5. ECOLOGY

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 The EIA has recommended that an EM&A for ecology is undertaken during both the design, construction and operational phases of the project. The objectives of the design audit are to ensure that the design process clearly implements the design ecology mitigation specified in the EIA and to ensure that such designs are ecologically feasible and effective. The construction and operational EM&A objectives are to ensure that the ecological contract works and construction mitigation procedures recommended in the EIA are carried out as specified and are effective. The construction and operational phase EM&A will be carried out as part of the site audit programme.

5.2 Ecology EM&A Procedures

5.2.1 The design phase audit procedures are detailed in Section 1.5.3 and Figure 1.3. Ecological specifications for species relocation and habitat creation will be designed as part of the project detailed design phase. The specifications and designs will be reviewed as and when they are produced. The final ecological specifications and designs shall be signed off by the design auditor(s) using the appropriate proforma (see Appendix B).

5.2.2 The construction phase ecological audit is concerned with checking the effectiveness of the implementation of the ecology contract works, together with auditing the effectiveness of site mitigation. Operational phase EM&A will comprise the audit of the reestablishment of habitat areas and the on-going effectiveness of mitigation measures as appropriate. The operational phase EM&A shall be undertaken during the Contractor’s one year maintenance period. The overall procedures for the ecological EM&A during construction and operation are shown in Figures 1.4 and 5.1.

5.3 Design Phase Audit

5.3.1 Ecological measures proposed by the EIA to mitigate the ecology impacts of the scheme will be incorporated into the detailed design of the project. In particular, ecology specifications and designs will be produced for the elements detailed in Table 5.1 below.

Table 5.1 Ecological Design Elements

Number	Specification
C1	Design of wildlife tunnels for mammals and amphibians.
C2	Design of culverts and culvert inlets and outlets.
C3	Design of drainage channel escape ramps for amphibians.
C4	Specification for water filled pots as habitats for amphibians.
C5	Translocations specifications for the shrub Pavetta hongkongensis, orchids Acampe rigida and Liparis viridiflora and tree Artocarpus hypargyreus.
C6	Translocation specifications for Hong Kong Newt, Romer’s Tree Frog and Lesser Spiny Frog.
C7	Translocation specification for Bejiang Thick-lipped Barb.

5.3.2 Design will be prepared during the detailed design stage. The designs will be checked by a design auditor(s) to ensure that the measures are fully incorporated and that potential conflicts with civil engineering, geo-technical, structural, lighting, signage, drainage, underground utilities and operational requirements are resolved prior to construction. In the event of a non conformity, the Event/Action plan detailed in Table 5.2 below shall be followed by the relevant parties.

Table 5.2 Event / Action Plan for Design Phase

Action Level	Ecology Auditor	Project Engineer (PE)	Project Ecologist (PEC)
Non Conformity (with Design Standards and Specification)	C Identify Source C Inform PE and PEC C Discuss remedial actions with PE, and PEC C Verify remedial actions when complete	C Notify PEC C Discuss remedial actions with PEC C Ensure remedial designs are fully incorporated	C Amend designs C Discuss remedial actions with PE

5.4 Baseline Monitoring

5.4.1 Ecological baseline monitoring will consist of a walk-over survey prior to construction works. It may be necessary to rope off and protect specific habitats or species of special interest identified during the ecological surveys. Works around ecologically sensitive streams and rivers will require particular attention.

5.4.2 The purpose of the baseline works will be to confirm the existing ecological conditions, with reference to the habitat maps included in the EIA Report and the established baseline conditions, in relation to the extent and condition of the habitats and species noted during the walkover survey. No detailed ecological surveys of flora and fauna will be required at this stage.

5.5 Construction and Operational Phase EM&A

5.5.1 The Environmental Specialist (ES) (refer to Section 1 for a description of the ES and duties) shall be responsible for conducting the EM&A programme and ensuring the Contractor’s compliance with the project’s environmental performance requirements during both construction and operation. The ES will be required to audit the effectiveness of the implementation of the ecology contract works, detailed in Table 5.1 above, together with auditing the effectiveness of site mitigation measures. In respect of the translocation of the shrub Pavetta hongkongensis, orchids Acampe rigida and Liparis viridiflora and tree Artocarpus hypargyreus, Hong Kong Newt, Romer’s Tree Frog, Lesser Spiny Frog and Bejiang Thick-lipped Barb, these elements will be implemented during the Contractor’s mobilisation period but prior to any major construction works and thus, the EM&A for these will also be undertaken early in the Contract.

5.5.2 A qualified ecologist(s), as part of the ET, will carry out the audit. The ecological contract works, detailed in Table 5.1, shall be audited with reference to the audit schedule detailed in Table 5.3 below.

