11
ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS
11.1.1
Findings of
the EIA indicate that noise, air quality, water quality, cultural heritage and
ecology requires monitoring and audit at various phases of this DP to meet the
objectives listed in Section 11.1.3. An appropriate environmental monitoring
and audit (EM&A) programme is vital part of the environmental management
and control of the Project. This chapter provides an outline of the EM&A
requirements for the Project, highlighting the environmental parameters to be
monitored, timing of the monitoring works and the frequency of the monitoring
and audit work and the locations that require monitoring.
11.1.2
Technical
details of the monitoring process, such as specifications of equipment,
definition of limit/action levels and event/action plans, reporting and
complaint handling procedures will be provided in a stand-alone EM&A
Manual, prepared in accordance with Annex 21 of the TMEIA and EPD’s EM&A Guidelines for Development Projects
in Hong Kong.
11.1.3
The objectives
of the monitoring and audit process are:
(i)
to clarify and identify
sources of pollution, impact and nuisance arising from the works;
(ii)
to establish a record of
change associated with the implementation of a project;
(iii)
to verify all or selected
parameters measured are in compliance with legal and contract specifications,
internal policies and standards;
(iv)
to provide an early warning
system for impact prevention;
(v)
to provide a database of
environmental parameters against which to determine any short term or long term
environmental impacts;
(vi)
to propose timely,
cost-effective and viable solutions to actual or potential environmental
issues;
(vii)
to setup event and action
plans and determine the degree and scope of any necessary remedial measures in
case of exceedance of compliance, for which environmental monitoring forms the
basis, or the recommendation of environmental controls in the event that the
environmental objectives are not achieved;
(viii)
to monitor performance of
the mitigation measures and to assess their effectiveness and, whenever
necessary, identify any further need for additional measures;
(ix)
to verify the EIA predicted
impacts and compare the impact predictions with actual impacts for the purpose
of assessing of impact predictions in EIA;
(x)
to collate information and
evidence for use in public and Government consultation; and
(xi)
to audit the environmental
performance.
11.2.1
Based on
the findings and recommendations of the EIA, EM&A procedures are required
for different environmental issues during the design, construction and
operational phases of the project implementation and a summary of the
requirements for each of the environmental parameters is detailed in Table 11.1
below.
Summary of EM&A Requirements
|
Environmental Issue |
Design Phase of DP |
Construction Phase of DP |
Operational Phase of DP |
|
Air Quality |
|
4 |
|
|
Noise |
|
4 |
|
|
Ecology |
|
4 |
4 |
|
Water Quality |
|
4 |
|
|
Cultural Heritage |
|
4 |
|
|
Waste |
|
4 (site
audit only) |
|
|
Landscape and Visual |
|
4 (site
audit only) |
|
4 Requires
monitoring and audit.
11.2.2
The
requirements of monitoring under each environmental issue are discussed in the
following sections and summarised in Table 11.2 below.
Framework for Environmental Monitoring Plan
|
Environmental Issue |
Period |
Parameters |
Monitoring Frequency and Duration |
|
Noise |
Baseline |
Leq (30 min.) L10 and L90 measures should also be logged for
reference |
One consecutive week not more than 3 months prior construction |
|
|
Construction Phase Impact |
Leq (30 min.) from 0700-1900 on normal work days. No construction
works expected during restricted hours (i.e. no work after 1900 or on General
Holidays) |
Once every calendar week |
|
Dust |
Baseline |
24-hour total suspended particulates (TSP) (All locations) 1-hr TSP (All specified locations) |
Daily (2 consecutive weeks) Three times daily during time of peak dust levels (2 consecutive
weeks) |
|
|
Construction Phase Impact |
24-hr TSP 1-hr TSP |
Once every 6-days. Three times every 6 days |
|
Ecology |
Baseline |
a) Update habitat maps to show current conditions throughout the monitoring area. b) Maintain a vegetation photographic record within the monitoring area. The photographic record should be sufficiently detailed to allow identification of individual trees (where these are isolated) or the extent of tree clumps (where there is a closed tree canopy). |
One-off survey prior construction |
|
|
|
c)
Conduct a walk-through survey
of the monitoring areas in order to identify changes which have taken place
since the EIA survey (in particular the status of Ho Pui Egretry) which can
be predicted to possibly or probably have had an impact on fauna distribution
or numbers. |
|
|
|
Construction Phase |
a) Vegetation Monitoring: (i) Monthly monitoring should be conducted along the boundary of the works area to confirm that there are no adverse impacts on habitats outside the site. (ii) A photographic record should be made at six monthly intervals and checked against the baseline record. b) Fauna Monitoring: (i) Monthly monitoring of all bird numbers including wetland species and species identified as being of conservation importance. Habitats utilized should be recorded. |
