Purpose of the Manual
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 “Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works Extension –
Investigation” (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 1.3) 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;
·
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.
Project Description
Project
Background
1.5
The existing Siu Ho Wan Water
Treatment Works (hereinafter referred to as Siu Ho Wan WTW) and the associated
raw water and treated water transfer and distribution systems were commissioned
in 1997 to provide treated water capacity of 150,000 m3/day. It provided treated water to the Hong Kong
International Airport at Chek Lap Kok and the initial phases of North Lantau
New Town and Discovery Bay.
1.6
Water Supplies Department (WSD)
commissioned consultants to conduct a Preliminary Project Feasibility Study
(hereinafter referred to PPFS) in respect of the project “Siu Ho Wan Water
Treatment Works Extension” (hereinafter referred to as the Project) in January
1999. The PPFS summarized the
requirements of the Project and described the studies undertaken and the new
works required, together with the outline designs for principal elements of the
Project, cost estimate, land requirements and implementation programme.
Project
Location and Scope
1.7
The site for the proposed Siu Ho Wan
WTW extension is within its existing boundary and the proposed site for Siu Ho
Wan Raw Water Booster Pumping Station is located immediately next to the
entrance of Siu Ho Wan. Their locations
are illustrated in Figure 1.1.
1.8
The Pui O Raw Water Pumping Station
and Pui O No. 2 Raw Water Pumping Station are located next to the South Lantau
Road with 0.5 and 0.7 hectares, respectively.
The proposed raw water mains alignment would be under the existing South
Lantau Road and its location is shown in Figure 1.2.
1.9
The scope of the Project includes the
following:
·
Extension of the existing Siu Ho Wan WTW within the existing Siu Ho Wan
WTW compound from a capacity of 150,000 m3/day to 300,000 m3/day;
·
Uprating
of the treated/fresh water pumping capacity in the existing Siu Ho Wan Raw
Water and Fresh Water Pumping Station within the existing Siu Ho Wan WTW
compound from a capacity of 150,000 m3/day to 300,000 m3/day;
·
Construction of the proposed Siu Ho Wan Raw Water Booster Pumping
Station and the laying of the associated water mains;
·
Demolition and reprovisioning of the Pui O Raw Water Pumping Station;
·
Uprating of the Pui O No. 2 Raw Water Pumping Station;
·
Laying of two sections, approximately 2 km long, of 1200mm diameter raw
water mains at Pui O.
1.10
Under the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), the proposed Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment
Works Eextension is a
Schedule 2 designated project, which is classified as Category E.2. An Environmental Permit is required for construction and
operation for the proposed extension of the existing Siu Ho Wan WTW. The EM&A programme and recommended environmental mitigation measures for the designated
project would
be executed under the EIAO. For the works for Siu Ho Wan Raw Water Booster Pumping Station, Pui O raw water pumping
stations and
Pui O raw
water mains
as mentioned in Section 1.9, which are non-designated projects, would not be controlled under the requirement of the Environmental Permit. The proposed environmental mitigation
measures and EM&A
programme for non-designated projects would be administratively implemented.
1.11
The main objectives of this 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.
Construction
Programme
1.12
The Project is scheduled for
commencement in December 2007 for completion and commissioning in December
2011.
1.13
The tentative construction programme
is presented in Figure 1.3.
Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements
Air Quality Impact
Construction
Phase
1.14
The construction work would inevitably
lead to dust (TSP) emissions, mainly from site clearance, excavation, materials
handling, concreting operation and wind erosion. It was predicted that the TSP criteria would be satisfied at the
ASRs.
1.15
Dust mitigation measures stipulated in
the Air Pollution Control (Construction
Dust) Regulation have been proposed and presented in the EIA Report to
control dust emission. 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 are recommended in Section 2 of this EM&A Manual to
ensure that the mitigation measures are properly implemented.
Operation Phase
1.16
There is no air quality impact
expected during the operation phase of the Project. EM&A for operational air quality impact would not be
required.
Noise
Impact
Construction Phase
1.17
Construction noise impacts from this
Project were predicted at residential village area including Lo Uk Tsuen, Pui O
San Wai Tsuen, Pui
O Lo Wai Tsuen and Bui O Public School during laying of raw water mains, and
demolition and construction of the Pui O Raw Water Pumping Station. Appropriate
mitigation measures including use of silenced powered mechanical equipment and
installation of movable noise barriers were recommended would be required
to alleviate the impacts to meet the EIAO-TM criteria. It was proposed to conduct Nnoise monitoring
during the construction phase should be carried out to
ensure that the mitigation measures are implemented properly. Details are provided in Section 3 of this
EM&A Manual.
