EIA Study Brief No. ESB-105/2002

October 2002

 

Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499),

Section 5(7)

 

Environmental Impact Assessment Study Brief No. ESB-105/2002

 

Project Title:            Road P1 Advance Works at Yam O on Lantau Island

(hereinafter known as the “Project”)

 

Name of Applicant:            Civil Engineering Department, Government of

the Hong Kong Special Administration Region

(hereinafter known as the “Applicant”)

 

1.          BACKGROUND

1.1              An application (No. ESB-105/2002) for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study brief under section 5(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was submitted by the Applicant on 28 August 2002 with a project profile (No. PP-175/2002) (the Project Profile).

1.2              The proposed Project is to implement the Road P1 Advance Works at Yam O on Lantau Island. The site location is shown in Appendix A of this study brief prepared based on Figure 1 in the Project Profile. The scope of the proposed Project will comprise the following:

(i)                 construction of advance road works of Road P1 (which is a primary distributor) including:

(a)               construction of at-grade district distributor connections from the at-grade Road P1 Roundabout to Road P2 Roundabout north of the proposed Yam O Public Transport Interchange;

(b)               construction of elevated Slip Roads 5 and 6 of 2-lane carriageway with hard shoulders of about 800 metre long connecting NLH to an at-grade Road P1 Roundabout at the proposed Yam O Reclamation;

(c)               realignment of the existing maintenance track along the edge of existing seawall; and

(d)               construction of associated civil, structural, geotechnical, drainage and landscape works and associated facilities including street lighting, signage, traffic aids, traffic control and surveillance system including closed-circuit television facilities, electrical & mechanical installation and water mains/fire hydrants in connection with the roads;

(ii)               reclamation of approximate area of 3 ha and construction of seawall for forming road embankment for items (i)(a) and (i)(b) above; and

(iii)              provision of environmental mitigation measures during construction and operation stages, including but not limited to landscape and visual remedies to be recommended in this Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study.

1.3              In accordance with section 1.2 of the Project Profile, the purpose of the proposed Project is to advance the construction of a part of the Road P1 works at Yam O to ensure that a second entrance/exit is provided to and from the proposed theme park and other developments in Penny’s Bay for relieving large number of park visitors during emergency situation, such as blockage of any of the existing slip roads of the Yam O Interchange due to car accident.

1.4              The Project covers the following two specific designated project elements as identified in sections 1.7 and 1.8 of the Project Profile:

(i)                 construction and operation of a road which is a primary distributor (Item A.1 of Part I of Schedule 2 of the EIAO); and

(ii)               reclamation works (including associated dredging works) more than 1 ha. in size and a boundary of which is less than 500m from the nearest boundary of an existing or planned country park and conservation area (Item C.2 of Part I of Schedule 2 of the EIAO).

1.5              The Project forms part of the Road P1 between Yam O and Siu Ho Wan which has been studied in the Northshore Lantau Development Feasibility Study (NLDFS).

1.6              The NLDFS is a Designated Project under Item 1 in Schedule 3 of the EIAO for “Major Designated Projects Requiring EIA Reports”.  The EIA report for the NLDFS was approved by the Director under the EIAO on 28 April 2000 as a Schedule 3 EIA (EIAO Register Ref: AEIAR-031/2000).

1.7              Based on a preliminary design concept, the NLDFS-EIA established the broad environmental feasibility of the various developments under NLDFS and their cumulative impacts on the existing, committed and planned land-uses within the NLDFS study area.  The Schedule 3 NLDFS-EIA recommended that detailed EIA for a number of designated projects including the Road P1 between Yam O and Siu Ho Wan shall be conducted prior to the application of environmental permit(s).

1.8              Pursuant to section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the Director issues this EIA study brief to the Applicant to carry out an EIA study for the Project as detailed in section 1.2 above.

1.9              The scope of this EIA study brief strictly covers the Project as defined in section 1.2 above only, and excludes all other parts of the Road P1.

1.10          In setting out the scope of the issues to be addressed in this EIA study, the Director has given due regards to the findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, and that the work scope detailed in section 1.2 above is generally within the scope of the Road P1 between Yam O and Siu Ho Wan which was covered under the NLDFS-EIA.  The purpose of this study brief is to scope the key issues of this EIA study and to specify the environmental issues that are required to be reviewed, updated and assessed, as appropriate, in the EIA report in the light of the availability of the latest, new and additional information during the course of this EIA study.

1.11          The purpose of this EIA study is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from the construction and operation of the Project and related activities that take place concurrently, with reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA. This information will contribute to decisions by the Director on:

(i)                 the overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the Project;

(ii)               the conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction and  operation of the Project to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences wherever practicable; and

(iii)              the acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are implemented.

 

2.          OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA STUDY

2.1              The objectives of the EIA study are as follows:

(i)                 to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements 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 adverse impacts to the Project, including both the natural and man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;

(iii)              to identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts on existing and planned sensitive receivers and potential affected existing and planned uses and propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(iv)             to identify, describe and quantify any potential losses and damage to flora, fauna and wildlife habitats, ecological impacts and fisheries impacts during construction and operation phases including the loss of fishing grounds and impacts on the Ma Wan fish culture zone;

(v)               to identify, describe and quantify any potential landscape and visual impacts, propose feasible mitigation measures and evaluate the significance of impacts on existing and planned sensitive receivers;

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

(vii)            to propose the provision of mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;

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

(ix)             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 phases of the Project in relation to the existing and planned sensitive receivers and potential affected existing and planned uses;

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

(xi)             to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study, as well as the provision of any necessary modification; and

(xii)            to design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements, if required, to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.

 

3.          DETAILED REQUIREMENTS OF THE EIA STUDY

2.1              The Purpose

            The purpose of this study brief is to scope the key issues of the EIA study and to specify the environmental issues that are required to be reviewed and assessed in the EIA report.  The Applicant has to demonstrate in the EIA report that the criteria in the relevant sections of the Technical Memorandum on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (hereinafter referred to as “the TM”) are fully complied with.

