Potential ecological impacts associated with the
construction and operation of the wind turbine have
been identified in the EIA Report. The following measures have been developed in
accordance with this approach to minimise and
mitigate the impacts.
4.2.1
Measures for Common Rat Snake
and Bodagek’s
Burrowing Lizard
A search of the Common Rat Snake and Bodagek’s Burrowing Lizard will be undertaken within the
Project Site and along the impacted sections of Long and Short Access Routes
immediately prior to the 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)
will actively search within the Project Site and along the impacted sections of
Long and Short Access Routes and pay special attention to the leave litters and
rocks. All Common Rat Snake and Bodagek’s Burrowing Lizard found will be caught by hand and
translocated to the shrubland
at the north of the Hei Ling Chau
Correctional Centre (Annex), which is the less disturbed shrubland
habitat within the Study Area, immediately after the search. The search and translocation works will be
undertaken by a qualified ecologist with relevant experience in faunal
translocation works.
4.2.2
Measures for Controlling
Construction Site Runoff
Surface run-off from the construction site will be
directed into existing drainage channel via adequately designed sand/silt
removal facilities such as sand traps, silt traps and sediment basins. Channels, earth bunds or sand bag barriers
will be provided on site to properly direct stormwater
to such silt removal facilities.
4.2.3
Good Construction Site
Practice
The following good construction site practice will be
implemented to avoid potential water quality impacts.
·
Erect
fences along the boundary of the Project Site before the commencement of works
to prevent vehicle movements, and encroachment of personnel, onto adjacent
areas;
·
Regularly
check the work site boundaries to ensure that they are not breached and that
damage does not occur to surrounding areas; and,
·
Reinstate
temporary impacted area, after completion of construction works, ie
through on-site tree/shrub planting.
Tree/shrub species used should make reference from those in the
surrounding area and/or Annex B of the EIA Report.
4.3
Environmental
Monitoring and Audit
4.3.1
Construction
The implementation of the
ecological mitigation measures stated in Section
4.2 above should be checked as part of the environmental monitoring and audit
procedures during the construction period.
4.3.2
Operation
Monitoring for bird collision during operation phase
is required. The purpose of the
monitoring is to confirm that the operation of the wind turbine at Hei Ling Chau will not cause
adverse impact (via collisions) on birds.
During the operation of the wind turbine, monitoring will be undertaken
at monthly intervals for a period of 12 months.
An area of 50m radius will be searched around the base of the wind
turbine. After this 12-month period, the
monitoring result will be reviewed.
Should any bird mortality or injury be confirmed as due to the wind
turbine, relevant government departments (ie
Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department (AFCD)) would be notified. If the bird collision event persists more
than 3 times, CAPCO will discuss remedial action with government and implement
any agreed actions to solve the event.
The effectiveness of the proposed remedial action will be verified and
evaluated with discussion with EPD/AFCD.
A simple Event and Action Plan during the first 12
months of operation of the wind turbine is recommended in Table 4.3a.
Table 4.3a Event and Action Plan during Operation of
Wind Turbine
|
Monitoring |
Event |
Action |
|
|
Criteria |
|
Environmental Team Leader/ Environmental Manager (employed by CAPCO’s Operator CLP Power) |
CAPCO’s Operator CLP Power |
|
Bird Collision |
Bird injury or mortality recorded in the
vicinity of the wind turbine (50m radius from the wind turbine) and confirmed
due to the operation of the wind turbine. |
1. Notify CAPCO’s Operator CLP Power and
check the wind turbine site to find out the cause of the event(s). |
1. Identify and report the cause(s) of the event if bird
mortality or injury confirmed due to the operation of the wind turbine. |
|
|
|
2.
Undertake weekly bird monitoring (observing the influence of the
wind turbine on the behaviour of birds).
The normal monitoring schedule will be resumed if the cause(s) of the
event have been identified. |
2. Submit proposals to relevant government departments (ie EPD and AFCD) for remedial action and implement the
action to solve the event if the collision event persists more than 3 times. |
|
|
|
|
|
If, after the 12-month
monitoring period, insignificant number of bird collisions have been reported
then the monitoring will be ceased, as it will have been confirmed that the wind
turbine is not having an adverse impact on bird species.