11.0            Conclusions and recommendations

 

Conclusions

 

Impact monitoring of air quality and noise were carried out at designated locations in accordance with the EM&A Manual in this reporting month.

 

According to the summary of air monitoring results, no exceedances of Action and Limit Level of 24-hour and 1-hour TSP monitoring results were recorded during the reporting month.

 

Impact noise level monitoring was performed on 02 March 2006. The noise level measured at the monitoring station complied with the Limit Level of 75dB(A). No complaint was received regarding noise issue.

 

According to the summary of marine water monitoring results, one exceedance of Turbidity on Action Level at Monitoring Stations M4 was recorded at 29 March 2006 (mid-ebb). According to the site observation, no abnormal site activities were observed at the Fill Bank. As there was no sediment plume observed from the Fill Bank and no wastewater discharge was noted from the Fill Bank and the TKO Basin, the exceedance was considered not due to the Fill Bank. The exceedance might be due to natural fluctuation of Turbidity in the water body around the area. Hence, no further actions were required.

 

According to the ET weekly site inspections and IEC site audits carried out in this reporting month, it indicated that site practices of the Contractor were generally undertaken in an environmentally acceptable manner. The Contractor generally implemented sufficient dust mitigation measures, including operation of the mist spraying systems and automatic wheel washing facilities, dampening of haul roads and stockpiling areas. However, the silt curtain enclosed the Marine Barging Area was found damaged during the site inspections. The Contractor should repair it immediately.

 

No prosecutions or notifications of summons were received in this reporting month.

 

One complaint was received from Public through EPD on 27 March 2006, concerning the dust and debris on Wan Po Road near TVB City Caused by dump trucks from CEDD site. In the response to the complaint, ET undertook a site investigation as stipulated in the EM&A manual. According to the site investigation, it confirmed that mitigation measures such as providing the wheel washing facilities, cleaning and watering the site regularly had been implemented by the Contractor. No violation relating to the depositing of debris and mud on haul road near the exit point and public road (e.g. Wan Po Road) was observed from the Fill Bank vehicles during the site investigation. Hence, it was concluded that the complaint was not related to the operation of Fill Bank and no further action was required to be implemented. At the same time, it was believed that traffic other than Fill Bank (such as dump tracks from the Construction Waste Sorting Facility) may have deposited the mud and debris onto the road surface as they traveled on Wan Po Road. This was reported to have been observed by the Contractor during an inspection of Wan Po Road after the complaint was received. Although the complaint was not related to the operation of Fill Bank, the Contractor was still reminded to arrange road sweeper to carry out routine cleaning the haul road and the public roads outside the Fill Bank including the section of Wan Po Road nearby the TVB City. Ad-hoc additional cleaning may be required if necessary. Since the investigation report was still being prepared at the end of the reporting month, it will be submitted to relevant parties in the coming month.

 

Recommendations

 

According to the environmental site inspections performed in the reporting month, the following recommendations were provided:

 

Air Quality

§         Ensure the frequency of water spraying on haul roads, unloading areas and stockpiles to be sufficient to suppress the dust sources;

§         Provide proper maintenance for the powered mechanical equipment and barges to avoid emission of dark smoke;

§         Provide water spraying onto the truckloads during inspection of fill material;

§         Conduct road sweeping on the public road and the main haul roads outside and near the site egress by the road sweeper. Undertake water spraying on stockpiling area by water bowers;

§         Erect adequate speed limit signs to advise the truck drivers of the speed limit;

§         Operate mist spraying systems and automatic water sprinklers in the Fill Bank;

§         Implement the dust mitigation measures for the construction activities;

§         Designate proper haul roads to ensure effective water spraying; and

§         Ensure all vehicles to be washed before leaving the site egress b provision, operation and maintenance of automatic wheel washing facilities.

 

Noise

§         Conduct noisy activities at a farther location from the NSRs.

 

Water Quality

§         Maintain the drainage system, including the trapezoidal channels, permanent desilting chambers, DP3 & DP4 regularly;

§         Operate and maintain the silt curtains regularly;

§         Operate the cleaning vessel within the TKO Basin regularly;

§         Provide proper treatment for the oil discharge from the area near air monitoring station AA1;

§         Clean up the fill material on the concrete pavement at BHA frequently; and

§         Remove the stagnant water or provide pesticide for the stagnant water in the permanent desilting chambers, if any.

 

Chemical and Waste Management

§         Remove waste materials from the site to avoid accumulation regularly;

§         Handle and store chemical wastes properly;

§         Remove unwanted material in the existing stockpiles and avoid further dumping of such material;

§         Provide and maintain sufficient drip trays for diesel drums, chemical containers, chemical waste storage drums and diesel operated generator set;

§         Maintain mesh screen on top of the additional drainage, DP3 to avoid improper dumping of rubbish;

§         Maintain good housekeeping at the workshop area;

§         Ensure sufficient tarpaulin sheets are provided to cover drip trays; and

§         Avoid soil being polluted during oil filling and equipment maintenance; hence, properly remove and store the contaminated soil, if any.

 

Landscape and Visual

§         Provide hydroseeding on the exposed slopes, on which the final profile has been formed;

§         Erect all the site hoarding / chaining fences in accordance with agreed design at proper location; and

§         Maintain the hydroseeded slopes in accordance with the Landscape Plan.