|
Consultancy
Ref.: AFCD/FIS/02/19 Consultancy Service for Environmental Impact Assessment
Study for Designation of New Fish Culture Zones Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for Establishment of Fish Culture Zone at
Outer Tap Mun November
2022 |
This Section presents the potential air
quality impacts associated with the construction and operation phases of the
Project.
The
principal legislation for the management of air quality in Hong Kong is the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) (Cap.
311). As the new set of AQOs has
come into effect since 1 January 2022, the new AQOs have been adopted as the
assessment criteria as shown in Table 8.1.
Table 8.1 Hong Kong Air Quality Objectives
|
Air Pollutant |
Averaging Time |
New AQOs |
|
|
Concentration (µg m-3) (a) |
No. of Exceedances Allowed per Year |
||
|
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) |
1-hour |
200 |
18 |
|
Annual |
40 |
- |
|
|
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) |
10-minute |
500 |
3 |
|
24-hour |
50 |
3 |
|
|
Carbon Monoxide (CO) |
1-hour |
30,000 |
0 |
|
8-hour |
10,000 |
0 |
|
|
Respirable Suspended Particulates (RSP) (b) |
24-hour |
100 |
9 |
|
Annual |
50 |
- |
|
|
Fine Suspended Particulates (FSP) (c) |
24-hour |
50 |
18 (d) |
|
Annual |
25 |
- |
|
|
Ozone |
8-hour |
160 |
9 |
|
Lead |
Annual |
0.5 |
- |
|
Notes: (a) Concentrations
of gaseous air pollutants (i.e .NO2, SO2, CO and O3)
are measured at 293K and 101.325kPa. (b) Suspended
particles in air with a nominal aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less. (c) Suspended
particles in air with a nominal aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less. (d) On a best
endeavours basis, a reduced number of allowable exceedances of 18 days per
year for 24-hour FSP (in lieu of 35 days per year as set out in the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill
2021) should be adopted for air quality impact assessments for new
Government projects. |
|||
In
addition to the APCO, a maximum hourly average Total Suspended Particulates
(TSP) concentration of 500µg m-3 at Air Sensitive Receivers (ASRs)
is stipulated in Annex 4 of the Technical
Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM) to address
potential construction dust impacts. The
measures stipulated in the Air Pollution
Control (Construction Dust) Regulation will be followed to ensure that
potential dust impacts are properly controlled.
Requirements stipulated in the Air
Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission) Regulation and Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction)
Regulation will also be followed to control potential emissions from
non-road mobile machinery during decommissioning / demolition and construction
phases. Furthermore, Air Pollution Control (Marine Light Diesel)
Regulation and Air Pollution Control
(Fuel for Vessels) Regulation will be followed to control potential
emissions from marine vessels arising from the Project.
In
accordance with Section 3.4.8.2 of the Study Brief (ESB-325/2019), the
Assessment Area for air quality impact assessment is defined as an area of 500
m from the boundary of the Project site as shown in Figure 8.1.
Village
houses along the southwestern coast of Tap Mun have been identified as ASRs within
the 500 m Assessment Area as shown in Figure 8.1. Details of the identified representative ASRs
are presented in Table 8.2.
Table 8.2 Identified Representative ASRs
|
ASR |
Description |
Type of Use |
Approx. Maximum Height (m above ground) |
Approx. Separation Distance from the Project Site
Boundary (m) |
|
A1 |
Village
Houses of Tap Mun New Fisherman’s Village |
Residential |
10 |
430 |
|
A2 |
Village
Houses of Yung Shue Village |
Residential |
10 |
500 |
The Project site is
located in the waters to the west of Tap Mun in the Northeast New
Territories. The Project site is predominantly
surrounded by waters within its 500 m Assessment Area, with Tap Mun at about
430 m to the east and the Sai Kung West Country Park at about 530 m to the
west. The Project site area and its
vicinity is rural in nature with no existing or planned development. No major air emission sources have been
identified that may influence the local air quality within the Project site
area and its vicinity.
The nearest
EPD’s air quality monitoring station (AQMS) is located in Tap Mun, about 700 m
away from the Project site to the east.
