1. introduction

1.1 Background

1.1.1 A Study Brief (No. ESB-037/1999) for a similar Project of a different Project title namely “Tsuen Wan Road Upgrading” was issued under the EIAO on 14 September 1999. The current application for a new study brief with a new project title was made as Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) considers that part of the project scope has been changed while the new project title can better reflect the scope of the project.

1.1.2 An application (No. ESB-141/2006) for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study brief under Section 5~~(7)~~(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was submitted by CEDD on 9 February 2006 with a Project Profile (No. PP-277/2006). According to Section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the Director of Environmental Protection (the Director) issued a new EIA Study Brief (ESB-141/2006) in March 2006 to CEDD to carry out an EIA study.

1.1.3 The Project title for the current EIA study is named as “Tsuen Wan Bypass, Widening of Tsuen Wan Road between Tsuen Tsing Interchange and Kwai Tsing Interchange and Associated Junction Improvement Works”,( hereinafter known as the “Project”). Figure 2-1 shows site boundary and proposed roadworks of the Project.

1.2 Purpose and Scope of the EIA

1.2.1 The EIA is concerned with the environmental issues associated with the proposed upgrading and widening of the Tsuen Wan Road (TWR). Scope of the Project is described in Chapter 2. The Project Profile prepared by CEDD, and subsequently assessed by Environmental Protection Department (EPD), indicated that the proposals comprise a Designated Project (DP) under Schedule 2, A.1 of the EIAO: “A road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor or district distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to existing roads”. Under the requirements of the EIAO, the EIA is undertaken in support of an application for an Environmental Permit (EP) to construct and operate the DP. In undertaking the EIA, the following components are addressed according to the requirements stated in the new EIA Study Brief:

· Noise Impact – construction noise and operational noise such as road traffic noise and fixed noise sources;

· Air Quality Impact – construction phase air quality impact and operation phase air quality impact due to future road traffic;

· Water Quality Impact – construction phase waste water treatment and management;

· Waste Management Implications – construction phase waste analysis and management and land contamination;

· Landscape and Visual Impact;

· Landfill Gas Hazard;

· Hazard to Life;

· Ecological Impact;

· Impact on Cultural Heritage; and

· Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Requirements.

1.2.2 Purpose of the EIA study is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from the construction and operation of the Project and related activities that take place concurrently. This information will contribute to decisions by the Director on:

a) the overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the Project;

b) the conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences wherever practicable; and

c) the acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are implemented.

1.2.3 As detailed in the latest EIA Study Brief, objectives of the EIA are as follows:

a) to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements for carrying out the Project;

b) to identify and describe elements of the community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and / or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including natural and man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;

c) to provide information on the consideration of alternatives to avoid and minimize potential environmental impacts to sensitive uses; to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of each of different options; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part environmental factors played in the selection of preferred option(s);

d) to identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

e) to identify and quantify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

f) to identify any negative impacts on site of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

g) to propose the provision of mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;

h) to investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;

i) to identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) and the cumulative effects expected to arise during the construction and operation phases of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

j) to identify, assess and specify methods, measures and standards, to be included in the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project which are necessary to mitigate these environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable levels;

k) to investigate the extent of secondary environmental impacts that may arise from the proposed mitigation measures and to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study, as well as the provision of any necessary modification; and

l) to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.

1.2.4 The EIA has been conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Technical Memorandum on the EIA Process of the EIAO (EIAO-TM).

1.2.5 This EIA report has also reported on the need of the Project and addressed alternative alignment and design options in Chapter 2.

1.3 EIA Study Area

1.3.1 The Assessment Areas for the purpose of this EIA study, as specified in the EIA Study Brief, are as follows:

a) Noise Impact – assessment area generally includes all areas within 300m from the Project boundary, could be reduced accordingly, subject to the agreement of the Director, if the first layer of noise sensitive receivers (NSRs) closer than 300m from the outer Project limit provides acoustic shielding to those receivers at distance away from the Project;

b) Air Quality Impact – assessment area generally be defined by a distance of 500m from the boundary of the Project site, yet shall be extended to include major emission sources that may have a bearing on the environmental acceptability of the Project. Yeung Uk Road and Tuen Mun Road have be taken into account as emission sources;

c) Water Quality Impact – study area includes all areas within 300m from the Project boundary, and covers relevant sensitive receivers that have a bearing on the environmental acceptability of the Project within the Western Buffer Water Control Zone;

d) Land Contamination – study area includes all land lots / sites within the Project boundary which, due to their past or present land uses, are potentially contaminated sites;

e) Landscape and Visual Impact – study areas include all areas within 100m from the Project boundary, and to be defined by the visual envelope of the Project;

f) Landfill Gas Hazard – mainly at former Gin Drinker’s Bay Landfill (Kwai Chung Park);

g) Hazard to Life – mainly at Yau Kom Tau Water Treatment Works (YKTWTW);

h) Ecological Impact – study area (500m from the Project Boundary) includes all lands lots / site within the Project boundary, or likely to be directly associated with the construction and operation of the Project; and

i) Impact on Cultural Heritage – all sites of cultural heritage that might be adversely affected by the impact due to the construction and operation of the Project.

1.4 Structure of the Report

1.4.1 This report presents the results obtained from the assessment and evaluation of the environmental impacts that may arise during the construction and operation of the Project. Following impact prediction, requirements for environmental remedial measures to address any unacceptable environmental impacts are presented. This report also highlights where environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) programmes are considered to be required during construction and operation for each environmental impact assessment component. Specific requirements for EM&A are presented in a separate EM&A Manual.

1.4.2 In accordance with the Study Brief, this EIA report includes the following components:

Chapter 2 - Project Description

Chapter 3 - Noise Impact

Chapter 4 - Air Quality Impact

Chapter 5 - Water Quality Impact

Chapter 6 - Waste Management Implications

Chapter 7 - Landfill Gas Hazard

Chapter 8 - Landscape and Visual Impact

Chapter 9 - Hazard to Life

Chapter 10 - Ecological Impact

Chapter 11 - Cultural Heritage Impact

Chapter 12 - Environmental Monitoring and Audit

Chapter 13 - Conclusions

Chapter 14 - Implementation Schedule of Recommended Mitigation Measures