Environmental Outcomes
16.1
The major environmentally sensitive areas
within the study area include the existing urban districts in Hung
Hom, Wan Chai,
Table 16.1 Summary of Key Environmental Outcomes /
Benefits
|
Area/Issue |
Environmental Outcomes / Benefits and
Mitigation Measures |
|
The Project |
The
Project comprises the following key elements: ·
An approximately 6km extension of the East Rail Line including a rail
harbour crossing from Hung Hom to Admiralty on Hong Kong Island; ·
A new Exhibition Station (EXH) located near the Hong Kong Convention
and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC); ·
An integrated Admiralty Station (ADM) for the existing urban lines,
the future SCL and South Island Line (East) (SIL(E)); ·
Ventilation building, ventilation shafts, smoke extraction facilities
and other associated works of the Project; and ·
Demolition of the existing Apart
from the above key elements, barging facilities, supporting works areas and
access roads will be required to support the construction of the Project. The design and construction of the ADM including associated structures
for the Project will be carried out by the SIL(E)
whilst the construction of the overrun tunnel beyond ADM and minor building
works will be carried out under the Project. |
|
Environmental/Social
Benefits of the Project |
·
Providing a fast, reliable and convenient mode of transport running
through the northern ·
Redistribution of railway passenger flows to relieve the congestion on
existing railway lines and connecting the new development areas in Kai Tak
with ·
Relieving road-based public transport and alleviation of traffic
congestion in existing developed areas, especially the demand on Hung Hom
Cross Harbour Tunnel, by conducing a modal shift in
passengers’ travel behaviours to a more environmentally-friendly public
transport option in terms of energy conservation. ·
Increasing public transport patronage and reducing overall road
traffic volumes, hence bringing improvements in air quality, noise pollution
from existing road networks, on-road safety and the overall quality of the
ambient environment. ·
Able to maintain visual quality, landscape character and land amenity
as most of the rail line is underground while providing convenient access to
the public. ·
Promoting enjoyment of the harbour and promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui East
and Wanchai Waterfront areas by providing direct link to the harbour front
area, and thus generating more possibilities for the planning and development
of leisure and tourism in these areas. ·
Creating numerous new employment opportunities from the construction
and operation of the Project. |
|
Environmentally
Friendly Design Considered and Recommended to Avoid Environmental Problems |
·
The Project alignment has been selected to
minimise the extent and duration of construction activities within the CBTS
such that environmental impacts and disturbances to the users and sensitive
receivers could be minimised. ·
The entire track of the Project has been
designed underground to minimise the potential impacts to nearby sensitive
receivers. Suitable trackform has been proposed to minimise any potential
ground-borne train noise impacts to the nearby structures. ·
Different alternatives of the sequence of construction works have been
thoroughly scrutinized and determined with the aim to minimise the extent of
cumulative environmental impacts due to interfacing with other concurrent
projects. ·
Locations and design of ventilation
buildings/ventilation shafts have been carefully selected to minimise the
impacts on sensitive receivers. Forms and shapes of ventilation
buildings/ventilation shafts have been designed for proper provision at
different areas. Total footprint and height of the ventilation buildings
have also been downsized as far as practicable to minimise visual impacts.
Greening measures have been incorporated in the design as far as practicable. ·
Acoustic design specification for
ventilation buildings and ventilation shafts has been identified such that
the fixed source noise impact can be kept within the acceptable level. ·
Considerations have been given in the
design to avoid the potential impact on the LCSD Registered Old and Valuable
Trees. ·
All the affected trees are common species
with medium to high, and would be protected in accordance with ETWB TCW
3/2006. ·
Subjected to further agreement with CEDD,
spoil generated from the Project may be transported by barges to other
projects such as Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB), Hong Kong Boundary Crossing
Facilities (HKBCF) or Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (TMCLKL) for reuse or as a
last resort to the Mainland (Taishan) for disposal. ·
The amount of charge for drill and blast
operation will be controlled to minimise the potential vibration impact on
heritage buildings. |
|
Population
and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Protected |
·
With the adoption of environmentally
friendly design mentioned above, major environmentally sensitive receivers
would be protected. ·
Most of the works areas are located far from
residential buildings. The areas and locations have been optimized such that
resumption of land can be kept to minimal. Location of ventilation
buildings/ventilation shafts will also be used as works sites and/or
construction shafts during construction phase to minimise the works areas as
well as disturbance to the public and environment. |
|
Cultural Heritage |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: Given sufficient setback distance between Kellett Island Site of
Archaeological Interest and the Project works areas, and the lack of
archaeological potential site identified within works areas, no adverse
impact on terrestrial archaeological remains is envisaged during construction
phase. Therefore, mitigation measures for terrestrial archaeology would not
be needed. The seabed within the proposed marine works area has already been
disturbed by past reclamation and regular maintenance dredging works, and
thus the marine archaeological potential within the proposed marine works
area is not envisaged. Impact on marine archaeology is not anticipated. Considering sufficient buffer
distances between built heritages and the proposed works area, together with
appropriate mitigation measures, there would be insignificant visual and
vibration impacts during construction and operation phases. With the implementation of recommended mitigation measures for landscape and visual
impact including erection of decorative screen hoardings at works areas and adoption of sympathetic
design in aboveground structures, the potential visual impacts on heritage
resources would be minimised. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: Kellett Island Site
of Archaeological Interest, the only declared monument, and identified
historic/graded buildings within the Study Area |
|
Ecology |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: The proposed footprint
of the IMT casting basin at Shek O and its associated infrastructure has been
adjusted to avoid the loss of coral species.
