1                         Introduction

 

1.1                   Background

ASB Biodiesel (Hong Kong) Ltd (the Project Proponent) proposes to construct and operate a 100,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) biodiesel plant (the Project) in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate (TKOIE).  The plant will use a multi-feedstock which consists of waste cooking oil (WCO), oil and grease recovered from grease trap waste (GTW), Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) ([1]) and animal fats.   The proposed biodiesel plant not only offers a convenient recycling outlet for GTW and WCO but also converts the oil and grease recovered from these wastes into useful products.    The Project also offers a cleaner alternative to diesel fuel to the Hong Kong market.

ERM-Hong Kong, Ltd (ERM) has been commissioned by the Project Proponent to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study in accordance with the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-178/2007) issued under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and the guideline on assessment methodology provided in the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM).  

This EIA Report addresses the nature and extent of the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the proposed biodiesel plant.  The assessments in this EIA Study are conducted using well-proven and internationally accepted methods based on reasonable worst-case conditions.

1.2                   Objectives

The Project is classified as a Designated Project under the Schedule 2 Part I of the EIAO and therefore the construction and operation of the Project will require an Environmental Permit (EP).   The overall objectives of the EIA Study are to provide information on the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts arising from the Project; to recommend appropriate mitigation measures to control the potential environmental impacts so that it complies with the requirements of the EIAO-TM, and to confirm the environmental acceptability of the Project.

The specific objectives of the EIA Study described in the EIA Study Brief are listed below:

(i)        to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the Project;

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

(iii)     to consider alternative options with a view to avoiding and minimizing the potential environmental impacts to sensitive receivers;

(iv)    to evaluate the potential risk of off-site population due to the Project operation as shown in the Project Profile (including but not limited to biodiesel production process, storage and pipeline transfer of raw materials, immediate products and final products and Dangerous Goods involved);

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

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

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

(viii) 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 of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(ix)    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;

(x)      to investigate the extent of the 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

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

1.3                   Organization of the Report 

The remainder of this report is organised as follows.

·           Section 2 discusses various construction and operation arrangements considered in the design in order to avoid or minimise adverse environmental impacts;

·           Section 3 describes the proposed construction and operation activities;

·           Section 4 presents the air quality assessment;

·           Section 5 presents the noise assessment;

·           Section 6 presents the water quality assessment;

·           Section 7 presents the marine ecological assessment;

·           Section 8 presents the hazard to life assessment;

·           Section 9 presents the environmental monitoring and auditing requirements; and

·           Section 10 presents the conclusions and summary of the environmental outcomes.

 



([1])      PFAD is a fatty acid by-product of a palm oil refinery process.  It is a liquid at about 60-80oC.