1. Introduction

1.1. Background

1.1.1. Allied Environmental Consultants Limited (AEC) was commissioned to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment for the decommissioning works of the west portion and southern edge of the Middle Ash Lagoon at Tsang Tsui, Tuen Mun followed by site formation works and construction of site drainage system and construction of access road (hereinafter known as the “Project”). The Project will provide buildable land for future developments on the site location. The future development is planned to be the provision of Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The proposed location of the Project is shown in Figure 1.1. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study aims to evaluate the potential environmental impact associated with the provision of buildable area at Tsang Tsui, Tuen Mun.

1.1.2. The Project is a designated project under Item 8 of Part II, Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), i.e. decommissioning of a waste disposal facility for pulverized fuel ash, furnace bottom ash or gypsum. An Environmental Permit (EP) is required for its decommissioning, construction and operation. An application for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief under Section 5(1) (a) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was submitted by the Applicant on 26 March 2012 with Project Profile (No. PP-460/2012). The decommissioning works of the west portion and southern edge of the Middle Ash Lagoon, site formation works and construction of site drainage and construction access road works are considered as a part of Designated Project and shall be covered in this Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

1.1.3. An EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-243/2012) was issued on 30 April 2012 to the applicant in accordance with Section 5(7) (a) of the EIAO to set out the purposes and objectives of the future EIA study.

1.1.4. The purpose of this EIA study is to provide information on the nature and extent of the environmental impacts arising from decommissioning and related activities taking place concurrently. This information will influence the decisions made by the Director on:

· The acceptability of adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the project;

· The conditions and requirements for the detailed design and/or proposed decommissioning works to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences and;

· The acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures is implemented.

1.2. Objectives of the EIA Study

1.2.1. The objectives of the EIA study are as follows:

· To describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for implementing the Project;

· To identify and describe the elements of the adjacent community and environment likely to be affected by the Project, and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including both natural and man-made environments and the associated environmental constraints;

· To identify and quantify: all environmental sensitive receivers, emission sources, determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses, and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

· To identify and quantify any potential losses or damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats; good

· To propose the provision of infrastructure or mitigation measures to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during the decommissioning activities, related site formation works and other construction works; good

· To investigate the feasibility, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures; good

· To identify, predict and evaluate the residual (i.e. after practicable mitigation) environmental impacts and the cumulative effects expected to arise from the decommissioning works in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

· To identify, assess and specify: methods, measures and standards to be included in the decommissioning works which are necessary to mitigate these residual environmental impacts and cumulative effects to reduce them to acceptable levels;

· To design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements; and

· To identify any additional studies necessary to implement the mitigation measures or monitoring and proposals recommended in the EIA report.

1.3. Detailed Requirements of the EIA study

1.3.1. Detailed requirements of the EIA study are set out in Section 3 of the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-243/2012). As specified in the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-243/2012), the EIA study has addressed the key environmental issues associated with the decommissioning and construction of the Project in Hong Kong waters and land.

1.3.2. The EIA study shall address the likely issues described below, together with any other key issues identified during the course of the EIA study.

· The potential air quality impacts from the decommissioning and construction works;

· The potential health impacts from the Project including radon emissions from pulverized fly ash within the Ash Lagoon due to the decommissioning and construction works;

· The potential sound pollution as a result of the decommissioning and construction works;

· The potential water quality impact from the decommissioning and construction works;

· The potential waste management issues and impacts arising from the decommissioning and construction works;

· The potential land contamination arising from the decommissioning and construction works;

· The potential ecological impact arising from the decommissioning and construction works including the loss of habitats, removal of vegetation and disturbance of wildlife;

· The potential risks of landfill gas during the decommissioning and construction works due to the proposed West New Territories (WENT) Landfill Extensions; and

· The 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. Approach of Assessment

1.4.1. The EIA study is prepared in accordance with the guidelines on assessment methodologies provided in the relevant sections of the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAO (TM)). The general approaches and methodologies adopted for this EIA study are described below:

· Description of the environment;

· Impact prediction;

· Impact evaluation; and

· Impact mitigation.

1.4.2. The characteristics of the existing environment are reviewed for identification and prediction of environmental impacts. Where necessary, baseline surveys would be conducted to determine the existing environmental conditions on the Subject Site and in any environs likely to be affected by the Project. The baseline conditions of the key issues as identified in the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-243/2012) includes: air quality, noise, water quality, waste management, health risk, land contamination, landfill gas and ecology are described in the assessment.

1.4.3. The predicted potential environmental impacts as a result of the Project are evaluated with respect to the criteria described in Annexes 4 to 20 of the EIAO (TM) and are in quantitative terms as far as practicable.

1.4.4. Mitigation measures have been identified and evaluated to avoid, minimize or remedy the impacts. Priority is given to avoidance of impacts as a primary means of mitigation. The effectiveness of mitigation measures is assessed and the residual environmental impacts are identified. Evaluation of impacts is made with respect to the criteria described in Annexes 4 to 20 of the EIAO (TM), in quantitative terms as far as practicable.

1.5. Structure of EIA Report

1.5.1. The structure of this EIA study is outlined below for ease of reference:

Section	Title	Aims
1	Introduction	To provide project background, purpose and scope of the EIA study and to define the EIA Study Area
2	Description of the Project	To describe the project requirements, consideration of alternative and major activities in the Project
3	Air Quality Impact	To assess the potential air quality impact of the Project and suggest mitigation measures
4	Health Impact	To assess the potential health impact of the Project and suggest mitigation measures
5	Noise Impact	To assess the potential noise impact of the Project and suggest mitigation measures
6	Water Quality Impact	To assess the potential water quality impact of the Project and suggest mitigation measures
7	Waste Management Implications	To assess the potential waste management implications of the Project and suggest mitigation measures
8	Land Contamination	To assess the potential land contamination impact of the Project and suggest mitigation measures
9	Ecological Impact	To assess the potential ecological impacts of the Project and suggest mitigation measures
10	Landfill Gas Hazards	To assess the potential hazards arising from landfill gas migration and suggest precautionary measures
11	Summary of Environmental Outcomes	To contain a summary of the key environmental outcomes arising from the EIA study
12	Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements	To define the scope of the EM&A requirements for the Project