Mitigation measures to control water
quality, including the use of silt curtains, closed grab
dredger(s), and reduction of dredging rate, would be adopted to confine sediment plume within the proposed
dredging area and to minimise indirect impact to the nearby subtidal and intertidal flora and
fauna. Implementation of
mitigation measures at land-based works areas, such as removal of the pollutants before
discharging into storm drains and paving the section of
construction road between the wheel washing bay and the public road, could minimise the contamination of wastewater
discharge, accidental chemical spillage and construction site-off to the
receiving water bodies. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: |
|
Fisheries impact |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: The mitigation
measures to control water quality, including the use of effective site
drainage on land-based construction sites and installation of silt curtain
surrounding the dredging point, use of closed grab dredger and reduction of
dredging rate, would be adopted to protect fisheries resources. Silt curtain would be deployed at near-shore to fence off fish from
entering the lethal zone during provisional underwater blasting to isolate
the impact on fisheries resources outside the lethal zone. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: |
|
Landscape and
visual |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: The potential landscape and visual impacts have been minimised through
careful consideration of alternatives, minimization of works areas,
incorporation of aesthetic external designs and landscape treatments of
proposed aboveground structures which include Hong Kong Park Ventilation
Building (HKB), railways facilities associated with EXH and Admiralty Station
(ADM), Emergency Access Point (EAP), South Ventilation Shafts, Plant Rooms
and Emergency Access (SOV) and North Ventilation Building, Plant Rooms and
Emergency Access (NOV). The current and planned land uses in the vicinity of the Project have
been taken into account during the railway development. In general, the proposed Project would fit
in well with the current and future planning setting and would not conflict
with statutory town plans of the areas. Approximately 930 existing trees would be affected by the proposed
works, of which approximately 240 will be transplanted and 690 trees will be
felled. Compensation for felled trees in accordance with TWB TC(W) No. 3/2006
and would be planted within proposed landscape areas as far as
practicable. Aesthetically pleasing design will be provided to the proposed
entrances, plant buildings, ventilation buildings, structures, shafts and
associated engineering facilities so as to blend in the structures to the
adjacent landscape and visual context.
In addition, extensive green roof system to NOV, SOV and the east of
EXH will be introduced. With implementation of the proposed mitigation
measures, potential visual impact to the adjacent visually sensitive
receivers (VSRs) would be minimised. The overall landscape and visual impact associated with the construction
and operation of the Project are considered acceptable with the proposed
mitigation measures in place. Compensation
areas included: There would not be any permanent or partly loss of public open space
and amenity area. Reinstatement of
amenity and open spaces temporarily affected by the proposed works during
construction on like to like basis to the satisfaction of Government
Departments. Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: Landscape resources, landscape character areas and VSRs identified
within the Study Area. |
|
Construction
Dust |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: Those air sensitive
receivers (ASRs) located near the construction sites would be protected through
the implementation of practicable dust suppression measures, including
watering on active works areas, exposed areas and paved haul roads, enclosing
the unloading process at barging point and dust suppression measures
specified in Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation. With the
implementation of the recommended dust mitigation measures, the predicted TSP
concentration at all ASRs would comply with the EIAO-TM hourly TSP criterion (500 µg/m3), AQO daily TSP criterion (260 µg/m3)
and AQO
annual TSP criterion (80 µg/m3). Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: ASRs within the
Study Area, including residential and commercial buildings located within
Hung Hom, |
|
Airborne
Noise |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: Construction Phase All noise sensitive receivers (NSRs) located near the construction sites
would be protected from construction noise arising from the Project itself
through the implementation of recommended noise mitigation measures including
good
site practices, quieter plant, movable noise barrier and noise insulating
fabric. Residual cumulative
construction noise impacts at EX1 (about 120 dwellings) were predicted as a
result of noise contributions from the Project and the concurrent WDII &
CWB projects. With the exhaustion of all practicable mitigation measures, the
residual cumulative impact would be minimised to 1 dB(A)
in a short duration of non-persistent 2 months. Operational Phase No adverse
operation residual noise impact is envisaged provided that the fixed plants
are properly designed to meet the maximum allowable sound power levels (SWLs)
recommended in this EIA Report. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: NSRs within the
Study Area, including residential use, commercial use, educational use,
hostel, commercial/service apartment, and performing arts centre located
within Hung Hom, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Admiralty. |
|
Ground-borne
Noise |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: The predicted
construction ground-borne noise levels at all representative NSRs would
comply with the noise criteria.