Table 8.3
presents the relevant time averaging concentrations of air pollutants measured
at EPD’s Tap Mun AQMS in the most recent five years (i.e. 2016 to 2020) for
comparison with the prevailing AQOs
Table 8.3 Concentrations of Air Pollutants
Measured at EPD’s Tap Mun AQMS in the Recent Five Years (2016 to 2020)
|
Station |
Year |
Concentration
of Pollutants (µg m-3) (a) |
||||||||||
|
19th
highest 1-hour NO2 |
Annual
NO2 |
4th
highest 24-hour SO2 |
4th
highest 10-min SO2 |
10th
highest 24-hour RSP |
Annual
RSP |
19th
highest 24-hour FSP |
Annual
FSP |
10th
highest daily max. 8-hour O3 |
Daily
max. 1-hour CO (d) |
Daily
max. 8-hour CO (d) |
||
|
Tap Mun |
2016 |
58 |
10 |
15 |
45 |
68 |
30 |
38 |
19 |
169 |
1,470 |
1,453 |
|
2017 |
52 |
10 |
14 |
32 |
74 |
35 |
39 |
20 |
192 |
1,770 |
1,543 |
|
|
2018 |
51 |
11 |
13 |
29 |
60 |
31 |
30 |
17 |
184 |
1,170 |
1,151 |
|
|
2019 |
56 |
10 |
12 |
19 |
64 |
31 |
32 |
17 |
212 |
1,360 |
1,350 |
|
|
2020 |
38 |
9 |
10 |
13 |
59 |
25 |
31 |
14 |
177 |
1,530 |
1,378 |
|
|
AQOs |
200 |
40 |
50 |
500 |
100 |
50 |
50 |
25 |
160 |
30,000 |
10,000 |
|
|
Note: (a) Data underlined indicate
exceedance of the AQO. |
||||||||||||
No exceedance of the prevailing AQOs for NO2,
SO2, RSP, FSP and CO was recorded at EPD’s Tap Mun AQMS for the past
five years. The measured 10th
highest daily maximum 8-hour O3 concentrations at EPD’s Tap Mun AQMS
have exceeded the relevant AQO criterion for the past five years.
The
background air pollutant concentrations predicted by the PATH v2.1 model (i.e.
Pollutants in the Atmosphere and their Transport over Hong Kong) for the PATH
grids within the 500 m Assessment Area in Year 2024 (i.e. the year of tentative
commencement of construction and operation of Project) are presented in Table
8.4.
Table 8.4 Background Air Pollutant
Concentrations Predicted by the PATH v2.1 Model in 2024
|
PATH Grid |
Concentration
of Pollutants (µg m-3) |
|||||||||||
|
19th highest 1-hour NO2 |
Annual NO2 |
4th highest 24-hour SO2 |
4th highest 10-min SO2 (a) |
10th highest 24-hour RSP (b) |
Annual RSP (b) |
19th highest 24-hour FSP |
Annual FSP (c) |
10th highest
Daily Max. 8-hour O3 |
Daily Max. 1-hour CO |
Daily Max. 8-hour CO |
|
|
|
57,49 |
41.0 |
7.9 |
10.0 |
34.8 |
63.4 |
26.3 |
33.0 |
13.7 |
196.3 |
931.6 |
850.5 |
|
|
57,50 |
42.1 |
8.1 |
9.9 |
35.1 |
63.7 |
26.3 |
33.6 |
13.7 |
195.5 |
932.7 |
853.8 |
|
|
57,51 |
48.7 |
9.1 |
9.9 |
36.3 |
64.4 |
26.4 |
34.3 |
13.8 |
195.2 |
936.5 |
859.3 |
|
|
58,49 |
39.1 |
7.9 |
9.9 |
35.0 |
64.0 |
26.4 |
33.2 |
13.7 |
199.5 |
928.2 |
852.4 |
|
|
58,50 |
42.0 |
8.4 |
9.9 |
34.8 |
64.4 |
26.4 |
33.6 |
13.8 |
198.4 |
929.7 |
854.7 |
|
|
58,51 |
46.5 |
9.2 |
9.9 |
35.3 |
64.8 |
26.4 |
34.2 |
13.8 |
198.1 |
932.9 |
856.8 |
|
|
59,49 |
41.2 |
8.6 |
9.9 |
33.6 |
64.4 |
26.4 |
33.1 |
13.7 |
200.2 |
924.3 |
847.4 |
|
|
59,50 |
44.6 |
9.2 |
10.0 |
31.7 |
64.5 |
26.4 |
33.4 |
13.8 |
198.6 |
925.6 |
848.3 |
|
|
AQOs |
200 |
40 |
50 |
500 |
100 |
50 |
50 |
25 |
160 |
30,000 |
10,000 |
|
|
Notes: (a) The multiplicative factor for
the stability class calculated for each hour was applied to the 1-hour SO2
concentrations to estimate the 10-minute SO2 concentrations. (b) An adjustment of 11.0µg/m3
and 10.3µg/m3 were added to the RSP background for calculation of
24-hour RSP and annual RSP, respectively. (c) An adjustment of 3.5µg/m3
was added to the FSP background for calculation of annual FSP. (d) Data underlined indicate
exceedance of the new AQOs. |
|
|||||||||||
As shown in Table
8.4, predicted background concentrations of NO2, SO2,
RSP, FSP and CO in all relevant PATH grids in 2024 are below their respective
new AQO criteria. The predicted
background concentrations of O3 in 2024 show exceedances of the
relevant AQO criterion in these PATH grids.
