|
Development of
Organic Waste Treatment Facilities, Phase 2
Environmental
Monitoring and Audit Manual
September 2013
Environmental
Protection Department
This
document is issued for the party which commissioned it and for specific
purposes connected with the above-captioned project only. It should not be
relied upon by any other party or used for any other purpose.
We
accept no responsibility for the consequences of this document being relied
upon by any other party, or being used for any other purpose, or containing any
error or omission which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us
by other parties.
This
document contains confidential information and proprietary intellectual
property. It should not be shown to other parties without consent from us and
from the party which commissioned it.
Content
Chapter Title
Tables
Figures
Figure 1.1 Location of Project
Figure 1.2 Typical Organization
and Line of Communication
Figure 4.1 Proposed Locations of Constuction Noise Monitoring Stations
Figure 9.1 Flow Chart of
Complaint Investigation Procedures
List of Appendices
Appendix A Sample Environmental Monitoring Data
Record Sheet
Appendix B Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule
Appendix C Sample Interim Notification of
Environmental Quality Limit Exceedances
The purpose of this Environmental Monitoring
and Audit (EM&A) Manual (hereafter referred to as the Manual) is to guide
the set up of an EM&A programme to ensure
compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study
recommendations, to assess the effectiveness of the recommended mitigation
measures and to identify any further need for additional mitigation measures or
remedial action. This Manual outlines
the monitoring and audit programme proposed for the Organic Waste Treatment
Facilities, Phase 2 (hereafter referred to as the Project). It aims to provide systematic procedures for
monitoring, auditing and minimising environmental impacts associated with
construction works and operation activities.
It should be noted that this EM&A Manual
would be further reviewed and updated where necessary.
Hong Kong environmental regulations and the
Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines have served as environmental
standards and guidelines in the preparation of this Manual. In addition, the EM&A Manual has been
prepared in accordance with the requirements stipulated in Annex 21 of the
Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO-TM).
The Project is a key part of the Hong Kong
Government’s drive to increase the sustainability of waste management in the
HKSAR. The purpose of the facility is to treat large volumes of
source-separated organic waste (principally food waste) from Commercial,
Institutional and Industrial facilities in order to recover reusable materials
and energy, such as compost and biogas, and minimise the volume of waste
disposed of at
The construction of the Project will involve demolition and removal of the existing above ground structures of the Sha Ling Livestock Waste Composting Plant (SLCP), construction of superstructure for an administration building and enclosed waste reception area, installation of treatment facilities including waste pre-treatment equipment, digesters, biogas holding tanks, composting, wastewater treatment, air treatment systems, and facilities for biogas processing, utilisation and transmission, etc.
When operational, the plant will process
around 300 tonnes of organic waste per day to produce biogas and soil
enhancement products (e.g. soil conditioner / compost). The organic waste will be source separated
and delivered to the Project by road directly from the producers. The plant
will either supply biogas directly to the gas network, or use it to generate
renewable electricity on site. Surplus power may be exported to the grid. Treated wastewater will be discharged to the
local sewerage network.
The Project is located at Sha Ling in the North District, within the Frontier Closed Area (see Figure 1.1). The Site has an area of around 2.5 hectares, of which roughly 1.5 hectares has been previously developed. The former SLCP currently occupies the site; although this facility was decommissioned in 2010.
The construction programme of the Project is scheduled to commence in mid-2015 for completion by 2017.
The proposed project organisation is shown in Figure 1.2. The responsibilities of respective parties are outlined below:
The Contractor
The
Contractor should report to the ER. The duties and responsibilities of the
Contractor include:
¡ to comply with the relevant contract
conditions and specifications on environmental protection;
¡ to employ an ET to undertake monitoring,
laboratory analysis and reporting of EM&A;
¡ to facilitate ET’s monitoring and site
inspection activities;
¡ to participate in the site inspections undertaken
by the ET and IEC, and undertake any corrective actions;
¡ to provide information / advice to the ET
regarding works programme and activities which may contribute to the generation
of adverse environmental impacts;
¡ to submit proposals on mitigation measures
in case of exceedance of Action and Limit levels in
accordance with the Event / Action Plans;
¡ to implement measures to reduce impact where
Action and Limit levels are exceeded; and,
¡ to adhere to the procedures for carrying out
complaint investigation.
The Engineer or Engineer Representative
(ER)
The
ER is responsible for overseeing the construction works and for ensuring that
the works are undertaken by the Contractor in accordance with the specification
and contract requirements. The duties and responsibilities of the ER with
respect to EM&A include:
¡ to monitor the Contractor’s compliance with
Contract Specifications, including the effective implementation and operation
of the environmental mitigation measures;
¡ to employ an Independent Environmental
Checker (IEC) to audit the results of the EM&A works carried out by the
Environmental Team (ET);
¡ to monitor Contractors’, ET’s and IEC’s
compliance with the requirements in the Environmental Permit (EP) and EM&A
Manual;
¡ to facilitate ET’s implementation of the
EM&A programme;
¡ participate in joint site inspection by the
ET and IEC;
¡ to oversee the implementation of the agreed
Event / Action Plan in the event of any exceedance;
and,
¡ to adhere to the procedures for carrying out
complaint investigation.
