11.1.1 This section further elaborates the requirements of environmental
monitoring and audit (EM&A) for the construction and operation phases of
the Project, based on the assessment results of the various environmental
issues. The objectives of carrying out
EM&A for the Project include the following:
· provide a
database against which any short or long term environmental impacts of the
Project can be determined;
· provide an early
indication should any of the environmental control measures or practices fail
to achieve the acceptable standards;
· monitor the
performance of the Project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures;
· verify the
environmental impacts predicted in the EIA Study;
· determine the
Project compliance with regulatory requirements, standards and government
policies;
· take remedial
action if unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts arise; and
· provide data to
enable an environmental audit.
11.1.2 The following section summarises the recommended EM&A
requirements for the Project. The recommended EM&A
programme and environmental mitigation measures for
construction and operation of Siu Ho Wan WTW Extension, which is classified as a designated project under
EIAO, would be under the control of the Environmental Permit. The proposed environmental mitigation measures and EM&A
requirement for non-designated project including construction &
operation of Siu Ho Wan Raw Water Booster Pumping Station, demolition &
reprovisioning of the Pui O Raw Water Pumping Station, uprating of the Pui O
No. 2 Raw Water Pumping
Station and laying of two sections of 1200 mm diameter raw water mains at Pui O would be administratively
implemented and would not be under the control of the Environmental Permit. Details of the specific requirements
are provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
Construction
Phase
11.2.1 Potential dust impacts would be generated from site clearance,
excavation, materials handling, concreting operation and wind erosion. The construction work is controlled by the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust)
Regulation, and mitigation measures such as watering are required under the
regulation to limit its dust emission.
It was predicted that the TSP criteria would be satisfied at the
ASRs. Dust monitoring requirements have
been recommended in the EM&A Manual to ensure that the mitigation measures
are to be properly implemented.
Operation Phase
11.2.2 No operational air quality would be expected and
therefore no monitoring and audit is required during operation phase.
11.3.1 Construction noise impacts from this Project were expected at the
village house in vicinity of construction site at Pui O during laying raw water mains, demolition and
reprovisioning of
Pui O Raw Water Pumping Station.
Appropriate mitigation measures would be required were recommended to
alleviate the impacts to meet the EIAO-TM criteria. Noise monitoring during construction phase would
havewere
recommended to be carried out to ensure that such
mitigation measures would be implemented properly.
11.3.2 The construction activities would be carried out during daytime
(between 0700 and 1900 hours). If there
is construction work undertaken in restricted hours, measurements would be
carried out for the following periods:
·
between 1900 and 2300 hours;
·
between 2300 and 0700 hours of next
day; and
·
between 0700 and 1900 hours on Sunday
or public holidays.
11.3.3 Noise measurement should be undertaken at all monitoring station for
a 30-minute period during the daytime and a 5-minute period during restricted hours
when the noisiest activities are being carried out. Type 1 sound level meters, which comply with the International
Electrochemical Commission (Publications 651:1979 and 804:1985), must be used
for carrying out the noise measurement.
11.3.4 To establish the prevailing background noise level, one Leq (30
minutes) measurement, obtained between 0700 and 1900 hours of a normal
weekdays, and three consecutive Leq (5 minutes) measurements,
obtained from each monitoring period (between 1900 and 2300 hours, and between
2300 and 0700 hours), are required.
11.3.5 Baseline monitoring to establish the background noise environment
would be required and should be carried out for at least 14 consecutive days
prior to the commencement of the Project.
During the construction phase, impact monitoring would be required in
order to assess whether operations on site are in compliance with construction
noise criteria stipulated in EIAO-TM.
11.3.6 Detail construction noise monitoring requirements have been
recommended in the EM&A Manual.
11.4.1 The potential water quality impacts arising from the construction
activities for the proposed extension of Siu Ho Wan WTW have been
assessed. The primary concern with
regard to water quality would be earthworks, demolition works and the control
of construction site runoff and drainage.
