16
Environmental
Monitoring and Audit
16.1.1
This section
discusses the requirements of environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) for
the construction and operational phases of the Project, based on the assessment
results of various environmental issues.
16.1.2
The purpose of
the EM&A programme is to ascertain and verify the
assumptions implicit to, and accuracy of the predictions in the Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) study. The EM&A programme
includes the scope of the EM&A requirements for the Project to ensure
compliance with the EIA study recommendations, to assess the effectiveness of
the recommended mitigation measures and to identify any further need for
additional mitigation measures or remedial action.
16.1.3
The following
sections summarise the recommended EM&A
requirements for the Project. Details of the requirements are provided in a
stand-alone EM&A Manual.
16.2.1
Construction dust
monitoring and regular site audit should be conducted during construction phase
to check compliance with the relevant legislative requirements. Details of the monitoring and audit programme are contained in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
16.2.2
No adverse impact
would be generated during the operational phase of the Project. No EM&A would be required during the
operation of the Project.
16.3
Noise Impact
16.3.1
Construction
noise monitoring is recommended as part of the EM&A programme
to check compliance with the daytime construction noise criteria during the
construction phase of the Project. Weekly site audit is also
recommended to ensure the proper implementation of the recommended mitigation
measures to be specified for daytime construction activities in Construction
Noise Management Plan(s) (CNMP(s)). Details of the EM&A programme are provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
16.3.2
Both at-source
(i.e. low noise road surfacing and absorptive type noise barriers) and
at-receiver (i.e. acoustic windows/balconies or acoustic windows/balconies
lined with sound absorptive material) mitigation measures are recommended to
mitigate the road traffic noise impact anticipated from Project roads. Road traffic noise levels should be
monitored at the selected representative noise sensitive receivers (NSRs)
located in the vicinity of the recommended at-source mitigation measures,
during the first year of road opening and population intake of the planned NSRs
under the Project. Details of the EM&A programme are provided in a stand-alone
EM&A Manual.
16.3.3
Planned fixed
noise sources under the Project would include a sewage pumping station (SPS),
fire station cum ambulance depot, facilities within UniTown
(including centralised cooling system, public
transport terminus and sports grounds), indoor sport centre
and transport interchange hub.
Proper noise control measures should be considered during the detailed
design stage and implemented during construction stage to ensure compliance
with relevant noise standards at all NSRs. Based on the latest information of
the Project, there are no fixed noise sources to be provided under Designated
Projects (DPs). For non-DP fixed noise
sources, quantitative fixed noise impact assessment should be carried out via
various planning/funding/land lease mechanism in accordance with the
requirements of the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG).
16.4.1
Considering that
the proposed revitalisation works would be carried
out at Ngau Tam Mei Drainage Channel (NTMDC) and its branches, baseline and
construction phase water quality monitoring at NTMDC is recommended. Details of
the recommended water quality monitoring requirements are provided in a stand-alone
EM&A Manual.
16.4.2
A Water Pollution
Control Ordinance (WPCO) licence should be obtained
if there would be construction drainage discharge. Self-monitoring and reporting should be
carried out for monitoring the construction drainage discharge in accordance
with the requirements of WPCO licence.
16.4.3
It is also
recommended that regular site inspection should be undertaken during the
construction phase to inspect the construction activities and works areas in order to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are
properly implemented.
16.5.1
No adverse
sewerage implications associated with the operation of the Project are expected, thus, no specific EM&A requirement would
be required.
16.6
Waste Management Implications
16.6.1
Waste management
would be the Contractor¡¯s responsibility to ensure that all wastes produced
during the construction of the Project are properly handled, stored,
transported and disposed of in accordance with good waste management practices
and EPD¡¯s regulations and requirements. A trip ticket system
in accordance with DEVB TCW No. 6/2010, Trip Ticket System for
Disposal of Construction & Demolition Materials, should be in place.
The monitoring and auditing requirement stated in ETWB
TCW No.19/2005, Environmental Management on Construction Sites, and DEVB
TCW No. 6/2010 should be followed with regard to
the management of construction and demolition (C&D) materials.
16.6.2
Weekly site audits
should be conducted by the Environmental Team (ET) during construction phase.
The audits should look at all aspects of on-site waste management practices on
waste generation, storage, recycling, transport and disposal. Apart from site
audits, documents including licences, permits,
disposal and recycling records should be reviewed and audited to ensure
compliance of relevant legislation and proper
implementation of the recommended good site practice and other waste management
mitigation measures.
16.7.1
Remediation
works, if necessary, would be carried out based on the recommended further
works outlined in Section 8.8.
Mitigation measures as recommended in the future approved Remediation
Action Plan should be implemented during the remediation works. The EM&A requirements should be
carried out in the form of weekly site inspection
to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.
16.8.1
Key mitigation
measures on specific ecological resources were recommended under Section 9 of this EIA Report,
such as wetland compensation, and transplantation / translocation / nest control measures of
species of conservation importance. These measures should be monitored and
audited by local ecologist(s)/botanist(s)
with relevant experience during the construction and operational phases as
appropriate to ensure proper implementation. Furthermore, regular site audit
should be carried out throughout the construction phase to ensure proper
implementation of the recommended avoidance and minimisation
measures. In case of non-compliance, contractor(s) should be informed to
strengthen the proposed measures accordingly. Details of EM&A requirements
are discussed in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
16.9.1
With the
implementation of mitigation and precautionary measures proposed in Section
16.4, the potential water quality impacts arising from the Project would be
minimised.
No specific EM&A programme is required for
the potential water quality impact in association with fisheries impact. The monitoring and audit requirement
have been covered by the EM&A programme for
potential water quality impact recommended in Section 16.4.
