1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of the Manual

1.1.1 The purpose of this Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual is to guide the set up of an EM&A programme to ensure compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (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. This Manual outlines the monitoring and audit programme for the construction and operation of the proposed Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII). It aims to provide systematic procedures for monitoring, auditing and minimising environmental impacts associated with construction works and operational activities.

1.1.2 Hong Kong environmental regulations and the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines have served as environmental standards and guidelines in the preparation of this Manual. In addition, the EM&A Manual has been prepared in accordance with the requirements stipulated in Annex 21 of the Technical Memorandum on the EIA Process (EIAO-TM).

1.1.3 This Manual contains the following information:

· responsibilities of the Contractor, the Engineer or Engineer’s Representative (ER), Environmental Team (ET), and the Independent Checker (Environment) (IC(E)) with respect to the environmental monitoring and audit requirements during the course of the project;

· project organisation for the project;

· the basis for, and description of the broad approach underlying the EM&A programme;

· requirements with respect to the construction programme (as stated in Appendix 2.1 of the EIA Report) schedule and the necessary environmental monitoring and audit programme to track the varying environmental impact;

· details of the methodologies to be adopted, including all field laboratories and analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance and quality control programme;

· the rationale on which the environmental monitoring data will be evaluated and interpreted;

· definition of Action and Limit levels;

· establishment of Event and Action plans;

· requirements for reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of non-compliance with the environmental criteria and complaints;

· requirements for presentation of environmental monitoring and audit data and appropriate reporting procedures; and

· requirements for review of EIA predictions and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures / environmental management systems and the EM&A programme.

1.1.4 For the purpose of this manual, the ET leader, who shall be responsible for and in charge of the ET, shall refer to the person delegated the role of executing the EM&A requirements.

1.2 Project Description

Project Background

1.2.1 The Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Feasibility Study proposed development to be carried out in five stages. Central Reclamation Phase I, for accommodating the Hong Kong Central Station of the Airport Railway, was completed in June 1998. Central Reclamation Phase II, at the previous Tamar Basin, was completed in September 1997. Wan Chai Reclamation Phase I, for the extension to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), was completed in July 1997. Detailed design for Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII) is currently in progress.

1.2.2 The Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII) is the fifth phase in the implementation of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation, following Central Reclamation Phases I, II and III and Wan Chai Reclamation Phase I.

1.2.3 The main objective of the Project is, now, not to reclaim land for development, but to provide land for key transport infrastructure and facilities. In addition, the Project will also include the reprovisioning of any existing waterfront facilities affected by the Project as well as any necessary measures to improve the resultant shoreline so that an attractive waterfront promenade would be created for the enjoyment of the public.

1.2.4 The key transport infrastructure for which land needs to be provided comprises the Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB), the Island Eastern Corridor Link (IECL) and the associated connections to the existing road network, the proposed North Hong Kong Island Line (NIL) and the proposed fourth rail harbour crossing.

Site Location and Study Area

1.2.5 The WDII Study Area, as shown in Figure 1.1, is demarcated by Hing Fat Street to the east, Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road to the south and Fenwick Pier Street to the west.

1.2.6 The site area comprises urban development on existing reclaimed land along the Wan Chai and Causeway Bay shoreline, together with existing seabed along the shoreline that will be reclaimed under the Project. Major land uses within the study area include the HKCEC Extension, the Wan Chai ferry piers, the Wan Chai Public Cargo Working Area (PCWA), the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), the Police Officers Club and the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter.

1.2.7 New land will be formed along the Wan Chai and Causeway Bay shoreline, primarily for the construction of key infrastructure and to provide an attractive waterfront with a new public promenade. A total reclamation area of some 28.5 ha is envisaged, with the newly reclaimed land forming a narrow strip of land along the existing Wan Chai and Causeway Bay shorelines, from the interface with the CRIII project west of the HKCEC Extension to the east of the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter.

Project Scope

1.2.8 The scope of the Project comprises:

(i) Land formation for key transport infrastructure and facilities, including:

· the CWB;

· the IECL;

· the NIL;

· the necessary ground level road connections to facilitate through traffic from Central to Wan Chai;

· a possible fourth cross harbour rail link;

· a Government helipad; and

· the waterfront promenade and other essential facilities; land is also required for the associated / supporting facilities for the waterfront promenade.

(ii) Reprovisioning / protection of the existing facilities and structures affected by the land formation works mentioned above.

