9.1.1
Site inspection provides a direct means to initiate and enforce
specified environmental protection and pollution control measures. These shall be undertaken routinely to inspect
construction activities in order to ensure that appropriate environmental
protection and pollution control mitigation measures are properly
implemented. The site inspection is
one of the most effective tools to enforce the environmental protection
requirements at the works area.
9.1.2
The ET Leader shall be responsible for formulating the environmental
site inspection, the deficiency and action reporting system, and for carrying
out the site inspection works. He
shall submit a proposal for site inspection and deficiency and action reporting
procedures to the Contractor for agreement, and to the ER for approval. The ET’s proposal for rectification
would be made known to the IEC.
9.1.3
Regular site inspections shall be carried out at least once per
week. The areas of inspection shall
not be limited to the environmental situation, pollution control and mitigation
measures within the site; it should also review the environmental situation
outside the works area which is likely to be affected, directly or indirectly,
by the site activities. The ET
Leader shall make reference to the following information in conducting the
inspection:
§
The EIA and EM&A
recommendations on environmental protection and pollution control mitigation
measures;
§
Ongoing results of the
EM&A programme;
§
Works progress and
programme;
§
Individual works
methodology proposals (which shall include proposal on associated pollution
control measures);
§
Contract
specifications on environmental protection;
§
Relevant environmental
protection and pollution control laws; and
§
Previous site
inspection results undertaken by the ET and others.
9.1.4
The Contractor shall keep the ET Leader updated with all relevant
information on the construction contract necessary for him to carry out the
site inspections. Inspection
results and associated recommendations for improvements to the environmental
protection and pollution control works shall be submitted to the IEC and the
Contractor within 24 hours for reference and for taking immediate action. The Contractor shall follow the
procedures and time-frame as stipulated in the environmental site inspection,
and the deficiency and action reporting system formulated by the ET Leader, to
report on any remedial measures subsequent to the site inspections.
9.1.5
The ET shall also carry out ad hoc site inspections if significant
environmental problems are identified.
Inspections may also be required subsequent to receipt of an
environmental complaint, or as part of the investigation work, as specified in
the Action Plan for environmental monitoring and audit.
9.2.1
There are contractual environmental protection and pollution control
requirements as well as environmental protection and pollution control laws in Hong Kong with which construction activities must comply.
9.2.2
In order that the works are in compliance with the contractual
requirements, all works method statements submitted by the Contractor to the ER
for approval shall be sent to the ET Leader for vetting to see whether
sufficient environmental protection and pollution control measures have been
included. The implementation
schedule of mitigation measures is summarised in Appendix A.
9.2.3
The ET Leader shall also review the progress and programme of the works
to check that relevant environmental laws have not been violated, and that any
foreseeable potential for violating laws can be prevented.
9.2.4
The Contractor shall regularly copy relevant documents to the ET Leader
so that works checking can be carried out.
The document shall at least include the updated Works Progress Reports,
updated Works Programme, any application letters for different licence /
permits under the environmental protection laws, and copies of all valid
licences / permits. The site diary
shall also be available for the ET Leader's inspection upon his request.
9.2.5
After reviewing the documentation, the ET Leader shall advise the IEC and
Contractor of any non-compliance with contractual and legislative requirements
on environmental protection and pollution control for them to take follow-up
actions. If the ET Leader's review
concludes that the current status on licence / permit application and any
environmental protection and pollution control preparation works may result in
potential violation of environmental protection and pollution control
requirements, he shall also advise the Contractor and the ER accordingly.
9.2.6
Upon receipt of the advice, the Contractor shall undertake immediate
action to correct the situation.
The ER shall follow up to ensure that appropriate action has been taken
in order to satisfy contractual and legal requirements.
9.3.1
Complaints shall be referred to the ET Leader for action. The ET Leader shall undertake the
following procedures upon receipt of any complaint:
§
log complaint and date of receipt onto the complaint
database and inform the IEC immediately;
§
investigate the complaint
to determine its validity, and assess whether the source of the problem is due
to works activities;
§
identify mitigation
measures in consultation with the IEC if a complaint is valid and due to works;
§
advise the Contractor
if mitigation measures are required;
§
review the
Contractor's response to identified mitigation measures, and the updated
situation;
§
if the complaint is
transferred from the EPD, submit interim report to the EPD on status of the
complaint investigation and follow-up action within the time frame assigned by
the EPD;
§
undertake additional
monitoring and audit to verify the situation if necessary, and review that
circumstances leading to the complaint do not recur;
§
report investigation
results and subsequent actions to complainant (if the source of complaint is
EPD, the results should be reported within the timeframe assigned by the EPD);
and
§
record the complaint,
investigation, the subsequent actions and the results in the monthly EM&A
reports.
9.3.2
A flowchart indicating the complaint
handling procedures is presented in Figure 9.1.