Adverse ground-borne construction noise impact due to the use of tunnel
boring machine (TBM) and powered mechanical equipment
(PME) would not be envisaged. Ground-borne noise levels have been
predicted based on the best available future operation
parameters/assumptions. With direct fixation track, the predicted
ground-borne noise criteria at all NSRs would comply with the adopted noise
criteria. The cumulative impact with SIL(E) at NSRs was predicted to be more than 20dB(A) below
the adopted noise criteria, making an insignificant contribution to the
ground-borne noise for the Project. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: NSRs within the
Study Area, including residential use, commercial use, educational use,
hostel, commercial/service apartment, and performing arts centre located
within Hung Hum, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Admiralty. |
|
Water quality
|
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: Marine-based Construction The
assessment has evaluated the potential impacts caused by marine construction
works on water quality due to the elevation of suspended sediments
concentrations, depletion of dissolved oxygen and increases in contaminants
concentration. The worst-case scenarios
during the marine construction period, taking into account the cumulative
effects from other concurrent marine works in the Land-based Construction The key issue from the land-based
construction activities would be the potential for release of sediment-laden
water from surface works areas, open cut excavation, tunnelling works and
discharge of construction site effluent. Impacts can be controlled to comply
with statutory standards by implementing mitigation measures such as on-site
drainage and sediment traps to control run-off. Operation Phase The
main operational impacts
from the Project
would come from
tunnel/station run-off and
effluent discharges from
the stations and
maintenance activities, which could
be minimised through implementing adequate mitigation
measures. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: Water sensitive receivers in |
|
Waste
management implication |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: Implementation of the proposed waste control and mitigation measures
would avoid the potential water quality, dust, odour, and noise impacts
associated with handling, transportation and disposal of the identified
wastes arising from the construction phase of the Project. It is estimated that approximately 1,097,000m3 of inert
C&D materials
would be generated from the project, which are proposed to be
reused at other concurrent projects or would be disposed at PFRFs. About
30,000m3 of non-inert C&D materials would be generated and
disposed of at landfill. Methods to minimise the volume of sediment
generated have been explored and implemented. The total volume of dredged/
excavated sediment generated from the Project is estimated to be
approximately 841,800 m3. Based on the results of the chemical and
biological screening, approximately 315,000m3 sediment is suitable for Type 1 –
Open Sea Disposal, 14,000m3 sediment is suitable for Type 1 –
Open Sea Disposal (Dedicated Sites), 496,300m3 sediment requires Type 2 – Confined Marine Disposal and 16,500m3 sediment requires Type 3 – Special
Treatment/Disposal in accordance with ETWB
TC(W) No. 34/2002. The final disposal sites
for the sediments will be determined by the Marine Fill Committee (MFC) and a
dumping licence will be obtained from EPD prior to the commencement of the
dredging/ excavation works. With the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures and in
accordance with the requirements of ETWB TC(W)
No. 34/2002, no adverse environment impacts would be
expected. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: Water quality, air, and noise sensitive receivers in the vicinities of
Project sites, the waste transportation routes and the waste disposal
site(s). |
|
Land
contamination |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: Based on site appraisals in respect of land contamination, including a
desk-top review on historical/current land uses and site inspections,
potentially contaminated sites within the Project areas were identified. Site Investigation (SI) has been conducted at three accessible sites
at the current stage. A total of 19
soil and 1 groundwater samples have been tested for contamination. No exceedances of
the adopted RBRG guidelines were identified. Site ID 2-15 (Aboveground
diesel storage tanks at Wan Chai Swimming Pool, area approx. 10 m2) was inaccessible and SI
would be carried out in the next stage.