Table 5.3 Audit Schedule for Ecological Contract Works

Number	Construction Phase	Operation Phase
C1, C2, C3, C4	Audit compliance once at the end of the contract.	Audit success of wildlife tunnels, culverts and drainage channel escape ramps once every two months. Continue for a period of one year.
C5	Audit compliance at least three times per week during implementation which will be prior to the start of the main construction activities. After translocation is complete, carry out audit survey to determine if all Pavetta hongkongensis, Acampe rigida, Liparis viridiflora and Artocarpus hypargyreus have been translocated.	Audit success of transplantation twice every month for the first 4 months after transplantation and once every two months after this period by assessing survival of transplanted plants. Continue for a period of one year. If audit records any sign that the plants have not established properly, measures to rescue the plants should be undertaken. specific measures should be determined by the landscape architect at the time.
C6, C7	Audit compliance at least three times per week during implementation which will be prior to the start of the main construction activities. After translocation is complete, carry out audit survey to determine if all Hong Kong Newt, Romer’s Tree Frog, Lesser Spiny Frog and Beijiang Thick-lipped Barb have been moved.	Audit success of translocation once every two months after completion by assessing survival of transplanted species. Continue for a period of one year.

5.5.3 Mitigation measures to preserve ecological resources within and at the border of the site works area have been recommended by the EIA. The ecological mitigation measures to be implemented during the construction phase are as follows:

¨ control of site run-off to protect ecology of water courses, particularly important for the Tung Chung Stream and the Cheung Sha Stream;

¨ survey and transplantation of location of floral species shrub Pavetta hongkongensis, orchids Acampe rigida and Liparis viridiflora and tree Artocarpus hypargyreus;

¨ translocation of the Beijiang Thick-lipped Barb from Stream 15 to the Tung Chung Stream;

¨ translocation of Hong Kong Newt, Lesser Spiny Frog and Romer’s Tree Frog from streams 15, 18, 19 and 21;

¨ scheduling of works in streams 15, 18, 19 and 21 to avoid the period April to June which is the key breeding period for fish, amphibians and odonates;

¨ translocation of Romer’s Tree Frog between Lung Tseng Tau and Shek Mun Kap;

¨ provision of water filled pots as habitats for the Romer's Tree Frog between Lung Tseng Tau and Shek Mun Kap;

¨ compensatory planting of approximately 25ha to mitigate and provide enhancement for vegetation loss and fragmentation (see landscape proposal in Appendix C);

¨ reinstatement of land temporarily required during construction within 3 weeks of the works completion in that area in accordance with the landscape proposals;

¨ install drainage system in advance of main roadworks;

¨ all site drainage shall be isolated from the existing natural hillside drainage system;

¨ areas of exposed soil should be minimised to reduce the extent of soil erosion. Spoil heaps should be covered at all times to minimise erosion. Stockpiled materials shall be stored down gradient from any stream course or up gradient with a suitably constructed barrier to reduce loss of materials to the stream.

¨ cmpleted works areas should be restored within 3 weeks of the area being completed in accordance with the Landscape Proposal; and

¨ for all haulage roads, temporary brides shall be used to cross all streams with a span at least twice the width of the stream and no contact shall be made with the stream or its riparian vegetation unless authorised by the Engineer.

5.5.4 The mitigation measures shall be audited at least once every week as part of the site audit programme.

5.5.5 In the event of a non-compliance, the Event /Action plan provided on Table 5.4 shall be followed by the relevant parties.

Table 5.4 Event / Action Plan for Construction Phase/Operation Phase

Action Level	ES	IC (E)	ER	Contractor
Non-conformity on one occasion	1. Identify Source 2. Inform the IC(E) and the ER 3. Discuss remedial actions with the IC(E), the ER and the Contractor 4. Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed	1. Check report 2. Check the Contractor's working method 3. Discuss with the ES and the Contractor on possible remedial measures 4. Advise the ER on effectiveness of proposed remedial measures. 5. Check implementation of remedial measures.	1. Notify Contractor 2. Ensure remedial measures are properly implemented 3. Consider and instruct, if necessary, the Contractor to slow down or to stop all or part of the works in the case of a serious non-conformity until situation rectified.	1. Amend working methods 2. Rectify damage and undertake any necessary replacement
Repeated Non conformity	1. Identify Source 2. Inform the IC(E) and the ER 3. Increase monitoring frequency 4. Discuss remedial actions with the IC(E), the ER and the Contractor 5. Monitor remedial actions until rectification has been completed 6. If exceedance stops, cease additional monitoring	1. Check monitoring report 2. Check the Contractor's working method 3. Discuss with the ES and the Contractor on possible remedial measures 4. Advise the ER on effectiveness of proposed remedial measures 5. Supervise implementation of remedial measures	1. Notify the Contractor 2. Ensure remedial measures are properly implemented 3. Consider and instruct, if necessary, the Contractor to slow down or to stop all or part of the works in the case of a serious non-conformity until situation rectified.	1. Amend working methods 2. Rectify damage and undertake any necessary replacement

Note: ES – Environmental Specialist, IC(E) – Independent Checker (Environmental), ER – Engineer’s Representative