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 and
operational phase of the proposed Project, namely “Expansion of Heliport
Facilities at MFT” (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 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 Background
1.5
At present, there is an elevated landing/take-off helipad located at the
rooftop of the Inner Pier of Macau Ferry Terminal (hereinafter referred to as
“MFT”) which can accommodate Class 1 performance helicopters up to the
12-passenger S76C+. Civil Aviation
Department (CAD) commissioned a consultancy study on Helicopter Traffic Demand
and Heliport Development in Hong Kong (hereinafter referred to as “Main Study”)
in 2001. The Main Study concluded
that expansion works for the existing heliport at MFT should be carried out as
soon as possible to meet the anticipated growth in cross-boundary helicopter services.
1.6
The Project is to expand the existing cross-boundary heliport at the
rooftop of the MFT by adding one landing/take-off pad and a new taxiway to
connect the existing and proposed helipadproposed new helipads
connecting taxiway to the existing helipad. Upon completion of the Project, there will be two helipads
operating concurrently at the MFT.
1.7
The MFT is a busy cross-boundary ferry terminal. The location of the proposed expansion
works at the existing heliport at the rooftop of the MFT are shown in Figure
1.1. The areas to the
immediate south of the proposed project site are mainly the commercial and
mixed commercial/residential buildings along Connaught Road Central, whereas
the areas to the north of the site are the MFT Outer Pier and Victoria Harbour.
1.8
The development and operation of the Project comprises the following
major items:
1.9
The locations of the existing and proposed landing/take-off helipads and
the proposed taxiway are shown in Figure 1.1. Other heliport supporting facilities may be located within
the MFT Building or its rooftop.
1.10
The expansion of the existing helipad would not cause significant
environmental impacts during construction phase due to limited scale of
works. As there would be no change
in the allowable flight frequency and the types of operated helicopters, no
adverse impacts would be expected during operation phase of the existing
helipad. Also, advised by CAD, the
Sheung Wan Helipad project was suspended.
The assessment in the EIA Report therefore focused on the
impact from operation of proposed helipadproposed new helipad
and cumulative impact from both existing and proposed helipadproposed new helipad
at MFT Building.
1.11
The construction works for the expanded heliport are tentatively
estimated to commence in mid 2006 for completion in end 2007.
1.12
The following sub-sections summarize the EM&A requirements
recommended in the EIA Report.
Noise Impact
Construction Phase
1.13
As insignificant construction noise impacts would be anticipated, the
EIA Report concluded that noise monitoring was not necessary. However, environmental audit was
recommended to monitor the implementation of good site practices during the
construction phase.
Operation Phase
1.14
The predicted helicopter noise levels from the proposed helipadproposed new helipad
would comply with relevant criteria in the EIA Report. It was recommended to conduct noise
monitoring for the first year after the commencement of operation of the proposed
helipadproposed
new helipad and the requirement of extension of noise monitoring will be
reviewed based on the previous impact monitoring results and the number of
complaints received. Details are
provided in Section 2 of this EM&A Manual.
Water Quality Impact
Construction Phase
1.15
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.
1.16
Implementation of regular site audits is recommended to ensure that the
recommended mitigation measures are 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
1.17
No adverse operational water quality impact is identified. Environmental monitoring and audit for
water quality during operational phase is considered unnecessary.
Air Quality Impact
Construction Phase
1.18
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
1.19
No adverse operational air quality impact is identified. Environmental monitoring and audit for
air quality during operational phase is considered unnecessary.
Waste
Management Impact
1.20
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.
1.21
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.
1.22
The proposed Project organisation and lines of communication with
respect to environmental protection works for designated project are shown in Figure
1.2.
1.23
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.
1.24
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 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 of this Manual.
1.25
During
operation phase, the
heliport / helicopter operator would responsible to submit noise mitigation
measures to IC(E) and CAD for further action, and CAD would instruct the heliport / helicopter
operator to implement corrective actions.
1.26
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.