Based on the desktop review and site inspections, and with the implementation of mitigation measures proposed in this EIA
report, the potential for land to be contaminated as a result of the construction and
general operations of the Project is expected to be minimal and land contamination problems (if present)
would be surmountable. . Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: Onsite construction workers during the
construction phase and future users/occupants of the areas. |
|
Hazard to life |
Environmental
benefits of environmental protection measures recommended: As there is no overnight storage of explosives, a Quantitative Risk Assessment
(QRA) of the storage and transport of explosives is not required as per
Section 3.4.9.2 of the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-193/2008 (EIA SB). However, underwater blasting works may be required when bedrock or
large boulders are encountered during the IMT tunnel construction. As
required by Section 3.4.9.1 of the EIA SB the statutory /licensing
requirements with respect to explosives under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance
(Cap. 295) have been described and any guidelines and/or advice obtained from
relevant departments/ authorities have been documented. As required by Section 3.4.9.3 of the EIA SB, following a consultation
with the China Gas Company Limited (HKCG) and a review of the relevant
Ordinance, Code of Practice and other HKCG requirements, a number of
protective measures have been identified to avoid and minimise the hazard to
life issues in relation to fuel gas safety during the construction phase of
the Project. Compensation
areas included: N/A Population
and environmentally sensitive receivers protected: The HKCG submarine
gas pipeline between Hung Hom and |
Summary of Measures Taken for Minimisation of
Environmental Impacts
16.2
The various chapters of this EIA Report have
presented the measures to minimise the potential environmental impacts
associated the Project in the planning, design, construction and operation
stages. The key measures to minimise the environmental impacts are summarised
below for easy reference and they are not exhaustive. For details, please refer
to the relevant chapters as appropriate.
Selection of the Project Scheme
16.3
Various options and alternatives of project
design and construction methods have been reviewed and considered in the course
of development and selection of the preferred scheme for the SCL, taking into
account of engineering feasibility, site constraints, programme and
environmental aspects. The selected
alignment is regarded as the most appropriate and balanced scheme, which can
minimise the potential environmental impacts associated with the Project and
achieve the needs of the SCL project and benefit to the public:
·
The Project alignment has been selected to
minimise the extent and duration of construction activities within the CBTS
such that environmental impacts and disturbances to the users and sensitive
receivers could be minimised.
·
The entire track of the Project has been
designed underground to minimise the potential impacts to nearby sensitive receivers.
Suitable trackform has been proposed to minimise any potential ground-borne
train noise impacts to the nearby structures.
·
Locations and design of ventilation
buildings/ventilation shafts have been carefully selected to minimise the
impacts on sensitive receivers. Forms and shapes of ventilation
buildings/ventilation shafts have been designed for proper provision at
different areas. Total footprint and height of the ventilation buildings have
also been downsized as far as practicable to minimise visual impacts.
Greening measures have been incorporated in the design as far as practicable.
·
Acoustic design specification for ventilation
buildings and ventilation shafts has been identified such that the fixed source
noise impact can be kept within the acceptable level.
·
Considerations have been given in the design
to avoid the potential impact on the LCSD Registered Old and Valuable Trees.
All the affected trees are common species with medium to high and would be
protected in accordance with ETWB TCW 3/2006.
·
The protective armour rock layer covering the
surface of the finished IMT would largely be kept at a level below the existing
Cross Harbour Tunnel to minimise the potential impact to fishing operations in
Mitigation Measures for Environmental Impacts
16.4
Key mitigation measures specified for various
environmental aspects are summarised below.
Cultural
Heritage
·
Erection of decorative screen hoardings for
the proposed works areas and adoption of sympathetic design in aboveground structures
to avoid and minimise the potential visual impacts on built heritage resources
arising from the Project during construction phase.
Ecological
Impact
Construction Phase
·
The proposed footprint of the IMT casting
basin at Shek O and its associated infrastructure has been adjusted to avoid
the loss of coral species.
·
No dredging would be required for the
construction of the casting basin and thereby indirect impacts on surrounding
ecology would be minimised.
·
Implementation of water quality control mitigation
measures, such as installation of silt curtains, use of closed grab dredger and
reduction of dredging rate to minimise the potential water quality impact on
marine ecological resources.
