9.
SITE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
Site Inspection
9.1
Site inspection provides a direct
means to initiate and enforce specified environmental protection and pollution
control measures. These shall be
undertaken routinely to inspect construction activities in order to ensure that
appropriate environmental protection and pollution control mitigation measures
are properly implemented. The site
inspection is one of the most effective tools to enforce the environmental
protection requirements at the works area.
9.2
The ET Leader shall be responsible for
formulating the environmental site inspection, the deficiency and action
reporting system, and for carrying out the site inspection works. Within 21 days of the construction contract
commencement, he shall submit a proposal for site inspection and deficiency and
action reporting procedures to the Contractor for agreement, and to the ER for
approval. The ET’s proposal for
rectification would be made known to the IC(E).
9.3
Regular site inspections shall be
carried out at least once per week. The
areas of inspection shall not be limited to the environmental situation,
pollution control and mitigation measures within the site; it should also
review the environmental situation outside the works area which is likely to be
affected, directly or indirectly, by the site activities. The ET Leader shall make reference to the
following information in conducting the inspection:
(i) EIA recommendations on environmental
protection and pollution control mitigation measures;
(ii) works progress and programme;
(iii) individual works methodology proposals
(which shall include proposal on associated pollution control measures);
(iv) contract specifications on environmental
protection;
(v) relevant environmental protection and
pollution control laws; and
(vi) previous site inspection results.
9.4
The Contractor shall keep the ET
Leader updated with all relevant information on the construction contract
necessary for him to carry out the site inspections. Inspection results and associated recommendations for
improvements to the environmental protection and pollution control works shall
be submitted to the IC(E) and the Contractor within 24 hours. The Contractor shall follow the procedures
and time-frame as stipulated in the environmental site inspection, and the
deficiency and action reporting system formulated by the ET Leader, to report
on any remedial measures subsequent to the site inspections.
9.5
Ad hoc site
inspections shall also be carried out if significant environmental problems are
identified. Inspections may also be
required subsequent to receipt of an environmental complaint, or as part of the
investigation work, as specified in the Action Plan for environmental
monitoring and audit.
Compliance with Legal and Contractual Requirements
9.6
There are contractual environmental
protection and pollution control requirements as well as environmental
protection and pollution control laws in Hong Kong with which construction
activities must comply.
9.7
In order that the works are in
compliance with the contractual requirements, all works method statements
submitted by the Contractor to the ER for approval shall be sent to the ET
Leader for vetting to see whether sufficient environmental protection and
pollution control measures have been included.
The implementation schedule of mitigation measures recommended
for the designated project of Siu Ho Wan WTW Extension is summarised in
Appendix A.
9.8
The ET Leader shall also review the
progress and programme of the works to check that relevant environmental laws
have not been violated, and that any foreseeable potential for violating laws
can be prevented.
9.9
The Contractor shall regularly copy
relevant documents to the ET Leader so that works checking can be carried
out. The document shall at least
include the updated Works Progress Reports, updated Works Programme, any
application letters for different licence / permits under the environmental
protection laws, and copies of all valid licences / permits. The site diary shall also be available for
the ET Leader's inspection upon his request.
9.10
After reviewing the document, the ET
Leader shall advise the IC(E) and Contractor of any non-compliance with
contractual and legislative requirements on environmental protection and
pollution control for them to take follow-up actions. If the ET Leader's review concludes that the current status on
licence / permit application and any environmental protection and pollution
control preparation works may result in potential violation of environmental
protection and pollution control requirements, he shall also advise the
Contractor and the ER accordingly.
9.11
Upon receipt of
the advice, the Contractor shall undertake immediate action to correct the
situation. The ER shall follow up to
ensure that appropriate action has been taken in order to satisfy contractual
and legal requirements.
Environmental Complaints
9.12
Complaints shall be referred to the ET
Leader for action. The ET Leader shall
undertake the following procedures upon receipt of any complaint:
(i) log complaint and date of receipt onto the
complaint database and inform the IC(E) immediately;
(ii)
investigate the complaint to determine its validity, and
assess whether the source of the problem is due to works activities;
(iii)
identify mitigation measures in consultation with the IC(E)
if a complaint is valid and due to works;
(iv)
advise the Contractor if mitigation measures are required;
(v) review the Contractor's response to
identified mitigation measures, and the updated situation;
(vi) if the complaint is transferred from the
EPD, submit interim report to the EPD on status of the complaint investigation
and follow-up action within the time frame assigned by the EPD;
(vii) undertake additional monitoring and audit to
verify the situation if necessary, and review that circumstances leading to the
complaint do not recur;
(viii) report investigation results and subsequent
actions to complainant (if the source of complaint is transferred from EPD, the
results should be reported within the timeframe assigned by the EPD);
(ix) record the complaint, investigation, the
subsequent actions and the results in the monthly EM&A reports.