(iii) Extension, modification, reprovisioning or protection of existing storm water drainage outfalls, sewerage outfalls, Wan Chai East Screening Plant and watermains affected by the revised land use and land formation works mentioned above.

(iv) Upgrading of hinterland storm water drainage system and sewerage system, which would be rendered insufficient by the land formation works mentioned above.

(v) Provision of the ground level roads, road bridges, footbridges, necessary transport facilities and the associated utility services.

(vi) Construction of the new waterfront promenade, landscape works and the associated utility services.

Construction Programme

1.2.9 The construction of the Project will take place from March 2004 to December 2007. Together with CRIII, the Project will provide land for CWB & IECL. Both CRIII and CWB & IECL will be constructed concurrently with the Project (Table 1.1).

Table 1.1 Projects that may be Undertaken Simultaneously with the WDII Project

Project	Year of Construction	Nature of Project	Remark
Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII)	March 2004 to February 2010	Roadworks and infrastructural developments	Construction of the CWB within WDII will be entrusted to a WDII contract
Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII)	August 2002 to March 2007	Roadworks and infrastructural developments	Construction of the CWB within CRIII will be entrusted to a CRIII contract
Causeway Bay Flyover	May 2003 to February 2006	Roadworks	-

Related Projects

1.2.10 The following projects are related to the WDII project:

(i) The CRIII project, comprising reclamation along the Central waterfront for transport infrastructure needs (including CWB and NIL) and basic land use requirements.

(ii) The CWB and IECL project, for the construction of the Trunk Road (which comprises the CWB and the IECL) from Rumsey Street Flyover Extension in Central to the Island Eastern Corridor in Causeway Bay. The construction of the CWB tunnel through WDII will be entrusted to the WDII project.

1.3 Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

1.3.1 The following sub-sections summarise the EM&A requirements recommended in the EIA Report.

Air Quality Impact

Construction Phase

1.3.2 The construction work will inevitably lead to dust (TSP) emissions, mainly from excavation, truck haulage and material handling. It is predicted that the dust generated will exceed the hourly and daily criteria of 500 mg m^-3 and 260 mg m^-3, respectively, at ASRs from Central to Causeway Bay.

1.3.3 Mitigation measures, including vehicle speed limit and a watering programme within the site, have been proposed and presented in the EIA Report. With implementation of the proposed dust suppression measures, good site practices and comprehensive dust monitoring and audit, the TSP levels at all ASRs will comply with the dust criteria. Dust monitoring requirements are recommended in Section 2 of this EM&A Manual to ensure the efficacy of the control measures.

Operational Phase

1.3.4 As presented in Section 3.7 of the EIA Report, there will be no exceedance of AQOs at the sensitive receivers. No mitigation measures or environmental monitoring are considered necessary during the operational phase of the WDII.

Noise Impact

Construction Phase

1.3.5 Construction noise impacts from this Project, in addition to the concurrent construction tasks of other projects such as Causeway Bay Flyover, CRIII and CWB & IECL projects, are predicted at the NSRs identified in this EIA. Appropriate mitigation measures, including movable noise barriers and reducing the percentage of on-time operation of the powered mechanical equipment, are required in order to alleviate the impacts to meet the EIAO-TM criteria. Noise monitoring during construction phase will have to be carried out to ensure that such mitigation measures have been implemented properly. Details are provided in Section 3 of this EM&A Manual.

Operational Phase

1.3.6 According to the assessment results, no adverse impact from the Project is expected on the representative NSRs. Therefore, EM&A for operational noise impact is not required.

Water Quality Impact

Construction Phase

1.3.7 A water quality monitoring and audit programme will be conducted during dredging and filling operations to verify whether or not impact predictions are representative, and to ensure that the dredging and filling operations do not result in unacceptable impacts. When monitoring shows unacceptable water quality impact, appropriate mitigation measures, such as changes in the operation of marine works, will be introduced.

1.3.8 Water quality monitoring should be carried out at selected potentially affected sensitive receivers, to assess whether or not impacts follow the predictions made in this EIA. Section 4 of this EM&A Manual includes site-specific monitoring and auditing protocols for baseline and all stages of the dredging operations. Such protocols include but are not limited to the locations of monitoring stations, parameters and frequencies for monitoring, monitoring equipment, data management procedures, and reporting of monitoring results.

1.3.9 Environmental audit specifications should be developed for all phases of the works, including procedures to ensure compliance with mitigation measures, environmental quality performance limits, and procedures for reviewing results and auditing compliance with specified performance limits.