16.10.1
The landscape and
visual mitigation measures are recommended in Section 11.8 to be undertaken during design, construction and
operational phases of the Project.
The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual
mitigation measures should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised such that any potential conflicts between the
proposed landscape measures and any other project works as well as operation
requirements could be resolved at the earliest possible date
and without compromising the intention of the proposed mitigation measures.
16.10.2
The EM&A of the
mitigation measures should be carried out during the construction phase as part
of the site audit programme, while a 12-month
establishment period of the landscape and visual mitigation measures by the
corresponding implementation agency should be conducted during operational
phase to ensure the proposed mitigation measures in the EIA and as depicted in
the Landscape and Visual Mitigation Plan are fully implemented.
16.10.3
All mitigation
measures proposed and implemented by the contractor should be audited by
Registered Landscape Architect, as a member of the Environmental Team, on a
regular basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures. The
mitigation measures proposed should be included in the detailed engineering
design and landscape design drawings and contract document. Site
inspection should be undertaken monthly throughout the construction
period. In particular, the extent of the agreed works areas should
be regularly checked during the construction phase. The landscape
auditor should audit the proposed mitigation measures to ensure that they are
fully implemented during construction and the 12-month establishment period
during operational phase.
Construction
Phase
Built Heritage and Other Identified items
16.11.1
Cartographic and
photographic record, and other documentation means (including 3D scanning),
should be carried out for the seven other identified items (i.e. DD104 Lot 4186
S.E (Residence) (YTMT01); DD104 Lot 4187 S.B (Watchtower) (YTMT02); Remnants of
Nam Shan Monastery (YTMT03); Subsidiary Station of San Yau Vegetable Marketing
Co-operative Society, Ltd. (YTMT04); Lee¡¯s Boundary Stone (YTMT07); Mailbox No.
299 (NB04) and Grave of Mr. Man Chiu Pak and His Wife (NB09)) located within the Project Site prior to the
commencement of any construction works by the contractor(s) at the respective
locations for record purposes and future use. For NB09, implementation details would be
subject to discussion between project proponent(s) and stakeholders. If YTMT06 is confirmed to be demolished
in subsequent stages, preserved by record should also be conducted for the
school.
16.11.2
Standard control
measures on ground-borne vibration, tilting and settlement by drawing necessary
references from relevant government guidelines, including but not limited to
the Code of Practice for Foundations and Practice Note for Authorised Person,
Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical
Engineers APP-137 (PNAP APP-137) should be conducted by the future
contractor(s) for eight (8) other identified items (i.e. Wai Cheung Ancestral
Hall (HB1219), San Yau Vegetable Marketing Co-operative Society, Ltd (YTMT05);
DD104 Lot 2729 (Residence) (WTT01); Nos. 16-17, San Wai Tsuen (SW03); No. 25A,
San Wai Tsuen (SW04); Mailbox No. 35 (NB02); Mailbox No. 169 (NB03) and Chun
Chi Education Park (NB08)) and YTMT06 (if preserved in situ).
16.11.5
As HB1219, YTMT05
and YTMT06 (if preserved in situ) are located
within or in proximity of the Project Site, dust suppression measures and good
site practice should be adopted by the contractor(s) during the construction
phase in order to avoid dust nuisance on these
buildings. A safe access route to
these buildings should also be maintained by the contractor(s) for conducting
any mitigation measures.
16.11.6
In addition,
project proponent(s), subsequent developer(s) and contractor(s) should be aware
of eight other identified items (i.e. YTMT05, WTT01, SW03, SW04, NB02, NB03,
Man¡¯s Boundary Stone (NB05) and NB08) that
are located in proximity to the Project Site when construction works are
carrying out nearby and the contractor(s) should deploy management measures to
ensure no direct disturbance would be caused to the physical fabrics of these
other identified items.
Archaeology
16.11.9
For those
remaining areas identified with low and no archaeological potential,
precautionary measures are required. Pursuant to the Antiquities and
Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53), the project proponent is required to inform
the AMO immediately in case of discovery of antiquities or supposed antiquities
in the course of works, so that appropriate mitigation measures, if needed, can
be timely formulated and implemented in agreement with and to the satisfaction
of AMO.
Operational
Phase
Built Heritage and Other Identified Items
16.11.10
HB1219 is
proposed to be preserved in situ within the land use of Open Space (O.3). Any revitalisation
proposed for the building in subsequent stages should be further reviewed by
the future project proponent(s) or subsequent developer(s). If the preservation of YTMT06 in situ
within the land use of Government (UniTown) (G.11) is
confirmed in subsequent stages, opportunity for potential revitalisation
of the school should be explored by future project proponent(s) or subsequent
developer(s).
Archaeology
16.11.11
As no impact is anticipated
during operational phase, no mitigation measure is required for archaeology
heritage.
16.12.1
No hazard to life impact is anticipated as there are no
consultation zones of any existing hazardous facilities encroaching upon the
Project Site and no planned hazardous facilities proposed under the Project.
Hence, no EM&A programme is required.
16.13.1
Qualitative
landfill gas hazard assessment has categorised the
risk as ¡°Very Low¡± during both construction and operational phases, and thus no
EM&A programme is considered necessary.
Nevertheless, appropriate precautionary and protective measures as recommended
in Section 14.6 should be considered to further minimise
the landfill gas hazard.
16.14.1
Based on
measurement results of previous EIA studies, it is anticipated that the
electric field and electro-magnetic field generated by the existing 400 kV
overhead cables situated near / at the southern and eastern portions of the
Development Area would not pose adverse impact on the proposed developments of
the Project. Hence, no specific EM&A programme is
required.