The
construction of the proposed Project will mainly involve the setup of fish farm
structures, including fish rafts / cages, auxiliary facilities and
mooring system. No dredging works is
required during the construction phase. The
scale of construction work on-site is relatively small. Main components of the rafts /
cages are manufactured off-site and will be towed to the Project site using tug
boat. On-site assembly and anchoring of
the fish rafts / cages will be assisted by a small number of marine vessels
such as sampans and small speed boats for up to a few trips per day. Anchoring of these vessels might be
required. No heavy construction plant
would be used. Fish rafts /
cages and auxiliary facilities, such as storage space and shelters, would be
positioned by anchor lines attaching to the anchorage points on the
seabed. Use of winch might be required
during the assembly and anchorage of fish rafts / cages.
Limited
number of small construction equipment may be used in the assembly and
anchoring of the fish rafts / cages and the installation of the auxiliary
facilities. No heavy construction plant
would be involved during the construction phase. Emissions may arise from the operation of the
tug boats, sampans and small speed boats as well as some construction equipment
during the construction phase of the Project.
Air pollutants associated with these emissions include NO2,
SO2, RSP and FSP. The
construction of the Project would normally last about a few weeks for each fish
raft and is expected to commence in 2024.
Mariculture
activities, such as management of fish raft / cages and fish stocks within the Project
site will be undertaken during operational phase. Limited numbers of small power generators
will be used on fish rafts to support daily mariculture activities. The transportation of fish stocks, fish feed,
fish raft equipment and workforce as well as occasional visitors will make use
of small marine vessels such as sampans and speed boats for a few trips a
day. No maintenance dredging or sediment
removal is anticipated during FCZ operation.
With respect
to the operational activities, emissions may arise from the operation of small
marine vessels and power generators on site during the operation phase of the
Project. Air pollutants associated with
these emissions include NO2, SO2, RSP and FSP.
As discussed
in Section
8.5.1, the construction works of the Project are small scale with the
use of limited construction plant and small marine vessels. Air emissions associated with the
construction works are thus considered very minor. With the ASRs identified within the 500 m
Assessment Area located at least 400 m away from the Project site, adverse air
quality impact arising from the construction of the Project is not
anticipated. Furthermore, the background
pollutant concentrations for the key air pollutants of concern (i.e. NO2,
SO2, RSP and FSP) within the 500 m Assessment Area during the
construction phase are predicted to be low and well below the relevant
AQOs. Quantitative assessment of air
quality impact due to construction works of the Project is considered not
necessary and the construction air quality impact has been addressed
qualitatively in Section 8.7.1.
As
discussed in Section 8.5.2, the operation of the Project only involves the
operation of small power generators on site and a few trips of small marine
vessels a day. Air emissions associated
with the operation activities are thus considered very minor. With the ASRs identified within the 500 m Assessment
Area located at least 400 m away from the Project site, adverse air quality
impact arising from the operation of the Project is not anticipated. Furthermore, the background pollutant
concentrations for the key air pollutants of concern (i.e. NO2, SO2,
RSP and FSP) within the 500 m Assessment Area during the operation phase are
predicted to be low and well below the relevant AQOs. Quantitative assessment of air quality impact
due to operational activities of the Project is considered not necessary and
the operational air quality impact has been addressed qualitatively in Section
8.7.2.
During the
construction phase, main part of the fish rafts / cages manufactured off-site
will be towed to the Project site using tug boat for subsequent setup, assembly
and anchoring within the Project site.
Other small marine vessels such as sampans and small speed boats may
also be used as supporting vessels during the construction. Only a few trips of these small marine
vessels (including tug boats, sampans and small speed boats) per day would be
involved for the towing, on-site assembly and anchoring of fish rafts /
cages. A few construction equipment may
also be used to assist with the assembly and anchoring of the fish rafts /
cages, as well as installation of the auxiliary facilities on site. As the number of small marine vessels and
construction equipment involved in the construction works is limited, potential
emissions from the operation of the small marine vessels and construction
equipment are expected to be very minor.
Also, as the construction period of each fish raft within the Project
site is expected to take a few weeks, any potential emissions arising from the
construction works would be short-term.
Considering
that the potential air emissions associated with the construction works would
be limited and short-term, and that the identified ASRs are located at a
sufficient distance away from the Project site (more than 400 m away), adverse
air quality impact arising from the construction of the Project is not
anticipated. The Air Pollution Control (Marine Light Diesel) Regulation and Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels)
Regulation will be followed to control emissions from the operation of the
marine vessels. Air Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission) Regulation
and Air Pollution Control (Fuel
Restriction) Regulation will also be followed to control emissions from the
operation of the construction equipment.
