1.1 The purpose of this Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual is to guide the set up of an EM&A programme to ensure compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study recommendations, to assess the effectiveness of the recommended mitigation measures and to identify any further need for additional mitigation measures or remedial action. This Manual outlines the monitoring and audit programme for the construction phase of the proposed project, namely “Outlying Islands Sewerage Scheme Stage 1 Phase II works, Package J Sok Kwu Wan Sewage Treatment and Disposal Facilities” (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”). It aims to provide systematic procedures for monitoring, auditing and minimising environmental impacts associated with construction works and operational activities.
1.2 Hong Kong environmental regulations and the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines have served as environmental standards and guidelines in the preparation of this Manual. In addition, the EM&A Manual has been prepared in accordance with the requirements stipulated in Annex 21 of the Technical Memorandum on the EIA Process (EIAO-TM).
1.3 This Manual contains the following information:
· responsibilities of the Contractor, the Engineer or Engineer’s Representative (ER), and Environmental Team (ET) and the Independent Checker (Environment) (IC(E)) with respect to the environmental monitoring and audit requirements during the course of the project;
· project organisation for the project;
· the basis for, and description of the broad approach underlying the EM&A programme;
· requirements with respect to the construction programme (as stated in Figure 2.6 of the EIA Report) schedule and the necessary environmental monitoring and audit programme to track the varying environmental impact;
· details of the methodologies to be adopted, including all field laboratories and analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance and quality control programme;
· the rationale on which the environmental monitoring data will be evaluated and interpreted;
· definition of Action and Limit levels;
· establishment of Event and Action plans;
· requirements for reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of non-compliance with the environmental criteria and complaints;
· requirements for presentation of environmental monitoring and audit data and appropriate reporting procedures; and
· requirements for review of EIA predictions and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures / environmental management systems and the EM&A programme.
1.4 For the purpose of this manual, the ET leader, who shall be responsible for and in charge of the ET, shall refer to the person delegated the role of executing the EM&A requirements.
1.5 In 1993 the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) commissioned a Sewerage Master Plan (SMP) study of the Outlying Islands. The areas studied included: Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and some other smaller islands to the west and south of Hong Kong. The SMP was completed in 1994 and made recommendations which included some improvements and extensions to the existing sewerage infrastructure.
1.6 Further to the SMP Study, Drainage Services Department (DSD) was commissioned by Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to carry out a Preliminary Project Feasibility Study (PPFS) for the Outlying Islands Sewerage Stage 1 Phase II in 1996. The Project which forms part of the Outlying Island Sewerage Project, includes the design and construction of sewerage at Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Lamma Island (Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan).
1.7 Package J, which is one of the packages under the Outlying Islands Sewerage Stage 1 Phase II, consists of provision of sewage treatment and disposal facilities as well as a sewerage system including pumping stations and rising mains to collect and transfer the sewage and wastewater arising from the Sok Kwu Wan catchment areas to the proposed sewage treatment and disposal facilities.
1.8 The Project Area is located within Picnic Bay (Sok Kwu Wan), at the eastern side of Lamma Island (Figure 1.1). It covers the coastal area along the southern part of Sok Kwu Wan stretching from Chung Mei to the west of Mo Tat Wan. The Project Area is rural in nature with the existing developments being predominantly village-type low-rise buildings. It embodies two small villages, Sok Kwu Wan Village and Chung Mei Village, with the former more densely developed with residential flats, seafood restaurants and retail outlets. As Sok Kwu Wan is easily accessible from the Hong Kong Island by means of regular ferry and kai to services, and pleasure crafts, this added convenience has attracted many visitors, including tourists and diners to the Project Area during the holidays and weekends. Also, there are a gazetted fish culture zone and a bathing beach at Mo Tat Wan in the Project Area.
1.9 The scope of this Project basically follows the recommendations made under the SMP Study. Minor modifications have been made taking into consideration of the updated population data and the increased technical information, subsequent to the completion of the SMP Study. The main components of this Project includes the following:
· Construction of approximately 1.4 km of gravity sewers;
· trench excavation for installation of underground sewer pipes along Chung Mei Village, Sok Kwu Wan Village and Mo Tat Road;
· modification of the existing combined stormwater system to separate drainage and sewerage systems;
· construction of three new sewage pumping stations, P1a, P1b and P2, with installed capacities (ADWF) of approximately 353 m3/day, 508 m3/day and 879 m3/day, respectively;
· construction of approximately 1.4 km rising main;
· construction of a full secondary level sewage treatment works (STW) with UV disinfection unit with an installed capacity (ADWF) of 940 m3/day;
· construction of a submarine effluent outfall of approximately 765 m.