The water quality assessment concluded that the identified water quality
impacts could be controlled by implementing the recommended mitigation
measures. No unacceptable residual
water quality impact was expected. Any
effluent discharges from the site would be required to comply with the terms
and conditions of a discharge licence, issued by EPD, under the WPCO. Water quality monitoring during the
construction phase was therefore not considered warranted for the Project. However, it was recommended that regular
site inspections be undertaken to inspect the construction activities and works
areas in order to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.
Construction Phase
11.5.1 The ecological assessment concluded that no adverse ecological
impacts from the Project would be expected on ecology of the Siu Ho Wan and Pui
O Assessment Area with the proper implementation of mitigation measures during
construction phase. However, audit is
required to ensure that the mitigation measures would be implemented properly.
Operation Phase
11.5.2 Following any transplantation of Pavetta
hongkongensis and Aquilaria sinensis
individuals, regular monitoring of the trees and seedlings should be conducted
to check on the health and condition of the plants. Monitoring should cover the
12-month period following transplantation, monitoring conducted at least twice
a month for the first four months after transplantation, and once a month for
the remaining eight months. Monitoring should be conducted by a suitably
qualified botanist/horticulturalist appointed by the Project Proponent. If
audit records indicate that the transplanted plants are not establishing
properly, the botanist/horticulturalist should recommend and undertake measures
to rescue the plants.
11.6
Landscape
and Visual Impact
Construction Phase
11.6.1 Landscape and visual impact assessments concluded that with
effective mitigation measures, there would be no significant adverse landscape
and visual effects caused by the proposed Project in Siu Ho Wan and Pui O
sites.
11.6.2 Implementation of mitigation measures in terms of architectural
finishes and sympathetic design of structures during construction phase is
required to be audited by a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) to ensure the
mitigation measures are implemented properly.
Operation Phase
11.6.3 Landscape and visual impact during the operation phase would be
negligible with the proper implementation of compensatory planting works, and
reinstatement of disturbed land. A Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) shall
be employed to ensure the mitigation measures are implemented properly.
11.7
Cultural Heritage
Construction Phase
11.7.1
There will be no
impacts on areas of known or potential archaeological sites with the adoption
of proposed alignment for the raw water mains at Pui O. EM&A programme is
not required
11.7.2
There will be no
impacts on the identified Built Heritage resources as they are located at a
sufficient distance of the proposed works, except for the SHW-01 at
Pui O Lo Wai Tsuen. Mitigation measures in the form
of a temporary fenced off buffer zone in proximity to a shrine at Pui O Lo Wai
Tsuen with allowance for public access should be provided as far as practicable
as the demolition and reprovisioning works for the Pui O Raw Water Pumping
Station may restrict access or affect the structure. In case of site constraint, the existing perimeter fence at Pui O
Raw Water Pumping Station could be incorporated to protect the shrine and
should form the limit of the buffer zone.Mitigation measures in the form
of a temporary fenced off buffer zone with allowance for public access (minimum
1 m) should be provided around the shrine as the demolition and reprovisioning
works for the Pui O Raw Water Pumping Station may restrict access or damage the
structure. These mitigation measures
would be incorporated in the contract.
Operation Phase
11.7.3
There will be no
impacts arising from the proposed works during the operation phase on both
Archaeological and Built Heritage Resources within the study areas. EM&A programme is not required.
11.8
Waste Management
11.8.1 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 the recommended good waste management
practices and EPD’s regulations and requirements. The mitigation measures recommended in Section 10 should form the
basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor at
the construction stage.
11.8.2 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, transport and
disposal. The audits should also check
that any chemical wastes generated during maintenance of construction equipment
and vehicles are not stored within the site of the Siu Ho Wan WTW and the Pui O
Pumping Stations. An appropriate audit programme would be to undertake a first
audit near the commencement of the construction works, and then to audit on a
quarterly basis thereafter. In addition, the routine site inspections
should check the implementation of the recommended good site practices and
other waste management mitigation measures.