2.1              The Scope

            The scope of this EIA study shall cover the Project proposed in the Project Profile and shall include the works and facilities mentioned in section 1.2 above.  The EIA study shall address the likely key issues described below, together with any other key issues identified during the course of the EIA study and the cumulative environmental impacts of the Project, through interaction or in combination with other existing, committed, planned and known potential developments in the vicinity of the Project:

(i)                 potential water quality impacts (including site runoff impacts) on nearby waters caused by reclamation (and associated dredging works) and road construction works and operation of the Project, in particular the impacts relating to any road runoff discharging into the semi-enclosed Yam O Bay;

(ii)               potential noise impacts on nearby sensitive receivers including the Luk Keng Tsuen and planned sensitive receivers arising from construction and operation of the Project, including construction noise and operational road traffic noise;

(iii)              potential air quality impacts on nearby sensitive receivers including the Luk Keng Tsuen and planned sensitive receivers arising from construction and operation of the Project, including dust and gaseous vehicle emissions;

(iv)             potential terrestrial and aquatic ecological impacts during construction and operation phases including the impacts on the nearby Conservation Area in Luk Keng headland and Cheung Sok island;

(v)               potential fisheries impacts during construction and operation phases including the loss of fishing grounds and impacts on the Ma Wan fish culture zone;

(vi)             potential impacts associated with waste generation during construction including disposal of dredged marine sediment;

(vii)            potential landscape and visual impacts during construction and operation of the Project on the existing and planned sensitive receivers;

(viii)          potential impact on sites of cultural heritage;

(ix)             details of the construction programme and the construction methodologies;

Cumulative impacts

(x)               cumulative construction impacts from the Project and other potentially concurrent activities in Yam O area, including but not limiting to:

(a)               Infrastructure for Penny’s Bay Development (including Road P2 from Yam O to Penny’s Bay, Yam O Public Transport Interchange and Chok Ko Wan Link Road (Penny’s Bay Section)) by the Civil Engineering Department (i.e. the Applicant);

(b)               Penny’s Bay Rail Link by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited (MTRCL);

(c)               Yam O Tuk Fresh Water Service Reservoir by the Water Supplies Department;

(d)               Water Mains and Sewerage Works from Siu Ho Wan to Yam O by the Civil Engineering Department (i.e. the Applicant); and

(e)               The Southern Section of Route 10 (North Lantau to Tsing Lung Tau Section) by the Highway Department.

(xi)             cumulative operation impacts from the Project and other existing and planned developments and roads in Yam O area.

Interfacing Issues with Remaining Parts of Road P1 and Nearby Road Networks

(xii)            in reviewing the applicability of the findings and recommendations pertaining to environmental impact assessment as contained in the NLDFS-EIA and relevant to the Project, the Applicant shall consider the interfacing issues of the Project with the remaining parts of Road P1 between Yam O to Siu Ho Wan and the nearby road networks, and liaise with the proponent departments of the remaining part of Road P1 and other nearby projects.

2.2              Description of Layout, Design and Construction Methods Considered

            The Applicant shall describe the consideration given to other possible layout(s) and design within the proposed site, the available technology options for the construction processes and alternative construction method to minimise excessive nuisances during the construction and operation stage of the Project. The Applicant shall consider design and construction of the Road P1 Roundabout and its associated road works and reclamation layout in their permanent form to avoid/minimise environmental impacts when the full length of proposed Road P1 between Yam O and Siu Ho Wan is constructed.  Such considerations should cover the potential environmental impacts to nearby existing and planned sensitive receivers when different layouts, designs or construction methods are used. The Applicant shall state the justifications for selecting the proposed layout, design, technology and construction method of the Project.

3.4              Technical Requirements

            The Applicant shall conduct the EIA study to address all environmental aspects as described in sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 above.  The EIA study shall include the following technical requirements on specific impacts.

            Construction Methodologies and Programme

            The Applicant shall include in the EIA report details of the construction programme and methodologies. 

            The Applicant shall clearly state the time frame of works programme of the Project and other concurrent projects and assess the cumulative environmental impacts from the Project with all interacting projects in the EIA report.

 

Use of the Relevant Findings of Previously Approved EIA Reports and Relevant Studies

            The Applicant shall review all previously approved studies/EIA studies relevant to the Project and extract relevant information for the purpose of this EIA study.  In accordance with section 6.1 of the Project Profile, the previously approved studies/EIA studies relevant to the proposed development include, but not limited to:

(i)                 Northshore Lantau Development Feasibility Study, Environmental Impact Assessment Final Report (February 2000) (EIAO Register Reference No.: AEIAR-031/2000, approved under EIAO on 28 April 2000 with conditions); and

(ii)               Construction of an International Theme Park in Penny's Bay of North Lantau together with its Essential Associated Infrastructures, Final EIA Report (29 February 2000) (EIAO Reference No.: AEIAR-032/2000, approved under EIAO on 28 April 2000 with conditions).

3.4.1        Air Quality Impact

3.4.1.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the air quality impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing air quality impact as stated in Section 1 of Annex 4 and Annex 12 of the TM, respectively.

3.4.1.2  The study area for air quality impact assessment shall generally be defined by a distance of 500 metres from the boundary of the project site, yet it shall be extended to include major emission sources that may have a bearing on the environmental acceptability of the Project.

3.4.1.3  The Applicant shall assess the air pollutant concentrations with reference to the relevant sections of the air modelling guidelines in Appendices B-1 to B-3 attached to this study brief, or other methodology as agreed by the Director.

3.4.1.4  The air quality impact assessment shall cover the construction and operation of the Project, and include the following:

(i)                 Background and Analysis of Activities

(a)               Provide background information relating to air quality issues relevant to the Project, e.g. description of the types of activities of the Project that may affect air quality during both construction and operation stages.