Fisheries
Impact
Construction Phase
·
Implementation of water quality control
mitigation measures, such as installation of silt curtains, use of closed grab
dredger and reduction of dredging rate to minimise the potential water quality
impact on fisheries resources.
·
Implementation of silt curtains at near-shore
to minimise damage on any fisheries resource by fencing off fish from entering
the lethal zone in the course of underwater blasting, if necessary.
Landscape
and Visual Impact
Construction Phase
·
Trees unavoidably affected by the works will
be transplanted as far as possible in accordance with ETWB TC(W)
3/2006 – Tree Preservation.
·
Compensatory tree planting will be provided
in accordance with ETWB TC(W) 3/2006 – Tree
Preservation to compensate for felled trees and maintained until end of the
establishment period.
·
Compensatory shrub planting will be provided
to compensate for the loss of shrub planting in amenity areas.
·
Night-time lighting glare will be controlled
to minimise the potential visual impact.
·
Decorative screen hoarding will be erected such
that it will be compatible with the surrounding setting.
·
Facilities on work sites will be managed to
give control on the height and disposition/arrangement of all facilities on the
works site to minimise visual impact to adjacent VSRs.
·
All hard and soft landscape areas disturbed
temporarily during construction will be reinstated on like-to-like basis to the
satisfaction of the relevant Government Departments.
Operation Phase
·
Aesthetically pleasing design as regard to
the form, material and finishes will be incorporated to MTR Entrance, plant
buildings, ventilation shafts and associated engineering facilities and HKB so
as to blend in the structures to the adjacent landscape and visual
context.
·
Tree planting will be incorporated to provide
screening to plant buildings and ventilation shafts and associated engineering
facilities.
·
Green roof will be proposed to NOV, SOV and
plant buildings to the east of the EXH to enhance the landscape quality of the
structures and mitigate any potential visual impact on adjacent VSRs.
·
Climbers will be incorporated to the
ventilation buildings to soften the structure.
·
Landscaped mound is proposed to screen the
EXH ventilation shafts.
·
Vertical greening will be incorporated on the
facade of EXH plant building along
Construction
Dust
·
Watering on the
active works areas, exposed areas and paved haul roads to reduce dust emission.
·
Enclosing the
unloading process at barging point to reduce dust emission.
·
Dust suppression
measures stipulated in the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation
and good site practices would be carried out to further minimise construction
dust impact
Airborne
Noise
Construction Phase
·
Noise mitigation measures, including good
site practices, adoption of quieter plant, use of movable noise barriers and
noise insulating fabric, were recommended to minimise the noise impacts during
construction phase.
Operation Phase
·
Proper
selection of plant and provision of acoustic treatment to meet the maximum allowable sound power levels (SWLs) for fixed
plant noise sources.
Ground-borne
Noise
·
Suitable trackform
has been proposed to minimise the potential
ground-borne noise impacts on the nearby noise sensitive receivers during
operation phase.
Water
Quality
Construction Phase
·
Recommended mitigation
measures for minimising the potential water quality impact due to the proposed marine works include:
-
Temporary seawalls will first be formed to
enclose each phase of the temporary reclamation. Installation of diaphragm wall on temporary
reclamation as well as any bulk filling will proceed behind the completed
seawall.
-
During construction of the temporary
reclamation, temporary seawall will be partially constructed to protect the
nearby seawater intakes from further dredging activities.
-
Use of closed grab dredger for dredging
works.
-
Installation of silt screens at the cooling
and flushing water intakes.
-
Deployment of silt curtains to fully enclose
the closed grab dredger during any operation.
-
Bulk filling
along the IMT tunnel will be carried out after the bulk dredging works are
completed.
-
Operate no more than two dredgers for
dredging within the CBTS at any time for the tunnel construction works, with
the combined dredging rate for all concurrent dredging works to be undertaken
within the CBTS not exceeding 6,000 m3 per day throughout the entire
construction period.
-
Operate no more than one closed grab dredger
at the same time for IMT and SCL2 construction (temporary reclamation outside
CBTS), with dredging/filling rate in open harbour area for IMT/SCL2
construction not exceeding 2,500 m3 per day, i.e. 156 m3
per hour (concurrently with other dredging / filling activities in the Victoria
Harbour) / 4,500 m3 per day, i.e. 281 m3 per hour (with
no other concurrent dredging / filling activities in the Victoria Harbour).
-
Dredging works for SCL2 will not be carried
out concurrently with the dredging / filling works for IMT.
