1.1
The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) is
one of the priority railways recommended for implementation in the Railway
Development Strategy 2000. It is also one of the ten large-scale infrastructure
projects announced by the Chief Executive in his 2007-2008 Policy Address. MTR
Corporation Limited (MTR) has been entrusted to plan and design for this
project.
1.2
The Legislative Council Brief on the
SCL submitted by the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) in March 2008 indicated
that the SCL would be implemented in two phases. The first phase would include
the realignment work for the existing East Rail Line (EAL) tracks from Mong Kok
East Station (MKK) to the new Hung Hom Station (HUH) and the extension of the Ma
On Shan Line (MOL) from Tai Wai Station to HUH. The second phase would cover
the section from HUH across the harbour to the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
(CBTS), Exhibition Station (EXH) and then to Admiralty Station (ADM).
1.3
For the second phase, a key aspect of
constructing the SCL inside the CBTS will be the coordination of interfaces
with the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor (CWB) project of
the Highways Department, which involves the construction of cut-and-cover
tunnel from temporary reclamation in the CBTS. Since this will overlap with the
target construction period of SCL, there is a need to address how the SCL can
be integrated with the CWB tunnel works to minimize the extent and duration of
temporary reclamation for both projects in the CBTS in view of the feedback
from consultation with stakeholders and users of the CBTS. Eventually, tunnel
protection works for the SCL at the CBTS is proposed to be undertaken by
Highways Department together with the main CWB works.
1.4
The SCL Protection Works and
associated works at CBTS (hereinafter known as “the Project”) involve the
construction of a 160m tunnel box by cut-and-cover method at the crossing above
the CWB tunnels. Temporary reclamation is required and will be authorized under
the Foreshore and Sea-bed (reclamations) Ordinance.
1.5
The Project is a Designated Project
(DP) under Item C.12 (b), Part I of Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) (Cap. 499) – “A dredging operation which is less
than 100m from a seawater intake point”. The Project will be undertaken
together by the CWB contractor. The
temporary reclamation in the Project together with that in the CWB project will
be another designated project under Item C.1, Part 1, Schedule 2 of the EIAO. The implementation of the Project
therefore requires an Environmental Permit (EP) under the EIAO.
1.6
An application for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief
was made to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the EIA Study
Brief No. ESB–213/2010 for the Protection Works has been issued under the
EIAO.
1.7
AECOM Asia (HK) Company Limited (AECOM) was commissioned by the MTR as
the Consultant to conduct this EIA study for the Protection Works.
1.8
Key elements of the Project comprise:
·
Temporary reclamation, which occupies about
0.7ha of Government foreshore and sea-bed (of which 0.3ha is already authorized
under CWB project, i.e. additional reclamation of 0.4ha is required).
·
Dredging works at the southeast corner
of the CBTS to provide space for temporary relocation of anchorage area due to
the additional temporary reclamation for the Project.
·
Construction of a section of the twin
track railway tunnel structure (approximately 160m long) above the proposed CWB
located entirely offshore within the CBTS.
·
Relocation of the temporary RHKYC
jetty within the CWB temporary reclamation to a new location.
·
Removal of the temporary reclamation,
except the small area at the southwest corner of the reclamation (which will be
removed by the SCL project upon completion of the future SCL tunnels connecting to the proposed South
Ventilation Building (SOV)).
1.9
All of the above construction works,
including the dredging work at the southwest corner of the temporary
reclamation area, would be entrusted to the CWB project and hence carried out
by the CWB Contractor. The only exception is the removal of temporary
reclamation at the southwest corner, which would be performed under the Shatin
to Central Link – Hung Hom to Admiralty Section (SCL (HUH-ADM)) until future
SCL tunnel is connected to the shoreline at the proposed SOV.
1.10
Location, boundary and general layout
of the Project are illustrated in Figure
Nos. NEX2213/C/331/ENS/M50/501 to NEX2213/C/331/ENS/M50/503.
1.11
The
purpose of this Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual is to
guide the set-up of an EM&A programme to check on compliance with the EIA
study recommendations of the Project, to assess the effectiveness of the
recommended mitigation measures, and to identify any further need for
additional mitigation measures or remedial actions.
1.12
This
EM&A Manual outlines the monitoring and audit programme for the construction
phase of the Project. It aims to provide systematic procedures for monitoring,
auditing and minimizing environmental impacts associated with the construction activities.