The Environmental Team (ET)
The
ET should be employed by the Contractor to conduct the EM&A programme. The
ET should be managed by the ET Leader. ET Leader should have relevant
professional qualifications in environmental control and possess at least 7
years of experience in EM&A. Suitably qualified staff should be included in
the ET, and resources for the implementation of the EM&A programme should
be allocated in the time under the Contract, to enable fulfilment of the
Project’s EM&A requirements as specified in the EM&A Manual during
construction of the Project. The ET should report to Project Proponent and the
duties should include:
¡ to monitor and audit various environmental
parameters as required in this EM&A Manual;
¡ to analyse the environmental monitoring and
audit data, review the success of EM&A programme and the adequacy of
mitigation measures implemented, confirm the validity of the EIA predictions
and identify any adverse environmental impacts arising;
¡ to monitor compliance with conditions in the
EP, environmental protection, pollution prevention and control regulations and
contract specifications;
¡ to audit environmental conditions on site;
¡ to report on the environmental monitoring and
audit results to EPD, the ER, the IEC and Contractor or their delegated
representatives;
¡ to 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;
¡ to liaise with the IEC on all environmental
performance matters, and ensure timely submission of all relevant EM&A pro
forma for IEC’s approval;
¡ to provide advice to the Contractor on
environmental improvement, awareness and enhancement matters, etc on site;
¡ to adhere to the procedures for carrying out
complaint investigation;
¡ to prepare reports on the environmental
monitoring data and the site environmental conditions;
¡ to submit the EM&A report to Director of
Environmental Protection (DEP) timely;
¡ to review proposals of mitigation measures
from the Contractor in case of exceedance of Action
and Limit levels, in accordance with Event and Action Plan; and,
¡ to carry out site inspection to investigate
and audit the Contractor’s site practice, equipment and work methodologies with
respect to pollution control and mitigation measures.
Independent Environmental Checker (IEC)
The IEC is empowered
to audit the environmental performance of construction, but is independent from
the management of construction works. As
such, the IEC should not be in any way an associated body of the Contractor or
the ET for the Project. The IEC should be a person who has relevant
professional qualifications in environmental control and at least 7 years’
experience in EM&A and environmental management. The duties and
responsibilities of the IEC are:
¡ to provide proactive advice to the ER on
EM&A matters related to the project.
¡ to review and verify the monitoring data and
all submissions in connection with the EP and EM&A Manual submitted by the
ET;
¡ to arrange and conduct regular, at least
monthly site inspections of the works during the construction phase, and to
carry out ad hoc inspections if significant environmental problems are
identified;
¡ to check compliance with the agreed Event /
Action Plan in the event of any exceedance;
¡ to check compliance with the procedures for
carrying out complaint investigation;
¡ to check the effectiveness of corrective
measures;
¡ to feedback audit results to the ET by
signing off relevant EM&A pro forma;
¡ to check that mitigation measures are
effectively implemented;
¡ to report the works conducted, and the
findings, recommendations and improvements of the site inspections, after
reviewing ET’s and Contractor’s works, to the ER on a monthly basis;
¡ to verify the investigation result of the
environmental complaint cases and the effectiveness of corrective measures;
¡ to verify EM&A report that has been
certified by ET leader; and,
¡ to audit EIA recommendations and requirements
against the status of implementation of environmental mitigation measures on
site.
In accordance with
the EIA Report, with recommended mitigation measures properly in place, no
adverse air quality impact is expected during the construction phase of the
Project. However, regular inspections of the construction activities and works
areas should be conducted during the construction phase to ensure proper
implementation of the recommended mitigation measures.
Potential air quality impacts arising from the
construction and operation of the Project have been evaluated. Dust
impact and SO2 and NO2 emissions from plants and site
vehicles would be minimal. With the
implementation of appropriate dust suppression measures stipulated in the Air
Pollution Control (Construction Dust Regulation), adverse air quality impact is
not anticipated.
During commissioning and operation, the EIA Report has determined that with the
identified operational measures in place, no adverse air quality impact is
expected. However, it is proposed that a
Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) is used to monitor air emissions
from the stack and confirm effective and satisfactory performance of OWTF2 in
compliance with the Air Quality Objectives (AQO). In addition, odour monitoring
should be conducted at the site boundary to confirm that the OWTF2 is not
causing odour nuisance to its neighbours.
With the implementation of the proposed dust suppression measures & good site practices, no unacceptable dust impact would be expected at the ASRs. However, regular inspection and audit of construction activities and works areas should be conducted by the Environmental Team on a weekly basis to ensure that the recommended mitigation measures are carried out by the Contractor. Special attention should be paid to the enforcement of dust control measures during construction process. The ET should consider the programme and site for construction works in determining the location to carry out the auditing.
Mitigation measures for dust control are identified in the EIA Report and include:
Good Site Management
¡ Good site management is important to help reducing potential air quality impact down to an acceptable level. As a general guide, the Contractor should maintain a high standard of housekeeping to prevent emissions of fugitive dust. Loading, unloading, handling and storage of raw materials, wastes or by-products should be carried out in a manner so as to minimise the release of visible dust emission. Any piles of materials accumulated on or around the work areas should be cleaned up regularly. Cleaning, repair and maintenance of all plant facilities within the work areas should be carried out in a manner minimising generation of fugitive dust emissions. The material should be handled properly to prevent fugitive dust emission before cleaning.