·
Water quality deterioration due to land-based
construction works would be minimised through implementing adequate mitigation
measures and site practices in ProPECC PN 1/94 “Construction Site Drainage”,
such as sand/silt removal facilities, provision of cover for stockpiles to
minimise site runoff and proper site drainage.
Operation Phase
·
Track drainage channels discharge will pass
through oil/grit interceptors/chambers to remove oil, grease and sediment
before discharging into public storm drainage / foul sewerage systems.
·
The silt traps and oil interceptors will be
cleaned and maintained regularly.
·
Oily contents of the oil interceptors will be
transferred to an appropriate disposal facility, or to be collected for reuse,
if possible.
·
Connection of domestic sewage generated from
the Project will be diverted to the foul sewer. All the discharge should comply with the requirements
stipulated in the TM-DSS.
·
For handling, treatment and disposal of other
operational stage effluent, the practices outlined in ProPECC PN 5/93 will be
adopted where applicable.
Waste
Management
Construction Phase
·
The construction methodology has been
formulated to minimise the amount of C&D material that would need to be
transported off site. The use of bored
tunnel at some section will also help reducing the amount of C&D material
to be generated. The opportunity for
re-using inert C&D material has been fully considered and implemented where
practicable.
·
Recommended mitigation measures and good site
practices outlined in ETWB TCW No. 19/2005 on waste
management will be implemented.
·
Chemical waste
will be handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General)
Regulations.
·
The excavated Type 3 sediments will be sealed
in geosynthetic containers and, at the disposal site, the containers will be
dropped into the designated contaminated mud pit where they will be covered by
further mud disposal and later by the mud pit capping, thereby meeting the
requirements for fully confined mud disposal.
Operation Phase
·
Follow Code of Practice on the Packaging,
Labelling and Storage of Chemical Waste in handling of chemical waste.
·
Disposal of non-recyclable chemical waste at
appropriate facilities like Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) at Tsing
Yi.
·
Employ licensed waste collectors for the
collection of general refuse and industrial waste.
Land
Contamination
Construction Phase
·
No land
contamination was identified based on Stage 1 site investigation (SI).
Notwithstanding this, as precautionary
measures, visual inspection will be undertaken during construction activities that
disturb soil. If soil materials suspected to be contaminated are encountered
during excavation, sampling and testing will be undertaken to verify the
presence of contamination.
·
SI for the
potentially contaminated site with no SI conducted during Stage 1 SI due to
site constraint will be conducted after decommissioning of existing buildings
and access has been granted.
Hazard
to Life
Fuel Gas Safety
·
The IMT
alignment has been optimised as far as possible to avoid the need for rock
excavation. In the areas that require some blasting works, the appropriate
procedures and protective measures would be implemented to ensure that a safe
blasting operation has been carried out and ground vibrations at sensitive
receivers are within allowable limits.
·
Sediment dredging within the planned IMT
works area should be conducted prior to underwater blasting to minimise
entrainment of suspended solids. Where conditions allow for reducing the powder
factor and drill depth, the necessary explosives quantities could be reduced to
minimise impact to the surrounding environment or sensitive receivers.
·
General recommendations for an emergency
response plan and communication procedures in agreement with HKCG to ensure
fuel gas safety during construction. Please refer
to Hazard to Life chapter for further details of recommended mitigation
measures.
Blasting Activities
·
Blasting activities should be supervised and
audited by competent site staff to ensure strict compliance with the blasting
permit conditions. General recommendations address development of procedures
for security, working conditions, and contingencies to ensure safe blasting
works.
·
Recommended
mitigation
measures for minimising the potential impact due to marine transport of
explosives will be implemented.
·
General
recommendations provided for Contractors Licensed Vessel including
responsibilities for the captain and crew to ensure the safe handling and
transport of explosives. Please refer to Hazard to Life chapter for further
details of recommended mitigation measures.
Environmental
Monitoring and Auditing
16.5
In addition to the mitigation measures as
described above (see more details in the Environmental Mitigation
Implementation Schedule), a compressive environmental monitoring and auditing
programme would be implemented to cover various aspects of concern. An
independent environmental checker would also be employed to ensure that all the
necessary mitigation measures are implemented in a timely and orderly manner.
Overall
16.6
Mitigation measures and good site practices
to minimise the environmental impacts were recommended throughout the impact
assessments of cultural heritage, ecology, fisheries, landscape and visual,
construction dust, noise, water quality, waste management, land contamination
and hazard to life. These measures were
consolidated in an Implementation Schedule which specifies the responsibility,
methodology and timing of implementation, such that effective and appropriate
implementation of the measures can be assured.