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1.2 Designated Projects under EIAO.. 1-1

1 Introduction

1.2 Designated Projects under EIAO

1.2.1.1 The Project covers the following DP elements as specified in Schedule 2 of the EIAO (Cap.499):

· DP1 –	Sewage treatment works with an installed capacity of more than 15,000 m³ per day under Item F.1 in Schedule 2 Part I;
· DP2 –	Sewage treatment works under Item F.2 in Schedule 2 Part I--- § With an installed capacity of more than 5,000 m³ per day; and § A boundary of which is less than 200m from the nearest boundary of an existing or planned residential area, educational institution and health care institution.
· DP3 –	An activity for the reuse of treated sewage effluent from a treatment plant under Item F.4 in Schedule 2 Part I;
· DP4 –	Underground rock caverns under Item Q.2 in Schedule 2 Part I;
· DP5 –	An explosives depot in a stand‑alone, purpose built building under Item K.10 in Schedule 2 Part I; and
· DP6 –	Decommissioning of an explosives depot under Item 11 in Schedule 2 Part II.

1.2.1.2 A small portion of treated effluent would be reused for non-potable uses including use in the laboratory, polymer solution preparation, irrigation and toilet flushing inside the Cavern Sewage Treatment Works (CSTW).

1.2.1.3 A temporary project specific explosive magazine, which consist of above ground single-storey structures, is proposed to be built on Nui Po Shan next to the location of the Ventilation Shaft. The magazine will be accessed from A Kung Kok Shan Road and used for short-term – in the order of a few days – storage of explosives that will be used for construction of the CSTW. The explosive magazine will be decommissioned after the completion of construction of caverns for the Project.

1.2.1.4 An environmental permit issued under the EIAO is therefore required before the construction and operation of CSTW.

1.2.1.5 Under the context of EIA Study Brief No. ESB-273/2014, the “Project” is referring to the “Sha Tin Cavern Sewage Treatment Works” (CSTW). Any environmental impacts that may be arise from upstream sewerage modification works in relation to the STSTW relocation, or future developments on the site of the existing STSTW after its decommissioning are outside and independent from the present EIA to be covered by separate Preliminary Environmental Review(s) or EIA(s) under the EIAO as appropriate.

1.3 Purpose of the EIA Study

1.3.1.1 The purpose of the EIA Study is to provide information on the nature and extent of the environmental impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project and related activities that take place concurrently. This information will contribute to decisions on:

· the acceptability of potential environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the Project;

· the conditions and requirements for the design, construction and operation of the Project and related activities to mitigate against potential environmental consequences; and

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

1.4 Objectives of this EIA Study

1.4.1.1 The objectives of the EIA study as stated in the EIA Study Brief are as follows:

(i) to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements, environmental benefits and dis-benefits for carrying out the Project;

(ii) to identify and describe the elements of the community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and/or likely to cause potential impacts to the Project, including both the natural and man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;

(iii) to provide information on the consideration of alternatives options of the location, layout, design, layout of the Project and the construction methods with a view to avoiding and minimising potential environmental impacts to environmentally sensitive areas and sensitive uses; to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of different options; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part of environmental factors played in the selection of the preferred option(s);

(iv) to identify and quantify emission sources (including odour, air quality, noise, water quality and waste, etc. as appropriate) and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(v) to identify and quantify any potential loss or damage and other potential impacts to fisheries, flora, fauna and natural habitats;

(vi) to identify and quantify waste management requirements and to propose measures to mitigate impacts;

(vii) to identify any negative impacts on sites of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(viii) to identify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(ix) to propose the provision of infrastructures or mitigation measures to minimise pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project including decommissioning and demolition of the existing STSTW and related activities;

(x) to investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;

(xi) 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 of the Project and related activities in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(xii) to identify, assess and specify methods, measures and standards to be included in the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project and related activities and which are necessary to mitigate these residual environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable levels;

(xiii) 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;

(xiv) to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) requirements to check the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures; and

(xv) to identify any additional studies necessary to implement the mitigation measures or monitoring and proposals recommended in the EIA report.

1.5 Structure of the EIA Report

1.5.1.1 The background of the Project, purpose and objectives of this Report are introduced in this section. A description of the Project and details of considerations of alternative options are provided in Section 2. Sections 3 to 13 detail the results of the environmental impact assessment of each key subject area, covering relevant legislation, environmental conditions, assessment criteria, methodology, and assessment findings.

1.5.1.2 Sections 3 to 13 include:

· Section 3: Air Quality Impact

· Section 4: Noise Impact

· Section 5: Water Quality Impact

· Section 6: Land Contamination

· Section 7: Hazard to Life

· Section 8: Ecological Impact (Terrestrial and Marine)

· Section 9: Fisheries Impact

· Section 10: Landscape and Visual Impact

· Section 11: Cultural Heritage Impact

· Section 12: Waste Management Implications

· Section 13: Health Impact

1.5.1.3 An outline of the requirements for the EM&A programme is presented in Section 14. The EM&A programme is presented in details in a separate EM&A Manual. A summary of environmental outcome and conclusion of the whole assessment is given in Section 15. A detailed implementation schedule of the recommended mitigation measures is provided in Section 16.

1.5.1.4 This EIA Report consists of the following booklets:

· Volume 1 of 4 – Main Text (This booklet)

· Volume 2 of 4 – Figures

· Volume 3 of 4 – Appendices (Part 1)

· Volume 4 of 4 – Appendices (Part 2)

1.5.1.5 An Executive Summary (ES) has been prepared as a separate document in both Chinese and English which contains summaries of main issues, findings, conclusions and recommendations.

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