Disturbed Parts of the Roads
¡ Each and every main temporary access should be paved with concrete, bituminous hardcore materials or metal plates and kept clear of dusty materials; or
¡ Unpaved parts of the road should be sprayed with water or a dust suppression chemical so as to keep the entire road surface wet.
Exposed Earth
¡ Exposed earth should be properly treated by compaction, hydroseeding, vegetation planting or seating with latex, vinyl, bitumen within six months after the last construction activity on the site or part of the site where the exposed earth lies.
Loading, Unloading or Transfer of Dusty Materials
¡ All dusty materials should be sprayed with water immediately prior to any loading or transfer operation so as to keep the dusty material wet.
Debris Handling
¡ Any debris should be covered entirely by impervious sheeting or stored in a debris collection area sheltered on the top and the three sides.
¡ Before debris is dumped into a chute, water should be sprayed so that it remains wet when it is dumped.
Transport of Dusty Materials
¡ Vehicle used for transporting dusty materials/spoil should be covered with tarpaulin or similar material. The cover should extend over the edges of the sides and tailboards.
Wheel washing
¡ Vehicle wheel washing facilities should be provided at each construction site exit. Immediately before leaving the construction site, every vehicle should be washed to remove any dusty materials from its body and wheels.
Use of vehicles
¡ The
speed of the trucks within the site should be controlled to about
¡ Immediately before leaving the construction site, every vehicle should be washed to remove any dusty materials from its body and wheels.
¡ Where a vehicle leaving the construction site is carrying a load of dusty materials, the load should be covered entirely by clean impervious sheeting to ensure that the dusty materials do not leak from the vehicle.
Site hoarding
¡ Where a site boundary adjoins a road, street, service lane or other area accessible to the public, hoarding of not less than 2.4m high from ground level should be provided along the entire length of that portion of the site boundary except for a site entrance or exit.
During commissioning the odour treatment system, Combined Heat and Power
(CHP) units or boiler and the emergency flare should be monitored. During operation
a Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) shall be installed to monitor
emissions from the chimney / stack receiving the odour treatment system and
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units or boiler discharges.
Like OWTF1 The parameters to be monitored and
analytical methods are presented in Table
2.1.
Table 2.1: Chimney / Stack Monitoring parameters and methods
|
Parameter |
Method |
Odour treatment Note 2 |
CHP/ boilerNote
2 |
Emergency Flare |
|
Gaseous and vaporous organmic substances
(including NMVOC) |
USEPA Method 18 USEPA Method 0031 |
X |
X |
X |
|
Particulates |
ISO 9096 ASTM D3685-98 USEPA Method 17 |
X |
X |
X |
|
Carbon Monoxide |
Combustion Gas Analyser |
- |
X |
X |
|
NOx |
USEPA Reference Methods USEPA Method 7 and associated methods |
- |
X |
X |
|
SO2 |
USEPA Method 8 |
- |
X |
X |
|
Hydrogen Chloride (HCl) and Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) |
USEPA Method 26 USEPA Method 13B sampling train |
- |
X |
X |
|
Oxygen |
Combustion Gas Analyser (chemical Cell and paramagnetic) |
X |
X |
X |
|
Velocity and Volumetric Flow |
ISO 10780 and ISO 9096 |
X |
X |
X |
|
Water Vapor Content and Temperature |
USEPA Method 4 |
X |
X |
X |
Source: OWTF1, EM&A Manual (December 2009) Approved EIA -
AEIAR-149/2010
Note 1) Sampling methods are for reference and are subject to
the approval of EPD
Note 2) The EIA assumes that the odour treatment
system and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units or boiler discharge through
separate flues in the same chimney / stack
During operation the information collected by the CEMS shall be transmitted instantaneously to EPD by a telemetry system in a form and manner to be agreed with EPD.
The odour patrols should be conducted by independent trained personnel / competent persons (at least 2 odour patrol members) patrolling and sniffing along an odour patrol route at the Project site boundary as shown in Figure 1.1.
The implementation of the odour patrol should be subject to the prevailing weather forecast condition and no odour patrol should be carried out during rainy day. The independent trained personnel / competent persons should pass a set of screening tests and fulfil the following requirements:
¡ have their individual odour threshold of n-butanol in nitrogen gas in the range of 20 to 80 ppb/v required by the European Standard Method (EN 13725);
¡ be at least 16 years of age and willing and able to follow instructions;
¡ be free from any respiratory illnesses;
¡ be engaged for a sufficient period to build up and monitor/detect at several monitoring location;
¡ not be allowed to smoke, eat, drink (except water) or use chewing gum or sweets 30 min before and during odour patrol;
¡ take great care not to cause any interference with their own perception or that of others by lack of personal hygiene or the use of perfumes, deodorants, body lotions or cosmetics; and
¡ not communicate with each other about the results of their choices.
The independent trained personnel / competent persons should use their noses (olfactory sensors) to sniff odours at different locations. The main odour emission sources and the areas to be affected by the odour nuisance should be identified. During the patrol, the sequence should start from less odorous locations to stronger odorous locations.
The perceived odour intensity is divided into 5 levels. Table 2.2 describes the odour intensity for different levels.
