9                     ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDIT

Introduction

9.1               This section further elaborates the recommended environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) requirements for the construction and operation phases of the Project, based on the assessment findings of the various environmental issues.  The objectives of carrying out EM&A for the Project include the following:

                Provide a database against which any short or long term environmental impacts of the Project can be determined.

                Provide an early indication should any of the environmental control measures or practices fail to achieve the acceptable standards.

              Monitor the performance of the Project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.

              Verify the environmental impacts predicted in the EIA Study.

              Determine project compliance with regulatory requirements, standards and government policies.

              Take remedial action if unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts arise.

              Provide data to enable an environmental audit.

 

9.2               Details of the specific requirements are presented in a stand-alone EM&A Manual. 

 

Air Quality Impact

9.3               An Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme is recommended to be conducted during construction phase so as to check whether it is in compliance with legislative requirement.  Odour monitoring is also proposed during the operation phase to ensure that the odour criteria are satisfied at the ASRs.  Details of monitoring programme are presented in the EM&A Manual.

 

Noise Impact

9.4               An EM&A programme for control of construction noise will be established. The recommended mitigation measures should be incorporated into the EM&A programme for implementation during the construction period. Details of the programme are provided in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.  There is no EM&A requirement for operation phase of the Project as no adverse noise impact was predicted.

 

Water Quality Impact

9.5               The water quality assessment concluded that the identified water quality impacts during the construction phase could be minimized by implementing the recommended mitigation measures to control site runoff and drainage from works areas.  No unacceptable residual water quality impact was expected.  Effluent discharge from the works areas to the public drain would be required to comply with the terms and conditions of a discharge licence issued by EPD under the WPCO.  The monitoring of water quality in the nearest WSR of Tsing Lun Nullah (located approximately 250m away) during the land-based construction activities for the Project was therefore not considered warranted.  However, it is 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.

 

Waste Management Implications

9.6               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 6 should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor at the construction stage.

 

9.7               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 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.

 

Landscape and Visual Impact

9.8               The EIA has recommended landscape and visual mitigation measures to be implemented during construction and operation phases of the Project.  The EM&A is required to ensure that the proposed mitigation measures are effectively implemented.

 

9.9               Baseline monitoring is required to record baseline conditions of the site, in particular, changes of each landscape resource, landscape character area and the view conditions of each visually sensitive receiver.  Parameters used to describe changes in each of the above should be the same as in Section 7 of EIA.

 

9.10            The baseline monitoring should be conducted as a one-off site survey prior to commencement of any construction works.

 

9.11            During construction phase, all mitigation measures proposed in the EIA should be implemented by the Contractor and would be audited by a landscape auditor of the Environment Team, on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures.  Site inspection should be undertaken at least once every month throughout the construction period.

 

9.12            The landscape auditor should also audit the operation phase mitigation measures proposed in the EIA report and as depicted in the Landscape Mitigation Plan to ensure that they are fully implemented within the Project design and construction.

 

9.13            The detail monitoring and audit requirements are presented in detail in the EM&A Manual.

 

Cultural Heritage

9.14            Site 4A of Tuen Mun Area 54 is recommended to be added to the programme of archaeological survey and rescue excavation to be undertaken by the AMO of LCSD for the proposed development at Tuen Mun Area 54 prior to the commencement of construction works.  As the archaeological survey cannot be conducted in this EIA stage due to land access constraint, the proposed works area for the TM54SPS which is located within Site 4A would be assessed in the future archaeological survey and rescue excavation.