1                    introduction

 

1.1              Project Description

 

Project Background

 

1.1.1          Tseung Kwan O (TKO) is the seventh New Town in Hong Kong.  Since the approval in 1982 to develop TKO into a new town, TKO has undergone very rapid development and the New Town now provides home to about 310330,000 people.  According to the current TKO Outline Zoning Plan (Plan No. S/TKO/1415), the existing and currently planned development would bring the population up to around 480,000.

1.1.2          Over the past few years, Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) has conducted a number of studies on potential developments in TKO, to establish the extent of further development, population levels, strategic road networks and external connections, etc.  However, since these studies have been carried out, a number of planning parameters have changed, including population level targets and the associated need for extensive reclamation, the implementation timing and scale of strategic road links, as well as the deletion of port facilities previously proposed in Area 131.  A review of the overall planning of TKO is now being undertaken in the light of these recent changes, and to ensure a comprehensive planning approach to the development of this area within the context of the South East New Territories (SENT) Development Strategy.

1.1.3          Maunsell Consultants Asia Limited (MCAL) has been commissioned by the New Territories East Development Office of the TDD CEDD of the Hong Kong SAR Government to undertake the “Feasibility Study for Further Development of TKO” (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”), with environmental support from Maunsell Environmental Management Consultants Limited (MEMCL).  The Project is a Designated Project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).  An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study for the Project has been undertaken as part of the Feasibility Study, in accordance with the EIA Study Brief and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM).

Site Location

 

1.1.4          The proposed development under the Project includes the Western Coast Road (WCR), the Cross Bay Link (CBL), new developments at Town Centre South (TCS), Pak Shing Kok (PSK) and remaining areas of Tiu Keng Leng (TKL) as shown on Figure 1.1.  Locations of the site areas are described below:

·         WCR – the western shoreline of Junk Bay, Devil’s PeakChiu Keng Wan Shan, Lei Yue Mun Road, Eastern Harbour Crossing ex-casting basin, Kaolin Mine Site at Cha Kwo Ling and Cha Kwo Ling Road;

·         CBL – Junk Bay, land area south of TKO Area 86 and Wan Po Road;

·         TCS – the newly reclaimed land south of Po Yap Road, as well as the Eastern Drainage Channel and the toe along TKO Stage 1 Landfill;

·         TKL – the newly reclaimed land to the east of Ocean Shores (south of Chui Ling Road); and

·         PSK – the three large terraces to the northeast of TKO Stage 1 Landfill (TKOL) and Wan Po Road.

 

1.1.5          A narrow strip of new land of approximately 12.3 ha will be formed along the western shoreline of Junk Bay to accommodate the toll plaza, the tunnel operation and management facilities, the interchange linking WCR with the CBL bridge and Road P2 to the north carrying traffic to TKO Town Centre.  Based on the current design, there would be no reclamation required in the Victoria Harbour and no reclamation required for the new development at TCS and PSK. 

Project Scope

 

1.1.6           The scope of the Project comprises:

(i)                 local road and engineering infrastructure of TCS, PSK and remaining areas of TKL;

(ii)                local engineering infrastructure for the proposed recreational development at TKO Stage 1 LandfillL;

(iii)              modification of existing infrastructure to serve TCS development;

(iv)              WCR to provide a linkage between TKO and the main urban area;

(v)               CBL to provide a linkage between the weastern and south-eastern areas of TKO as well as a direct linkage from south-eastern areas of TKO to Kowloon via the WCR, as an alternative route bypassing the New Town Centre; andCBL to provide a linkage between the eastern western and south-eastern areas of TKO and alternative route bypassing the New Town Centre; and

(vi)              Road P2 to provide an extension of Po Shun Road to connect with WCR.

Construction Programme

 

1.1.7          The construction of the Project would be divided into 4 Development Packages as follows:

·         TCS, TKL, PSK & Tseung Kwan O Landfill (TKOL) Development;

·         Western Coast Road;

·         Cross Bay Link;

·         Road P2 and D4 Flyover.

 

1.1.8          The Project construction works are anticipated to commence in October 2007 with completion of the Project by December 2017 with all the major roads such as WCR, CBL and Road P2 in operation by December 2016 (the remaining year is for laying of salt water main along Wan Po Road). A construction programme is provided in Appendix A. 

1.2              Purpose of the Manual

 

1.2.1          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 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 operational phase of the proposed Project.  It aims to provide systematic procedures for monitoring, auditing and minimising environmental impacts associated with construction works and operational activities.

1.2.2          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 EIAO-TM.

1.2.3          This Manual contains the following information:

·         responsibilities of the Contractor, the Engineer or Engineer’s Representative (ER), Environmental Team (ET) and 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 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;

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

 

1.2.4          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.

1.3              Project Organisation

 

1.3.1          The roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the EM&A process and the organisational structure of the organisations responsible for implementing the EM&A programme are outlined below. The proposed project organisation and lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works are shown in Figure 1.2.


The Contractor

 

1.3.2          The Contractor shall report to the Engineer. The duties and responsibilities of the Contractor are:

·         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;

·         implement the corrective actions instructed by the Engineer;

·         accompany joint site inspection undertaken by the ET; and

·         adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation

 

Environmental Team

 

1.3.3          The ET shall report to the Contractor. The ET Leader and the ET shall be employed to conduct the EM&A programme and ensure the Contractor’s compliance with the project’s environmental performance requirements during construction. The ET Leader 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 Environmental Protection Department (EPD). The ET shall be led and managed by the ET leader. The ET leader shall possess at least 10 years experience in EM&A and/or environmental management.

1.3.4          The duties and responsibilities of the ET are:

·         monitor various environmental parameters as required in this 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 mitigation measures implemented and the validity of the EIA predictions and to identify any adverse environmental impacts arising;

·         carry out regular 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; carry out ad hoc site inspections if significant environmental problems are identified;

·         audit and prepare monitoring and 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;

·         adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.

 

Engineer or Engineer’s Representative

 

1.3.5          The Engineer is responsible for overseeing the construction works and for ensuring that the works undertaken by the Contractor in accordance with the specification and contractual requirements. The duties and responsibilities of the Engineer with respect to EM&A aremay include:

·         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;

·         participate in joint site inspection undertaken by the ET;

·         adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.

 

Independent Checker (Environment)

 

1.3.6          The Independent Checker (Environment) shall advise the Engineer’s Representative on environmental issues related to the project.  The IC(E) shall possess at least 10 years experience in EM&A and/or environmental management.

1.3.7          The duties and responsibilities of the IC(E) are:

·         review the EM&A works performed by the ET (at least at monthly intervals);

·         carry out random sample check and audit the monitoring activities and results (at least at monthly intervals);

·         review the EM&A reports submitted by the ET;

·         review the effectiveness of environmental mitigation measures and project environmental performance;

·         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.

 

1.3.8          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.