Improvements to

San Tin Interchange (Contract No. HY/2004/09)

 

 

Monthly Environmental Monitoring & Audit Report

Report No. 35

 

 

April 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


Table of Content

1            Environmental Status. 1

1.1         Works undertaken during the Reporting Period. 1

1.2         Environmental Permit and Licences. 1

1.3         Environmental Document Submissions to EPD.. 1

1.4         Environmental Monitoring Locations. 1

2            Environmental Measures and Implementation Status. 2

3            Monitoring Results. 2

3.1         Noise Monitoring. 2

3.2         Water Quality Monitoring. 3

3.3         Landscape and Visual Resources. 3

3.4         Ad-hoc Air Quality Monitoring. 3

3.5         Waste Management 3

4            Environmental Audits. 4

4.1         Site Inspection and Audit 4

4.2         Environmental Exceedance. 4

4.3         Environmental Non-compliance. 4

4.4         Environmental Complaint and Prosecution. 4

5            Forecast and Schedule. 5

5.1         Key Issues for the Coming Months. 5

5.2         Monitoring Schedules for the Next Month. 5

6            Conclusion. 5


List of Annexes

Annex A               Contractor’s Works Programme

Annex B               Mitigation Measures Checklist

Annex C               Calibration Certificates

Annex D               Noise Monitoring Results

Annex E               Water Quality Visual Inspection Reports

Annex F               Landscape & Visual Resources Inspection Reports

Annex G               Site Inspection Reports

Annex H               Action and Limit Levels

Annex I                 Cumulative Statistics on Complaints, Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions

                           

 

List of Tables

Table 1.1             Summary of Environmental Submissions to EPD in April 2008

Table 1.2             Noise Monitoring Stations

Table 3.1             Summary of Noise Monitoring Results during Normal Working Hours

Table 3.2             Summary of Waste Disposal for April 2008

Table 5.1             Proposed Noise Monitoring Schedule for May 2008

 

List of Figures

Figure 1               Site Plan & Locations of Noise and Air Quality Monitoring Stations

 


Executive Summary

Atkins China Limited (ACL) has been appointed by Chun Wo Construction & Engineering Co., Ltd. to implement the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme for the construction works under Contract No. HY/2004/09 Improvements to San Tin Interchange (hereinafter, the Project).

The construction of the Project commenced since 21st June 2005.  This report is the thirty-fifth monthly EM&A report for the Project which summarises the monitoring results and audit findings during the reporting period from 1st April 2008 to 30th April 2008.

Environmental Monitoring and Audit Progress

The monthly EM&A programme was undertaken in accordance with the EM&A Manual.  A summary of the monitoring activities in this reporting period is listed below:

·         Site inspections were undertaken jointly with the Contractor and Engineer’s Representative (ER) on 10th and 23rd April 2008.  The Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) undertook the site inspection on 23rd April 2008.

·         Noise monitoring at the designated monitoring stations was undertaken on 15th and 28th April 2008 during normal working hours.

·         Visual site surveillance for water quality was undertaken on 10th, 15th, 23rd and 28th April 2008.

·         Site inspection for landscape and visual resources was undertaken on 15th April 2008.

Breaches of Action and Limit Levels

There was no environmental exceedance recorded during this reporting period.

Environmental Non-Compliance

No environmental non-compliances were received during this reporting period.

Complaint Log

No environmental complaints were received during this reporting period.

Notifications of Summons and Prosecutions

No notifications of summons or prosecutions were received during this reporting period.

Reporting Changes

This report has been developed in compliance with the reporting requirements for the subsequent monthly EM&A reports as required by the Project EM&A Manual.

Future Key Issues

The key issues with respect to the works in the forthcoming 2 months include landscaping works, road paving and road widening works.


1                     Environmental Status

1.1               Works undertaken during the Reporting Period

The major construction activities undertaken during this reporting period are summarised below:

·      Road widening works;

·      Landscaping works;

·      Road paving; and

·      Installation of railings.

