This Section
describes the requirements for
environmental monitoring and audit during the construction and operation of the
Project. With respect to the identified potential impacts and
the nature (including general site audits during construction phase, noise
monitoring for both construction and operation phases, and bird collision
monitoring during the operation phase, see below) and frequency (weekly,
biweekly or monthly) of the monitoring and audit to be undertaken, it is
considered that real-time reporting of the monitoring data is not applicable. The Implementation Schedule, containing the recommended
mitigation measures, monitoring and audit requirements, and implementation
agent of the mitigation measures for the Project, is presented in Annex D.
In view of the nature and small scale of the Project,
no environmental monitoring is required during construction except for noise
monitoring. The detailed
requirements are provided in Section
10.2.2.
10.2.1
Site Audits
Monthly site audits will be undertaken jointly by the
site representative of CAPCO and the contractor during the construction phase
to ensure that the site runoff and construction waste are managed in accordance
with the good construction site practices described in Sections 7 and 8,
respectively and that the plant inventory used on site is consistent with the
assumptions used in the EIA Report.
10.2.2
Noise
Noise monitoring will be carried out during the
construction phase to ensure compliance with the acceptable noise levels at the
identified NSRs.
Weekly noise monitoring (LAeq (30 min) ([1])) will be undertaken at two
locations, Hei Ling Chau
Addiction Treatment Centre (Annex) (NSR N2) and Staff Quarters (NSR N3). Noise monitoring at NSR N3 will be
discontinued after the completion of the enabling works at this location.
10.2.3
Ecology
The
direct ecological impact due to the construction of the Project is expected to
be low, and will not contribute to any potential cumulative impact.
Reduction
of wildlife species abundance/diversity and ecological carrying capacity is
expected to be minimal due to the loss of a very small area of natural habitat,
and the temporary nature and small scale of the construction works. To mimimise
the loss of Common Rat Snake and Bodagek’s Burrowing
Lizard due to the development of wind turbine, a search of Common Rat Snake and
Bodagek’s Burrowing Lizard within the Project Site
and along the impacted sections of Hei Ling Chau Road will be conducted prior to commencement of the
construction works. Due to the
small size of the Project Site and given that there are no optimal habitats for
Common Rat Snake and Bodagek’s Burrowing Lizard, one
day-time search is considered sufficient.
The surveyor(s) should actively search within the Project Site and along
the impacted sections of
Noise and bird collision monitoring will be carried out during the
operation of the wind turbine.
10.3.1
Noise
As wind speed will vary throughout the
year and hence the potential noise impact at the identified noise sensitive
receivers (NSR). It is recommended
to monitor night-time noise levels at the nearest NSR (ie Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre
(Annex) (N2)) at monthly intervals for the first
12 months of the operation of the wind turbine. The monitoring frequency will be increased
to biweekly intervals during the higher wind speed months (ie
winter months (from December to January) and storm season (July) within the
first 12-month monitoring period.
Two
types of measurement will be carried out:
(a)
Broadband measurement of LAeq (t). Note that the measurement period (t)
shall normally be 30 minutes (six consecutive 5-minute measurements). However, if it can be demonstrated that
the noise level is constant, then a shorter measurement period (no less than 5
minutes) may be used.
(b)
Frequency analysis between
31.5 and 16 kHz measured at 1/3 octave intervals. If the noise emanating from the wind
turbine is found to be tonal (as defined in IND-TM)
then an appropriate tonal correction will be applied to the measured noise level
(MNL) to achieve the corrected noise level (CNL). This CNL will be compared with the noise
criterion.
10.3.2
Ecology
Other than the possibility of impacts to birds, no operational impacts
are expected as the wind turbine is located in the developed area, which had
been identified as a low quality habitat.
Bird collision will be monitored at monthly
intervals for the first 12 months of operation to assess the impact (via collisions) of the wind turbine on birds, with
a particular focus on species of conservation interest (ie
Black Kite, Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Crested Goshawk). An area of 50m radius will be searched
around the base of the wind turbine.
After this 12-month period, the monitoring results will be
reviewed. Should any bird mortality
or injury be confirmed as due to the operation of the wind turbine, EPD and
AFCD will be notified.
A simple Event and Action Plan during the first 12 months of
operation has been proposed (refer to Table
5.12a).
([1]) Six consecutive 5-minute
measurements.