Table 2.2: Odour Intensity Level
|
Level |
Odour Intensity |
|
0 |
Not detected. No odour perceived or an odour so weak that it cannot be easily characterised or described |
|
1 |
Slight identifiable odour, and slight chance to have odour nuisance |
|
2 |
Moderate identifiable odour, and moderate chance to have odour nuisance |
|
3 |
Strong identifiable, likely to have odour nuisance |
|
4 |
Extreme severe odour, and unacceptable odour level |
The independent trained personnel / competent
persons should record the findings including date and time, weather condition
(e.g. sunny, fine, cloudy, and rainy), odour intensity, odour nature and
possible odour sources, local wind speed, and wind direction at each location.
In addition, some relevant meteorological data such as daily average
temperature, and daily average humidity, on the day of odour patrol should be
obtained from the nearest Hong Kong Observatory stations for reference. A
sample data record sheet is shown in Appendix A.
Odour patrols should be conducted in summer (i.e. from July to September). In the first 2 operational years of the Project, monthly odour patrols should be conducted. Odour patrols should be carried out during daytime and evening / night time when the Project and its on-site wastewater treatment plant are operated under the normal operating condition.
The need to continue the odour patrol after
the end of the 2-year monitoring period would depend on the monitoring results
and should be agreed with EPD. If the level of odour intensity at any sniffing
location is higher than 1 due to potential odour emission from the Project and
its on-site wastewater treatment unit in two consecutive months, the odour patrol
programme would be extended until the level of odour intensity (that is
determined to be due to potential odour emission from the Project and its
on-site wastewater treatment unit) at all the sniffing locations have
dropped to
Table 2.3 shows the action level and limit level to be used for odour patrol. Should any exceedance of the action and limit levels occurs, actions in accordance with the event and action plan in Table 2.4 should be carried out.
Table 2.3: Action and Limit Levels for Odour Nuisance
|
Parameter |
Action Level |
Limit Level |
|
Odour Nuisance (from odour patrol) |
When one documented compliant is received1, or Odour Intensity of 2 is measured from odour patrol. |
Two or more documented complaints are received1 within a week; or Odour intensity of 3 or above is measured from odour patrol. |
Note:
1. Once the compliant is received
by the Project Proponent, the Project Proponent would investigate and verify
the complaint whether it is related to the potential odour emission from the
Project and its on-site wastewater treatment unit.
Table 2.4: Event and Action Plan for Odour Monitoring
|
Event |
Action |
|
|
Person-in-charge
of Odour Monitoring |
Project
Proponent1 |
|
|
Action Level |
||
|
Exceedance of action level (Odour Patrol) |
Identify source/reason of exceedance; Repeat odour patrol to confirm finding. |
Carry out investigation to identify the source/reason of exceedance. Investigation should be completed within 2 weeks; Rectify any unacceptable practice; Implement more mitigation measures if necessary. |
|
Exceedance of action level (Odour Complaints) |
Identify source/reason of exceedance; Carry out odour patrol to determinate odour intensity. |
Carry out investigation and verify the complaint; Carry out investigation to identify the source/reason of exceedance. Investigation should be completed within 2 weeks; Rectify any unacceptable practice; Implement more mitigation measures if necessary. |
|
Limit Level |
||
|
Exceedance of Limit level |
Identify source/reason of exceedance; Inform EPD; Repeat odour patrol to confirm findings; Increase odour patrol frequency to bi-weekly; Assess effectiveness of remedial action and keep EPD informed of the results; If exceedance stops, cease additional odour patrol. |
Carry out investigation to identify the source/reason of exceedance. Investigation should be completed within 2 week; Rectify any unacceptable practice; Formulate remedial actions; Ensure remedial actions properly implemented; If exceedance continues, consider what more/enhanced mitigation measures should be implemented. |
Note:
1.
Project Proponent
should identify an implementation agent.
In the event when an odour compliant is received, Project Proponent should liaise with the complainant and register the complaint. The compliant register is to record detailed information regarding the odour compliant and hence, facilities efficient investigation work. The registration should contain, but not be limited to the following information:
¡ Location of where the odour nuisance
occurred;
¡ Date and time of the complaint and
the nuisance event;
¡ Description of the complaint, i.e.
the type and characteristics of the odour; and an indication of the odour
strength (highly offensive / offensive / slightly offensive / just continuously
detectable / intermittently detectable);
¡ Meteorological conditions from the
nearest HK Observatory station at the time of complaint; and
¡ Name and contact information of the
complainant.
A hazard assessment (HA) has been conducted
in this EIA study. Based on the evaluation of potential safety
impacts, the risk associated with the proposed Organic Waste Treatment
Facilities is considered to be within the acceptable region of the HK EIAO Societal Risk Guideline.
Notwithstanding, risk minimisation measures have been incorporated into the
design to further lower the risk and safeguard population in vicinity. As such, no mitigation measures are considered necessary.
The HA has assumed that
the following “Good Practices” and “recommended design measures” for the safe
operation of the Project should be carried out as far as reasonably
practicable.
¡ The process plant building will be provided with adequate number of gas detectors distributed over the various areas of potential leak sources to provide adequate coverage.
¡ All electrical equipment inside the building will be classified in accordance with the electrical area classification requirements. No unclassified electrical equipment will be used during operations or maintenance.