(b)               Give an account, where appropriate, of the consideration/measures that had been taken into consideration in the planning of the Project to abate the air pollution impact. That is, the Applicant shall consider alternative construction methods/phasing programmes and alternative modes of operation to minimize the constructional and operational air quality impact respectively.

(c)               Present background air quality levels in the assessment area for the purpose of evaluating cumulative constructional and operational air quality impacts.

(ii)               Identification of Air Sensitive Receivers (ASRs) and Examination of Emission / Dispersion Characteristics

(a)               Identify and describe representative existing and planned/committed ASRs that would likely be affected by the Project, including those earmarked on the relevant Outline Zoning Plans, Development Permission Area Plans, Outline Development Plans and Layout Plans.  The Applicant shall select the assessment points of the identified ASRs that represent the worst impact point of these ASRs.  A map showing the location and description such as name of buildings, their uses and height of the selected assessment points shall be given.  The separation distances of these ASRs from the nearest emission sources shall also be given.

(b)               Provide an exhaustive list of air pollutant emission sources, including any nearby emission sources which are likely to have impact related to the Project based on the analysis of constructional and operational activities in Sub-section (i)(a) above. Examples of construction stage emission sources include stockpiling, reclamation, concrete batching and vehicular movements on unpaved haul roads on site, etc. Examples of operational stage emission sources include exhaust emissions from vehicles, etc. Confirmation of validity of the assumptions and magnitude of the activities (e.g. volume of construction material handled, traffic mix and volume on a road, etc.) shall be obtained from the relevant government departments/ authorities and documented.

(iii)              Construction Phase Air Quality Impact

(a)               The Applicant shall follow the requirements stipulated under the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation to ensure that construction dust which may arise as a result of the works are controlled within the relevant standards as stipulated in Section 1 of Annex 4 of the TM.  A monitoring and audit programme for the construction phase shall be devised to verify the effectiveness of the control measures and to ensure that construction dust is brought under control.

(b)               If the Applicant anticipates significant construction dust impact that will likely cause exceedance of the recommended limits in the TM at the ASRs despite the incorporation of the dust control measures proposed in accordance with Sub-section (iii)(a) above, a quantitative assessment should be carried out to evaluate the construction dust impact at the identified ASRs.  The Applicant shall follow the methodology set out in Sub-section (v) below when carrying out the quantitative assessment.

(iv)             Operation Phase Air Quality Impact

(a)               The Applicant shall calculate the expected air pollutant concentrations at the identified ASRs based on an assumed reasonably worst case scenario.  The evaluation shall be based on the strength of the emission sources identified in Sub-section (ii)(b) above.  The Applicant shall follow Sub-section (v) below when carrying out the quantitative assessment.

(b)               For calculation of future road traffic air pollution impacts, this shall be based on the highest emission strength from the road within the next 15 years upon commencement of operation of the proposed road.  The Applicant shall demonstrate that the selected year of assessment represents the highest emission scenario given the combination of vehicular emission factors and traffic flow for the selected year.

(c)               If vehicular tunnels and/or full enclosures are proposed in the Project, it is the responsibility of the Consultants to ensure that the air quality inside these proposed structures shall comply with EPD's “Practice Note on Control of Air Pollution in Vehicle Tunnels”.  For assessment of air quality impact due to emissions from tunnels/full enclosures, the Applicant shall ensure that the emission amount and the pollutants emitted from these tunnel/full enclosures have been agreed with the relevant tunnel ventilation design engineer and documented.

(v)               Quantitative Assessment Methodology

(a)               The Applicant shall conduct the assessment with reference to the relevant sections of the modelling guidelines stated in section 3.4.1.3 or any other methodology as agreed with the Director.  The specific methodology must be documented in such level of details (preferably with tables and diagrams) to allow the readers of the assessment report to grasp how the model is set up to simulate the situation at hand without referring to the model input files.  Details of the calculation of the emission rates of air pollutants for input to the modelling shall be presented in the report.  The Applicant must ensure consistency between the text description and the model files at every stage of submission.  In case of doubt, prior agreement between the Applicant and the Director on the specific modelling details should be sought.

(b)               The Applicant shall identify the key/representative air pollutant parameters (types of pollutants and the averaging time concentration) to be evaluated and provide explanation for choosing these parameters for the assessment of the impact of the Project.

(c)               The Applicant shall calculate the cumulative air quality impact at the identified ASRs and compare these results against the criteria set out in section 1 of Annex 4 in the TM.  The predicted air quality impacts (both unmitigated and mitigated) shall be presented in the form of summary table and pollution contours, to be evaluated against the relevant air quality standards and on any effect they may have on the land use implications.  Plans of a suitable scale should be used to present pollution contour to allow buffer distance requirements to be determined properly.

(d)                 If there are any direct technical noise remedies recommended in the study, the air quality implication due to these technical remedies shall be assessed.  For instance, if barriers that may affect dispersion of air pollutants are proposed, then the implications of such remedies on air quality impact shall be assessed.  If tunnel or noise enclosure is proposed, then portal emissions of the tunnel/enclosed road section and air quality inside the tunnel/enclosed road section shall also be addressed.  The Applicant shall highlight clearly the locations and types of agreed noise mitigating measures, ASR's as well as tunnel/road enclosure and their portals (where applicable) on the contour maps for easy reference.

(vi)             Mitigation Measures for Non-compliance

The Applicant shall propose remedies and mitigating measures where the predicted air quality impact exceeds the criteria set in section 1 of Annex 4 in the TM.  These measures and any constraints on future land use planning shall be agreed with the relevant government departments/ authorities and documented. The Applicant shall demonstrate quantitatively that the resultant impacts after incorporation of the proposed mitigating measures will comply with the criteria stipulated in section 1 of Annex 4 in the TM.