Operational Phase

1.3.10 As adverse water quality impact will not be generated from the operation of the WDII, operational water quality monitoring and audit is not considered necessary.

Waste Management

1.3.11 Waste management will 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 EPD’s good waste management practices, and regulations and requirements. The mitigation measures recommended in Section 6.7 of the EIA Report, including special procedures in handling contaminated sediment during disposal and transportation, good site management and reuse and recycling of construction and demolition material, should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor at the construction stage. These measures, including special handling procedures in dredged marine sediment transportation and disposal, good site practices and waste reduction measures, reuse and recycling of construction and demolition materials, are summarised in Appendix A of this Manual.

1.3.12 It is recommended that the waste arisings generated during the construction activities should be audited periodically to determine if wastes are being managed in accordance with approved procedures and the site Waste Management Plan. The audits should look at all aspects of waste management including waste generation, storage, recycling, transport and disposal. An appropriate audit programme would be to undertake a first audit near the commencement of the construction works, and then to audit quarterly thereafter. Details are presented in Section 5 of this Manual.

Land Contamination

1.3.13 The requirements for EM&A with respect to land contamination, if necessary, should be determined upon completion of all relevant site investigation works.

Terrestrial Ecology

1.3.14 As no specific mitigation measures will be required for the potential terrestrial ecological impacts to preserve ecological resources in the study area, terrestrial ecological monitoring and auditing will not be required.

Marine Ecology

1.3.15 As no specific mitigation measures will be required for the potential marine ecological impacts to preserve ecological resources in the study area, marine ecological monitoring and auditing will not be required.

Landscape and Visual Impact

Construction Phase

1.3.16 Construction activities would give rise to landscape and visual impacts varying from slight to substantial significance.

1.3.17 The landscape and visual mitigation measures for the construction phase are described in Section 10 of the EIA Report. The measures are on-site management measures to be undertaken by the contractor. Monitoring of the Contractor to ensure that the measures are carried out properly should be undertaken by resident site staff of the Territory Development Department (TDD).

Operational Phase

1.3.18 The operation of WDII would give rise to landscape and visual impacts of varying from moderate negative to moderate beneficial.

1.3.19 The proposed landscape and visual mitigation measures are described in Section 10 of the EIA Report. The measures are design measures to be incorporated in the detailed planning and design of the reclamation, infrastructure and open space works. Landscape mitigation measures would be subsequently managed and maintained according to WBTC 18/94, subject to possible amendment if a Harbour Waterfront Authority is created.

Biogas

1.3.20 An assessment has been made of the potential biogas risk associated with the reclamation at the western and eastern corners of the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter where mud will be left in place. As sensitive ‘at risk’ rooms may be present at the proposed developments at the western and eastern corners of the typhoon shelter, both at ground level and below ground, a precautionary principle should be applied. It is, therefore, recommended that monitoring of gas emission rates should be undertaken at the proposed development areas in the immediate post-reclamation period to determine actual rates of methane gas emissions. The results of the gas monitoring should be reviewed to determine the extent of gas protection measures to be incorporated in the detailed design of the proposed developments. Details of the recommendations for methane gas monitoring are given in Section 6 of this Manual.

1.4 Project Organisation

1.4.1 The proposed project organisation and lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works are shown in Figure 1.2.

1.4.2 The leader of the Environmental Team shall be an independent party from the Contractor and have relevant professional qualifications, or have sufficient relevant EM&A experience subject to approval of the Engineer’s Representative (ER) and the EPD.

1.4.3 The responsibility of respective parties are:

The Contractor:

· employ an Environmental Team (ET) to undertake monitoring, laboratory analysis and reporting of environmental monitoring and audit;

· provide assistance to ET in carrying out monitoring;

· submit proposals on mitigation measures in case of exceedances of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;

· implement measures to reduce impact where Action and Limit levels are exceeded; and

· adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with Section 8.3.

Environmental Team:

· monitor various environmental parameters as required in the EM&A Manual;

· analyse the environmental monitoring and audit data and review the success of EM&A programme to cost-effectively confirm the adequacy of mitigatory measures implemented and the validity of the EIA predictions and to identify any adverse environmental impacts arising;

· carry out site inspection to investigate and audit the Contractors' site practice, equipment and work methodologies with respect to pollution control and environmental mitigation, and effect proactive action to pre-empt problems;

· audit and prepare audit reports on the environmental monitoring data and site environmental conditions;

· report on the environmental monitoring and audit results to the IC(E), Contractor, the ER and EPD or its delegated representative;

· recommend suitable mitigation measures to the Contractor in the case of exceedance of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and

· adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with Section 8.3.