The site plan of the Project is shown in Figure 1.  The Contractor’s works programme is provided in Annex A.

1.2               Environmental Permit and Licences

There were no changes or clarification to the Environmental Permit (EP-190/2004) during the reporting period.

There was no Construction Noise Permits (CNP) issued to the Contractor in April 2008.

1.3               Environmental Document Submissions to EPD

A summary of the status of the submissions to EPD as provided during April 2008 is presented in Table 1.1 .

Table 1.1   Summary of Environmental Submissions to EPD in April 2008

Item No.

Document Title

Date of Submission

1

Monthly EM&A Report No. 34 for March 2008

16th April 2008

2

Quarterly EM&A Summary Report No. 11

2nd April 2008

 

1.4               Environmental Monitoring Locations

Noise monitoring was undertaken at three monitoring stations CM1, CM2 and CM3. The locations are shown on Figure 1.  Description of these monitoring stations is provided in Table 1.2.

Table 1.2   Noise Monitoring Stations

Monitoring Station ID

Description

Easting

Northing

CM1

Village house near San Tin Highway

826133

839839

CM2

Village house near San Tin Highway

826291

839918

CM3

Village house near Kwu Tung Road

826605

840076

 

2                     Environmental Measures and Implementation Status

The mitigation measures listed in the Project EIA Report, EM&A Manual and Environmental Permit and the implementation status are provided in Annex B.

In this reporting period, the trees planting were progressing at the area in South Division (M6 and M2 works area).  Landscape works were almost complete at the N1 Division (near the site office) and South Division (M6 and M2 works area).  

Based on site inspection findings, the Contractor has implemented the required mitigation measures during construction works to date in general.

3                     Monitoring Results

3.1               Noise Monitoring

3.1.1        Noise Monitoring Equipment

Details of the noise monitoring equipment are listed below and the calibration certificates are presented in Annex C:

·      Sound level meter ONO-SOKKI LA-5110

·      Acoustical calibrator ONO-SOKKI SC-2110

·      Hand-held anemometer

3.1.2        Noise Monitoring Methodology

The sound level meter was calibrated with an acoustical calibrator prior to each measurement.  It was set on a tripod at 1.2 m above local ground level at the monitoring station.  Measurement of the A-weighted Leq(30 minutes) noise level for normal daytime hours was undertaken.  Three consecutive A-weighted Leq(5 minutes) noise levels were measured for restricted hours monitoring.  Wind speed was checked during the monitoring period using the hand-held anemometer to ensure steady wind speed did not exceed 5 m/s, or gusts did not exceed 10 m/s.  After the noise measurement the sound level meter was re-calibrated using the acoustical calibrator.

3.1.3        Noise Monitoring Results

Noise monitoring was undertaken on a biweekly basis when noise generating activities were underway.  The noise monitoring results obtained in April 2008, during the normal working hours are summarised in Table 3.1, respectively.  There were no construction activities during restricted hours from 1900 to 2300 hours on normal working days and 0700 to 1900 hours on general holidays within this reporting period.

There were no environmental exceedances of the Action and Limit Levels for noise monitoring recorded during the normal daytime hours within the reporting period.  Details of the monitoring time period and weather condition during the monitoring period and the graphical presentation of the noise monitoring results are provided in Annex D.

 

 

Table 3.1   Summary of Noise Monitoring Results during Normal Working Hours

Date of Monitoring

Measured Noise Level Leq(30 minutes) dB(A)

CM1

CM2

CM3

15th April 2008

65

73

55

28th April 2008

64

73

55

Remark:   

(1)     CM2 is a non-façade measurement location.  A positive correction of 3 dB(A) has been applied to the measured noise level at CM2 according to EPD’s guideline.