Operation Phase
1.18
In accordance with the assessment
results, no adverse impact from the Project was expected on the representative
NSRs. Therefore, EM&A programme for
operational noise impact was not required.
Water
Quality Impact
Construction
Phase
1.19
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.
Operation Phase
1.20
The EM&A programme for operational
water impact is considered unnecessary as no residual impact would be
expected.
Ecological
Impact
1.21
The ecological assessment concluded
that minimal ecological impacts from proposed works at Siu Ho Wan and no
long-term residual impact on ecology of the Pui O Assessment Area would be
expected with implementation of proper mitigation measures recommended in the
EIA Report for the Project. Site audit
during the construction phase is required to ensure the recommended mitigation
measures are properly implemented.
Details EM&A requirements are provided in Section 5 of this Manual.
Landscape
and Visual Impact
1.22
The
EIA Report for the Project has recommended that the
implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual measures within the
construction site including protection of existing resources, mitigation
planting and surface treatment of structures be included within the EM&A
programme. Details of the EM&A are
presented in Section 6 of
this Manual.
Impact
on Cultural Heritage
1.23
The
assessment of potential impact on cultural heritage concluded that no areas of
archaeological interest were identified during construction and operation
phases of the Project. As such,
monitoring and audit would not be required.
1.24
As
the majority of heritage resources are located at a sufficient distance from
the proposed works at Pui O, no adverse impacts associated with the
construction works would be expected.
However, mitigation measures are proposed around in proximity to a the
shrine at Pui O Lo Wai Tsuen during demolition and reprovisioning works for the
Pui O Raw Water Pumping Station. Site audit during the construction phase is required to ensure the
recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented. Details EM&A requirements are provided
in Section 8 of this Manual.
Waste
Management Impact
1.25
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 for the Project should form the basis of the
site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor at the
construction stage.
1.26
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. 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.
Project Organisation
1.27
The proposed pProject organisation and
lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works for designated project are
shown in Figure 1.4.
1.28
The leader of the ET shall be an
independent party from the Contractor and shall possess at least 10 years
experience of EM&A and have relevant professional qualifications, which
shall include being an Accredited Monitoring Professional of the Hong Kong
Institute of Environmental Impact Assessment (HKIEIA), subject to approval of
the EPD. The Independent Checker
(Environment) (IC(E)) shall have the same experience and professional qualifications
as stipulated above for the ET Leader.
1.29
The responsibility of respective
parties are:
The
Contractor
·
provide information/advice to the ET regarding works activities which
may contribute, or be continuing to the generation of adverse environmental
conditions;
·
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 whenever Action and Limit levels
are exceeded;
·
implement the corrective actions instructed by the Engineer;
·
accompany joint site inspection undertaken by the ET; and
·
adhere
to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with
Section 9 of this Manual.
Environmental
Team
·
monitor various environmental parameters as required in the EM&A
Manual;
·
analyse the environmental monitoring and audit data and review the
success of EM&A programme to cost-effectively confirm the adequacy of
mitigation measures implemented and the validity of the EIA predictions and to
identify any adverse environmental impacts arising;
·
carry out site inspection to investigate and audit the Contractors'
site practice, equipment and work methodologies with respect to pollution
control and environmental mitigation, and effect proactive action to pre-empt
problems;
·
audit and prepare audit reports on the environmental monitoring data
and site environmental conditions;
·
report
on the environmental monitoring and audit results to the IC(E), Contractor, the
ER and EPD or its delegated representative;
·
recommend suitable mitigation measures to the Contractor in the case of
exceedance of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action
Plans; and
·
adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in
accordance with Section 9 of
this Manual.
Engineer
or Engineer’s Representative
·
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;
·
participate
in joint site inspection undertaken by the ET; and
·
adhere
to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in accordance with
Section 9 of this Manual.
Independent
Checker (Environment)
·
review
the EM&A works performed by the ET (at not less than monthly intervals);
·
audit the monitoring activities and results (at not less than monthly
intervals);
·
report the audit results to the ER and EPD in parallel;
·
review
the EM&A reports (monthly and quarterly summary reports) submitted by the
ET;
·
review the proposal on mitigation measures submitted by the Contractor
in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and
·
adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in
accordance with Section 9 of
this Manual.
1.30
Sufficient and suitably qualified professional
and technical staff should 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.