11. Environmental Monitoring and Audit
Requirements.. 306
11.1 Overview.. 306
11.2 Air Quality. 306
11.3 Noise. 306
11.4 Ecology. 306
11.5 Water
Quality. 306
11.6 Waste
Management 307
11.7 Land Contamination. 307
11.8 Landscape and Visual 307
11.9 Cultural
Heritage. 307
11.1.1. A detailed Environmental
Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual has been prepared for this Project as
required under the Study Brief and the requirements as stipulated in Annex 21
of EIAO-TM. The following Sections provide a summary of the need for monitoring
and auditing of the individual environmental aspects. The implementation
schedule of the proposed mitigation measure and the good site practices is
provided in Section 12.
11.2.1. No adverse air quality impacts
associated with the proposed drainage improvement works is anticipated, regular
site audits are recommended to monitor the effectiveness of the dust control
measures and ensure the dust control measures implemented properly.
11.3.1. Based on the results of noise
impact assessment, implementation of noise mitigation measure i.e. adopting
quiet PMEs, temporary noise barrier and good site practices will be
necessary in order to ensure the construction noise levels can comply with the
relevant noise criteria. With implementation of proper noise mitigation
measures, no residual noise impacts is anticipated. In order to ensure the
effectiveness and efficiency of proposed mitigation measures, construction
noise monitoring is proposed.
11.4.1. The potential ecological impact
from the proposed drainage improvement project at Yuen Long has been evaluated
in accordance with the applicable Technical Memorandum of the EIAO, and the
works in Ha Che and Lin Fa Tei will unavoidably affect the watercourse habitat
and potentially the local population of two endemic freshwater crab species Somanniathelphusa zanklon and Cryptopotamon anacoluthon in the Kam Tin area.
11.4.2. A range of mitigation measures
including good site management, scheduling of the staged work program have been
recommended to avoid or minimize the identified impact within or in the
vicinity of the work areas. Translocation of the two endemic crab species to
area protected from anthropogenic disturbance or development pressure within
the Kam Tin Valley has been recommended before the commencement of the
construction work. Regular
site audits, detailed vegetation survey and ecological
monitoring during construction and post-construction phases are recommended to monitor the
effectiveness and efficiency of the ecological mitigation measures.
11.5.1. The water quality assessment identified
that the key issue in terms of water quality would be related to excavation
works during the proposed drainage improvement. To minimize potential impacts on
water quality during the channel construction, the excavation would be carried
out in dry condition (even in wet season) by diverting the stream flow from
upstream by a temporary drainage channel with a temporary sheet piles, earth
bund or barrier, so that the works area will remain dry for later excavation
and widening works.
11.5.2. With implementation of
recommended appropriate mitigation measures, the construction works for the
proposed drainage improvement works would not be anticipated to result in
unacceptable impacts on water quality.
11.5.3.
Details of the recommended water quality monitoring requirements and
regular audit during construction phase are included in the EM&A Manual.
11.6.1.
With
proper implementation of good site practices and proposed mitigation measures,
no adverse waste management related impact is anticipated. Waste management
would be the Contractor’s responsibility 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 EPD’s regulations and
requirements. The recommended mitigation measures should form the basis of the
site WMP to be developed by the Contractor at the construction phase. A WMP
should be prepared in accordance to with ETWB TC(W) No. 19/2005 and submitted
to the Engineer for approval. The recommended mitigation measures should form
the basis of the WMP. The monitoring and auditing requirement stated in ETWB
TC(W) No. 19/2005 should be followed with regard to the management C&D
materials. Regular
site audits are recommended to monitor the site tidiness and construction waste
management.
11.7.1. According to the results of the
land contamination assessment, all identified potential contaminated sites are
located outside the proposed works area boundaries and no contamination potential
arising from the proposed drainage improvement works is anticipated. Therefore,
contamination potential arising from the Project works is not anticipated.
Further site investigation for this Project is considered not necessary.
11.8.1. The recommended landscape and
visual mitigation measures to be undertaken during both the construction and
operational phases of the project. The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual
mitigation measures should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised
and that potential conflicts between the proposed landscape measures and any
other project works and operational requirements are resolved at the earliest
possible date and without compromise to the intention of the mitigation measures.
11.9.1.
Protective
measures have been recommended for built heritage. Three graded historic
buildings, Lee Tat Bridge (Grade 3) in Shui Tsan Tin,
Lan Fong Study Hall (Grade 3) in Chuk Hang and St. John’s Chapel (Grade 2) in
Cheung Po may be indirectly
affected by the Project during the construction phase and require mitigation
measures.
11.9.2.
The archaeological
potential within Lin Fa Tin was established during previous investigations and
recognized as Lin Fa Tei Site of Archaeological Interest however, the proposed
works are limited to the streambanks which have been affected by stream
meandering erosion, deposition processes, previous streambank
works. The assessment concludes that the archaeological potential
overall of the Lin Fa Tei Study Area is deemed limited (around Kam Sheung Road)
to minimal with the exception of the area near the previous findings and other
undisturbed areas within Lin Fa Tei SAI outside the proposed works boundary.
The proposed works have the
potential to affect some unknown archaeology associated with the previous Song
dynasty (or older) wooden findings within Lin Fa Tei SAI. It is therefore, recommended that an
Archaeological Survey be undertaken prior to the construction phase by a
qualified archaeologist who obtains a licence under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance
(Cap. 53)
within the area identified near
the previous findings of wooden remains (Figure 10.16). If
significant remains are uncovered, the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO)
should be notified and mitigation and/or an appropriate way forward should be
formulated and implemented in agreement with AMO.
11.9.3.
The archaeological potential at
the other Study Areas, i.e. Tai Wo
Study Area, Ha Che River Study Area and Sung Shan New Village Study Area is
deemed minimal based on known archaeological information and location of works
i.e. focus on river banks which would have affected soil deposit
through meandering, erosional processes and previous stream bank works. The proposed drainage works at Lin Fa Tei Study Area (outside the area identified for archaeological
survey), Tai Wo Study Area, Ha Che River Study
Area and Sung Shan New Village Study
Area are generally not expected to impact on
archaeology during the construction and operational phases and no mitigation is
required. As a precautionary measure, the AMO
should be informed immediately in case of discovery of antiquities or supposed
antiquities in the course of excavation for any of the proposed drainage
improvement works outside of the area
identified for archaeological survey, so that
appropriate mitigation measures, if needed can be
timely formulated and implemented in agreement with AMO.