1.                   INTRODUCTION

 

Purpose of the Manual

 

1.1               The purpose of this Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual is to guide the set up of an EM&A programme to ensure compliance with the EIA study recommendations, to assess the effectiveness of the recommended mitigation measures and to identify any further need for additional mitigation measures or remedial action.  This Manual outlines the monitoring and audit programme for the proposed Project.  It aims to provide systematic procedures for monitoring, auditing and minimizing environmental impacts associated with Project activities.

 

1.2               Hong Kong environmental regulations and the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines have served as environmental standards and guidelines in the preparation of this Manual.  In addition, the EM&A Manual has been prepared in accordance with the requirements stipulated in Annex 21 of the EIAO-TM.

 

1.3               This Manual contains the following information:

Ÿ             Responsibilities of the Contractor, the Engineer or Engineer’s Representative (ER), and Environmental Team (ET), Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) with respect to the environmental monitoring and audit requirements during the course of the project.

Ÿ             Project organisation for the project

Ÿ             The basis for, and description of the broad approach underlying the EM&A programme

Ÿ             Requirements with respect to the construction programme schedule and the necessary environmental monitoring and audit programme to track the varying environmental impact

Ÿ             Details of the methodologies to be adopted, including all field laboratories and analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance and quality control programme

Ÿ             The rationale on which the environmental monitoring data will be evaluated and interpreted

Ÿ             Definition of Action and Limit levels

Ÿ             Establishment of Event and Action plans

Ÿ             Requirements for reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of non-compliance with the environmental criteria and complaints

Ÿ             Requirements for presentation of environmental monitoring and audit data and appropriate reporting procedures

Ÿ             Requirements for review of EIA predictions and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures / environmental management systems and the EM&A programme

 

1.4               For the purpose of this manual, the ET leader, who shall be responsible for and in charge of the ET, shall refer to the person delegated the role of executing the EM&A requirements.

 

Project Location

 

1.5               The West Island Line (WIL) extends the existing MTR Island Line (ISL) to the west of Sheung Wan Station. It comprises approximately 3km of new route in underground tunnels and three new underground stations. The overall plan of the proposed WIL scheme is shown in Figure 1.1.

 

Construction Programme

 

1.6               The proposed Project are tentatively scheduled and shown in Table 1.2.  The construction programme is presented in Appendix 2.2 of the EIA report. 

 

 

 

Table 1.2   Tentative Construction Works Schedule of the Project

 

 

Tentative Commencement Date

Tentative Completion Date

Kennedy Town (KET)

February 2009

March 2014

University (UNI)

May 2009

November 2013

Sai Ying Pun (SYP)

September 2009

August 2013

 

Project Organisation

 

1.7               The roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the construction phase EM&A process and the organisational structure of the organisations responsible for implementing the EM&A programme are outlined below. The proposed project organisation and lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works are shown in Figure 1.2.

 

Engineer or Engineer’s Representative (ER)

 

1.8               The Engineer is responsible for overseeing the construction works and for ensuring that the works undertaken by the Contractor in accordance with the specification and contractual requirements. The duties and responsibilities of the Engineer with respect to EM&A may include:

Ÿ             Supervise the Contractor’s activities and ensure that the requirements in the EM&A Manual are fully complied with;

Ÿ             Inform the Contractor when action is required to reduce impacts in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;

Ÿ             Participate in joint site inspection undertaken by the ET; and

Ÿ             Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.

 

Independent Environmental Checker (IEC)

 

1.9               The IEC shall advise the Engineer’s Representative on environmental issues related to the project. The IEC shall possess at least 7 years experience in EM&A.  The duties and responsibilities of the IEC are:

Ÿ             Review the EM&A works performed by the ET;

Ÿ             Audit the monitoring activities and results;

Ÿ             Review the EM&A reports submitted by the ET;

Ÿ             Review the proposal on mitigation measures submitted by the Contractor in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and

Ÿ             Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation as required in the EM&A Manual.

 

The Contractor

 

1.10            The Contractor shall report to the Engineer. The duties and responsibilities of the Contractor are:

Ÿ             Provide assistance to ET in carrying out monitoring;

Ÿ             Submit proposals on mitigation measures in case of exceedances of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;

Ÿ             Implement measures to reduce impact where Action and Limit levels are exceeded; and

Ÿ             Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation as required in the EM&A Manual.

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Team

 

1.11            The ET Leader and the ET shall be employed to conduct the EM&A programme and ensure the Contractor’s compliance with the project’s environmental performance requirements during construction.  The ET Leader shall be an independent party from the Contractor and have relevant professional qualifications, or have sufficient relevant EM&A experience subject to approval of the EPD. The ET shall be led and managed by the ET leader.  The ET leader shall possess at least 7 years experience in EM&A.  The ET team shall audit the mitigation measures implemented by the Contractor on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures. The duties and responsibilities of the ET are:

Ÿ              Monitor various environmental parameters as required in the EM&A Manual;

Ÿ             Analyse the environmental monitoring and audit data and review the success of EM&A programme to cost-effectively confirm the adequacy of mitigation measures implemented and the validity of the EIA predictions and to identify any adverse environmental impacts arising;

Ÿ             Carry out site inspection to investigate and audit the Contractors' site practice, equipment and work methodologies with respect to pollution control and environmental mitigation, and effect proactive action to pre-empt problems;

Ÿ             Audit and prepare audit reports on the environmental monitoring data and site environmental conditions;

Ÿ             Report on the environmental monitoring and audit results to the IEC, Contractor, the ER and EPD or its delegated representative;

Ÿ             Recommend suitable mitigation measures to the Contractor in the case of exceedance of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and

Ÿ             Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation as required in the EM&A Manual.