14 Conclusion

14.1 Conclusion of EIA Study

14.1.1 This EIA Report has provided an assessment of the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project, based on the engineering design information available during the course of EIA study.

14.1.2 The assessment has been conducted, in accordance with EIAO-TM, covering the following environmental issues:

· Air Quality Impact;

· Noise Impact;

· Water Quality Impact;

· Waste Management Implications;

· Land Contamination;

· Ecology Impact (Terrestrial);

· Landscape and Visual Impact;

· Impact on Cultural Heritage; and

· Hazard to life.

14.1.3 The findings of this EIA study have determined the likely nature and extent of environmental impacts predicted to arise from the construction and operation of the Project. During the EIA process, environmental control measures have been identified and incorporated into the planning and design of the Project, to achieve compliance with environmental legislation and standards during both the construction and operation phases. The Implementation Schedule listing the recommended mitigation measures is presented in Appendix 14.2.

14.1.4 Overall, the EIA study has predicted that the Project, with the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, would be environmentally acceptable with no adverse residual impacts on the environmentally sensitive receivers and resources. The key environmental outcomes and benefits that have accrued from the environmental considerations and analysis during the EIA process and the implementation of environmental control measures of the Project is summarized in Table 14.1 below. The summary of key assessment assumptions and limitation of methodologies and the summary of environmental impacts are presented in Appendices 14.1 and 14.2 respectively.

14.1.5 The various sections of this EIA Report have presented the measures to minimise the potential environmental impacts associated with the Project throughout the construction and operational phases. The key measures to minimise the environmental impacts are summarised in Section 13.6.

14.1.6 Environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) requirements have been recommended, where necessary, to check on project compliance of environmental legislation and standards. These are presented in a separate, stand-alone EM&A manual.