Engineer or Engineer’s Representative:

· supervise the Contractor’s activities and ensure that the requirements in the EM&A Manual are fully complied with;

· inform the Contractor when action is required to reduce impacts in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;

· employ an IC(E) to audit the results of the EM&A works carried out by the ET; and

· adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with Section 8.3.

Independent Checker (Environment):

· review the EM&A works performed by the ET (at not less than monthly intervals);

· audit the monitoring activities and results (at not less than monthly intervals);

· report the audit results to the ER and EPD in parallel;

· review the EM&A reports (monthly and quarterly summary reports) submitted by the ET;

· review the proposal on mitigation measures submitted by the Contractor in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and

· adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with Section 8.3.

1.4.4 Sufficient and suitably qualified professional and technical staff shall be employed by the respective parties to ensure full compliance with their duties and responsibilities, as required under the EM&A programme for the duration of the Project.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of the Manual

1.1.3 This Manual contains the following information:

1.1.4 For the purpose of this manual, the ET leader, who shall be responsible for and in charge of the ET, shall refer to the person delegated the role of executing the EM&A requirements.

1.2 Project Description

1.2.2 The Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII) is the fifth phase in the implementation of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation, following Central Reclamation Phases I, II and III and Wan Chai Reclamation Phase I.

1.2.5 The WDII Study Area, as shown in Figure 1.1, is demarcated by Hing Fat Street to the east, Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road to the south and Fenwick Pier Street to the west.

1.2.8 The scope of the Project comprises:

1.2.9 The construction of the Project will take place from March 2004 to December 2007. Together with CRIII, the Project will provide land for CWB & IECL. Both CRIII and CWB & IECL will be constructed concurrently with the Project (Table 1.1).

1.2.10 The following projects are related to the WDII project:

1.3 Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

1.3.1 The following sub-sections summarise the EM&A requirements recommended in the EIA Report.

1.3.2 The construction work will inevitably lead to dust (TSP) emissions, mainly from excavation, truck haulage and material handling. It is predicted that the dust generated will exceed the hourly and daily criteria of 500 mg m-3 and 260 mg m-3, respectively, at ASRs from Central to Causeway Bay.

Operational Phase

1.3.4 As presented in Section 3.7 of the EIA Report, there will be no exceedance of AQOs at the sensitive receivers. No mitigation measures or environmental monitoring are considered necessary during the operational phase of the WDII.

1.3.6 According to the assessment results, no adverse impact from the Project is expected on the representative NSRs. Therefore, EM&A for operational noise impact is not required.

1.3.9 Environmental audit specifications should be developed for all phases of the works, including procedures to ensure compliance with mitigation measures, environmental quality performance limits, and procedures for reviewing results and auditing compliance with specified performance limits.

1.3.10 As adverse water quality impact will not be generated from the operation of the WDII, operational water quality monitoring and audit is not considered necessary.

1.3.13 The requirements for EM&A with respect to land contamination, if necessary, should be determined upon completion of all relevant site investigation works.

1.3.14 As no specific mitigation measures will be required for the potential terrestrial ecological impacts to preserve ecological resources in the study area, terrestrial ecological monitoring and auditing will not be required.

1.3.15 As no specific mitigation measures will be required for the potential marine ecological impacts to preserve ecological resources in the study area, marine ecological monitoring and auditing will not be required.

1.3.16 Construction activities would give rise to landscape and visual impacts varying from slight to substantial significance.

1.3.18 The operation of WDII would give rise to landscape and visual impacts of varying from moderate negative to moderate beneficial.

1.4 Project Organisation

1.4.1 The proposed project organisation and lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works are shown in Figure 1.2.

1.4.2 The leader of the Environmental Team shall be an independent party from the Contractor and have relevant professional qualifications, or have sufficient relevant EM&A experience subject to approval of the Engineer’s Representative (ER) and the EPD.

1.4.3 The responsibility of respective parties are:

1.4.4 Sufficient and suitably qualified professional and technical staff shall be employed by the respective parties to ensure full compliance with their duties and responsibilities, as required under the EM&A programme for the duration of the Project.