1.13
1.14
This
Manual contains the following information:
Ÿ Responsibilities of the Contractor, the Engineer or Engineer’s
Representative, the Environmental Team, and the Independent Environmental
Checker with respect to the environmental monitoring and audit requirements
during the course of the Project;
Ÿ Project organisation for the Project;
Ÿ Requirements with respect to the construction programme schedule and the
necessary environmental monitoring and audit programme to track the varying
environmental impact;
Ÿ Details of the methodologies to be adopted, including all field
laboratories and analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance and
quality control programme;
Ÿ The rationale on which the environmental monitoring data will be
evaluated and interpreted;
Ÿ Definition of Action and Limit levels;
Ÿ Establishment of Event and Action plans;
Ÿ Requirements for reviewing pollution sources and working procedures
required in the event of non-compliance with the environmental criteria and
complaints;
Ÿ Requirements for presentation of environmental monitoring and audit data
and appropriate reporting procedures; and
Ÿ Requirements for reviewing the EIA predictions and the effectiveness of
the mitigation measures / environmental management systems and the EM&A
programme.
1.15
The roles and
responsibilities of the various parties involved in the EM&A process and
the organisational structure of the organisations responsible for implementing
the EM&A programme are outlined below. The proposed project organisation
and lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works are
shown in Figure No. NEX2213/C/331/ENS/M62/501.
Engineer or
Engineer’s Representative (ER)
1.16
The Engineer is responsible
for overseeing the construction works and for ensuring that the works are undertaken
by the Contractor in accordance with the specification and contractual
requirements. The duties and responsibilities of the Engineer with respect to
EM&A may include:
Ÿ Supervise the Contractor’s activities and ensure that the requirements
in the EM&A Manual are fully complied with;
Ÿ Inform the Contractor when action is required to reduce impacts in
accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and
Ÿ Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigations in
accordance with Section 6 of this EM&A Manual.
The Contractor
1.17
The Contractor should report to the Engineer. The duties
and responsibilities of the Contractor are:
Ÿ Implement the EIA recommendation;
Ÿ Provide assistance to ET in carrying out monitoring;
Ÿ Submit proposals on mitigation measures in case of exceedances of Action
and Limit
levels, in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
Ÿ Implement measures to reduce impact where Action and Limit levels are
exceeded; and
Ÿ Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in
accordance with Section 6 of this EM&A Manual.
Environmental Team
(ET)
1.18
The ET should conduct the EM&A programme and ensure
the Contractor’s compliance with the project’s environmental performance
requirements during construction.
The ET should be an independent party from the Contractor.
1.19
The ET should be led and managed by the ET leader. The ET leader should possess at least 7
years of experience in EM&A. The
ET team should monitor the mitigation measures implemented by the Contractor on
a regular basis to ensure compliance with the intended aims of the measures.
The duties and responsibilities of the ET are:
Ÿ Monitor the various environmental parameters as required in the EM&A
Manual;
Ÿ Carry out site inspection to investigate and audit the Contractor’s site
practice, equipment and work methodologies with respect to pollution control
and environmental mitigation, and anticipate environmental issues for proactive
action before problems arise;
Ÿ Analyse the EM&A data, review the success of EM&A programme to
confirm the adequacy of mitigation measures implemented and the validity of the
EIA predictions, and to identify any adverse environmental impacts arising
Ÿ Report on the EM&A results to the IEC, contractor, the ER and EPD or
its delegated representative;
Ÿ Audit and prepare audit reports on the environmental monitoring data and
the site environmental conditions;
Ÿ Recommend suitable mitigation measures to the Contractor in the case of exceedance
of Action and Limit levels, in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and
Ÿ Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in
accordance with Section 6 of this EM&A Manual.
Independent
Environmental Checker (IEC)
1.20
The IEC should advise the ER on environmental issues
related to the Project. The IEC should possess at least 7 years of experience
in EM&A. The duties and
responsibilities of the IEC are:
Ÿ Review the EM&A
works performed by the ET (at not less than monthly intervals);
Ÿ Audit the monitoring activities and results (at not less than monthly
intervals);
Ÿ Report and audit results to the ER and EPD in parallel;
Ÿ Review the EM&A reports (monthly and quarterly summary reports)
submitted by the ET;
Ÿ Review the proposal on mitigation measures submitted by the Contractor
in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and
Ÿ Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation in
accordance with Section 6 of this EM&A Manual.
1.21
Sufficient and
suitably qualified professional and technical staff shall be employed by the
respective parties to ensure full compliance with their duties and
responsibilities, as required under the EM&A programme for the duration of
the Project.
1.22
Following this
introductory section, the remainder of the Manual is set out as follows:
Ÿ Section 2 – Sets out EM&A requirement for water quality;
Ÿ Section 3 – Sets out EM&A requirement for noise;
Ÿ Section 4 – Sets out EM&A requirement for construction dust;
Ÿ Section 5 – Details auditing requirement for waste management;
Ÿ Section 6 – Describes scope and frequency of environmental site audit
and sets out general requirements of EM&A programme; and
Ÿ Section 7 – Details the EM&A reporting requirements.