1. BACKGROUND

1.1 An application (No. ESB-071/2001) for an EIA study brief under section 5(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was submitted by the captioned Applicant on 17th April 2001 with a Project Profile (No. PP-123/2001) on the captioned project (the Project Profile).

1.2 The Applicant proposes to replace the two existing twin cremators of the Fu Shan Crematorium (the Project). The location of the proposed project is shown in Figure 1.1 in the Project Profile. The project also includes the provision of a full range of ancillary facilities required for the operation of a crematorium, including:

(a) A new cremation room with four flat-bed type single cremators designed to meet the latest Environmental Protection Department (EPD) standards.

(b) One pulverising room with a bone cremulator for pulverisation of cremated remains.

(c) One automatic transport system for delivering the coffin from the service halls into the cremators.

(d) One public toilet as a replacement to the existing one.

(e) Provision of emergency generator room, main switch room, fire services pump room tank, sprinkler tank and storeroom, etc. necessary for the operation of the new cremators.

(f) Re-alignment of the existing vehicle access.

(g) Reprovisioning of car parking spaces and upgrading of the overall landscape area.

(h) Renovation of the two existing service halls to cater for the change in the location of the new cremation room.

(i) Demolish and remove the existing cremators after the satisfactory commissioning of the new ones. Renovate the old cremation room into workshop for Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) maintenance staff and storerooms.

(j) Installation of fire services provisions, including sprinkler system, hose reels, street hydrant etc. to the existing crematorium to meet current fire safety standards.

1.3 Pursuant to section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the Director of Environmental Protection (the Director) issues this EIA study brief to the Applicant to carry out an EIA study for the Project.

1.4 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 proposed project and related activities taking place concurrently. 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 proposed developments;

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

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

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA STUDY

2.1 The objectives of the EIA study are as follows:

(i) to describe the proposed project together with the requirements for carrying out the proposed project;

(ii) to identify and describe elements of community and environment likely to be affected by the proposed project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the proposed project, including natural and man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;

(iii) to consider alternative site(s) and to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of each of the site(s) in selecting a preferred site.

(iv) to identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(v) to identify and quantify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate impacts;

(vi) to identify and quantify any potential water quality impacts and to propose measures to mitigate impacts, if there is to be effluent discharge from the new cremators or associated air pollution control/scrubbing systems;

(vii) to identify and quantify the hazard to life impacts and to propose measures to mitigate impacts, if there is to be fuel gas or dangerous goods storage (see section 3.6.4 below for details);

(viii) to identify and quantify waste management requirements and land contamination prevention requirements, and to propose measures to mitigate or prevent impacts;

(ix) to identify the negative impacts and propose the provision of infrastructure or mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the project;

(x) to identify, predict and evaluate the residual (i.e. after practicable mitigation) environmental impacts and the cumulative effects expected to arise during the construction and operation phases of the proposed project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

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

(xii) to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study; and

(xiii) to design and specify an environmental monitoring program, and if required, other environmental monitoring and audit requirements, to ensure the implementation and the effectiveness of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.

3. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS OF THE EIA STUDY

3.1 The purpose of this study brief is to scope the key issues of the EIA study. 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.

The Scope

3.2 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 key issues identified during the course of the study and the cumulative environmental impacts of the Project, through interaction or in combination with other existing, committed and planned developments in the vicinity of the Project:

(i) the air quality impacts arising from the construction, decommissiong/demolition, and operation of the Project;

(ii) the landscape and visual impacts from the operation of the Project;

(iii) the water quality impacts from the operation of the Project, if there is to be effluent discharge from the new cremators or associated air pollution control/scrubbing systems;

(iv) the hazard to life impacts and to propose measures to mitigate impacts, if there is to be fuel gas or dangerous goods storage (see section 3.6.4 below for details); and

(v) the contamination prevention for the operation of the Project, as well as the waste management for the construction and operation of the Project.

Technical Requirements

3.3 The Applicant shall conduct the EIA study to address all environmental aspects of the works and activities as described in the scope as set out above.

3.4 The EIA study shall include the following technical requirements on specific impacts.

Consideration of Alternative Sites

3.5 The Applicant shall consider any other feasible alternative site(s) available outside the existing site for the crematorium (relocation within Shatin or elsewhere within the Territory) and compare the environmental impacts to nearby existing and planned sensitive receivers at each of these identified site(s) during construction and operation with those at the proposed site described in section 1.2. Based on the results of this comparison, the Applicant shall recommend/justify the selected site that should perform best in terms of avoiding or minimizing adverse environmental effects.

