11.1
This section further elaborates the requirements of
environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) for the construction and
operation of the Project, based on the assessment results of various issues. The following sections summarize the
recommended EM&A requirements.
Details of the EM&A programme and the specific monitoring
requirements are presented in a stand-alone EM&A Manual issued separately.
Mitigation Measures
11.2
Potential landscape and visual impacts have been carefully
considered during the development of the Project design to (1) avoid impacts on
important landscape resources as the first priority; and (2) locate, design and
reduce the physical extent of works as far as possible, as well as identify
mitigation measures, so as to minimize the degree of visual impacts and the impacts
on existing trees and open spaces.
11.3
Mitigation measures proposed in the EIA for the construction
and operation phases are presented in Section 13. The construction phase
mitigation measures should be adopted throughout the entire construction period
while the mitigation measures for the operation phase should be adopted during
the detailed design stage and be built as part of the construction works so
that they are in place during the commissioning of the Project.
11.4
Any potential conflicts among the proposed mitigation
measures, the Project works, and operational requirements should also be
identified and resolved at early stage. Any changes to the mitigation measures
should be incorporated in the detailed design.
Audit Requirements
11.5
Site audit should be undertaken during the construction
phase of the Project to check that the proposed landscape and visual mitigation
measures are properly implemented and maintained as per their intended
objectives. Site inspections should be conducted
jointly by the contractor, Engineer’s Representative (ER) and Environmental
Team (ET) during the construction period.
Construction Phase
11.6
With the implementation of the
dust suppression measures stipulated in the Air Pollution Control (construction
Dust) Regulation, good site practices and proposed mitigation measures, no
adverse 1-hour, 24-hour and annual dust impact would be expected at the ASRs in
the vicinity of the construction sites. Routine
24-hour dust monitoring requirements are recommended in the EM&A Manual to
ensure the efficacy of the control measures.
Operation Phase
11.7
Neither adverse air quality nor
implication from the operation of the Project is expected. Thus, environmental
monitoring is considered unnecessary.
Construction Phase
11.8
Construction noise impacts from this Project would be
expected at noise sensitive receivers (NSRs) identified in this EIA. Appropriate mitigation measures would be
required in order to alleviate the impacts to meet the EIAO-TM criteria. Noise monitoring during construction phase
needs to be carried out to ensure that such mitigation measures would be
implemented properly.
11.9
Noise monitoring should be carried out at the designated
monitoring stations with the measurement being undertaken at a minimum logging
interval of 30 minutes. Prior to the
commencement of the Project, baseline monitoring should be measured for a
continuous period of at least 14 consecutive days Ad hoc noise monitoring should also be
carried out if necessary.
Operation Phase
11.10
Provided that the fixed plants are properly designed to meet
the maximum allowable sound power levels (SWLs) recommended in this EIA Report,
no adverse operation residual noise impact is envisaged.
11.11
Upon the operation phase of the Project, rail noise
monitoring should be conducted to ensure compliance of the operational airborne
railway noise levels with the stipulated noise criteria. The testing results should be checked and
verified by the ET and Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) respectively.
Construction Phase
11.12
Owing to the large setback distance from the tunnel works, ground-borne
noise impact was found to be insignificant at NSR. Therefore, environmental
monitoring is considered not necessary during construction phase.
11.13
Prior to the operation phase of the Project, a commissioning
test should be conducted to ensure compliance of the operational ground-borne rail noise levels with the noise criteria.
Construction Phase
11.14
Minimisation of water quality deterioration from land-based
construction activities could be achieved through implementing adequate
mitigation measures. No surface water
monitoring is proposed. However, it is recommended that regular site
inspections should be undertaken to inspect the construction activities and
works areas in order to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly
implemented.
Operation Phase
11.15
No adverse water quality impact was identified during the
operational phase with proper implementation of the recommended mitigation
measures. Operational phase water
quality monitoring is considered not necessary.
Construction Phase
11.16
It is the Contractor’s
responsibility to ensure that all the waste produced during the construction of
the Project are handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with good waste
management practices, relevant legislation and waste management guidelines. The
Contractor would also be responsible for the implementation of any mitigation
measures to minimize waste or mitigate problems arisen from waste materials.
11.17
Regularly audit should be conducted during the construction stage
to determine if wastes are being managed properly. The audit should look at all aspects of
on-site waste management practices including waste generation, storage,
recycling, transport and disposal. Apart
from site inspection, documents including licences, permits, disposal and
recycling records should be reviewed and audited for compliance with the
legislation and Contract requirements.
11.18
A Waste Managmenet Plan, as part
of the Environmental Management Plan should be prepared in accordance with ETWB
TC(W) No.19/2005 and submitted to the ER for approval. The recommended mitigation measures should
form the basis of the Waste Management Plan.
The monitoring and auditing requirement stated in ETWB TC(W) No.19/2005
should be followed with regard to the management of C&D materials.
Operation Phase
11.19
With the implementation of good waste management practices,
no adverse environmental impacts would be anticipated. Waste monitoring and audit programme for the
operation phase of the Project will not be required.
11.20
No specific EM&A requirements would be required for land
contamination issue.