(vii)            Submission of Model Files

All input and output file(s) of the model run(s) shall be submitted to the Director in electronic format, together with the hard copy submission of the EIA report.

 

3.4.2        Noise Impact

3.4.2.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the noise impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing noise impact as stated in Annexes 5 and 13 of the TM respectively.

3.4.2.2  The Applicant shall review the assumptions made in the NLDFS-EIA on noise impact assessment in view of any changes made to other interacting projects in North East Lantau.

3.4.2.3  The noise impact assessment shall include the followings:

(i)                 Determination of Assessment Area

The noise impact assessment shall include all areas within 300m from the project boundary. Subject to the agreement of the Director, the assessment area could be reduced accordingly if the first layer of noise sensitive receivers, closer than 300m from the project boundary, provides acoustic shielding to those receivers located further away.

(ii)               Provision of Background Information

The Applicant shall provide all background information relevant to the project including relevant previous and current studies. Unless involved in the planning standards, no existing noise levels are required in particular.

(iii)              Identification of Noise Sensitive Receivers

(a)               The Applicant shall refer to Annex 13 of the TM when identifying the noise sensitive receivers (NSRs). The NSRs shall include all existing ones and all planned or committed noise sensitive developments and uses earmarked on the relevant Outline Zoning Plans, Outline Development Plans and Layout Plans.

(b)               The Applicant shall select assessment points to represent all identified NSRs for carrying out quantitative noise assessment described below. The assessment points shall be agreed with the Director prior to the quantitative noise assessment. A map showing the location and description including name of building, use, and floors of each and every selected assessment point shall be given.

(iv)             Provision of an Emission Inventory of the Noise Sources

The Applicant shall provide an inventory of noise sources including construction equipment for construction noise assessment. Confirmation of the validity of the inventory shall be obtained from the relevant government departments/authorities.

(v)               Construction Noise Assessment

(a)               The Applicant shall carry out assessment of noise impact from construction (excluding percussive piling) of the project during day time, i.e. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on weekdays other than general holidays in accordance with the methodology stipulated in paragraphs 5.3. and 5.4 of Annex 13 of the TM. The criteria in Table 1B of Annex 5 of the TM shall be adopted in the assessment.

(b)               To minimize the construction noise impact, alternative construction methods to replace percussive piling shall be proposed as far as practicable.

(c)               If the unmitigated construction noise levels are found to exceed the relevant criteria, the Applicant shall propose practicable direct mitigation measures (including movable barriers, enclosures, quieter alternative methods, re-scheduling and restricting hours of operation of noisy task(s) to minimize the impact.  If the mitigated noise levels still exceed the relevant criteria, the duration of the noise exceedance shall be given.

(d)               In case the Applicant would like to evaluate whether construction works in restricted hours as defined under the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO) are feasible or not in the context of programming construction works, reference should be made to the relevant technical memoranda issued under the NCO.  Regardless of the results of construction noise impact assessment for restricted hours, the Noise Control Authority will consider a well-justified Construction Noise Permit (CNP) application, once filed, based on the NCO, the relevant technical memoranda issued under the NCO, and the contemporary condition/situations of adjoining land uses and any previous complaints against construction activities at the site before making his decision in granting a CNP.  This aspect should be explicitly stated in the noise chapter and the conclusions and recommendations chapter in the EIA report.

(vi)             Operational Noise Assessment

(a) Road Traffic Noise

(a1) Calculation of Noise Levels

The Applicant shall analyse the scope of the proposed road alignment(s) to identify appropriate new and existing road sections for the purpose of traffic noise impact assessment.  When an existing road section undergoes major modification which will directly result in 25% increase in lanes or substantial changes in alignment or characters (e.g. change to a high speed road) of the existing road, it shall be regarded as a new road for the purpose of this noise impact assessment.  Figures showing extents of new roads and existing roads shall be provided in the EIA report.

The Applicant shall calculate the expected road traffic noise using methods described in the U.K. Department of Transport's “Calculation of Road Traffic Noise” (1988). Calculations of future road traffic noise shall be based on the peak hour traffic flow in respect of the maximum traffic projection within a 15 years period upon commencement of operation of the proposed roadwork. The Applicant shall calculate traffic noise levels in respect of each road section and the overall noise levels from combined road sections (both new and existing) at NSRs.

The EIA shall contain sample calculations and input parameters for 10 assessment points as requested by the Director.  The Applicant shall prepare and provide drawings (i.e. road-plots of the traffic noise model) of appropriate scale to show the road segments, topographic barriers, and assessment points of sensitive receivers input into the traffic noise model.

The applicant shall provide input data sets of traffic noise prediction model adopted in the EIA study as requested by the Director for the following scenarios:

(1)               unmitigated scenario at assessment year;

(2)               mitigated scenario at assessment year; and

(3)               prevailing scenario for indirect technical remedies eligibility assessment;

The data shall be in electronic text file (ASCII format) containing road segments, barriers and noise sensitive receivers information. The data structure of the above file shall be agreed with the Director. CR-ROM(s) containing the above data shall be attached in the EIA report.

(a2) Presentation of Noise Levels

The Consultants shall present the existing and future noise levels in L10 (1 hour) at the NSRs on tables and plans of suitable scale.

A quantitative assessment at the NSRs for the proposed road alignments shall be carried out and compared against the criteria set out in Table 1A of Annex 5 of the TM.  The potential noise impact of proposed road alignment(s) shall be quantified by estimating the total number of dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive elements that will be exposed to noise levels exceeding the criteria set in Table 1A of Annex 5 in the Technical Memorandum.