 

3.2               Water Quality Monitoring

Visual site surveillances for water quality were undertaken on 10th, 15th, 23rd and 28th April 2008.  Based on the visual inspection results, the Contractor has followed all necessary site practices for the maintenance of the site drainage system, including:

·       Stagnant water was observed to be accumulated at different area in the site (U-channel and near the hoarding of site office area, Slip Road A work areas, Castle Peak Road works area and at the sand trap in San Tin Highway works area).  The Contractor was reminded to clear the stagnant water promptly after rainstorm events to prevent the mosquito breeding.

·       Silts and rubbishes were observed to be accumulated in the U-channel in San Tin Highway works area.  The Contractor was reminded to collect rubbish regularly and keep drainage system free of debris.

The details of the water quality visual inspection reports are provided in Annex E.

3.3               Landscape and Visual Resources

One site inspection on the landscape and visual resources was undertaken in April 2008.

During the inspections, some transplanted trees at M2 in South Division (trees no.: B15, T807, T787 and T711) and N1 Division near the site office (trees no.: N105, T215, N194, T423, N211 and T176) were seen to be in very poor condition.  The Contractor was reminded to properly maintain the transplanted trees so as to ensure their survival.  Some newly planted trees in M2 appeared dead.  The contractor was reminded to replace the dead trees with new trees of the same species and size as compensatory measures.

The details of the landscape and visual resources inspection reports are provided in Annex F.

3.4               Ad-hoc Air Quality Monitoring

No ad-hoc air quality monitoring was required during the reporting period.

3.5               Waste Management

The Contractor has adopted a trip ticket system for the disposal of construction wastes.  According to the records provided by the Contractor, the disposal of construction waste within the reporting period is summarised in Table 3.2.

 

Table 3.2 Summary of Waste Disposal for April 2008

Waste Type

Destination

No. of Trips

Quantity

C&D Waste

NENT Landfill

10

50 m3

Building debris

CEDD’s Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank

140

900 m3

Sewage Holding Tank Waste

Collected by Waylung Waste Services Ltd.

15

-

Chemical Waste

Collected by Dunwell Enviro-Tech (Holdings) Ltd.

1

1,100 litre

 

4                     Environmental Audits

4.1               Site Inspection and Audit

Site inspections were undertaken on 10th and 23rd April 2008.  The Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) undertook the site inspection on 23rd April 2008.  Specific locations within the site were identified during the inspection for improvements in proper implementation of the environmental mitigation measures.  These include:

·      Removing the rubbish in the U-channel in the San Tin Highway works area and near the site area at the car park entrance in South Division and keep the site tidy.

·      Clearing the stagnant water pools (at different area within the site: U-channel and near the hoarding of site office area, Slip Road A work areas, Castle Peak Road works area and at the sand trap in San Tin Highway works area) to prevent the mosquito breeding.

·      Proper collection and handling of used battery casings.

The record of the site inspection findings is provided in Annex G.

4.2               Environmental Exceedance

During the reporting period, there was no recorded of exceedance during this reporting period.

The Action and Limit Levels for impact monitoring are provided in Annex H.

4.3               Environmental Non-compliance

During the reporting period, no environmental non-compliance was recorded.

4.4               Environmental Complaint and Prosecution

During the reporting period, no environmental complaints, prosecutions or summons were received. Cumulative statistics on complaints, notifications of summons and successful prosecutions for the Project are provided in Annex I.


5                     Forecast and Schedule

5.1               Key Issues for the Coming Months

The key issues with respect to the works in the forthcoming 2 months include:

·      Landscaping works;

·      Road paving; and

·      Road widening works.

5.2               Monitoring Schedules for the Next Month

The proposed schedule for noise monitoring in May 2008 is provided in Table 5.1.

Table 5.1   Proposed Noise Monitoring Schedule for May 2008

Date

Noise Monitoring Station

14th May 2008 (Wednesday)

CM1, CM2 and CM3

27th May 2008 (Tuesday)

CM1, CM2 and CM3

 

6                     Conclusion

There was no environmental non-compliance attributable to the Project works during reporting period.

There were three exceedances of the noise Limit Level during the reporting period. However, it was not attributable to the Project works.

No environmental complaints, prosecutions or summons was received during the reporting period.