¡ Reference can be made to Codes of Practice and guidance issued in Europe that applies to places where explosive atmospheres may occur (called ‘ATEX’ requirements). These are covered as part of the European Directive: the Explosive Atmospheres Directive (99/92/EC) and the UK regulations, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). Where potentially explosive atmospheres may occur in the workplace, the requirements include, identifying and classifying (zoning) areas where potentially explosive atmospheres may occur; avoiding ignition sources in zoned areas, in particular those from electrical and mechanical equipment; where necessary, identifying the entrances to zoned areas; providing appropriate anti-static clothing for employees; and before they come into operation, verifying the overall explosion protection safety of areas where explosive atmospheres may occur.
¡ All safety valves design should take into account discharging any released fluid to a safe location, or stopping misdirection of fluid flows in order to avoid hazardous outcome.
¡ Safety markings and crash barriers will be provided to the aboveground piping, digesters and the gas holder near the entrance.
¡ Lightning protection installations will be installed following IEC 62305, BS EN 62305, AS/NZS 1768, NFPA 780 or equivalent standards.
¡ A 10m high boundary wall with fire resistance will be provided in the vicinity of the digester tanks, gasholders and gas purification equipment to protect the equipment against external fires, and to provide some protection to external areas from the effects of fire/explosion.
¡ Suitable fire extinguishers will be provided within the site. An External Water Spray System (EWSS) will be installed in appropriate areas, such as around the gasholders, gas purification, desulphurisation units, and digester areas. The facilities will also be equipped with fire and gas detection system and fire suppression system. Stringent procedures are implemented to prohibit smoking or naked flames to be used on-site.
¡ Fixed crash barriers will be provided in areas where process equipment is adjacent to the internal roadway to protect against vehicle collision. Adequate warning signage and lighting will also be provided and maximum speed limit will also be in place.
The monitoring
programme should be carried out by the ET to ensure that the noise level of
construction works complies with the noise standards set in the EIAO-TM
and the Technical Memoranda (TM) issued under the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO)
The construction noise level should be measured in terms of the A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (Leq). Leq(30min) should be used as the monitoring parameter between 0700 and 1900 hours on normal weekdays. For all other time periods, Leq (5 min) should be employed for comparison with Noise Control Ordinance (NCO) criteria.
Supplementary information for data auditing, statistical results such as L10 and L90 should also be obtained for reference. A sample data record sheet is shown in Appendix A for reference.
As reference to the TM issued under the NCO, sound level metres in compliance with the International Electrotechnical Commission Publications 651:1979 (Type 1) and 804:1985 (Type 1) specifications should be used for carrying out the noise monitoring. Immediately prior to and following each noise measurement the accuracy of the sound level meter should be checked using an acoustic calibrator generating a known sound pressure level at a known frequency. Measurements maybe accepted as valid only if the calibration level from before and after the noise measurement agree to within 1.0 dB.
Noise measurements should not be made in fog, rain, wind with a steady speed exceeding 5 m/s or wind with gusts exceeding 10 m/s. The wind speed should be checked with a portable wind speed meter capable of measuring the wind speed in m/s.
The ET is responsible for the provision and maintenance of the monitoring equipment. He should ensure that sufficient noise measuring equipment and associated instrumentation are available for carrying out the baseline monitoring, regular impact monitoring and ad hoc monitoring. All the equipment and associated instrumentation should be clearly labelled. The location of equipment installation should be proposed by the ET Leader and agreed with the ER and EPD in consultation with the IEC.
The noise monitoring locations (refer to Figure 4.1) are summarised in Table 4.1. The status and locations of noise sensitive receivers may change after issuing this manual. If such cases exist, the ET Leader should propose updated monitoring locations and seek agreement from ER, IEC and EPD.
Table 4.1: Noise Monitoring Locations
|
ID |
Description |
|
N1 |
Village House No.
308, Sha Ling |
|
N2 |
Village House No.
319, Sha Ling |
|
N3 |
Village House No.
265, Sha Ling |
|
N4 |
Village House in Sha Ling |
When alternative monitoring locations are proposed, the monitoring locations should be chosen based on the following criteria:
¡ Monitoring at sensitive receivers close to the major site activities which are likely to have noise impacts;
¡ Monitoring at the noise sensitive receivers at defined in the TM; and
¡ Assurance of minimal disturbance to the occupants during monitoring.
The monitoring station should normally be at a point 1m from the exterior of the sensitive receivers building façade and be at position 1.2m above the ground. If there is a problem with access to the normal monitoring position, an alternative position may be chosen, and a correction to the measurements should be made. For reference, a correction of +3dB(A) should be made to the free field measurements. The ET Leader should agree with the IEC on the monitoring positions and the correction adopted. Once the positions for the monitoring stations are chosen, the baseline monitoring and the impact monitoring should be carried out at the same positions.
The ET should carry out baseline noise monitoring prior to the commencement of the construction works. The baseline monitoring should be carried out daily for a period of at least two weeks. Before commencing the baseline monitoring, the ET should develop and submit to the IEC the baseline monitoring programme such that the IEC can conduct on-site audit to check accuracy of the baseline monitoring results.
There should not be any construction activities in the vicinity of the stations during the baseline monitoring.
In exceptional case, when insufficient baseline monitoring data or questionable results are obtained, the ET Leader should liaise with IEC and EPD to agree on an appropriate set of data to be used as a baseline reference and submit to ER for approval.