(a3) Proposals for Noise Mitigation Measures

After rounding of the predicted noise levels according to the U.K. Department of Transport's Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (1988), the Applicant shall propose in accordance with Section 6 in Annex 13 of EIAO-TM direct technical remedies in all situations where the predicted traffic noise level exceeds the criteria set in Table 1A of Annex 5 in the TM by 1 dB(A) or more. Specific reasons for not adopting certain direct technical remedies in the design to reduce the traffic noise to a level meeting the criteria in the TM or to maximize the protection for the NSRs as far as possible should be clearly quantified and laid down.  The total number of dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive element that will be benefited and be protected by the provision of direct technical remedies should be provided.  In order to clearly present the extents/locations of the recommended noise mitigation measures, plans prepared from 1:1000 or 1:2000 survey maps showing the mitigation measures (e.g. enclosures/barriers, low noise road surfacing, etc.) should be included in the EIA.

The total number of dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive elements that will still be exposed to noise above the criteria with the implementation of all recommended direct technical remedies shall be quantified.  The Applicant should provide in the EIA the information of the recommended noise mitigation measures (such as barrier types, nominal dimensions at different cross-sections, extents/locations, lengths, mPD levels of barriers) in electronic format as agreed by the Director.

In case where a number of the NSRs cannot all be protected by the recommended direct technical remedies, the Applicant shall identify and estimate the total number of existing dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive elements which may qualify for indirect technical remedies under the Executive Council directive “Equitable Redress for Persons Exposed to Increased Noise Resulting from the Use of New Roads”, the associated costs and any implications for such implementation. For the purpose of determining the eligibility of the affected premises for indirect technical remedies, reference shall be made to the following set of three criteria:

(1)               the predicted overall noise level from the new road together with other traffic noise in the vicinity must be above a specified noise level (e.g. 70 dB(A) for domestic premises and 65 dB(A) for education institutions, all in L10(1hr));

(2)               the predicted overall noise level is at least 1.0 dB(A) more than the prevailing traffic noise level, i.e. the total traffic noise level existing before the works to construct the road were commenced; and

(3)               the contribution to the increase in the predicted overall noise level from the new road must be at least 1.0dB(A).

(a)               Fixed Noise Sources

If the Project will cause any fixed noise sources, such as the ventilation systems of any road enclosure, the Applicant shall approach the Director for detailed requirements for the assessment.

(vii)            Assessment of Side Effects and Constraints

The Applicant shall identify, assess and propose means to minimize any side effects and to resolve any potential constraints due to the inclusion of any recommended direct technical remedies.

(viii)          Evaluation of Constraints on Planned Noise Sensitive Developments/ Landuses

For planned noise sensitive uses which will still be affected even with all practicable direct technical remedies in place, the Applicant shall propose, evaluate and confirm the practicality of additional measures within the planned noise sensitive uses and shall make recommendations on how these noise sensitive uses will be designed for the information of relevant parties.

The Applicant shall take into account agreed environmental requirements / constraints identified by the study to assess the development potential of concerned sites which shall be made known to the relevant parties.

3.4.3        Water Quality Impact

3.4.3.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the water quality impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing water pollution as stated in Annexes 6 and 14 of the TM respectively.

3.4.3.2  The study area for this water quality assessment shall cover all water bodies and sensitive receivers within the radius of 4km from the project site boundary and include the Ma Wan fish culture zone. The Applicant shall identify the sensitive receivers within the study area.

3.4.3.3  The Applicant shall identify and analyse all physical, chemical and biological disruptions of marine, fresh water or ground water system(s), catchment area(s), storm water pipeline and coastal water arising from construction and operation of the Project.

3.4.3.4  The Applicant shall assess the water quality and hydrology of Yam O Bay after reclamation due to the proposed advance road works (3 ha) and the reclamation area under the Northshore Lantau Reclamation project (65 ha) in this EIA in view of the recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA to divert polluted stormwater discharges away from the Yam O Bay.  The Applicant shall quantitatively assess the possible water quality impacts due to the Project if the polluted stormwater discharges and road runoffs from the Project cannot be diverted away from Inner Yam O Bay. The Applicant shall evaluate the effectiveness of these mitigation measures in this EIA and recommend remedy measures if the proposed mitigation measures fail to work satisfactorily.

3.4.3.5  The Applicant shall take into account and include different construction methods, construction stages or sequences of the Project in the assessment. The Applicant shall include in the water quality impact assessment the following major tasks:

(i)                 collect and review relevant background information on the existing and planned water system;

(ii)               characterize water and sediment quality based on existing information collected during the last 5 years or the more recent information collected from appropriate site surveys/tests;

(iii)              identify and analyze existing, planned/committed activities and beneficial uses related to the water system and identify all water sensitive receivers. The Applicant shall refer to those developments and uses earmarked on the relevant Outline Zoning Plans, Outline Development Plans and Layout Plans;

(iv)             evaluate the possible impacts arising from the construction, including possible dredging, filling and piling works;

(v)               identify any alteration(s)/change(s) to bathymetry or flow regimes;

(vi)             identify, and analyze all existing, future and other project(s) related water and sediment pollution sources (which shall include maintenance dredging of marine sediment for the adjacent navigation channel as necessary);

(vii)            predicting by desk top calculation or qualitative means the impacts on the affected water system(s) and the sensitive receivers due to those alterations and changes identified in (v) above and the pollution sources identified in (vi) above;

(viii)          predicting by desk top calculation or qualitative means the cumulative impacts due to other operation and construction activities including the Infrastructure for Penny’s Bay Development, etc.;

(ix)             propose water pollution prevention and mitigation measures to be implemented during the construction stages so as to minimize the water and sediment quality impacts;

(x)               evaluation and quantification of residual impacts on the water system(s) and the sensitive receivers with regard to the appropriate water quality criteria, standards or guideline;

