Chapter Title
This section describes the need for EM&A during the construction and operation phases of the Project in accordance with the requirements as stipulated in Annex 21 of the EIAO-TM.
The purpose of the
EM&A programme is to ascertain and
verify the assumptions implicit to, and accuracy of, EIA study predictions.
The EM&A programme includes the scope of the EM&A requirements for the Project 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.
A project organisation consisting of the Project Proponent (i.e., OPC), the Engineer or Engineer’s Representative (ER), Independent Environmental Checker (IEC), Environmental Team (ET), and Contractor will be established to take on the responsibilities for environmental protection for the Project.
EM&A is an important aspect in the EIA process which specifies the timeframe and responsibilities for the implementation of environmental mitigation measures. The requirements on environmental monitoring (including baseline and impact monitoring) is given in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
The EM&A Manual includes the following:
ˇ Organisation, hierarchy and responsibilities of OPC, the Contractor, ER, ET and IEC with respect to the EM&A requirements during construction and operation phases of the Project;
ˇ Information on project organisation and programming of construction activities;
ˇ Requirements with respect to the construction schedule and necessary EM&A programme to track the varying environmental impacts;
ˇ Details of methodologies to be adopted, including all field, laboratory and analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance;
ˇ Procedure for undertaking on-site environmental audits;
ˇ Definition of Action and Limit Levels;
ˇ Establishment of Event and Action Plans (EAPs);
ˇ Requirements of reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of non-compliance of environmental criteria and complaints;
ˇ Requirements for reviewing the implementation of mitigation measures, and effectiveness of environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted; and
ˇ Presentation of requirements for EM&A data and appropriate reporting procedures.
An Implementation Schedule has been prepared and included in Chapter 15 and the EM&A Manual summarises all the required mitigation measures that need to be implemented during the construction and operation phases of the Project. The implementation responsibilities are also identified in the Implementation Schedule. The EM&A Manual will present the requirements for EM&A (e.g. monitoring locations, monitoring and audit frequency).
The following measurements and activities for each environmental aspect (where applicable) has been identified:
ˇ Baseline monitoring;
ˇ Impact
monitoring;
ˇ Compliance monitoring / auditing;
ˇ Remedial actions in accordance
with the EAP within
the timeframe in case the specified criteria in the EM&A Manual were
exceeded;
ˇ Logging and keeping records of
monitoring results; and
ˇ Preparation and submission of Monthly and Final EM&A Reports.
Detailed requirements of the EM&A programme will be described in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
With implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, no
significant dust impact is expected and regular dust monitoring is therefore
not considered necessary during the construction phase of the Project. However,
regular site audits are suggested to ensure the dust control measures are
properly implemented. Details of the EM&A programme will be presented in
the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
No ASRs
are predicted to exceed the relevant criteria under the AQOs. No monitoring during operation is required.
Hazard to life to evaluate the potential hazard is not
required. No EM&A requirements are therefore expected.
With the recommended mitigation measures, no residual impacts exceeding the relevant noise criteria are predicted at all representative NSRs during the construction phase. However, EM&A is recommended to ensure the mitigation measures and good site practice have been implemented properly, and to minimise the potential noise impact during the construction phase. Details are given in the standalone EM&A Manual.
No adverse noise impact exceeding the relevant noise criteria is anticipated from off-site road traffic and fixed plants, therefore no environmental monitoring and audit is proposed. Prior to the operation phase of the Project, a commissioning test on all major fixed noise sources including open air entertainment activities should be conducted to ensure compliance of the operational airborne noise levels with the EIAO-TM noise criteria. Details are given in the standalone EM&A Manual.
Adverse water quality impact was not predicted during the construction and operation phases of the Project. Nevertheless, appropriate mitigation measures are recommended to minimise potential water quality impacts. Water quality monitoring is not considered necessary. However, regular audit of the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures during construction phase at the work areas should be undertaken to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.
According
to the assessment, the existing
public sewerage system would be sufficient to cater for the sewage flows from the Project.
No unacceptable impacts on sewerage and sewage treatment would be expected. Nevertheless, in order to
prevent septicity problems during operation phase, it is recommended that a
detailed sewerage design report be submitted to DSD for approval prior to
installation of the rising mains.
It will be the Contractor’s responsibilities to ensure that all wastes produced during the construction of the Project are handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with good waste management practices and the relevant regulations and requirements. The recommended mitigation measures shall form the basis of the Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor in the construction phase.
During construction phase, regular site inspection as part of the
EM&A procedures should be carried out to determine if various types of
waste are being managed in accordance with approved procedures and the Waste
Management Plan. It should cover different aspects of waste management
including waste generation, storage, recycling, treatment, transport and
disposal.
During the construction phase, EM&A is to be carried out in the
form of regular site inspection. All the related procedures and facilities for
handling or storage of chemicals and chemical waste will be audited to make
sure they are in order and intact and reported in the EM&A reports.
The implementation, monitoring
and audit of the ecological mitigation measures should be conducted as
presented in the standalone EM&A Manual, which include baseline
monitoring for plant species of conservation interest, inspection to confirm no active ardeid nest or Short-nosed Fruit Bat prior to construction works, and monitoring of
woodland compensation and reinstatement area, and the enhancement area. In addition, the mitigation
measures for air, noise, water and waste management aspects proposed in
respective sections which are indirectly beneficial to the local ecology shall
be checked as part of the EM&A procedures during construction period as
presented in the standalone EM&A
Manual.
The implementation and audit of
the water quality mitigation measures will be conducted as presented in the
standalone EM&A Manual. Such measures are indirectly beneficial to the
local fisheries and will be checked. There are no significant
fisheries impacts predicted from the construction and operation phases and
therefore no other fisheries-specific monitoring and audit are considered necessary.
The implementation of the
landscape and visual impact mitigation measures should be checked as part of
the EM&A procedures as presented in the standalone EM&A Manual.