3.6.1 Air Quality Impact

3.6.1.1 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.

3.6.1.2 The assessment area for air quality impact shall generally be defined by a distance of 500 m from the boundary of the project site, yet it may be extended depending on the circumstances and the scale of the project.

3.6.1.3 The Applicant shall assess the air pollutant concentrations in accordance with the latest set of Guidelines for Local-Scale Air Quality Assessment Using Models issued by the Environmental Protection Department (ref. EPD's home page under items for Air - http://www.info.gov.hk/epd) or other equivalent methods as approved by the Director.

3.6.1.4 The air quality assessment shall cover the construction, decommissiong/demolition, and operation of the Project, and include the following:

Background and analysis of activities

(i) Provide background information relating to air quality issues relevant to the project, e.g. description of the types of activities during construction stage of the project such as site clearance, excavation, material handling and wind erosion that will likely give rise to dust emissions and those activities during operation stage of the project such as operation of the cremators that will give off gaseous emissions.

(ii) 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 should consider alternative construction methods/phasing programmes and alternative modes of operation to minimise the constructional and operational air quality impact respectively.

(iii) Present the background air quality levels in the assessment area for the purpose of evaluating the cumulative constructional and operational air quality impacts. Also present the existing emission data along with the anticipated improved emission data for the Project for comparison purposes.

Identification of ASRs and examination of emission/dispersion characteristics

(iv) Identify and describe representative existing and planned/committed air sensitive receivers (ASRs) that would likely be affected by the project. The Applicant shall select the assessment points of the identified ASRs such that they represent the worst impact point of these ASRs. A map showing the location and a description including the name of the buildings, their uses and height of the selected assessment points shall be given. The separation distances of these ASRs from the nearest emission sources should also be given. For phased development, the Applicant should review the development programme to take into consideration the construction stages so as to include occupiers of early phases as ASRs if they may be affected by works at later phases.

(v) Provide an exhaustive list of air pollutant emission sources, including any nearby emission sources which are likely to have impact on the project based on the analysis of the constructional and operational activities of the project in (i) above. Examples of constructional stage emission sources include stock piling, concrete batching, etc. Examples of operational stage emission sources include cremators, any nearby industrial source, etc. Confirmation of the validity of the assumptions and the magnitude of the activities (e.g. volume of construction materials handled etc.) shall be obtained from the relevant government department/authorities and documented.

Constructional air quality impact

(vi) The Applicant shall follow the requirements of the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation in dust control to ensure construction dust impacts are controlled within the relevant standards as stipulated in section 1 of Annex 4 of the TM. An audit and monitoring program during constructional stage shall be initiated to verify the effectiveness of the control measures and to ensure that the construction dust levels be brought under control.

(vii) If the Applicant anticipates a significant construction dust impact that will likely cause exceedance of the recommended limits in the TM at the ASRs despite incorporation of the dust control measures stated in (vi) above, a quantitative assessment should be carried out to evaluate the construction dust impact at the identified ASRs based on the emission strength of the emission sources identified in (v) above. The Applicant shall follow (ix) to (xii) below when carrying out the quantitative assessment.

Operational air quality impact

(viii) The Applicant shall calculate the expected air pollutant concentrations at the identified ASRs. Calculations for the expected impact shall be based on an assumed reasonably worst case scenario. The evaluation shall be based on the strength of the emission sources identified in (v) above. The Applicant shall follow (ix) to (xii) below when carrying out the quantitative assessment.

Quantitative Assessment Methodology

(ix) The Applicant shall apply the general principles enunciated in the modeling guidelines while making allowance for the specific characteristic of each project. This 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 and a map showing the emission sources and the identified ASRs for input to the modeling shall be presented in the report. The Applicant must ensure consistency between the text description and the model files at every stage of submission. Prior agreement of the general methodology between the Applicant and the Director is advised.

(x) 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. Among the identified parameters, emissions such as toxic air pollutants (including but not limited to dioxins) and odour (if any) shall be included.

(xi) 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, for comparison with relevant air quality standards and examination of the land use implications of these impacts. Plans of suitable scale should be used for presentation of pollution contour for determining buffer distances required. In order to get a full picture of air emissions in particular dioxins from the proposed Project, an inventory figure (in g I-TEQ/year) should be estimated and presented.

Mitigating measures for non-compliance

(xii) 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.

Submission of model files

(xiii) All input and output file(s) of the model run(s) shall be submitted to the Director in electronic format.

