General requirements of the EM&A programme for
the Project are presented in this section.
The scope of the programme is developed with reference to the findings
and recommendations of the EIA Report.
2.2
Objectives of the
EM&A Programme
The potential environmental impacts
associated with the Project have been assessed and described in the EIA Report. The EIA Report also specifies the
mitigation measures required to comply with the environmental criteria. These mitigation measures and their
implementation requirements are presented in the Implementation Schedule (see
Annex B). The EIA recommends that
an EM&A programme be implemented to assess the effectiveness of measures
and to confirm that there will be no adverse environmental impacts during all
phases of the Project. It is also
recommended that regular site audits be undertaken during construction and
operation phase to check whether good site practices are properly implemented
to prevent adverse environmental impacts.
Any activities that have a potential to cause adverse environmental
impacts are identified before the adverse impacts occurred. Ad-hoc visits should also be undertaken
in response to any complaints or reported non-compliance with environmental
standards in order to enable prompt actions are taken to address the impacts.
This Manual provides details of the
EM&A requirements that have been recommended in the EIA Report. The main objectives of the EM&A
programme are to:
·
verify
the environmental impacts predicted in the EIA Report;
·
monitor
the performance of the Project and the effectiveness of mitigation measures;
·
determine
Project compliance with regulatory requirements and standards;
·
provide
an early indication should any of the environmental control measures or
practices fail to achieve the required standards;
·
take
remedial action if unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts arise;
·
provide
a database against which any short or long term environmental impacts of the Project
can be determined; and
·
provide data against which environmental audits may be
undertaken.
2.3
Scope of the EM&A
Programme
The scope of the EM&A Programme is to:
·
Establish
baseline noise levels at designated locations;
·
Implement
impact monitoring programmes for construction noise;
·
Implement
inspection and audit programmes for air quality, noise, water quality, waste management;
and landscape and visual issues;
·
Liaise
with, and provide environmental advice (as requested or when otherwise
necessary) to construction site staff on the comprehension and consequences of
the environmental monitoring data and exceedances;
·
Identify
and resolve environmental issues and other functions as they may arise from the
works;
·
Check
and advice the Contractor's overall environmental performance, the
implementation of Event and Action Plans (EAPs), and
remedial actions taken to mitigate adverse environmental impacts as they may
arise from the works;
·
Conduct
monthly reviews of monitored impact data as the basis for assessing compliance
with the defined criteria and to ensure that necessary mitigation measures are
identified and implemented, and to undertake additional ad hoc monitoring and
auditing as required by special circumstances;
·
Evaluate
and interpret all environmental monitoring data to provide an early indication
should any of the environmental control measures or practices fail to achieve
the acceptable standards, and to verify the environmental impacts assessed in
the EIA Study;
·
Manage
and liaise with other individuals or parties concerning other environmental
issues deemed to be relevant to the construction process;
·
Conduct
regular site inspections to assess:
§
the
level of the Contractor’s
general environmental awareness;
§
the
Contractor’s implementation of the recommendations in the EIA Report;
§
the
Contractor’s performance as
measured by the EM&A programme;
§
the
need for specific mitigation measures to be implemented or the continued usage
of those previously agreed;
§
to
advise the Site Staff of any identified potential environmental issues; and
·
Submit
Monthly EM&A Reports which summarises environmental monitoring and auditing
data, with full interpretation illustrating the acceptability or otherwise of
any environmental impacts and identification or assessment of the
implementation status of agreed mitigation measures.
The environmental issues associated with
the construction phase of the Project will be mitigated through the monitoring
and mitigation measures specified in the EIA Report and this EM&A Manual.
During the construction phase, air
quality, noise, water quality, waste arising, landscape and visual issues will
be subjected to EM&A, including noise monitoring.
The monitoring of the effectiveness of the
mitigation measures will be achieved through the environmental monitoring
programme as well as through site inspections. The inspections will include within
scope, mechanisms to review and assess the implementation of the recommended
mitigation measures, and that the timely resolution of received complaints are
managed and controlled in a manner consistent with the recommendations given in
the EIA Report and the EM&A Manual.
The environmental monitoring works
throughout the construction period and the first year after commencement of
operation of the Project should be carried out in accordance with the EM&A
Manual and reported by the ET.
Monitoring should be conducted at the chosen and agreed representative
sensitive receivers.
2.6
Action and Limit (A/L)
Levels
Action and Limit (A/L) Levels are defined
levels for impact recorded by the environmental monitoring works, which
represent levels at which a prescribed response is required. These levels are described in the
principle below and later quantitatively defined in the relevant sections of
the EM&A Manual:
·
Action
Level – beyond which there is a clear indication of a deteriorating ambient
environment for which appropriate remedial actions are likely to be necessary
to prevent environmental quality from falling outside the Limit Levels, which will
be unacceptable.
·
Limit
Level – statutory limits stipulated in the relevant pollution control
ordinances, Hong Kong Planning Standard Guidelines, or Environmental Quality
Objectives established by the EPD.
If these are exceeded, works should not proceed without appropriate
remedial action, including a critical review of plant and working methods.
The purpose of the EAPs
is to provide, in association with the environmental monitoring activities,
procedures for ensuring that if any significant environmental impacts occur in
the form of exceedance of A/L Levels identified in
the EM&A programme, cause(s) will be quickly identified and remediated.
The ET should undertake environmental
audit of the compliance with stipulated procedures and site inspections of
on-site practices. The primary
objective is to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the
environmental mitigation measures as recommended in the EIA Report and the
EM&A Manual.
Whilst environmental audit will complement
the environmental monitoring activity with regard to the effectiveness of dust
suppression, noise attenuation and vibration control, the criteria against
which the audit should be derived from the clauses within the Contract, which
seek to enforce the recommendations of the EIA Report and the EM&A Manual.
The findings of the environmental audit
and site inspection should be made known to the Contractor at the time of the
audit / inspection to enable rapid resolution of identified non-compliances or
observations. Non-compliances,
observations, the corrective / follow-up actions undertaken will be reported in
the Monthly EM&A Reports.
2.9
Enquiries, Complaints
and Requests for Information
Enquiries, complaints and requests for
information will be expected from a wide range of individuals and organizations
including members of the public, government departments, nearby residents,
press and community groups.
All enquiries concerning the environmental
effects of the construction works, irrespective of the channel of receipt, will
be directed to the Contractor, and copied to the ER and Highways Department (HyD).
Procedures for handling enquiry and complaints should follow the
procedures set out in Section 9.
In all cases, the complainant should be
notified of the findings, and environmental audit and site inspection should be
put in place to minimize the reoccurrence of similar problems.
During the construction phase,
Environmental Baseline Monitoring Report, Monthly EM&A Reports, Quarterly EM&A Summary Reports and Final EM&A Review Report
should be prepared and certified by the ET Leader and verified by IEC prior to
submission to the Contractor and HyD. In accordance with Annex 21 of the EIAO-TM, a copy of the monthly,
quarterly summary and final review EM&A reports should be made available to
the Director of Environmental Protection.
Details of reporting requirement and submission schedule should be in
accordance with the guidelines set out in Section
10.
2.11
Change or Cessation of
EM&A Programme
The ET should carry out the EM&A
programme in accordance with the EM&A Manual throughout the construction and
operational phases of the Project.
Any change or cessation of the EM&A programme, or any part of it,
should be justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC as conforming to
the requirements set out in the EM&A Manual, and should be submitted to the
EPD for approval.