1                     Introduction

1.1               Project Background

1.1.1          Tuen Mun Road Town Centre Section (TMRTCS) is bounded between Lam Tei Interchange in the north and Wong Chu Road in the south.  This road section is already heavily used in peak hours.  The general public and members of Tuen Mun District Council have expressed concerns on potential congestion of TMRTCS after opening of the Hong Kong – Shenzhen Western Corridor and the Deep Bay Link in July 2007.  To address the public’s concern, HyD have commissioned the Feasibility Study on Traffic Improvement to TMRTCS in December 2005.  The study recommended dual 3-lane widening of sections of TMRTCS. The Project is to widen about 1.5km of Tuen Mun Road from Yan Oi Town Square to Wong Chu Road Interchange from dual-two to dual-three carriageway and to construct a 450m long flyover from Tsing Hoi Circuit to Tuen Mun Road Kowloon bound. The total road length of the Project is about 1.8km.

1.1.2          Based on the recommendation of the above Feasibility Study, HyD appointed Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd. in May 2007 to undertake the Investigation, Design and Construction of Traffic Improvements to TMRTCS (hereafter “the Project”) and the associated “Environmental Impact Assessment” (EIA) .

1.1.3          In accordance with Section A.1 of Schedule 2, Part 1 of the EIA Ordinance (Cap. 499), the Project associated with widening of an existing primary distributor should be classified as a designated project. All the impacts resulting from the Project has to be assessed under EIA Ordinance and it is necessary to obtain an environmental permit before commencement of the construction works. 

1.1.4          A site plan showing the project boundary for 300m and 500m study area boundaries are shown on Figure 1.1.

1.2               Objectives of the EIA Study

1.2.1          The objectives of the EIA study are summarized as below:

(a)         to describe the Project and the associated works;

(b)         to identify the community and environmental elements that likely to be affected by the Project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including those natural and man-made environments;

(c)         to discuss alternative construction methods and sequence of works, followed by reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) with particular attention on environmental factors;

(d)         to identify and quantify emission sources and to evaluate the impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(e)         to identify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose corresponding mitigation measures;

(f)           to identify and quantify any potential losses or damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats and to propose corresponding mitigation measures;

(g)         to investigate the constraints, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;

(h)         to identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts to the sensitive receivers after implementation of the mitigation measures;

(i)           to assess the cumulative effects to be arisen from the construction and the operation phases of the Project;

(j)           to stipulate any specific requirements or  standards for incorporation into the detailed design, construction and operation stages of the Project.  The purpose is to mitigate the environmental impacts and cumulative effects to an acceptable level;

(k)         to investigate the extent of the secondary environmental impacts that may be arisen from the proposed mitigation measures; and

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

1.3               Structure of the Report

1.3.1          The remainder of the report is organised as follows:

Ø           Section 2 describes the Project and its need, works programme, and addresses alternative considerations;

Ø           Section 3 identifies and assesses the potential noise impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends mitigation measures to comply with the established noise standards, wherever necessary;

Ø           Section 4 identifies and assess the potential air quality impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends necessary mitigation measures;

Ø           Section 5 identifies and assesses the potential water quality impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends mitigation measures to minimize the impact;

Ø           Section 6 identifies and assesses the potential waste management implications associated with the construction of the Project and recommends appropriate waste handling, transportation and disposal practices;

Ø           Section 7 identifies and assesses the potential ecological and fisheries impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends mitigation measures to minimize the impact;

Ø           Section 8 identifies and assesses the potential landscape and visual impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project;

Ø           Section 9 identifies and assesses any implication of land contamination associated with the Project;

Ø           Section 10 highlights the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) requirements for the Project.  The scope and approach are presented in detail in a stand-alone EM&A Manual;

Ø           Section 11 concludes the findings of the EIA Study; and

Ø           Section 12 presents the Implementation Schedules of the various environmental issues addressed in the EIA Study.