(xi)             for dredging, filling and dumping,

(a)               identification and quantification of all dredging, fill extraction, filling, mud/sediment transportation and disposal activities and requirements.  Potential fill source and dumping ground to be involved shall also be identified.  Appropriate laboratory tests such as elutriate tests (USACE) and sediment pore water (interstitial water) analyses shall be performed on the sediment samples to simulate and quantify the degree of mobilization of various contaminants such as metals, ammonia, trace organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tributly tin (TBT) into the water column during dredging.  Field investigation, sampling and chemical and biological laboratory tests to characterize the sediment/mud concerned shall be conducted as appropriate.  The ranges of parameters to be analyzed; the number, type and methods of sampling; sample preservation; and chemical and biological laboratory test methods to be used shall be subject to the approval of the Director.  The categories of sediments which require different types of disposal in accordance with the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau Technical Circular (Works) No. 34/2002 shall be identified by both chemical and biological tests and their quantities shall be estimated.  If the presence of any seriously contaminated sediment which requires Type 3 disposal is confirmed, the Applicant shall identify the most appropriate treatment and/or disposal arrangement and demonstrate its feasibility;

(b)               identification and evaluation of the best practicable dredging methods to minimize dredging and dumping requirements and demand for fill sources based on the criterion that existing marine mud shall be left in place and not to be disturbed as far as possible; and

(c)               evaluation and recommendation of the most suitable mud dredging and filling rates, disposal methods and mitigation measures to minimize water quality impacts (e.g. use of silt curtain during dredging operation and filling behind a completed seawall).

3.4.4        Ecological Impact (Both Terrestrial and Aquatic)

3.4.4.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the ecological impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing ecological impact as stated in Annexes 8 and 16 of the TM respectively.  The assessment area for the purpose of terrestrial ecological assessment shall include all areas within 500 m distance from the site boundary of the works areas, or the area likely to be impacted by the proposed project.  For aquatic ecology, the assessment area shall be the same as for the water quality assessment described in section 3.4.3.2 above.

3.4.4.2  In the ecological impact assessment, the Applicant shall examine the flora, fauna and other components of the ecological habitats within the assessment area.  The aim shall be to protect, maintain or rehabilitate the natural environment.  The assessment shall identify and quantify as far as possible the potential ecological impacts on the areas such as wetland and woodland habitats and the associated wildlife arising from the proposed project.

3.4.4.3  The Applicant should re-assess and/or update the baseline ecological data (collected in the NLDFS-EIA) for the Project, assess if there are any changes to the ecological interests of the surrounding natural environment including Luk Keng and the proposed Lantau North Country Park Extension areas and confirm if any species of special conservation concern may be identified.  The potential impacts on terrestrial ecology due to operation of the P1 Road should be assessed in this EIA including particularly the potential impacts from the increased traffic at Yam O on the surrounding sensitive natural areas.  The Applicant shall recommend ecological mitigation measures if significant ecological impacts are identified during construction and operational phases.

3.4.4.4  The assessment shall include the following:

(i)                 A review of the findings of relevant studies and collating all the available information regarding the ecological characters of the assessment area;

(ii)               Evaluation of the information collected and identification of any information gap relating to the assessment of potential ecological impacts to the terrestrial and aquatic environment;

(iii)              Carrying out the necessary ecological field surveys which shall cover the wet season (the duration of which shall be at least 4 months) and investigations to verify the information collected, fill the information gaps identified and fulfil the objectives of the EIA study;

(iv)             Establishing the general ecological profile and describing the characteristics of each habitat found; major information to be provided shall include:

(a)               description of the physical environment;

(b)               preparation of habitat maps of suitable scale (e.g. 1:1000 to 1:5000) showing the types and locations of habitats in the assessment area;

(c)               definition and characterization of the ecological characteristics of each habitat type including size, vegetation type, species present, dominant species found, species diversity and abundance, community structure and inter-dependence of the habitats and species, and presence of any features of ecological importance and species of conservation of important;

(d)               presentation of representative colour photos of each habitat type and of any important ecological features identified; and

(e)               listing of species found that are rare, endangered and/or listed under local legislation, international conventions for conservation of wildlife/habitats or red data books;

(v)               Investigation and description of the existing wildlife uses of relevant habitats with special attention to those wildlife groups and habitats of conservation interest, including mangrove stands, wetlands, natural stream courses, woodlands, shrublands, avifauna, herpetofauna, mammals (such as the Chinese White Dolphin, Sousa chinensis), terrestrial invertebrates, and any other habitats and wildlife groups identified as having special conservation interests by this EIA study;

(vi)             Description of all recognized sites of conservation importance in the proposed development site and its vicinity and assessment of whether these sites will be affected by the proposed development or not;

(vii)            Use of suitable methodology, identification and quantification as far as possible of any direct, indirect, on-site, off-site, primary, secondary and cumulative ecological impacts such as destruction of habitats, reduction of species abundance/diversity, loss of feeding grounds, reduction of ecological carrying capacity and habitat fragmentation;

(viii)          Evaluation of the significance and acceptability of the ecological impacts identified using well-defined criteria;

(ix)             Recommendations for all possible alternatives, such as modifications of layout and design and practicable mitigation measures to avoid, minimize and/or compensate for the adverse ecological impacts identified, such as reinstatement of habitats temporarily affected by the proposed project to its original state and if possible with some enhancement features;

(x)               Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of the recommended mitigation measures and definition of the scope, type, location, implementation arrangement, resources requirement, subsequent management and maintenance of such measures;

(xi)             Determination and quantification as far as possible of the residual ecological impacts after implementation of the proposed mitigation measures;

(xii)            Evaluation the severity and acceptability of the residual ecological impacts using well-defined criteria; and

(xiii)          A review of the need for and recommendation for any ecological monitoring programme required.

3.4.5        Fisheries Impacts

3.4.5.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the fisheries impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing fisheries impacts as stated in Annexes 9 and 17 of the TM respectively.