3.6.2 Land Contamination Impact & Waste Management

Land Contamination Prevention

3.6.2.1To prevent contamination problems from arising in future, the Applicant shall:

(i) identify the possible sources of contamination in their operations; and
(ii) formulate appropriate operational practices, waste management strategies and precautionary measures for prevention of contamination problems.

Waste Management Implications

3.6.2.2 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.

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

(i) Analysis of Activities and Waste Generation

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

(ii) Proposal for Waste Management

(a) Prior to considering the disposal options for various types of wastes, opportunities for reducing waste generation and on-site or off-site re-use shall be fully evaluated. Measures which can be taken in the planning and design stages e.g. by modifying the design approach and in the construction stage for maximising waste reduction shall be separately considered.

(b) Having taken into account all the opportunities for reducing waste generation and maximising reuse, the types and quantities of the wastes required to be disposed of as a consequence shall be estimated and the disposal options for each type of waste described in detail (including potentially toxic or hazardous material from the decomissioning/demolition of the existing cremators). The disposal method recommended for each type of wastes shall take into account of the result of the assessment in section (c) below.

(c) The impact caused by handling (including labeling, packaging & storage), collection, and disposal of wastes shall be addressed in detail and appropriate mitigation measures proposed. This assessment shall cover the following areas:

(i) potential hazard;
(ii) air & odour emission;
(iii) noise;
(iv) wastewater discharge;
(v) public transport.

3.6.3 Landscape and Visual Impact

3.6.3.1 The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing landscape and visual impact as stated in section 1 of Annex 10 and in Annex 18 of the TM, respectively. The assessment shall also cover all items classified as Designated Projects under Schedule 2 of the EIAO. Both construction and operational impacts shall be assessed.

3.6.3.2 The landscape and visual impact assessment shall include the following:

(i) a baseline study to provide for a comprehensive and accurate description of the baseline landscape and visual character;

(ii) a review of the relevant planning and development control framework, including but not limited to Sha Tin Outline Zoning Plan and relevant layout plans in order to identify the existing and planned developments in the surrounding areas;

(iii) impact studies to identify the potential landscape and visual impacts and predict their magnitude and potential significance; and

(iv) recommendations on mitigation measures and implementation programme.

3.6.3.3 The Applicant shall describe, appraise and analyze the existing landscape resource and character of the Assessment Area (the "Assessment Area" for landscape impact assessment shall include all area within a 500m distance from the scope of EIA study as defined in section 3.2 above. It should focus particularly on the sensitivity of the landscape framework and its ability to accommodate change. The Applicant shall identify the degree of compatibility of the proposed developments with the existing landscape. The landscape impact assessment should quantify the potential landscape impacts as far as possible so as to illustrate the significance of such impacts arising from the proposed developments. Clear mapping of landscape impact assessment is required.

3.6.3.4 Landscape impact assessment shall include:

(i) assessment of the landscape impacts of the developments and infrastructures on various landscape elements and areas of high landform with special landscape significance. These shall include areas of distinctive landscape character (e.g. genius loci), valued landscape (e.g. scenic spot), other conservation interest and specific landscape elements (e.g. hilltop, ridgeline, coastline, river valley, woodland, pond, etc.). Landscape impacts shall be presented on plans at a suitable scale to be agreed by the Director.

3.6.3.5 The Applicant shall assess the visual impacts of the proposed developments. In particular, the cumulative visual impacts of the existing and proposed crematorium should be taken into account in the formulation of mitigation measures and the assessment of residual impacts. As some nearby sensitive receivers have direct line of sight to the site, mitigation measures such as proper landscape screening should be provided. The visual impact assessment shall include the following:

(i) identification and plotting of visibility contours of the proposed developments within the Assessment Area (the "Assessment Area" for visual impact assessment shall be defined by the visual envelope of the proposed developments). Clear mapping of visual impact assessment is required;

(ii) identification of key groups of sensitive receivers within the visibility contours with regard to views from both ground/sea level and elevated vantage points;

(iii) description of visual compatibility of the developments with the surrounding, and its distraction and interference with the key views of the adjacent areas;

(iv) the severity of visual impacts in terms of distance, nature and number of sensitive receivers shall be identified. The visual impacts of the developments with and without mitigation measures shall be assessed.

3.6.3.6 The Applicant shall review relevant outline zoning plans, outline development plans, layout plans, planning briefs and studies which may contain guidelines and urban design concept, building height profile, designated view corridors, specific elements such as areas of high landscape and visual value, special design areas and open space network that may affect the appreciation of the proposed developments. The aim is to gain an insight to the future outlook of the area affected and the ways the proposed developments can fit into the environment. Any conflict with the statutory town plan should be highlighted and appropriate follow-up action should be recommended.

