9.1 This EIA Study has focused on the assessment of the identified potential impacts and recommended necessary mitigation measures associated with the construction and operation of the Project.
9.2 According to EPD’s EM&A Guidelines for Development Projects in Hong Kong, the need of an EM&A programme for this Project is concluded with the following reasons:
· the project has the potential of causing environmental impacts which are or are likely to be prejudicial to the health or well being of the flora, fauna if the recommended mitigation measures are not properly implemented; and
· the project is situated in area of high conservation value.
9.3 To ensure effective and timely implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, it is considered necessary to develop EM&A procedures and mechanisms in order to alleviate those residual impacts to comply with the requirements of the EIAO-TM.
9.4
This chapter provides
an outline of the EM&A requirements for the Project. A detailed scope of
work will be provided in the EM&A Manual, prepared in accordance with Annex
21 of the EIAO-TM and EPD’s EM&A Guidelines
for Development Projects in
9.5 The objectives of carrying out EM&A for the Project include the following:
· to provide a database against which any short or long term environmental impacts of the Project can be determined
· to provide an early indication should any of the environmental control measures or practices fail to achieve the acceptable standards
· to monitor the performance of the Project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures
· to verify the environmental impacts predicted in this EIA
· to determine project compliance with regulatory requirements, standards and government policies
· to take remedial action if unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts arise
· to provide data to enable an environmental audit.
9.6 The following sections summarise the recommended EM&A requirements. Details of EM&A are provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
Construction Phase
9.7 An EM&A programme is recommended to be established to check compliance with legislative requirements. All the recommended mitigation measures should be incorporated into the EM&A programme for implementation during construction.
Operation Phase
9.8 No mitigation measures or environmental monitoring are considered necessary during the operation phase of the Project.
9.9 The implementation and maintenance of the landscape compensatory planting measures is a key aspect and should be checked to ensure that the proposal are fully realised. It is recommended that implementation and operation maintenance of all the proposed landscape and visual mitigation measure are included within the EM&A. During the Construction and operation stages, EM&A will comprise auditing of the compensatory planting and 12 months planting establishment in the form of monthly site inspection. The operation stage auditing shall be undertaken for one year during the Contractor’s maintenance period.
Construction Phase
9.10 All mitigation measures proposed in the EIA and implemented by the Contractor should be audited by a registered landscape architect, as a member of the Environmental Team, on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures. Site inspection should be undertaken on a monthly basis throughout the construction period to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented, and should focus on the following items:
· Protection of existing vegetation, erection of protective measures
· Soil erosion control
· Tree planting operations, checking method statement against specification requirements
9.11 In particular, all retained trees within the working boundary should be regularly checked during the construction phase. Any trespass by the main contractor, including damage to the tree canopy edge, should be reported to the Engineer.
Operation Phase
9.12 Monthly site inspections should be undertaken to ensure the compensatory planting and horticultural maintenance operations are properly established during the 12 month establishment period. Inspection auditing should focus on the following horticultural maintenance operations:-
· Inspection for fungal / viral attacks and pest infestations
· Litter collection
· Watering
· Weeding removal
· Replacement of defective planting material
· Grass cutting / groundcover trimming and removal of arisings
· Fertilising application as required in specification
· Aeration / mulching application
9.13 Construction works of this Project, in addition to the concurrent construction with another Project “Agreement No. CE 28/2004 (GE) Landslide Preventive Works at Po Shan, Mid-levels – Design and Construction” on-going during the same period within the captioned area which will also be carried out by the Project Proponent, would cause potential cumulative construction noise impacts at some noise sensitive receivers identified in this EIA Study.
9.14 Appropriate mitigation measures would be required in order to alleviate the impacts to meet the EIAO-TM criteria. Noise monitoring during construction phase would be considered necessary to ensure that such mitigation measures would be implemented properly. Details of EM&A are provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
Construction Water Quality Impact
9.15 The water quality assessment concluded that the identified water quality impacts could be minimized by implementing the recommended mitigation measures for the construction works, such as control measures on site runoff and drainage from the works areas and proper site management and good housekeeping practices. No unacceptable residual water quality impact was expected and hence water quality monitoring was considered not necessary during the construction phase. Any effluent discharges from the site would be required to comply with the terms and conditions of a discharge licence, issued by EPD, under the WPCO. It would be recommended that regular site inspections be undertaken to inspect the construction activities and works areas in order to ensure the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.
Construction Air Quality Impact
9.16 With implementation of the proposed dust suppression measures stipulated in the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation, good site practices and regular dust monitoring and audit, the potential dust impact would be minimized and comply with HKAQO.
9.17 Dust monitoring requirements are recommended in the EM&A Manual to ensure the efficacy of the control measures.
9.18 Waste management will 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 8 should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor at the construction stage.
9.19 It is recommended that the 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 the 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.