Noise monitoring should be carried out at all the designated monitoring locations. The monitoring frequency should depend on the scale of the construction activities. The following is an initial guide on the regular monitoring frequency for each station on a weekly basis when noise generating activities are underway:
¡ One set of measurement between 0700 and 1900 hours on normal weekdays
If construction works are extended to include works during the hours of
1900 – 0700 as well as public holidays and Sundays, additional weekly impact
monitoring should be carried out during respective restricted hour periods.
Applicable permits under NCO should also be obtained by the Contractor.
If a school exists near the construction
activity, noise monitoring should be carried out at the monitoring stations for
the schools during the school examination periods. The ET Leader should liaise
with the school’s personnel and the Examination Authority to ascertain the
exact dates and times of all examination periods during the course of the
contract.
In case of non-compliance with the
construction noise criteria, more frequent monitoring, as specified in the
Action Plan in Table
4.3,
should be carried out. This additional monitoring should be continued until the
recorded noise levels are rectified or demonstrated to be unrelated to the
construction activities.
The Action and Limit (AL) Levels for construction noise are defined in Table 4.2. Should non-compliance of the criteria occurs, action in accordance with the Event and Action Plan in Table 4.3 should be carried out.
Table
4.2: Action and Limit Levels for Construction Noise
|
Time Period |
Action |
Limit |
|
0700-1900 hours on normal weekdays |
When one documented complaint is received. |
75 dB(A) |
Note:
* 70dB(A)
for schools and 65dB(A) during school examination periods.
If works are
to be carried out during restricted hours, the conditions stipulated in the
Construction Noise Permit (CNP) issued by the Noise Control Authority have to
be followed.
Table
4.3: Event and Action Plan
for Construction Noise
|
Event |
Action |
|||
|
ET Leader |
IEC |
ER |
Contractor |
|
|
Action Level |
1.
Notify
IEC and the Contractor. 2.
Carry out
investigation. 3.
Report
the results of investigation to IEC and the Contractor. 4.
Discuss
with the Contractor and formulate remedial measures. 5.
Increase
monitoring frequency to check mitigation measures. |
1.
Review
the investigation results submitted by ET. 2.
Review
the proposed remedial measures by the Contractor and advise ER accordingly. 3.
Advise
the ER on the effectiveness of the proposed remedial measures. |
1.
Confirm
receipt of notification of exceedance in writing. 2.
Notify
the Contractor. 3.
In
consultation with the IEC, agree with the Contractor on the remedial measures
to be implemented. 4.
Supervise
the implementation of remedial measures. |
1.
Submit
noise mitigation proposals to IEC. 2.
Implement
noise mitigation proposals. |
|
Limit Level |
1.
Inform IEC, ER, EPD and the Contractor. 2.
Repeat
measurement to confirm findings. 3.
Increase
monitoring frequency. 4.
Identify
source and investigate the cause of exceedance. 5.
Carry
out analysis of Contractor’s working procedures. 6.
Discuss
with the IEC, Contractor and ER on remedial measures required. 7.
Assess
effectiveness of the Contractor’s remedial actions and keep IEC, EPD and ER
informed of the results. 8.
If exceedance stops, cease additional monitoring. |
1.
Discuss
amongst ER, ET Leader and the Contractor on the potential remedial actions. 2.
Review
the Contractor’s remedial actions whenever necessary to assure their
effectiveness and advise ER accordingly. |
1.
Confirm
receipt of notification of exceedance in writing. 2.
Notify
the Contractor. 3.
In
consolidation with the IEC, agree with the Contractor on the remedial
measures to be implemented. 4.
Supervise
the implementation of remedial measures. 5.
If exceedance continues, consider stopping the Contractor to
continue working on that portion of work which causes exceedance
until the exceedance is abated. |
1.
Take
immediate action to avoid further exceedance. 2.
Submit
proposals for remedial actions to IEC within 3 working days of notification. 3.
Implement
the agreed proposals. 4.
Submit
further proposals if problem still not under control. 5.
Stop the
relevant activity of works as determined by the ER until the exceedance is abated. |
Recommended construction noise control and mitigation measures are proposed in the EIA report. The Contractor should be responsible for the design and implementation of these measures under the supervision of the ER and monitoring by the ET.
The implementation schedule of the recommended noise mitigation measures is presented in Appendix B.
With reference to the EIA report, as the
design requirement of the plants and the commissioning tests will ensure the
noise impact during operation phase will comply with the relevant EIAO-TM
criteria, no environmental monitoring and audit for potential noise impact
during the operation phase is considered necessary.
The water quality impact assessment indicated that no adverse water quality impact would be expected associated with the construction and operation of the Project, with implementation of recommended mitigation measures. No unacceptable residual water quality impact was expected. Water quality monitoring is therefore not considered necessary. Regular site inspection should be undertaken to inspect the construction activities and works areas in order to ensure that the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented.
Regular site audits will help to ensure that the recommended mitigation measures are properly implemented during the construction works. It can also provide an effective means of control of any malpractices, and therefore achieve continual improvement of environmental performance on site.
