1.1.1
The opening of Hong
Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (HK-SWC) and Deep Bay Link (DBL) in 2007 will
undoubtedly increase the east-west traffic in Northwest New
Territories. It is anticipated that most of this
additional cross-boundary traffic will make use of Tuen Mun Road (TMR) to
access the urban areas. There is
some general public concern that the Town Centre Section of TMR (TCSTMR) will
be overloaded after commissioning of HK-SWC and DBL.
1.1.2
TMR is the major
east-west transport corridor in the Northwest
New Territories. The section of TCSTMR (from Lam Tei to
Sam Shing Hui) is currently operating close to its capacity. This section is the most critical
section of TMR as the number of traffic lanes reduces from three to two at a
number of interchanges. The traffic
conditions of this road section will inevitably be worsened by the additional
traffic from HK-SWC. Hence traffic
improvement schemes will be necessary to relieve the traffic congestion at this
section of road.
1.1.3
In this regard,
Transport Department (TD) conducted a study to investigate measures to
ameliorate the traffic congestion for TCSTMR. The study report recommended, inter
alia, the following two traffic improvement measures to alleviate the
anticipated traffic congestion of the TCSTMR after the commissioning of the
HK-SWC and DBL:
-
Provision of an
additional interchange connecting Tuen Mun Road and Castle Peak Road near Sam
Shing Estate; and
-
Widening of TMR at Tsing
Tin Interchange from a dual two-lane to dual three-lane arrangement.
1.1.4
Following the
recommendations of the TD’s Study, Highways Department (HyD) submitted the
project profile for the application of the EIA Study Brief in June 2005. Environmental Protection Department
(EPD) issued the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study brief
(ESB-127/2005) for “Provision of Additional Interchange Connecting Tuen Mun Road
and Castle Peak Road Near Sam Shing Estate and Widening of Tuen Mun Road at
Tsing Tin Interchange”on 22 July 2005.
1.1.5
In January 2007, Maunsell
Consultants Asia Limited (MCAL) was employed by the Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region, represented by the Director of HyD to undertake the
EIA for “Widening of Tuen Mun Road at Tsing Tin Interchange”. The Project is to widen about 240m long dual two-lane section of
at-grade Tuen Mun Road
at Tsing Tin Interchange to a dual three-lane carriageway. Associated with the road widening works,
environmental mitigation measures will also be implemented during the construction
and operation stages.
1.1.6
Under this Agreement,
MCAL has conducted an EIA Study only covering the widening of Tuen Mun Road at
Tsing Tin Interchange but excluding the provision of interchange near Sam Shing
Estate as stated in the EIA study brief (ESB-127/2005). The EIA study identified the potential
environmental issues arising from the Project such as air quality, noise,
water, waste management, hazard to life, landscape and visual and cultural
heritage, and the likely mitigation measures required.
1.2.1
MCAL has conducted the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study for the widening of TMR at Tsing
Tin Interchange so as to establish the environmental constraints of the
proposed work and to identify appropriate measures to overcome the constraints.
1.2.2
The proposed widening
works for Tsing Tin Interchange will be undertaken at the northern part of Town
Centre Section of TMR near the Tuen Mun River Channel. The Project location is
shown on Figure 1.1.
1.2.3
The construction works
of the Project are anticipated to be commenced in January 2008 and be completed
in December 2009.
1.3.1
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 proposed Project. It aims to provide systematic procedures
for monitoring, auditing and minimising environmental impacts associated with
Project activities.
1.3.2
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 Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance –
Technical Memorandum (EIAO-TM).
1.3.3
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;
-
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; and
-
requirements for review
of EIA predictions and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures /
environmental management systems and the EM&A programme.
1.3.4
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.
1.4.1
The roles and
responsibilities of the various parties involved in the EM&A process and
the organizational structure of the organizations responsible for implementing
the EM&A programme are outlined below.
The proposed Project organization and lines of communication with
respect to environmental protection works are shown in Figure 1.2.
The Contractor
1.4.2
The Contractor shall
report to the Engineer. The duties and responsibilities of the Contractor are:
-
to provide assistance to
ET in carrying out monitoring and auditing;
-
to submit proposals on
mitigation measures in case of exceedances of Action and Limit levels in
accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
-
to implement measures to
reduce impact where Action and Limit levels are exceeded;
-
to implement the
corrective actions instructed by the Engineer;
-
to accompany joint site
inspection undertaken by the ET; and
-
to adhere to the
procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.
Environmental Team
1.4.3
The ET shall be employed
by the Project Proponent. The ET
Leader and the ET shall conduct the EM&A programme and ensure the
Contractor’s compliance with the project’s environmental performance
requirements during construction and operation. The ET Leader shall be an independent
party from the Contractor and have relevant professional qualifications, which
shall include being an Accredited Monitoring Professional of the Hong Kong
Institute of Environmental Impact Assessment (HKIEIA), subject to approval of
the ER and the EPD. The ET shall be
led and managed by the ET leader.
The ET leader shall possess at least 7 years experience in EM&A.
1.4.4
The duties and
responsibilities of the ET are:
-
to monitor various
environmental parameters as required in this EM&A Manual;
-
to 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;
-
to 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;
-
to audit and prepare
monitoring and audit reports on the environmental monitoring data and site
environmental conditions;
-
to report on the
environmental monitoring and audit results to the IC(E), Contractor, the ER and
EPD or its delegated representative;
-
to 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.
Engineer or Engineer’s Representative
1.4.5
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 may include:
-
to supervise the Contractor’s
activities and ensure that the requirements in the EM&A Manual are fully
complied with;
-
to inform the Contractor
when action is required to reduce impacts in accordance with the Event and
Action Plans;
-
to employ an IC(E) to
audit the results of the EM&A works carried out by the ET;
-
to participate in joint
site inspection undertaken by the ET; and
-
to adhere to the
procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.
Independent Checker (Environment)
1.4.6
The Independent Checker
(Environment) shall be employed by the Project Proponent. The IC(E) shall advise the Engineer’s
Representative on environmental issues related to the project. The IC(E) shall
have project management experience in additional to the requirements of the ET
Leader stated above.
1.4.7
The duties and
responsibilities of the IC(E) are:
-
to review the EM&A
works performed by the ET (at least at monthly intervals);
-
to audit the monitoring
activities and results (at least at monthly intervals);
-
to review the EM&A
reports submitted by the ET;
-
to review the
effectiveness of environmental mitigation measures and project environmental
performance;
-
to review the proposal
on mitigation measures submitted by the Contractor in accordance with the Event
and Action Plans; and
-
to adhere to the
procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.
1.4.8
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.