3.6.3.7 The Applicant shall evaluate the merits of preservation in totality, in parts or total destruction of existing landscape and the establishment of a new landscape character area. In addition, alternative design that would avoid or reduce the identified landscape and visual impacts shall be thoroughly examined before adopting other mitigation or compensatory measures to alleviate the impacts. The Applicant shall recommend mitigation measures to minimize the adverse effects, including provision of a landscape design. The mitigation measures shall also include the retention of vegetation, transplanting of mature trees, provision of screen planting, revegetation of disturbed land, provision and reprovision of open space and amenity areas, design of structures, provision of finishes to structures, colour scheme and texture of materials used and any measures to mitigate the disturbance of the existing land use. Parties should be identified for the on-going management and maintenance for the proposed mitigation works to ensure their effectiveness throughout the operational phase of the proposed developments. A practical programme and funding proposal for implementation of recommended measures shall be worked out. Evaluation of the merits of preservation in totality, in parts or total destruction of existing landscape and establishment of a new landscape character. The mitigation measures proposed shall not only be concerned with damage reduction, but should also include consideration of potential enhancement of landscape quality.

3.6.3.8 Coloured perspective drawings, plans and section/elevation diagrams, annotated oblique aerial photographs, photo-retouching and computer-generated photo-montages shall be adopted to fully illustrate the landscape and visual impacts of the proposed developments to the satisfaction of the Director. All computer graphics shall be compatible with Microstation DGN file format. The Applicant should record the technical details in preparing the illustration such as system set-up, software, data files and functions, which may need to be submitted for verification of accuracy of the illustration.

3.6.4 Hazard to Life

3.6.4.1 The EIA Study shall indicate the fuel for cremation process of the Project. Unless the supply of fuel is to be provided by direct pipelines of fuel gas and there will be no storage of the fuel gas, a hazard assessment is required on the storage of the cremation fuel and the Applicant shall approach the Director for detailed requirements for the assessment.

3.6.4.2 Other non-fuel gas dangerous goods (DG) defined in the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Cap. 295) but not covered by the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51).

Unless the EIA Study confirms that the diesel fuel storage inventory does not exceed 1,000 tonnes and other non-fuel gas DG to be stored on site will be less than the threshold value to be agreed by the Director, a hazard assessment is required on the storage of diesel fuel and the Applicant shall approach the Director for detailed requirements for the assessment.

3.6.5 Water Quality

3.6.5.1 The EIA shall provide a general description of any air pollution control system and any scrubbing system for the new cremators. Unless the EIA confirms that there will be no effluent discharge from the new cremators or any associated air pollution control/scrubbing system, a water quality impact assessment for the operational stage shall be required. In that event, the Director shall be approached for detailed requirements for the assessment.

3.6.6 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.

3.6.7 Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Requirements

3.6.7.1 The Applicant shall present in the EIA study a detailed environmental monitoring program including the frequency of measurements of dioxins and other pollutants for air emissions and ashes. In addition, the Applicant shall also identify in the EIA study whether there is any need for other EM&A requirements during the construction and operation phases of the proposed developments. The scope of the the environmental monitoring program and, if identified, other EM&A requirements for the Project shall be clearly defined in the EIA study.

3.6.7.2 The Applicant shall comply with the requirements as stipulated in Annex 21 of the TM.

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

4. DURATION OF VALIDITY

This EIA study brief is valid for 24 months from the date of issue. If the EIA study does not commence within this period, the Applicant shall apply to the Director for another EIA study brief afresh before commencement of the EIA study.

5. REPORT REQUIREMENTS

5.1 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.

5.2 The Applicant shall supply the Director with the following number of copies of the EIA report and the Executive Summary :

(i) 50 copies of the EIA report in English and 80 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.

(ii) when necessary, addendum to the EIA report and the executive summary submitted in 5.2 (i) above as required under section 7(1) of the EIAO, to be supplied upon advice by the Director for public inspection.

(iii) 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.

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

5.4 In addition, to facilitate the 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 Report 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 Report 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.

5.5 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.

5.6 When the EIA Report and the Executive Summary are made available for public inspection under section 7(1) of the EIA Ordinance, 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.

5.7 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.

6. OTHER PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS

6.1 During the course of the EIA study, if there is any change in the name of Applicant for this EIA study brief, the Applicant in this study brief must notify the Director immediately.

6.2 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-123/2001), 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.

May 2001
AAG, EAND,
Environmental Protection Department