Monthly Six month intervals Monthly |
|
|
|
(ii) Monitoring of the Ho Pui and Ma On Kong egretries for the period from March to August (i.e. spanning the March to July breeding season). Number of active nests, species and number of birds present and, breeding stage (nest building, incubation, feeding young) should be recorded. |
(Ho Pui egretry) Bi-weekly monitoring from
March to May. If no egret nest
found by May, monitoring change to monthly from June to August. If egret nest found, bi-weekly
monitoring carry on till August. (Ma On Kong egretry) Monthly monitoring from March to August. |
|
|
|
(iii)
Flight line surveys to record
feeding areas and habitats used by breeding egrets should be undertaken twice
per month during the period from April to June. |
Twice per month from April
to June |
|
|
Operational Phase Impact |
Operational monitoring should be undertaken within the monitoring areas (Figure 11.5) for a period of one year upon completion of the construction. The monitoring should cover the following: a) Vegetation Establishment: (i) Quarterly establishment should be monitored along the stream sections lined with gabions to confirm continued recovery of vegetation cover through dry and wet seasons. |
For a period of one year upon completion of construction. Quarterly |
|
|
|
b) Fauna Monitoring: (i) Monthly monitoring of all bird numbers; for wetland species and species identified as being of conservation importance. Habitats utilized should be recorded and birds utilizing the channel, the gabion banks and its immediate environs should be distinguished from those using the wider survey area. Monitoring should be by means of a walk-through survey along the length of the channel. |
Monthly |
|
|
|
(ii) Monthly monitoring of the Ho Pui and Ma On Kong egretries for the period from March to August. Number of active nests, species and number of birds present and, breeding stage (nest building, incubation, feeding young) should be recorded. Counts should be undertaken so as not to cause disturbance to nesting egrets; details of breeding stage should only be collected where these can be undertaken with no additional disturbance being caused. |
Monthly from March to August |
|
|
|
(iii) Flight line surveys to record feeding areas and habitats should be undertaken twice per month during the period from April to June. |
Twice per month from April to June |
|
Water |
Baseline |
Dissolved Oxygen pH Turbidity Temperature Suspended Solids Ammonia Zinc |
Three days per week for 4 weeks, not more than 3 months before
construction. Interval between each day of monitoring carried out shall not
be more than 36 hours. |
|
|
Construction Phase Impact |
Dissolved oxygen pH Turbidity Temperature Suspended Solids Ammonia Zinc |
Once a day, 3 days per week. Interval between each day of monitoring
carried out shall not be more than 36 hours. |
|
Cultural Heritage |
Construction Phase Impact |
Condition survey of historical grave near Ma On Kong (KT13-02-02) |
Once a month during construction phase. In case of signs of damage,
this frequency shall be increased to once a week. |
|
Landscape and Visual |
Baseline |
Record baseline changes with reference to the recorded conditions in
the EIA |
One-off site survey before construction |
|
|
Construction Phase Impact |
Ensure the proposed mitigation measure are properly implemented |
Every two weeks as part of regular site audit |
11.3.1
The
construction programme of KT13 is scheduled to commence in mid 2007 for
completion in mid 2010. The Environmental
Team Leader shall make reference to the actual works progress and program
during the construction stage to schedule the EM&A works, and the
Contractor shall provide the respective information to the ET Leader for
formulating the EM&A schedule.
11.4.1
If the
proposed sites identified under this programme are not available or accessible,
and alternative monitoring stations have to be proposed, the monitoring
locations should be chosen based on the following criteria:
(a)
at locations close to the
major site activities which are likely to receive impacts;
(b)
close to planned or existing
sensitive receivers; and
(c)
for monitoring locations
located in the vicinity of the sensitive receivers, care should be taken to
cause minimal disturbance to the occupants or existing environment during
monitoring.
11.4.2
The
Contractor’s ET leader shall agree with the Engineer Representative (ER) and
Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) on the monitoring position and the
corrections adopted. Once the positions for the monitoring stations are chosen,
the baseline monitoring and the impact monitoring shall be carried out at the
same positions.
Air
Quality
11.4.3
Table 11.3
lists the air quality monitoring locations that should be monitored under this
EM&A programme. Figures 11.1 presents the locations of these air quality
monitoring locations.
Air Quality Monitoring Stations
|
Monitoring Location |
Description |
Rationale |
|
ASR 14 (A1) |
Ho Pui Village |
Close to
upstream works |
|
ASR 15 (A2) |
Ma On |
Closest to
proposed works, most sensitive to air quality impact during construction |
Noise
11.4.4
Table 11.4
lists the noise monitoring locations that should be monitored under this
EM&A programme. Figure 11.2 presents the locations of these noise
monitoring locations.
