1.1.1.1 The Project Proponent is the Drainage Services Department (DSD) and Meinhardt Environment Ltd (MEL) was commissioned by the DSD as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant in September 2011 to conduct the EIA study for this Project.
1.2.1.1
Serious flooding occurred at Po
Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping Bus Terminus,
1.2.1.2
After the flooding incident,
Drainage Services Department (DSD) commissioned a “Drainage Study for Ngong
Ping” (The Project) to identify and quantify the flood hazard and formulate
cost-effective drainage improvement plans in order to set out a comprehensive
strategy and programme for safeguarding the Ngong Ping area from future flood
risks. The drainage study identified that the flood protection level of the
existing watercourses at the north of Po Lin Monastery as well as the upstream
and downstream of Ngong Ping 360 Terminal is less than 1 in 10 years design
return period. The bottleneck of the natural stream near
1.2.1.3 Short-term drainage improvement measures were implemented in 2009. However, long-term drainage improvement schemes have, also, been recommended for implementation under the “Drainage Improvement Works at Ngong Ping” to enhance the capacity of the trunk drainage system so as to reduce the flood risk in Ngong Ping. The proposed long-term drainage improvement measures would include constructing an upstream interception drain, a loop system and a downstream flood relief drain to divert the storm-water away from the existing drainage system. Upon completion of the Project, the trunk storm-water drainage system in Ngong Ping will have sufficient capacity to cater for a rainstorm with a 50-year return period.
1.2.1.4 The scope of drainage improvement works under the Project is illustrated in Figure 1.1.
1.2.1.5 The Project involves drainage works which constitute the following designated projects under Part I, Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and, therefore, requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be undertaken and an Environmental Permit (EP) to be obtained prior to construction commencement:
(a) Item I.1(b)(i) - A drainage channel which discharges into an area which is less than 300m from the nearest boundary of an existing site of special scientific interest;
(b) Item I.1(b)(vii) - A drainage channel which discharges into an area which is less than 300m from the nearest boundary of an existing conservation area; and
(c) Item Q.1 - Earthworks and other building works partly or wholly in an existing country park.
1.2.1.6 A Project Profile was submitted in April 2011 under the EIAO and the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-227/2011 in May 2011, accordingly.
1.3.1.1 The environmental issues covered in this EIA study and assessment areas, as specified in the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-227/2011), are presented below:
·
Potential
noise and air quality impacts from the construction of the Project to sensitive
receivers near the Project;
·
Potential
water quality from the construction and operation of the Project;
·
Potential
waste management implications arising from the construction and operation of
the Project;
·
Potential
ecological impacts arising from the construction and operation of the project;
·
Potential
landscape and visual impacts during the construction and operation of the
Project;
·
Potential
impacts to cultural heritage resources; and
·
Potential
cumulative environmental impacts of the Project and associated works, through
interaction or in combination with other existing, committed and planned
projects in their vicinity, and that those impacts may have a bearing on the
environmental acceptability of the Project.
1.4 Objectives of the EIA Study
1.4.1.1 The objectives of the EIA study are as follows:
(a) to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the Project and the types of designated projects to be covered by the Project;
(b) to identify and describe elements of community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including natural and man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;
(c) to provide information on the consideration of alternative design options of the Project including scale, extent, layout, configuration, design and type of design orientation and the construction methods with a view to avoiding or minimizing potential environmental impacts to environmentally sensitive areas and sensitive uses; to compare the environmental benefits and disbenefits of different options; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part environmental factors played in the selection of preferred option(s);
(d) to identify and quantify emission sources (including air quality, noise, water quality and waste, etc. as appropriate) and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
(e) to identify and quantify any potential loss or damage and other potential impacts to ecology, flora, fauna and natural habitats and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
(f) to identify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate adverse impacts;
(g) to identify any negative impacts on sites of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
(h) to propose provision of mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;
(i) to investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;
(j) to identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) and the cumulative effects expected to arise during the construction and operation phases of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
(k) to identify, assess and specify methods, measures and standards, to be included in the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project which are necessary to mitigate these environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable levels;
(l) to investigate the extent of the secondary environmental impacts that may arise from the proposed mitigation measures and to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study, as well as the provision of any necessary modification; and
(m) to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit requirements to check the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.
1.4.1.2
EM&A procedures are required during the baseline, construction and operational phases of the project implementation and a
summary of the requirements for each of the environmental parameters is
detailed in Table 1.1 below.
Table 1.1 Summary of EM&A Requirements
|
Parameter |
EM&A Phase |
||
|
Pre-Construction (Baseline) |
Construction |
Operational |
|
|
Air
Quality |
|
U |
|
|
Noise |
Y |
U |
|
|
Ecology |
U |
U |
|
|
Water
Quality |
Y |
U |
|
|
Landscape
and Visual |
|
U |
U(1) |
|
Waste
Management |
|
U |
|
|
Cultural
Heritage |
Y |
U |
|
Notes:
1.