1.10 The submarine sewage outfall is classified as designated project under Schedule 2 Part 1, F.6 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO). According to the draft Lamma Island Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/I-LI/3, a pumping station (P1a), some of the sewer alignments and the proposed sewage treatment works (STW) fall within Conservation Area (CA) and hence these works are also classified as designated projects under Schedule 2 Part 1, Q1 of the EIAO.
1.11 The main objectives of the EIA Study are to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from the construction and operation of the Project and related activities taking place concurrently, and to contribute to decisions on the overall environmental acceptability of the Project, after the implementation of environmental mitigation measures.
1.12 The key dates of the implementation programme of this Project are as below (Figure 1.2):
|
Detailed Design |
September 2003 to June 2004 |
|
Tendering |
July 2004 to November 2004 |
|
Construction |
December 2004 to August 2007 |
1.13 The following project is related to the Project:
· the Refuse Transfer Station (RTS) at Sok Kwu Wan is currently in operation and would be involved during the operation of the proposed STW. Sludge generated from the future STW be dewatered on-site and delivered to the RTS for transfer to nearby landfill.
1.14 The construction work would inevitably lead to dust (TSP) emissions, mainly from ground excavation for the underground sewer pipes, construction of the STW and pumping stations and, wind erosion. With the installation of 2m high solid fences around the construction site of pumping station P2, it was predicted that the TSP criteria would be satisfied at the ASRs.
1.15 Mitigation measures, including covering for stockpiles and a watering programme within the site, have been proposed and presented in the EIA Report. With implementation of the proposed dust suppression measures, good site practices and comprehensive dust monitoring and audit, the TSP levels at all ASRs would comply with the dust criteria. Dust monitoring requirements were recommended in Section 2 of this EM&A Manual to ensure the efficacy of the control measures.
1.16 As presented in Section 3 of the EIA Report, it was predicted that air quality at the ASRs would satisfy with the odour criteria with the proposed mitigation measures. Environmental monitoring is therefore considered not necessary during the operation phase.
1.17 Construction noise impacts from this Project were predicted at the NSRs identified in this EIA. Appropriate mitigation measures including use of silenced powered mechanical equipment, restriction on the number of plant, use of noise screening structures and manual working method are required in order to alleviate the impacts. Noise monitoring during construction phase will have to be carried out to ensure that such mitigation measures have been implemented properly. Details are provided in Section 3 of this EM&A Manual
1.18 As presented in Section 4 of the EIA Report, it is predicted no adverse impact from the Project is expected on the representative NSRs with the proposed mitigation measures implemented. Therefore, EM&A for operational noise impact is not required.
1.19 A water quality monitoring and audit programme would be conducted during dredging operations to verify whether or not impact predictions are representative, and to ensure that the dredging operations do not result in unacceptable impacts. When monitoring shows unacceptable water quality impact, appropriate mitigation measures, such as changes in the operation of marine works, would be introduced.
1.20 Water quality monitoring should be carried out at selected potentially affected sensitive receivers, to assess whether or not impacts follow the predictions made in the EIA. Section 4 of this EM&A Manual includes site-specific monitoring and auditing protocols for baseline and all stages of the dredging operations. Such protocols include but not limited to the locations of monitoring stations, parameters and frequencies for monitoring, monitoring equipment, data management procedures, and reporting of monitoring results.
1.21 Environmental audit specifications should be developed for all phases of the works, including procedures to ensure compliance with mitigation measures, environmental quality performance limits, and procedures for reviewing results and auditing compliance with specified performance limits.
1.22 As presented in Section 5 of the EIA Report, exceedances of TIN WQO limit were predicted during the operation of the Project. The monitoring of the TIN level is considered necessary during the first year after the commissioning of the Project.
1.23 It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the sediment are dredged, transported and disposed of in a manner that minimises the loss of contaminants either into solution or by resuspension. With the implementation of the mitigation measures for handling, transportation and disposal of dredged marine sediment as recommended in the EIA Report, no adverse impact would be anticipated during construction phase of the Project.
1.24 Waste management would be the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that all wastes produced during the construction of the Project are handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with good waste management practices, and EPD’s regulations and requirements. The mitigation measures recommended in the EIA Report should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor at the construction stage.