Noise Monitoring Stations
|
Monitoring Location |
Description |
Rationale |
|
NSR 13b
(N1) |
North of
Ma On |
Closest to proposed works under Section A |
|
NSR 13d
(N2) |
|
Closest to proposed works under Section B |
|
NSR 13f
(N3) |
|
Closest to proposed works for bypass culvert |
11.4.5
The
monitoring station shall normally be at a point 1m from the exterior of the
sensitive receivers building facade and be at a position 1.2m above the ground.
If there is problem with access to the normal monitoring position, an
alternative position may be chosen, and a correction to the measurements shall
be made. For reference, a correction of +3dB(A) shall be made to the free field
measurements.
Water
Quality
11.4.6
Table 11.5
lists the water quality monitoring locations that should be monitored under
this EM&A programme. Figure 11.3a and b present the locations of these
water quality monitoring locations.
Water
Quality Monitoring Stations
|
Monitoring Location |
Description |
Purpose of Placing Sampling Location |
|
W1 |
Upstream of all works proposed under KT13 and
of the stream |
Establish background levels of parameters to
be monitored, control station |
|
W2 |
In a short section left unmodified to retain
dry weather flow |
Monitor and audit potential impacts from
Section B works to unmodified stream. |
|
W3 |
Upstream of the section to be left unmodified
for ecological benefits |
Monitor and audit potential impacts from
Section B works to unmodified stream section, to ensure quality of water
supplying the egretry and associated wetland habitats |
|
W4 |
Upstream of the discharge point of a local
brook into the main KT13 stream |
Establish background levels of parameters to
be monitored for this incoming water, control station. |
|
W5 |
Upstream of the discharge point of a second
local brook into the main KT13 stream |
Establish background levels of parameters to
be monitored for this incoming water, control station. |
|
W6 |
Immediately above the discharge point to Kam
Tin Main Drainage Channel |
Monitor and audit potential impacts from all
KT13 works, check water quality discharging to Kam Tin River Main Drainage
Channel. |
Sediment
Quality
11.4.7
Table 11.6
lists the sampling locations for sediment quality characterisation. It is recommended
that the Engineer should review and if necessary update the estimated quantity
of contaminated sediments likely to arise from the excavation of the KT13
stream. Such information including
the sediment disposal programme should be submitted to EPD and the secretary of
the MFC as required under the "General Allocation Conditions for Marine
Borrow Areas and Mud Disposal Sites". Figure 11.3a and b shows locations of
these monitoring stations.
Sediment Quality Monitoring Stations
|
Monitoring Location |
Description |
|
KT13A |
Previous sediment quality sampling locations. Reused to verify whether
previous estimation of contaminated sediment quantity is still valid |
|
KT13B |
|
|
KT13C |
|
|
KT13D |
Cultural
Heritage
11.4.8
Table 11.7
lists the historic building and structures that requires monitoring during
construction phase to present any possible damage that might occur. Figure 11.4
shows the locations of these historic buildings and structures locations.
Cultural Heritage Resources Requiring Condition Survey
during Construction Phase
|
Cultural Heritage Resources |
Description |
|
Historical Grave (KT13-02-02) |
Qing Dynasty Grave located at less than 15 m from works areas of
bypass culvert. Surveys are required to monitor the stability of the grave |
Ecology
11.4.9
Table 11.8
list the locations representing ecological resources that required monitoring
during construction and operation phase of this DP. Figure 11.5 shows the
location of these resources and their relation to the ecological study area. Technical specification of the monitoring
equipment are described in the EM&A Manual.
Ecological Resources Requiring EM&A under this Project
|
Ecological Resources Representative Monitoring Locations |
Description |
|
Approximately 60m on either
side of the existing channel as well as the bypass culvert. Within these
areas monitoring should focus on the area around the Ho Pui egretry and
habitats of at least moderate ecological importance. In addition, monitoring
should be undertaken at the Ma On Kong egretry. The Ma On Kong egretry is
outside the survey corridor but monitoring should be conducted in order to
identify any adverse effects on the breeding egrets. |
To identify any adverse
effects on breeding egrets and to provide data on the success of use of
gabions linings to facilitate colonisation of the channelised sections of the
stream by riparian flora and fauna. More specifically, to: · Identify construction and operational phase impacts on habitats of ecological importance outside the site boundary; · Identify construction and operational phase impacts on the breeding egrets, including their use of riparian habitats within the monitoring corridor; · Identify operational phase impacts on vegetation and fauna within and outside the construction site boundary; · Evaluate performance of construction and operational stage mitigation measures. |
Landscape
and Visual
11.4.10
Site audit
should be carried out once every two weeks throughout the construction period
to ensure the proposed construction phase landscape and visual impact
mitigation measures are properly implemented.