Site inspections should be carried out by the ET and should be based on the recommended mitigation measures for water pollution control. In the event that the recommended mitigation measures are not fully or properly implemented, deficiency should be recorded and reported to the site management. Suitable actions are to be carried out to:
¡ Record the problems and investigate the
causes;
¡ Issue action notes to the Contractor who is
responsible for the works;
¡ Implement remedial and corrective actions
immediately;
¡ Re-inspect the site conditions upon
completion of the remedial and corrective actions; and
¡ Record the event and discuss with the
Contractor for preventive actions.
Compliance audits are to be undertaken to
ensure that a valid discharge licence has been issued by
¡ Notify the site management
on the non-compliance;
¡ Identify the sources of pollution;
¡ Check the implementation status of the
recommended mitigation measures;
¡ Investigate the operating conditions of the
on-site treatment systems;
¡ Implement corrective and remedial actions to
improve the effluent quality;
¡ Increase monitoring frequency until the
effluent quality is in compliance with the discharge licence requirements; and
¡ Record the non-compliance and propose
preventive measures.
The mitigation measures recommended for the construction phase of the Project are presented in Appendix B.
Waste management would be the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that all wastes produced during the construction of the Project are handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with good waste management practices and EPD’s regulations and requirements. The recommended mitigation measures should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor in the construction phase.
During
construction phase, regular site inspection as part of the EM&A
procedures should be carried out to determine if
wastes are being managed in accordance with approved procedures and the site
Waste Management Plan. It should look at different aspects of waste management
including waste generation, storage, recycling, treatment, transport and disposal.
The implementation schedule of the recommended waste management mitigation measures is presented in Appendix B.
The
ecological impact assessment in the EIA report has evaluated the ecological
consequences of the proposed Project and concluded that no unacceptable
ecological impact will be resulted. No specific ecological mitigation measure
is required while precautionary measures for
the plantation area are proposed.
In
addition, the mitigation measures for air quality, noise, water quality and
landscape proposed in Sections 2, 3, 4 and 7 respectively would control the
potential environmental impact to an acceptable level which in turn minimizing
the potential ecological impact.
The individual of Aquilaria sinensis of conservation interest
identified within
the Project Area will be preserved on-site. For precautionary purpose and to further
ensure that no wild flora species of conservation interest will be affected,
prior to commencement of any construction works, it is recommended to conduct a
detailed vegetation survey as baseline monitoring to update the exact
locations, number and condition of individuals of Aquilaria sinensis and any other floral species of
conservation interest within the Project Area. Since only 0.025ha of plantation
will be affected, where no floral species of conservation interest has been
recorded, identification of individuals of floral species of conservation interest
likely to be affected by the Project in the detailed vegetation survey is not
expected. However, should such individuals be identified, mitigation measures,
such as transplantation, shall be proposed and agreed with relevant authorities
including EPD and AFCD prior to commencement of construction works.
During
construction phase, erection of and maintenance temporary protective fence
along the plantation area where trees and vegetation, including those of
conservation concern identified under the detailed vegetation survey, would be
retained within the Project Area is recommended for precautionary purpose to
avoid any impact from construction activities such as vehicle movement and
materials storage. While the protective fence should be properly maintained,
monitoring of individuals of Aquilaria sinensis and any other floral species of conservation
interest identified in the detailed vegetation survey during construction phase
on a monthly basis is proposed to make sure that they are not affected by the
construction works of the Project. Any irregularities and effectiveness of the
precautionary measure should be monitored as part of the general site
inspection and audit exercise during the construction phase.
The implementation schedule of the
recommended measures is presented in Appendix B.
According to the EIA, an individual species of conservation interest Aquilaria sinensis within the Project Area will be preserved on-site. As the abundance of plants recorded in the EIA stage may be varied in the detailed design stage, conducting a detailed vegetation survey to confirm the condition of site and the potentially affected plants prior to the commencement of the construction works is recommended. The scope of the vegetation survey should include the following:
¡ The checking and updating of the number, locations and condition of the Aquilaria sinensis identified in the EIA and any other floral species of conservation interest by actively search within the entire Project Area;
¡ Preparation of an updated location plan showing the individuals of Aquilaia sinensis and any other floral species of conservation interest identified within the Project Area during the detailed vegetation survey; and
¡ Confirmation on whether any of the individuals of Aquilaia sinensis and any other floral species of conservation interest identified within the Project Area during the detailed vegetation survey will likely be affected by the proposed works of the Project;
¡ Recommendation on protective measures of identified individuals of Aquilaria sinensis and any other floral species of conservation interest identified within the Project Area during the detailed vegetation survey should in situ preservation be considered feasible. Otherwise, remedial actions, such as transplantation, should be proposed.
A Vegetation Survey Report summarizing the findings and recommendations of the detailed vegetation survey should be prepared and submitted to AFCD for approval no later than one month prior to commencement of construction works.
Temporary
protective fence should be erected along the plantation area where trees and
vegetation, including those of conservation concern identified under the
detailed vegetation survey, would be retained within the Project Area. The
protective fence should be properly maintained and monitored for the
effectiveness. Monthly monitoring of individuals of Aquilaria sinensis and any other floral species of
conservation interest identified in the detailed vegetation survey should be
conducted during the construction phase to make sure that the floral species of
conservation interest are not affected by the construction works of the
Project. The ET should inspect whether the protective fence is properly erected
and maintained during construction for adequate protection of the plantation
area and record the conditions of the individuals of Aquilaria sinensis and any other floral species of
conservation interest identified in the detailed vegetation survey.