Table 14.1 Summary of Key Environmental Outcomes and Benefits

Environmental / Social Benefits of the Project	· Provision of railway service to the existing and future communities in Tuen Mun South to encourage greater use of the whole railway system, by enhancing coverage, and thereby improving the mobility and transport connections to the existing Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, alleviating traffic congestion, which in turns reducing the road traffic noise and vehicular emissions; · Support of further housing development and renewal in the New Territories; and · Complement of the future development as a long-term railway corridor.
Environmentally Friendly Design and Options	· Avoidance of encroachment into recognized sites of conservation importance (e.g. Tuen Mun egretry); · Minimisation of number of piers at Tuen Mun River Bridge crossing the river from A16 area to Tuen Mun South; · Adoption of environmental friendly construction method; · Adoption of bird friendly design (e.g. non-transparent and non-glaring materials), minimisation measures (including control of working hours and establishment of buffer zone to minimise impact on ardeids night roost), and consideration of ecological enhancement features (e.g. provision of ardeid perching and foraging structures); · Adoption of proactive measures to avoid illegal dumping; · Provision of railway noise mitigation measures; and · Implementation of environmental monitoring and auditing system.
Air Quality Impact	Construction Phase: · Major potential air quality impacts during the construction works of the Project would be construction dust arising from excavation, materials handling, spoil removal, bored pilling, backfilling works, haul road within the works areas/works sites, and wind erosion of exposed area. With the implementation of recommended dust suppression measures including regular watering on active works areas, exposed areas and unpaved haul roads, and mitigation measures specified in the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation and EM&A programme, the predicted dust impact on the air sensitive receivers would comply with the dust criteria as stipulated in EIAO-TM and air quality objectives (AQOs). Operational Phase: · No adverse air quality impact is expected from the operation of the Project with emission free electric-powered rail system.
Noise Impact	Construction Phase: · Potential construction noise impact arising from the operation of powered mechanical equipment (PME) would be expected. With the implementation of mitigation measures including adoption of quiet construction method, quality powered mechanical equipment (QPME), construction noise barriers/enclosures, sequence operation of construction activities, proper scheduling of construction activities at critical works sites, avoidance of using specific PMEs during examination periods, and maintain sufficient setback distance between critical NSRs and PMEs, the predicted construction noise levels at the representative noise sensitive receivers would comply with the construction noise criteria stipulated in EIAO-TM. Operational Phase (Fixed Noise): · Maximum allowable sound power level emitted from planned fixed plant were predicted. The fixed plant noise impacts predicted at the existing and planned NSRs would comply with the respective noise criteria. Operational Phase (Railway Noise): · The potential rail noise impacts associated with the operation of the Project will be alleviated by the provision of the mitigation measures including barrier and noise enclosure to protect the affected NSRs to acceptable noise levels. Cumulative Operational Noise Impact: · Based on the findings of cumulative operational noise impact assessment, the mitigated noise levels at all representative NSRs would comply with the noise criteria as stipulated in the IND-TM. It is therefore concluded that, with implementation of the recommended noise mitigation measures for fixed plant and rail operation, there would be no adverse cumulative operational noise impacts to the NSRs.
Water Quality Impact	Construction Phase: · Water quality impacts from the construction activities would be controlled by adopting environmental friendly construction method (e.g. installation of casing/concrete cofferdam and watertight precast pile cape shells), and implementing the recommended mitigation measures and good site practices. Regular site inspections would be carried out to minimise water quality impacts. Operational Phase: · Storm water control measures including adequate storm drainage system with suitable pollutant removal devices and best storm water management practices, as well as proper collection and diversion of all sewage and wastewater effluents generated from operation of the stations to public sewers for proper treatment and disposal, will be adopted for the Project to minimise the potential water quality impact during operational phase.
Waste Management Implications	· The main waste types to be generated during the construction phase of the Project will include construction and demolition (C&D) materials, general refuse, chemical waste and excavated land-based and river-based sediment. Reduction measures have been recommended to minimise the amount of materials generated by the Project by reusing C&D materials and excavated sediment as far as practicable before offsite disposal. Provided that the waste is handled, transported and disposed of using proper methods, adverse environmental impacts would not be expected. · The main waste types to be generated during the operational phase of the Project will include chemical waste and general refuse. Provided that the waste is handled, transported and disposed of using approved methods, adverse environmental impacts would not be expected.
Land Contamination	· Based on the findings of the site appraisals in the form of desktop review and site walkovers, there were 4 facilities/ areas that had been identified with potential land contamination concerns within the Project Area. · As the concerned areas are still in operation and the demolition and construction works will not commence until 2023, there could be change in site activities and land uses within the Project Area prior to development which may cause further contamination issues. Further site appraisal, associated SI works and any necessary remediation action are recommended to be carried out after site operation has ceased but prior to construction works at the concerned areas. The recommended further works, including the submission of Supplementary CAP(s), CAR(s) / RAP(s) and RR(s), would need to follow EPD’s Guidance Manual, Guidance Note and Practice Guide. · With the implementation of the recommended further works, any soil / groundwater contamination would be identified and properly treated prior to construction works. · Given the above, land contamination impacts are therefore considered not insurmountable.
Terrestrial Ecology	Construction Phase: · Most of the identified terrestrial habitats including developed area, modified watercourse, mixed woodland, village / orchard, and plantation, are man-made in nature, and were mostly considered to be of low ecological value, except for the mixed woodland and modified watercourse which were considered to be of low to moderate ecological value, and the developed area in Tuen Mun Park which supported ardeid night roost was considered of moderate ecological value. · Ecological resources within assessment area of TME alignment include bat roosts for Short-nosed Fruit Bats, foraging and perching ardeids along and in close proximity of the TMRC, and ardeid night roost and day roost in Tuen Mun Park, while Tuen Mun Egretry is located outside assessment area (approximately 800 m northeast of the Project site). · Direct impacts include the loss of man-made habitats, which is anticipated to be of minor impacts considering their ecological values; and potentially minor to moderate ecological impact on the ardeids night roosting and day roosting in Tuen Mun Park may arise from the indirect disturbance from constriction activities, and potential flight line obstruction; while minor ecological impacts may arise from the potential injury of the roosting SNFB within Pui To Road (South) Rest Garden. · With the implementation of mitigation measures including careful arrangement of work programme to avoid noisy construction activities near the night-roost during dry season,,control of working hours to avoid noisy construction activities within the 100m buffer zone from the night roost with due consideration of peak time return of ardeids to night roost, monthly monitoring and observation on condition of night roost during the construction phase, as well as avoidance of direct injury of the roosting bats by implementation of pre-construction bat survey, no unacceptable ecological impacts are anticipated to arise from the construction of the Project. Operation Phase: · With the provision of panel at the viaduct section adjoining to the ardeid night roost, no unacceptable ecological impacts are anticipated from the operation of the Project.
Landscape and Visual	· Approximately 2,209 existing trees were identified within proposed works area, of which tree would not be affected by the proposed works will be retained, while tree would be directly affected by the proposed works will be proposed to be removed or proposed to be transplanted. There are neither OVT, rare species nor endangered species affected by the proposed works, and the affected trees mainly are common tree species. Opportunities for tree compensation within the Project boundary have been fully explored and incorporated in the proposed mitigation measures as much as practicable. Given that the site area of the Project is confined and limited and hence tree compensation requirement of 1:1 in terms of number and heavy standard size of trees is not feasible. Detailed Tree Preservation and Removal Proposals should be submitted in accordance with DEVB TC(W) No. 4/2020. · The landscape and visual impacts resulted during construction and operational phases are acceptable with the implementation of the appropriate mitigation measures including aesthetic design of aboveground structures, trees planting and provision of amenity area surrounding the aboveground structure.
Cultural Heritage	· There was no cultural heritage resources identified within the proposed works sites / works areas, and only one nil-grade built heritage, Hau Kok Tin Hau Temple at Tin Hau Road situated within the 300m assessment area. With its considerable distance from the works sites / works area, neither direct nor indirect impact is anticipated during the construction of the Project. Nevertheless, If there are any buildings / structures both at grade level and underground which were built on or before 1969 found within the works sites/ works areas during the excavation, the Project Proponent will alert AMO in an early stage or once identified. · As the proposed works sites / works areas are on reclaimed land with no archaeological potential and are separated from the nearest archaeological potential area by a considerable distance, neither mitigation measures nor further archaeological actions are required. Nevertheless, the Contractor should inform the AMO in case of discovery of antiquities or supposed antiquities in the course of works, so that appropriate mitigation measures, if needed, can be timely formulated and implemented in agreement with AMO.
Hazard to Life	· The criterion of Annex 4 of the EIAO-TM for Individual Risk met with regards to the hazards to life posed by LPG Store. The societal risk for the cumulative impact from LPG Store during the construction and operational phases of the Project partially falls within the ALARP region of stipulated criteria under EIAO-TM. A cost-benefit analysis was undertaken considering a range of mitigation measures but no mitigation measures are cost effective. Nevertheless, good safety practices are recommended to further manage and minimize the potential risks during construction phase of the Project.

Appendix 14.1	Key Assessment Assumptions and Limitation of Assessment Methodologies
Appendix 14.2	Summary of Environmental Impacts