3.4.5.2  The assessment area for fisheries impact assessment shall include all areas within 500m distance from the project area and any areas likely to be impacted by the Project.  Special attention shall be given to the potential loss of fishing grounds and any potential fisheries impacts on the Ma Wan fish culture zone due to change in water quality caused by the Project.

3.4.5.3  The assessment shall cover any potential impacts of the proposed Project on both capture and culture fisheries, during the construction and operation phases.

3.4.5.4  Existing information regarding the assessment area shall be reviewed.  Based o the review results, the study shall identify data gap and determine if there is any need for field surveys are considered necessary, the study shall recommend appropriate methodology, duration and timing for the field surveys.

3.4.5.5  The fisheries impact assessment shall include the following tasks:

(i)                 Description of the physical environmental background;

(ii)               Description and quantification as far as possible of the existing capture and culture fisheries activities;

(iii)              Description and quantification as far as possible of the existing fisheries resources (e.g. major fisheries products and stocks);

(iv)             Identification of parameters (e.g. water quality parameters) and area that will be affected;

(v)               Identification and quantification of any direct/indirect and on-site/off-site impacts of fisheries;

(vi)             Evaluation of impacts and make recommendations for any environmental mitigation measures with details on justification, description of scope and programme, feasibility as well as staff and financial implications including those related to subsequent management and maintenance requirements of the proposals; and

(vii)            Review the need for monitoring and, if necessary, recommend a monitoring and auditing programme.

3.4.6        Landscape and Visual Impact

3.4.6.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the landscape and visual impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines as stated in Annexes 10 and 18 of the TM for evaluating and assessing landscape and visual impacts of any above ground structures and work areas of the proposed Project.  Landscape and visual impacts during both construction and operation stages within the study area shall be assessed.  The assessments shall take into account all existing and planned land uses and sensitive receivers.

3.4.6.2  The assessment area for the landscape impact assessment shall include all areas within 500 metres distance from the work limit of the proposed Project while the assessment area for visual impact assessment shall be defined by the visual envelope of the proposed Project.

3.4.6.3  The Applicant shall review relevant Outline Development Plan (Plan No. D/I-NEL/1) and Outline Zoning Plan (Plan No. S/INEL/9) both for the North East Lantau, layout plans and other published land use plans, planning briefs and studies which may identify areas of high landscape value, and recommended country park, conservation area, open space, amenity, and green belt designations.  Any guidelines on landscape strategies, landscape framework, urban design concept, building height profiles, designated view corridors, open space network and landscape links that may affect the appreciation of the Project should also be reviewed.  The aim is to gain an insight to the future outlook of the area affected so as to assess whether the project can fit into surrounding setting.  Any conflict with published land use plan(s) should be highlighted and appropriate follow-up action should be recommended.

3.4.6.4  The Applicant shall describe, appraise, analyse and evaluate the existing and planned landscape resource and character of the assessment area.  A system shall be derived for judging landscape and visual impact significance as required under the TM. Annotated oblique aerial photographs and plans of suitable scale showing the landscape baseline of landscape character areas and landscape resources and mapping of impact assessment should be extensively used to convey the findings of impact assessment. Descriptive text should be provide a concise and reasoned argument.  The sensitivity of the landscape framework and its ability to accommodate change shall be particularly focused on.  The Applicant shall identify the degree of compatibility of the proposed Project with the existing and planned landscape settings.  The landscape impact assessment shall quantify the potential landscape impacts as far as possible, so as to illustrate the significance of such impacts arising from the proposed Project.

3.4.6.5  The Applicant shall assess the visual impacts of the proposed Project.  Clear illustrations including mapping of visual impact is required.  The assessment shall include the following:

(i)                 Identification and plotting of visual envelop of the proposed Project within the assessment area;

(ii)               Identification of the key groups of sensitive receivers within the visual envelope and their views at both ground level/sea levels and elevated vantage points;

(iii)              Description of the visual compatibility of the Project with the surrounding, and the planned setting and its obstruction and interference with the key views of the adjacent areas; and the severity of visual impacts in terms of nature, distance and number of sensitive receivers.  Nighttime glare shall also be considered in the assessment.  The visual impacts of the Project with and without mitigation measures shall also be included so as to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures; and

3.4.6.6  The Applicant shall evaluate alternative alignment, design and construction method that would avoid or reduce the identified landscape and visual impacts for comparison before adopting other mitigation or compensatory measures to alleviate the impacts.  The mitigation measures proposed shall not only be concerned with damage reduction but should also include consideration of potential enhancement of existing landscape.  The Applicant shall recommend mitigation measures to minimize the adverse effects identified above, including provision of a landscape design.

3.4.6.7  The mitigation measures shall include preservation of vegetation, transplanting of mature trees, provision of screen planting, re-vegetation of disturbed land, compensatory planting, provision of amenity areas, design of structures, provision of finishes to structures, colour scheme and texture of material used and any measures to mitigate the impact on existing land use.  Parties shall be identified for the on-going management and maintenance of the proposed mitigation works to ensure their effectiveness throughout the operation phase of the Project.  A practical programme and funding proposal for the implementation of the recommended measures shall be provided.

3.4.6.8  Annotated illustration materials such as coloured perspective drawings, plans and section/elevation diagrams, oblique aerial photographs, photographs taken at vantage points, and computer-generated photomontage shall be adopted to fully illustrate the landscape and visual impacts of the proposed Project to the satisfaction of the Director.  All computer graphics shall be compatible with Microstation DGN file format.  The Applicant shall record the technical details such as system set-up, software, data files and function in preparing the illustration that may need to be submitted for verification of the accuracy of the illustrations.

3.4.7        Waste Management Implications

3.4.7.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the waste management implications arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing waste management implications as stated in Annexes 7 and 15 of the TM respectively.

3.4.7.2  The assessment of waste management implications shall cover the following:

(i)                 Analysis of Activities and Waste Generation

            The Applicant shall identify the quantity, quality and timing of the waste arising as a result of the construction activities, based on the sequence and duration of these activities.

