1. INTRODUCTION

Project Background

1.1 To cope with the anticipated increase in traffic, various sections of Castle Peak Road have been widened over the last few years. Improvement to Castle Peak Road from Siu Lam to So Kwun Tan was commenced in February 1997 and was completed in November 2000 while improvement to Castle Peak Road from Area 2 of Tsuen Wan to Ka Loon Tsuen is scheduled to commence in August 2001 and finish in June 2005. When these proposals are completed, the whole section of Castle Peak Road between Tsuen Wan West and Hong Kong Gold Coast in Tuen Mun will be of dual 2-lane standard with the exception of the section between Ka Loon Tsuen and Siu Lam.

1.2 An assessment has been carried out showing that by 2006 the capacity of a single two-lane Castle Peak Road between Ka Loon Tsuen and Siu Lam would be inadequate to cope with the increasing traffic flows.

1.3 In view of the above, it was recommended that the section between Ka Loon Tsuen and Siu Lam should be widened to a dual-2 lane standard in order to provide a continuous level of service from So Kwun Tan to Tsuen Wan. The Highways Department carried out a Preliminary Project Feasibility Study (PPFS), which was completed in March 1998. A Preliminary Environmental Review (PER) was also carried out in conjunction with the PPFS to identify the potential environmental concerns arising from the implementation of the project. The results of the PER indicated that during the construction and operation stages, air quality, noise, water quality, ecology, landscape and visual impacts were expected.

1.4 In October 1999, Maunsell Consultants Asia Limited (MCAL) was commissioned by the Highways Department as lead consultant to undertake an engineering feasibility study and preliminary design for this project. Further studies including Traffic Impact Assessment Study, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study, Marine Impact Assessment Study and Drainage Impact Assessment Study were also carried out. Maunsell Environmental Management Consultants Limited (MEMCL) is responsible for the EIA study.

1.5 Under Section C.2 (ix) of Schedule 2, Part 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap.499), the project is a designated project and therefore will require an environmental permit.

Objectives of the EIA Study

1.6 This EIA Study will identify and quantify various potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project and will recommend effective mitigation measures to ameliorate any potentially negative impacts on the environment.

1.7 The specific objectives for this EIA Study are set out in the Project Consultancy Brief, as listed follows:

· To describe the proposed project and associated works together with the requirements for carrying out the proposed project;

· To identify and describe the elements of the community and environment likely to be affected by the proposed project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the proposed project, including both natural and man-made environment;

· To identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

· To identify and quantify any potential losses or damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats;

· To identify and quantify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

· To propose the provision of infrastructure or mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;

· 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 Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

· To identify, assesses and specify methods, measures and standards, to be included in the detailed design, construction and operation of the project which are necessary to mitigate these environmental impacts and reducing them to acceptable levels;

· To investigate the extent of side-effects of proposed mitigation measures that may lead to other forms of impacts;

· To identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study; and

· To design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements, if required, to ensure the implementation and the effectiveness of the environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted.

The Approach

1.8 The EIA Study has been conducted based on information available at the time. Relevant reports and drawings have been reviewed and findings have been incorporated where appropriate in this EIA Report. Relevant studies to this Study are listed below:

· EIA Final Assessment Report for Route 10 – North Lantau to Yuen Long Highway Investigation and Preliminary Design (September 1999);

· Preliminary Project Feasibility Study (PPFS) Report for Improvement to Castle Peak Road between Ka Loon Tsuen and Siu Lam (March 1998);

· Environmental Impact Assessment for Feasibility Study for Castle Peak Road Improvements between Ka Loon Tsuen and Yau Kom Tau (December 1996); and

· Noise Impact Assessment for Improvement to Castle Peak Road from Siu Lam to So Kwun Tan (June 1995).

1.9 In accordance with the EIA Study Brief, the following key areas are to be addressed in the EIA Study:

· air quality impacts;

· noise impacts;

· water quality impacts;

· construction waste impacts;

· ecological impacts;

· fisheries impacts; and

· visual and landscape impacts.

1.10 The assessment results have been used as the basis for the evaluation of their respective impacts arising from the proposed Project on both existing and planned sensitive developments, as well as for the identification of locations where the acceptable criteria limits are exceeded and appropriate mitigation measures are required.

1.11 The report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process. This covers relevant project information and legislation, existing environmental conditions, assessment criteria and methods, assessments findings and proposed mitigation measures.

1.12 The Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme is presented in a separate EM&A Manual.

Report Structure

1.13 This EIA Report comprises eleven sections and each section is briefly described below:

Section 1 presents the introduction of this EIA Study;

Section 2 presents a description of the Project, including the Project location, EIA Study Area and the works programme;

Section 3 identifies and assesses potential air quality impacts arising from the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends appropriate mitigation measures, wherever necessary;

Section 4 identifies and assesses potential noise impacts arising from the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends effective mitigation measures, wherever necessary;

Section 5 identifies and assesses potential water quality impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project and recommends mitigation measures to meet the established water quality standards of effluents;

Section 6 identifies and assesses potential solid waste impacts and management association with the construction and operation of the Project and recommends mitigation measures to reduce solid waste arisings, maximize recycling and to comply with established standards;

Section 7 identifies and assesses potential ecological impacts arising from the construction and operation of the project and recommends mitigation measures to alleviate the impacts to be minimum;

Section 8 identifies and assesses potential fisheries impacts arising from the construction and operation of the project and recommends mitigation measures;

Section 9 identifies and assesses potential landscape and visual impacts arising from the project and recommends mitigation measures;

Section 10 presents the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) requirements.

Section 11 reviews the findings and presents the overall conclusions of this EIA study;

Section 12 presents the Implementation Schedules of recommended mitigation measures for various environmental issues.