1.25 It was recommended that the waste arisings generated during the construction activities should be audited periodically to determine if wastes are being managed in accordance with approved procedures and the site Waste Management Plan. The audits should look at all aspects of waste management including waste generation, storage, recycling, transport and disposal. An appropriate audit programme would be to undertake a first audit near the commencement of the construction works, and then to audit on a monthly basis thereafter.
1.26 With the implementation of the mitigation measures such as use of closed grab dredger for all dredging, use of silt curtain and reduction in dredging rate as recommended to alleviate water quality impact, no adverse impact on subtidal ecology would be anticipated. Due to the limited scale of the Project and the minor degree of impacts caused, no ecological monitoring would be required.
1.27 As presented in the EIA report, mitigation measures such as use of closed grab dredger for all dredging and deployment of silt curtains are required in order to alleviate the impacts on fisheries. The impacts on fisheries resources would be monitored indirectly through the water quality EM&A programme.
1.28 As presented in the EIA report, mitigation measures during the detail design, tender preparation, construction and operation stage are required in order to alleviate the impacts on landscape and visual impacts. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the landscape and visual mitigation measures are fully implemented. It was recommended that the mitigation measures should be audited periodically to ensure they are fully implemented during construction phase.
1.29 The proposed project organisation and lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works are shown in Figure 1.3.
1.30 The leader of the Environmental Team shall be an independent party from the Contractor and have relevant professional qualifications, or have sufficient relevant EM&A experience subject to approval of the Engineer’s Representative (ER) and the EPD.
The duties are:
· employ an Environmental Team (ET) to undertake monitoring, laboratory analysis and reporting of environmental monitoring and audit;
· provide assistance to ET in carrying out monitoring;
· submit proposals on mitigation measures in case of exceedances of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
· implement measures to reduce impact where Action and Limit levels are exceeded; and
· adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with Section 10.12.
The ET Leader and the ET shall be employed to conduct the EM&A programme and ensure the Contractor’s compliance with the project’s environmental performance requirements during construction. The duties are:
· sampling, analysis and statistical evaluation of various monitoring parameters as required in the EM&A Manual;
· environmental site surveillance;
· audit of compliance with environmental protection, and pollution prevention and control regulations;
· monitor the implementation of environmental mitigation measures;
· monitor compliance with the environmental protection clauses/specifications in the Contract;
· review construction programme and comment as necessary;
· review construction methodology and comment as necessary;
· adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation, evaluation and identification of corrective measures in accordance with Section 10.12;
· liaison with Independent Checker (Environment) on all environmental performance matters, and timely submission of all relevant EM&A proforma for IC(E)’s approval;
· advice to the Contractor on environmental improvement, awareness, enhancement matters, etc., on site; and
· timely submission of the EM&A report to the Project Proponent and the Director of Environmental Protection.
The ET shall be led and managed by the ET leader. The ET leader should possess at least 7 years experience in EM&A and/or environmental management. An accreditation scheme is currently under development to standardize the qualifications of EM&A staff, and so accredited professional should be employed for the roles of ET leader as far as possible.
The duties are:
· supervise the Contractor’s activities and ensure that the requirements in the EM&A Manual are fully complied with;
· inform the Contractor when action is required to reduce impacts in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
· employ an IC(E) to audit the results of the EM&A works carried out by the ET; and
· adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with Section 10.12.
The Independent Checker (Environment) shall advise the Engineer’s Representative on environmental issues related to the project. The duties are:
· review and audit all aspects of the EM&A programme;
· validate and confirm the accuracy of monitoring results, monitoring equipment, monitoring locations, monitoring procedures and locations of sensitive receivers;
· carry out random sample check and audit on monitoring data and sampling procedures, etc (at not less than monthly intervals);
· conduct random site inspection (at not less than monthly intervals);
· audit the monitoring activities and results against the status of implementation of environmental protection measures on site (at not less than monthly intervals);
· review the effectiveness of environmental mitigation measures and project environmental performance;
· on a need basis, audit the Contractor’s construction methodology and agree the least impact alternative in consultation with the ET leader and the Contractor;
· adhere to the procedures to check complaint cases and the effectiveness of corrective measures in accordance with Section 10.12;
· review EM&A report submitted by the ET leader; and
· feedback audit results to ET by signing off relevant EM&A proformas.
The Independent Checker shall have project management experience in addition to the requirements of the ET leader stated above.
1.31 Sufficient and suitably qualified professional and technical staff shall be employed by the respective parties to ensure full compliance with their duties and responsibilities, as required under the EM&A programme for the duration of the Project.