(ii)               Proposal for Waste Management

(a)               Prior to considering the disposal option, opportunities for reducing waste generation and on-site or off-site reuse shall be fully evaluated.

(b)               Having taken into account all the opportunities for reducing waste generation and maximizing reuse, the quantity of the waste required to be disposed of as a consequence shall be estimated and the disposal options for the wastes described in detail.  The disposal method recommended for the wastes shall take into account the result of the assessment set out in (c) below.

(c)               The impact caused by handling, collection, and disposal of wastes shall be addressed in detail and appropriate mitigation measures proposed to mitigate the induced environmental impacts.

3.4.8        Impact on Cultural Heritage

3.4.8.1  This EIA study should make reference to the relevant findings and recommendations of the NLDFS-EIA, present all relevant information from the NLDFS-EIA and incorporate any new and additional information to address the cultural heritage impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project.  The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing the cultural heritage impacts as stated in Annexes 10 and 19 of the TM, respectively.

3.4.8.2  The Applicant shall engage a qualified marine archaeologist to review available information to identify whether there is any possible existence of sites or objects of cultural heritage, for example shipwreck, at the affected seabed area. The available information includes, but not limited to, the geophysical survey information as stipulated in Task 2 – Geophysical Survey in Appendix C of this Study Brief.  The results of the review should be presented as a written report and charts. If sites or objects of cultural heritages are found, a Marine Archaeological Investigation (MAI) shall be carried out by a qualified marine archaeologist who shall obtain a License from the Antiquities Authority under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53).  The requirements of the MAI are set out in Appendix C.

3.4.9        Summary of Environmental Outcomes

            The EIA report shall contain a summary of the key environmental outcomes arising from the EIA study, including the population and environmentally sensitive areas protected, environmentally friendly designs recommended, key environmental problems avoided, compensation areas included and the environmental benefits of environmental protection measures recommended.

 

4.           Environmental Monitoring & Audit (EM&A) Requirements

4.1              The Applicant shall identify and justify in the EIA study whether there is any need for EM&A activities during construction and operation phases of the Project and, if affirmative, to define the scope of EM&A requirements for the Project.

4.2              Subject to confirmation of EIA findings, the Applicant shall comply with requirements as stipulated in Annex 21 of the TM.

4.3              The Applicant shall prepare a project implementation schedule (in the form of a checklist as shown in Appendix D to this EIA study brief) containing all the EIA study recommendations and mitigation measures with reference to the implementation programme.

 

5.          DURATION OF VALIDITY

5.1              This EIA study brief is valid for 36 months from the date of issue.  If the EIA study does not commence within this period, the Applicant shall apply to the Director for a fresh EIA study brief before commencement of the EIA study.

 

 

6.          REPORT REQUIREMENTS

6.1              In preparing the EIA report, the Applicant shall refer to Annex 11 of the TM for the contents of an EIA report.  The Applicant shall also refer to Annex 20 of the TM, which stipulates the guidelines for the review of an EIA report.

6.2              The Applicant shall supply the Director with the following number of copies of the EIA report and the executive summary:

(iv)             30 copies of the EIA report in English and 50 copies of the executive summary (each bilingual in both English and Chinese) as required under section 6(2) of the EIAO to be supplied at the time of application for approval of the EIA report.

(v)               when necessary, addendum to the EIA report and the executive summary submitted in (i) above as required under section 7(1) of the EIAO, to be supplied upon advice by the Director for public inspection.

(vi)             20 copies of the EIA report in English and 50 copies of the executive summary (each bilingual in both English and Chinese) with or without Addendum as required under section 7(5) of the EIAO, to be supplied upon advice by the Director for consultation with the Advisory Council on the Environment.

6.3              The Applicant shall, upon request, make additional copies of above documents available to the public, subject to payment by the interested parties of full costs of printing.

6.4              In addition, to facilitate public inspection of the EIA report via the EIAO Internet Website, the Applicant shall provide electronic copies of both the EIA report and the executive summary prepared in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) (version 4.0 or later) and in Portable Document Format (PDF version 4.0 or later), unless otherwise agreed by the Director.  For the HTML version, a content page capable of providing hyperlink to each section and sub-section of the EIA report and the executive summary shall be included in the beginning of the document. Hyperlinks to all figures, drawings and tables in the EIA report and executive summary shall be provided in the main text from where the respective references are made.  All graphics in the report shall be in interlaced GIF format unless otherwise agreed by the Director.

6.5              The electronic copies of the EIA report and the executive summary shall be submitted to the Director at the time of application for approval of the EIA report. 

6.6              When the EIA report and the executive summary are made available for public inspection under section 7(1) of the EIAO, the content of the electronic copies of the EIA report and the executive summary must be the same as the hard copies and the Director shall be provided with the most updated electronic copies.

 

6.7              To promote environmentally friendly and efficient dissemination of information, both hardcopies and electronic copies of future EM&A reports recommended by the EIA study shall be required and their format shall be agreed by the Director.

 

7.          OTHER PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS

7.1              If there is any change in the name of Applicant for this EIA study brief during the course of the EIA study, the Applicant must notify the Director immediately.

7.2              If there is any key change in the scope of the Project mentioned in Section 1.2 of this EIA study brief and in Project Profile (No. PP-175/2002), the Applicant must seek confirmation from the Director in writing on whether or not the scope of issues covered by this EIA study brief can still cover the key changes, and the additional issues, if any, that the EIA study must also address.  If the changes to the Project fundamentally alter the key scope of the EIA study brief, the Applicant shall apply to the Director for a fresh EIA study brief.

 

--- END OF EIA STUDY BRIEF ---

 

October 2002

Environmental Assessment and Noise Division,

Environmental Protection Department


Appendix A | Appendix B-1 | Appendix B-2 | Appendix B-3 | Appendix C | Appendix D