1.1
The
existing Cape Collinson Crematorium has started operation since 1962. Cremator
Nos. 1-10 were replaced in 1995 and Nos. 11-12 were commissioned in 2001.
1.2
In
order to cope with an increasing demand for cremation services, Food and
Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) proposes to demolish the existing
crematorium as well as to construct and operate a new crematorium in-situ as a
replacement (hereinafter referred to as the Project). The Project will be
developed in two phases, and detailed descriptions of the two phases are
provided in Section 2 of this Report. The location and works boundary of the
Project are shown in Figure 1.1.
1.3
Architectural
Services Department (ArchSD) is the works agent for the project management and
implementation of the Project, while FEHD is the Project Proponent and is
responsible for the operation of the Project after completion of construction
works.
1.4
Based
on the definitions laid down under Part I and Part II in Schedule 2 of the Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) as well as the nature of the proposed
Project, the proposed Project is classified as a Designated Project (DP) under
Category N.4 - A crematorium, Part I in Schedule 2 of the EIAO.
1.5
Pursuant
to Section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the Director of Environmental Protection issued
the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-177/2008 to the Project Proponent for carrying out
an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study of the Project.
1.6
ENSR
1.7
The
purpose of this EIA Study is to provide information on the nature and extent of
environmental impacts likely to arise from the demolition/construction and
operation of the Project and related activities taking place concurrently. The
information provided by this EIA Study will contribute to the decision on:
·
The overall acceptability of any adverse
environmental consequences that is to arise as a result of the Project and the
associated activities of the Project;
·
The conditions and requirements for the detailed
design, demolition/construction and operation stages of the Project to mitigate
against adverse environmental consequences wherever practicable; and
·
The acceptability of residual impacts after the
proposed mitigation measures are implemented.
1.8
The
objectives of the EIA Study are to:
·
Describe the Project and associated works together
with the requirements for carrying out the Project;
·
Identify any individual Designated Project under Part
I and Part II, Schedule 2 of the EIAO to be covered in the Project to ascertain
whether the findings of this EIA Study have adequately addressed the
environmental impacts of these projects;
·
Identify and describe the elements of the community
and environment to be affected by the Project and/or to cause adverse impacts
to the Project, including both the natural and man-made environment and the
associated environmental constraints;
·
Present the considerations of alternatives with regard
to avoiding and minimizing the potential environmental impacts on the sensitive
receivers; to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of the
options (including project siting, layout, design, fuel to be adopted for the
new cremators); to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to
describe the part of environmental factors played in the selection;
·
Identify and quantify emission sources and determine
the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
·
Investigate the feasibility, practicability,
effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;
·
Identify, predict and evaluate the residual
environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) and the cumulative
effects expected to arise during the demolition/construction and operational
phases in relation to the sensitive receivers and potentially affected uses;
·
Identify, assess and specify methods, measures and
standards, to be included in the detailed design, demolition/construction and
operational stages of the Project which are necessary to mitigate these
environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable
levels;
·
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
·
Design and specify the environmental monitoring and
audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended
environmental protection and pollution control measures.
Key Environmental
Issues and Study Approach
1.9
The
EIA Study addresses the following key issues:
·
The potential air quality
impacts on nearby air sensitive receivers during the demolition/construction
and operational stages of the Project, including the potential impacts during
the transitional stage of the Project i.e. scenario(s) for operating the new
cremator(s) under Phase 1 concurrently with the existing cremator(s) remain in
service (if any);
·
The
potential impacts of various types of material/waste to be generated from the
demolition/construction and operation of the Project, in particular the
demolition materials from the existing crematorium, and waste management issues
associated with removal sequences, procedures and treatment/disposal arrangements
to avoid cross contamination of the materials;
·
The
potential land contamination resulted from the operation of the existing
crematorium and its remediation, as well as the preventive measures for
avoiding land contamination from the future operation of the newly
re-provisioned crematorium;
·
The
potential visual impacts caused by the Project during the various
demolition/construction and operational stages of the Project;
·
The
potential noise impacts on nearby noise sensitive receivers during the various
demolition/construction and operational stages of the Project;
·
The
potential water quality impacts due to the site effluent generated from the
demolition/construction activities and the discharges generated from sanitary
facilities during operation of the new crematorium;
·
A
general description on the submission requirements of asbestos investigation
report and asbestos abatement plan and the relevant measures/statutory
requirements to be undertaken for complying with the Air Pollution Control
Ordinance (Cap. 311); and
·
The
potential cumulative environmental impacts of the Project, through interaction
or combination with other existing, committed and planned developments in the
vicinity of the Project, and that those impacts may have a bearing on the environmental
acceptability of the Project.
1.10
The
EIA Report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements stipulated in
the EIAO-TM. This covers relevant project information, relevant legislation,
existing environmental conditions, assessment criteria and methods, assessment
findings and proposed mitigation measures.
1.11
A
number of environmental aspects are not considered to be of concern to this
Project, they include:
·
Ecology
·
Fisheries
·
Landscape
·
Cultural
heritage
1.12
The
EIA Report consists of the following 12 sections:
·
Section 1: Introduction
·
Section 2: Project Description
·
Section 3: Air Quality
·
Section 4: Waste Management
·
Section 5: Land Contamination
·
Section 6: Visual Impact
·
Section 7: Noise
·
Section 8: Water Quality
·
Section 9: Environmental Outcomes
·
Section 10: Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements
·
Section 11: Conclusion
·
Section 12: Implementation Schedule of Recommended
Mitigation Measures