Introduction
7.1
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 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 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.
7.2
The following section summarises
the recommended EM&A requirements for the Project. Details of the specific requirements are
provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
Noise Impact
Construction Phase
7.3
As insignificant construction
noise impacts would be anticipated, noise monitoring was not considered
necessary. However, environmental audit
was recommended to monitor the implementation of good site practices during the
construction phase.
Operation
Phase
7.4
The predicted helicopter noise
impacts from the proposed new helipad were shown to be acceptable. However, it was recommended to conduct noise
monitoring for six years for the first year after
the commencement of operation of the proposed new helipad. Real-time reporting of monitoring data for
the Project through an internet website is required. The
EM&A programme and requirements during the operation phase are presented in
the stand alone EM&A Manual. The extension of helicopter
noise monitoring will be reviewed after one year operation of the proposed new
helipad.
Water Quality
Impact
Construction
Phase
7.5
The construction phase water
quality impact would be temporary and localised during construction. No unacceptable residual water quality
impacts would be expected during the construction phase of the Project,
provided that all the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.
7.6
Implementation of regular site
audits is recommended to ensure that the recommended mitigation measures are to
be properly undertaken during the construction phase of the Project. It can
also provide an effective control of any malpractices and therefore achieve
continual improvement of environmental performance on site.
Operation
Phase
7.7
Water quality impact due to
operational stage effluent would be minimized through design and operational
practices as recommended in ProPECC PN 5/93. No operational water quality
monitoring and audit is therefore recommended.
Air Quality
Impact
Construction Phase
7.8
With the implementation of
appropriate mitigation measures stipulated in the Air Pollution Control
(Construction Dust) Regulation, dust levels at all ASRs would be expected to
comply with the dust criteria. Dust monitoring
during the construction stage was considered not necessary given the very
limited scale of construction activities which could be a potential source of
construction dust. However, site audits
are required to ensure that the dust control measures presented in the EIA
Report are properly implemented.
Operation
Phase
7.9
No adverse air quality impact
arising from the operation of proposed new helipad would be identified. Requirement for environmental monitoring and
audit is considered unnecessary.
Waste
Management Implications
7.10
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 6 should form the basis of the site Waste Management
Plan to be developed by the Contractor at the construction stage.
7.11
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