During the
operation phase, daily mariculture activities including cleaning of fish nets
and feeding of fish stocks will be undertaken within the Project site. A few small power generators will be used on
site to support these daily mariculture activities. Transportation of fish stock, fish feed, fish
raft equipment, daily necessities required by the workforce at the Project
site, as well as occasional visitors by small marine vessels such as sampans
and small speed boats for a few trips per day will also be involved during the
operation phase. As the operational
activities only involve limited number of small power generators and just a few
vessel trips per day, potential emissions from the operation of these small
power generators and vessels are expected to be very minor.
Considering
that the potential air emissions associated with the operational activities of
the Project would be limited and that the identified ASRs are located at a
sufficient distance away from the Project site (more than 400 m away), adverse
air quality impact arising from the operation of the Project is not
anticipated. The Air Pollution Control (Marine Light Diesel) Regulation and the Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels)
Regulation will be followed to control emissions from the operation of the
marine vessels. Air Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission) Regulation
and Air Pollution Control (Fuel
Restriction) Regulation will also be followed to control emissions from the
operation of the small power generators within the Project site.
Requirements
stipulated in the Air Pollution Control
(Marine Light Diesel) Regulation, the Air
Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation, the Air Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission) Regulation
and the Air Pollution Control (Fuel
Restriction) Regulation will be followed where appropriate to control
emissions from the operation of the marine vessels and construction equipment
during the construction phase of the Project.
Specifically, the following air quality mitigation measures should be
incorporated during construction phase:
§ Ultra-low
sulphur diesel (ULSD) will be used for all construction equipment, as defined
as diesel fuel containing not more than 0.005% sulphur by weight;
§ The
engine of the construction equipment during idling shall be switched off;
§ Regular
maintenance of the construction equipment shall be conducted to prevent black
smoke emission;
§ All
marine vessels shall operate using marine light diesel with sulphur content
lower than 0.05%; and
§ Construction
equipment, e.g. mobile generator and air compressor, shall comply with the
prescribed emission standards with a proper label approved by EPD.
Requirements
stipulated in the Air Pollution Control
(Marine Light Diesel) Regulation, the Air
Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation, the Air Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission) Regulation
and the Air Pollution Control (Fuel
Restriction) Regulation will be followed where appropriate to control
emissions from the operation of the marine vessels and small power generators
during the operation phase of the Project.
Specifically, the following air quality mitigation measures should be
incorporated during operation phase:
§ Ultra-low
sulphur diesel (ULSD) will be used for the small power generators, as defined
as diesel fuel containing not more than 0.005% sulphur by weight;
§ The
engine of the small power generators shall be switched off if not in use;
§ Regular
maintenance of the small power generators shall be conducted to prevent black
smoke emission;
§ All
marine vessels shall operate using marine light diesel with sulphur content
lower than 0.05%; and
§ Small
power generators shall comply with the prescribed emission standards with a
proper label approved by EPD.
No existing
or planned development has been identified within the 500 m Assessment
Area. The construction and operation of
another proposed FCZ at Mirs Bay about 1.8 km to the east and southeast of the
Project site may coincide with that of the Project, subject to the
implementation schedule of the proposed FCZ at Mirs Bay. Considering the small scale construction
works and operational activities involved at the proposed FCZ at Mirs Bay
similar to those for the Project and the large separation distance from the
Project site, cumulative air quality impact from the construction and operation
of the proposed FCZ at Mirs Bay is not expected. Adverse cumulative impact during the
construction and operation phases of the Project is thus not anticipated.
No adverse
air quality impact is expected to arise from the construction and operation of
the Project. Hence, there would be no
residual air quality impact during the construction or operation of the
Project.
Adverse air
quality impact is not anticipated to arise from the construction and operation
of the Project. Environmental monitoring
and audit during the construction and operation phases of the Project is
considered not necessary.
Emissions
from small marine vessels and construction equipment during the construction
phase would be minor and short-term and potential air quality impact arising
from these emissions is expected to be minimal.
Considering that there is sufficient separation distance between the
Project site and the identified ASRs (i.e. more than 400 m apart), adverse air
quality impact during the construction phase is not anticipated with
requirements of relevant regulations under the APCO properly followed. Environmental monitoring and audit is
considered not necessary during the construction phase of the Project.
Emissions
from small marine vessels for transportation and power generators associated
with the daily mariculture activities during the operation phase would be minor
and potential air quality impact arising from these emissions is expected to be
minimal. With sufficient separation
distance from the identified ASRs (i.e. more than 400 m away), the Project is
not expected to cause adverse air quality impact during the operation phase
provided that requirements of relevant regulations under the APCO are properly
followed. Environmental monitoring and
audit is considered not necessary during the operation phase of the Project.