10.1.1
This section further elaborates the requirements of
EM&A for the Project, based on the assessment results of various
environmental issues.
10.1.2
The objectives of carrying out EM&A for the Project
include the following:
·
to
provide a database against which any 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; and
·
to
provide data to enable an environmental audit.
10.1.3
The following sections summarise the recommended
EM&A requirements. Details of
EM&A are provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.
10.2.1
Negligible
dust and odour impact would be anticipated during dredging activities. Air quality / odour monitoring is not
required. A regular site audit
(weekly audit) is proposed to ensure the compliance of the relevant
requirements of the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation and
the implementation of the proposed odour mitigation measure.
10.4.1
A
water quality monitoring and audit programme will be conducted during dredging
operations to verify whether or not impact predictions are representative, and
to ensure that all the recommended mitigation measures are properly
implemented. When monitoring shows
unacceptable water quality impact, appropriate mitigation measures, such as
changes in the operation of works, will be introduced.
10.5
Waste Management Implications
10.5.1
Waste
management will be the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that all wastes
produced during the dredging operation are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance
with the recommended good waste management practices and EPD’s regulations and
requirements. The waste management
measures recommended in this EIA report should form the basis of the site Waste
Management Plan to be developed by the contractor at the construction stage.
10.5.2
It
is recommended that the waste arisings generated during the dredging works
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. In addition, the routine site
inspections should check the implementation of the recommended good site
practices and other waste management mitigation measures.
10.6
Impact on Cultural Heritage
10.6.1
It
is recommended that the dredging contractor should monitor the dredge
spoils. A procedure for briefing
the dredging contractors about the possible presence of marine archaeological
resources during dredging and a procedure for handling them have been developed
in consultation with the AMO, to ensure compliance with the AMO standards. A qualified marine archaeologist needs
to be on standby to provide specialist advice, if required, but the monitoring
can be carried out by a member of staff on the dredging barge.
10.7.1
To avoid and minimise any direct loss of those small
and isolated coral colonies found in the Project area, it is recommended to
translocate those potential directly affected corals, as far as practicable, to
the nearby suitable habitats such as
10.8.1
No
unacceptable fisheries impact would be anticipated during dredging
activities. No monitoring programme
specific for fisheries would be required.