The affected habitats and landscape
and visual resources shall be reinstated as soon as possible once the works are
completed. However, the monitoring of
the establishment period shall be undertaken for a period of 12 months.
1.5 Purpose of this EM&A Manual
1.5.1.1
The
purpose of this EM&A Manual is to guide the set-up of an EM&A programme
to check the compliance with the recommendations of the EIA study for the proposed
drainage improvement works, to assess the effectiveness of the mitigation
measures recommended in the EIA report and to identify any further requirements
for additional mitigation measures and remedial action.. The Environmental Mitigation Implementation
Schedule (EMIS) is included in Appendix A of this EM&A Manual. This EM&A
Manual outlines the monitoring and audit programme for the Project. It aims to provide systematic procedures for
the monitoring, auditing and minimising of environmental impacts associated
with the activities of the Project.
1.5.1.2
All
the environmental legislation of
1.5.1.3
This
EM&A Manual contains the following information:
·
The
responsibilities of the Contractor, Engineer, Environmental Team (ET), and the
Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) with respect to the EM&A
requirements during the course of the Project;
·
The
requirements with respect to the construction schedule and the EM&A
programme to track the varying environmental impacts;
·
The
details of methodologies to be adopted, including all field laboratories and
analytical procedures, and details on the quality assurance and quality control
(QA/QC) programme;
·
The
rationale on which the environmental monitoring data will be evaluated and
interpreted;
·
The
definition of Action and Limit levels;
·
The
establishment of Event and Action plans;
·
The
requirements for reviewing the pollution sources and working procedures
required in the event of the non-compliance with environmental criteria and
complaints;
·
The
requirements for the presentation of EM&A data and appropriate reporting
procedures; and
·
The
requirements for reviewing the EIA predictions and effectiveness of mitigation
measures/environmental management systems and the EM&A programme.
1.5.1.4
This
EM&A Manual is a dynamic document that should be reviewed regularly and
updated as necessary during the construction and operation of the Project.
1.6
Impact Prediction
Review Procedures
1.6.1.1
The
procedures for reviewing the impact prediction in the EIA study will include:
·
Specifying
the requirements for submission of EM&A data, including monitoring and
audit records;
·
Implementation
of Event and Action Plans and follow-up action;
·
Listing
all relevant environmental protection and pollution control legislation and the
required licenses and permits;
·
Communication
with regulators vis a vis offences under relevant environmental ordinances,
prosecutions, etc;
·
Waste
disposal documentation;
·
Incident
reporting and investigations;
·
Resolution
of public complaints;
·
Work
programmes and methods including any variations to EIA predictions;
·
Design
issues, including any variations to EIA predictions; and
·
Review
of monitoring and audit criteria, etc.
1.7
Assessing
Effectiveness of Environmental Management System, Practices and Procedures
1.7.1.1
The
effectiveness of environmental management system, practices and procedures for
the EM&A Programme should be assessed with reference to the following:
·
Effective
monitoring environmental impacts and effectiveness of measures to mitigate its
environmental impacts by specifying the environmental parameters and/or impact
to be monitored (e.g. monitoring frequency, methodology, locations,
equipment/instrumentation, Action/Limit levels to trigger corrective measures)
and the auditing procedure and statistical validation
of the impacts.
·
Effective
auditing of the environmental performance by requiring:
a) Analysis and interpretation of all
monitoring and any audit data, to assist in the prevention and mitigation of
impacts on the environment;
b) Examination of all available
information related to the investigation of the nature, and causes of actual,
potential and cumulative environmental impacts and complaints/queries; and
c) Proposals for (i) remedial measures for
the resolution of impacts; (ii) effective implementation of proposed mitigation
measures; (iii) documentation and summary of audit findings; (iv) liaison and
consultation of with the public and concerned groups on the effects of project
works on the environment audit.
1.8.1.1
The
roles and responsibilities of various parties involved in the EM&A process and the organisational structure of the parties
responsible for implementing the EM&A programme are outlined below. The responsibilities cover the baseline,
construction and operational phases of the project.
1.8.1.2
The
project organisation and lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works during the construction and
operational phases are shown in Figure
1.2 and discussed below.
1.8.2
The Engineer or Engineer’s
Representative (ER)
1.8.2.1
The
Engineer is responsible for overseeing the construction works and ensuring the
works to be undertaken by the Contractor in accordance with the specifications
and contractual requirements. The duties
and responsibilities of the Engineer with respect to the EM&A programme
include:
·
To
supervise the Contractor’s activities and ensure the requirements in the
EM&A Manual to be fully complied with;
·
To
inform the Contractor when action is required to reduce the environmental
impacts in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
·
To
lead the regular site inspections and audits attended by the Contractor and
Environmental Team (ET);
·
To
adhere to the procedures for carrying out the complaint investigation; and
·
To
ensure a qualified Independent Environmental Checker is employed not later than
the construction contract is awarded.
