In this section, the general
requirements of the EM&A programme are presented with reference to the
findings and recommendations of the EIA
Report that have formed the basis of the scope and content of the
programme.
Key environmental issues
associated with the construction of the Project will be addressed through
monitoring and controls specified in the Manual and Contract
Specification. Noise and ecology will be
subject to EM&A, the details of which are outlined in Sections 3 and 5, respectively.
The monitoring of the effectiveness of
the mitigation measures will be achieved through site inspections/audits. The inspections will include within their
scope, mechanisms to review and assess the Contractor’s environmental
performance, ensuring that the recommended mitigation measures have been
properly implemented, and that timely resolution of
received complaints are managed and controlled in a manner consistent with the
recommendations of the EIA Report.
2.2.1
Environmental Monitoring
Impact and operational monitoring will be carried out
by the Environmental Team. Monitoring work is focussed on
construction and operational noise impact to identified noise sensitive
receivers and on ecology, specifically construction phase impacts to the Common
Rat Snake and Bodagek’s Burrowing Lizard and
operation phase impacts to birds. These are discussed in Sections 3 and 4 of this Manual.
2.2.2
Event and Action Plans
The purpose of the Event and Action Plans (EAPs) is to provide, in association with the monitoring and
audit activities, procedures for ensuring that if any significant environmental
incident (either accidental or through inadequate implementation of mitigation
measures on the part of the Contractor) does occur, the cause will be quickly
identified and remediated, and the risk of a similar
event recurring is reduced.
2.2.3
Site Inspections/Audits
In addition to monitoring ecology and noise as a means of assessing the
ongoing performance of the construction works, the ET will undertake site
inspections and audits of on-site practices and procedures. The primary objective of the inspection and
audit programme will be to assess the effectiveness of the environmental
controls established by the construction team(s) and the implementation of the
environmental mitigation measures recommended in the EIA Report.
The findings of site inspections and audits will be made known to the
Contractor at the time of the inspection to enable the rapid resolution of
identified non-compliances.
Non-compliances, and the corrective actions undertaken, shall also be
reported in the monthly EM&A reports.
Section 8 of this Manual presents details of the
scope and frequency of on-site inspections and defines the range of issues that
the audit protocols should be designed to address.
2.2.4
Enquiries, Complaints and
Requests for Information
Enquiries, complaints and
requests for information can be expected from a wide range of individuals and
organisations including members of the public, Government departments, the
press and television media and community groups.
All enquiries concerning the
environmental effects of the works, irrespective of how they are received, will
be reported to CAPCO and directed to the ET who will set up procedures for handling,
investigation and storage of such information.
The following steps will then be followed:
1)
The ET Leader will notify CAPCO of the nature of the enquiry.
2)
An investigation will be initiated to determine the validity of the
complaint and to identify the source of the problem.
3)
The Contractor(s) will undertake the following steps, as
necessary:
·
investigate and identify source of the problem;
·
if considered necessary by CAPCO, undertake additional monitoring
to verify the existence and severity of the alleged complaint;
·
identify
necessary remedial measures and implement as soon as possible;
·
repeat the monitoring to verify effectiveness of mitigation
measures; and
·
repeat review procedures to identify further
possible areas of improvement if the repeat monitoring results continue to
substantiate the complaint.
4)
The outcome of the investigation and the action taken will be
documented on a complaint proforma (see Annex B). A formal response to each complaint received
will be prepared by the Contracto(s) within a maximum
of five working days and submitted to CAPCO, in order to notify the concerned
person(s) that action has been taken.
5)
All enquiries which trigger this process will be reported in the
monthly reports which shall include results of inspections undertaken by the
contractor, and details of the measures taken, and additional monitoring
results (if deemed necessary). It should
be noted that the receipt of complaint or enquiry will not be, in itself, a
sufficient reason to introduce additional mitigation measures.
In all cases the complainant will be notified of the
findings, and audit procedures shall be put in place to ensure that the problem
does not recur.
2.2.5
Reporting
With respect to the identified potential impacts and the nature
(including general site audits at monthly intervals during construction phase,
noise monitoring for both construction and operation phases, and bird collision
monitoring during the operation phase, see below) and frequency (weekly,
biweekly or monthly) of the monitoring and audit to be undertaken, it is
considered that real-time reporting of the monitoring data is not
applicable.
Monthly reports submitted to the Contractor(s), CAPCO, EPD
and AFCD will be prepared by the ET and verified by the ET Leader. The monthly reports will be prepared and
submitted within 10 working days of the end of each reporting month. Additional details on reporting protocols are
presented in Section 9.
2.2.6
Cessation of EM&A
The ET will continue to carry out environmental monitoring and site inspection/audit until completion of the construction works and the specified operation phase monitoring period.