the air pollution control measures. The operation of the crematorium will follow the requirements in the specified process (SP) license to be obtained. Monitoring will be conducted during operation phase in accordance with the requirements under the BPM 12/2 (2020). Odour patrol will be conducted during operation phase to ensure that no nearby ASRs will be subject to adverse air quality impact. Details of the odour monitoring requirement under the EM&A programme are provided in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
8.3.1. Noise sensitive receivers are located at more than 400m from the Project Boundary. Having said that, mitigation measures have been recommended to control the construction noise impacts arising from the Project. With the implementation of mitigation measures, no adverse construction noise impact is anticipated and hence only regular site audit during the construction phase is proposed. Construction noise monitoring is deemed not required. Details of the EM&A programme are provided in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
8.3.2. No adverse noise impacts are anticipated as a result of the implementation of the Project during the operation phase. Thus, no specific EM&A programme during the operation phase is required.
8.4.1. With proper implementation of the recommended control measures, no adverse water quality impact is anticipated during construction phase of the Project. Water quality monitoring is therefore not considered necessary. Nevertheless, weekly site inspection should be conducted in order to ensure the recommended control measures are properly implemented. Details of the EM&A programme are provided in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
8.4.2. With proper implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, no adverse water quality impacts are anticipated during operation of the Project. Thus, no specific EM&A programme during the operation phase is required.
8.5.1. The assessment on waste management has concluded that with proper handling, storage, collection, transportation and disposal of waste materials generated during construction phase, no significant impacts to nearby sensitive receivers are expected. 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 good waste management practices and EPD’s regulations and requirements.
8.5.2. Whilst no specific EM&A requirement have been considered necessary, it is recommended that during the construction phase, site inspections and supervisions of waste management procedures and auditing of the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures should be undertaken by the Environmental Team on a regular basis. These tasks shall be scheduled in the Waste Management Plan to be prepared by the Contractor, and the site audits summary shall be presented in the monthly EM&A reports. Details of the EM&A programme are provided in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
8.5.3.
No
adverse waste management impacts are expected with implementation of the
recommended mitigation measures during operation phase of the
Project. Thus, no EM&A with respect to waste management during
the operation phase is required.
8.6.1.
With the effective implementation of the
ecological mitigation measures recommended for the Project, as well as those
recommended in other sections of the EIA Report in managing the potential air,
noise, water pollution and waste generation, etc., unacceptable residual
ecological impact is not anticipated during the construction phase. Details of the EM&A programme are provided in the stand-alone EM&A
Manual.
Transplantation of Flora Species of Conservation Importance
8.6.2. Before commencement of site clearance, a detailed baseline vegetation survey with the objective to update the presence and location(s) of floral species of conservation importance, including but not limited to Incense Tree Aquilaria sinensis recorded in this EIA study, should be undertaken by an experienced Plant Ecologist with at least 3 years’ experience in vegetation survey. The survey should cover all works areas to be directly affected by the proposed crematorium development as well as 5m from its site boundary. The detail vegetation survey should follow the numbering, tagging and reporting requirements of tree survey as stipulated under the DEVB TC(W) No. 4/2020 as far as practicable. Suitability for transplanting the plants to be affected by the works should be assessed on an individual basis and make reference to the evaluation criteria listed in the “Guidelines for Tree Transplanting” issued by the Tree Management Office, DEVB as far as applicable.
8.6.3. Ecological monitoring would be required should any floral species of conservation importance be preserved or transplanted under the Project. Whilst, if applicable, the details of the monitoring will be proposed in the “Preservation and Transplanting Proposal for Flora of Conservation Importance” after the completion of a detailed baseline vegetation survey, monitoring of the plants preserved in the Project (if any) should cover the whole construction period with a frequency not less than once every two months, whereas post-transplanting monitoring if required should be conducted monthly for at least a 12-month period.
Relocation of Faunal Species of Conservation
Importance
8.6.4. Before commencement of site clearance, an Ecologist with relevant experience in surveying herpetofauna should undertake a precautionary check for the presence of Lesser Spiny Frog and Short-legged Toad (both tadpoles or adults) in the woodland habitat and drainage system within the Project Boundary. Should any of these two species of conservation importance and/ or other fauna species of conservation importance with lower ability to elude the Project Site be found, an “Animal Capture Survey and Relocation Plan” should be prepared by the Ecologist and submitted to AFCD for approval prior the commencement of the site clearance.
8.6.5. The necessity of post-translocation monitoring for any frog or other fauna species of conservation importance will be determined after the precautionary check. Should the translocation of any fauna species of conservation importance be required, details of the post-translocation monitoring will be discussed in the Animal Capture Survey and Relocation Plan.
8.6.6.
With the effective implementation of the
ecological mitigation measures recommended for the Project, any unacceptable
residual ecological impact would not be anticipated during the operation phase.
Thus, no specific EM&A programme
with respect to ecology during the operation phase is required.