1.8.3.1
The
Contractor should report to the Engineer.
The duties and responsibilities of the Contractor are:
·
To
implement the recommendations and requirements of the EIA study;
·
To
provide assistance to the ET in carrying out the relevant environmental monitoring;
·
To
submit the proposals of mitigation measures in case of exceedances of the
Action and Limit levels, in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
·
To
implement the mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts where the
Action and Limit levels are exceeded until the events are resolved; and
·
To
adhere to the procedures for carrying out the complaint investigation as
required in the EM&A Manual.
1.8.4.1
The
ET will conduct the EM&A programme to ensure the Contractor’s compliance
with the Project’s environmental requirements during the construction
phase.
1.8.4.2
The
ET should be led and managed by an Environmental Team Leader (ETL), who should
possess at least 7 years of experience in EM&A. The ET should monitor the mitigation measures
implemented by the Contractor on a regular basis to ensure the compliance with
the intended aims of the mitigation measures.
The duties and responsibilities of the ET are:
·
To
monitor various environmental parameters as required in the EM&A Manual;
·
To
provide a qualified ecologist(s) and land surveyor to prepare and submit the “Updated
Baseline Vegetation Survey”, the “Flora Protection Plan” and the “Flora
Transplantation Plan” for the transplantation and protection of floral species
of conservation interest, and undertaking of the relevant survey and
monitoring;
·
To
provide a qualified ecologist(s) to prepare and submit the “Aquatic Fauna Translocation Plan” and the “Aquatic Fauna
Translocation Survey” for
the translocation of fauna species of conservation interest that may be present
in the works area and for undertaking the relevant survey;
·
To
certify the Contractor’s detailed landscape design comply with the EIA /
EM&A requirement before works;
·
To
carry out site inspections to investigate and audit the Contractor’s site
practices, equipment and work methodologies with respect to the pollution
control and environmental mitigation, and anticipate the environmental issues
for the proactive and practicable action before problems arising;
·
To
analyse the EM&A data, review the success of EM&A programme to confirm
the adequacy of mitigation measures implemented, and the validity of the EIA
predictions and to identify any adverse environmental impacts arising and
report the EM&A results to the Independent Environmental Checker (IEC),
Contractor, and Engineer;
·
To
prepare the reports of environmental monitoring data and site environmental
conditions; and
·
To
review the proposals of mitigation measures by the Contractor in case of
exceedances of the Action and Limit levels, in accordance with the Event and
Action Plans.
1.8.5
Independent
Environmental Checker (IEC)
1.8.5.1
The
IEC should advise the Engineer on the environmental issues related to the
Project. The IEC should possess at least
7 years of experience in EM&A. The
duties and responsibilities of the IEC are:
·
To
review and audit in an independent, objective and professional manner in all
aspects of the EM&A programme;
·
To
validate and confirm the accuracy of the monitoring results, monitoring
equipment, monitoring locations, monitoring procedures and locations of
sensitive receivers;
·
To
carry out random sample checking and audit of the environmental monitoring data
and sampling procedures, etc;
·
To
conduct random site inspections during construction;
·
To
audit the recommendations and requirements of the EIA study against the status
of the implementation of environmental protection measures on-site;
·
To
review the effectiveness of the environmental mitigation measures and
environmental performance of the Project;
·
On
as-needed basis, to verify and certify the environmental acceptability of the
Environmental Permit (EP) holder’s construction methodology (both temporary and
permanent works), relevant design plans and submissions under the EP;
·
To
verify the investigation results of the environmental complaints and the
effectiveness of corrective measures;
·
To
verify the EM&A reports that have been certified by the ETL; and
·
To
provide feedback of the audit results to the ET/EP holder according to the
Event and Action Plans in the EM&A manual.
1.9
Structure
of this EM&A Manual
1.9.1.1
Following
this introductory section, the remainder of the EM&A Manual is set out as
follows:
·
Section 2 sets out EM&A requirements
for air quality;
·
Section 3 sets out EM&A requirements
for noise;
·
Section 4 sets out EM&A requirements
for water quality;
·
Section 5 details auditing requirements for
ecology;
·
Section 6 details auditing requirements for
landscape and visual impact;
·
Section 7 details auditing requirements for
cultural heritage;
·
Section 8 details the auditing requirement
for waste management implications;
·
Section 9 describes the scope and frequency
of the environmental site audits and sets out the general requirements of the
EM&A programme;
·
Section 10 details the EM&A reporting
requirements; and
·
Section 11 describes the termination of the
EM&A programme.