Environmental impact assessment report for permanent aviation fuel facility in Tuen Mun approved with conditions

Press Release

Environmental impact assessment report for permanent aviation fuel facility in Tuen Mun approved with conditions

In response to the applications by the Airport Authority (AA) under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) today (May 30) approved with conditions the EIA report and granted an Environmental Permit to AA for the construction and operation of the proposed permanent aviation fuel facility in Tuen Mun Area 38.

"EPD has fully considered, in conjunction with the relevant authorities, all the comments received from the public during the inspection period between February 23 and March 24, 2007. The Advisory Council on the Environment endorsed the EIA report without condition at its Full Council meeting on April 19 this year," an EPD spokesman added.

He stressed that the statutory EIAO only dealt with the environmental acceptability of the project. The project proponent still needed to comply with other relevant legislation when proceeding with the proposed development.

With the implementation of the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA report, EPD and the relevant authorities are satisfied that the project would not cause unacceptable environmental impacts and the relevant environmental requirements can be met.

EPD, in conjunction with the relevant authorities, has imposed conditions under the Environmental Permit and set out a full package of stringent environmental requirements and measures. Among these measures, AA is required to set up a Community Liaison Group to enhance communication with the local community. AA is also required to carry out design audit to ensure the proper implementation of all necessary design measures.

To ensure a high degree of transparency, AA is required to set up a dedicated website for the project to facilitate public access to the monitoring and implementation information and to install web cameras at site during the construction of the project to provide 24-hour real time visual monitoring.

The approved EIA report, the further information submitted by AA, the approval conditions as well as the Environmental Permit have been uploaded to ( http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/english/register/index.html ). Members of the public are also welcome to visit the EIAO Register Office at 27th floor, Southorn Centre, Wan Chai to inspect these documents.

Ends/Wednesday, May 30, 2007