EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction

This is the eighteenth Quarterly Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Summary Report prepared by Maunsell Environmental Management Consultants Limited (MEMCL) for the Project “Castle Peak Road Improvement between Ting Kau and Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan” (The Project). This report summarises the EM&A work performed in the quarter from October to December 2006.

Construction activities in the reporting quarter were:

· Landscaping works;

· Road paving;

· Backfilling;

· E&M works; and

· Retaining wall construction.

The construction works had commenced since July 2002. The Contractor implemented most of the environmental mitigation measures and effectively minimise the impacts arising from the construction activities.

The Contract has been substantially completed on 31 July 2006. The Contractor only carried out landscape works, remaining road paving and utilities installation in the reporting quarter.

Environmental Monitoring Works

Air Quality

All the air quality monitoring results complied with the Action and Limit Levels (AL Levels) except two 24-hr TSP exceedances in October 2006. One action level and one limit level 24-hr TSP exceedances recorded at MA1 in October were concluded not due to construction activities. The impact air quality monitoring had been ceased from 1 November 2006 due to the completion of works.

Construction Noise

All the construction noise monitoring results complied with the AL levels in October 2006. The impact noise monitoring had been ceased from 1 November 2006 due to the completion of works. No operational noise monitoring was carried out in the reporting quarter.

Water Quality

Water quality monitoring programme continued in the reporting quarter and there were 117 marine water quality exceedances. Since there were no marine works conducted in the reporting quarter in Sham Tseng Reclamation Works Area, the exceedances were considered not related to the Project.

Landscape and Visual

Two site inspections were held for landscape and visual impact monitoring in October 2006. No retained trees were felled. The Contractor protected most exposed slopes/surfaces by hydroseeding, shotcreting and tarpaulin sheeting. 2 retained trees outside Rhine Terrace were suspected to be dead after demolition of rock fall fence. The landscape and visual impact monitoring had been ceased from 1 November 2006 due to the completion of works. One landscape and visual audit for establishment period was carried out on 15 December 2006.

Complaints, Non-compliance and Prosecutions

No environmental complaint, non-compliance or prosecution was received in the reporting quarter.