It is recommended that audits should be
carried out by the ET on a weekly basis to ensure that the
recommended precautionary measures are carried out by
the Contractor. Special attention should
be paid to the enforcement of temporary protective fence around floral species of conservation interest. The ET should consider the programme and site
for construction works in determining the location to carry out the auditing. Any observations and recommendations should be
reported in periodic EM&A reports.
Potential
landscape and
visual impacts
arising from the construction and operation of the Project have been
evaluated. Landscape and visual impacts are anticipated during the construction and
operation phase of the Project, but with the implementation of proposed mitigation
measures, the impacts are generally insubstantial and acceptable.
The EIA has recommended a series of landscape mitigation measures for both the construction and operational phases for the Project. These measures include the following as shown in Tables 8.1 and 8.2, which are also summarised in Appendix B.
Other than preservation of existing topsoil as good site practice, mitigation measures for reducing, offsetting and compensating for impacts have been designed into the Project during construction phase and are summarised in Table 8.1.
Table
8.1: Proposed
Construction Phase Landscape Mitigation Measures
|
Mitigation
Code |
Mitigation Measure |
|
CP1 |
Existing trees are
retained whenever possible and protected during construction. |
|
CP2 |
The construction site activities are carefully
designed to minimise impact such as light, noise, tree felling and eyesores. |
|
CP3 |
Transplantation would be
performed whenever possible. |
Mitigation measures for reducing, offsetting and compensating for impacts have been designed into the Project during operational phase and are summarised in Table 8.2.
Table 8.2: Proposed Operational Phase Landscape Mitigation Measures
|
Mitigation
Code |
Mitigation Measure |
|
OP1 |
The location and layout of the proposed Project and associated facilities are
designed in a way that has the lowest impact to the proposed site. |
|
OP2 |
Amenity / compensatory planting will be utilised
throughout the site. |
|
OP3 |
Planting will be added by man-made slopes to give a more natural
appearance. |
|
OP4 |
Vertical and rooftop greening will maximise green space and soften hard structures. |
The Contractor should implement landscape construction
works and subsequent maintenance operations during the 12 month establishment
period.
All measures undertaken by
the Contractor during the construction phase and first year of the operational
phase should be audited by the Environmental Team, on a regular basis to ensure
compliance with the intended aims of the measures.
Site inspections should be
undertaken at least once every two weeks throughout the construction period and
once every two months during the operational phase. The scope of the audit is
detailed below. Operational phase auditing would be restricted to the last 12
months of the establishment works of the operational landscape measures.
·
The
extent of the agreed works areas should be regularly checked during the
construction phase. Any trespass by the Contractor outside the limit of the
works;
·
The
progress of the engineering works should be regularly reviewed on site to
identify the earliest practical opportunities for the landscape works to be
undertaken;
·
All
landscaping works are carried out in accordance with the specifications;
·
The
planting of new trees and other plants, are carried out properly and within the
right season; and
·
All
necessary horticultural operations and replacement planting are undertaken
throughout the Establishment Period to ensure the healthy establishment.
Site
Inspections provide a direct mean to trigger and enforce the specified
environmental protection and pollution control measures. They should be undertaken routinely by the ET
Leader to inspect the construction activities in order to ensure that
appropriate environmental protection and pollution control mitigation measures
are properly implemented. With well defined pollution control and mitigation
specifications and a well established site
inspection, deficiency and action reporting system, the site inspection is one
of the most effective tools to enforce the environmental protection
requirements on the construction site.
The ET
Leader is responsible for formulation of the environmental site inspection,
deficiency and action reporting system, and for carrying out the site
inspection works. He should submit a
proposal for site inspection, deficiency and action reporting procedures to the
IEC for agreement, and to the ER for approval. The Contractor’s proposal for
rectification would be made known to the ER and IEC.
Regular
site inspections should be carried out at least once per week. The areas of inspection should not be limited
to the environmental situation, pollution control and mitigation measures
within the site; it should also review the environmental situation outside the
area which is likely to be affected, directly or indirectly, by the site
activities. The ET Leader should make
reference to the following information when conducting the inspection:
¡ The EIA and EM&A recommendations on
environmental protection and pollution control mitigation measures;
¡ The Environmental Permit conditions;
¡ On-going results of the EM&A program;
¡ Works progress and programme;
¡ Individual works methodology proposals
(which should include proposal on associated pollution control measures);
¡ The contract specifications on environmental
protection;
¡ The relevant environmental protection and
pollution control laws; and
¡ Previous site inspection results undertaken
the ET and others.
The Contractor should update the ET Leader with all
relevant information of the construction contract for him to carry out the site
inspections. Inspection results and
associated recommendations for improvements to the environmental protection and
pollution control works should be submitted to the IEC and the Contractor
within 24 hours, for reference and for taking immediate action. The Contractor should follow the procedures
and time-frame as stipulated in the environmental site inspection, deficiency and action reporting system
formulated by the ET Leader to report on any remedial measures subsequent to
the site inspections.
The ET
should 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.
There are contractual environmental protection and pollution control requirements as well as environmental protection and pollution control laws in Hong Kong which the construction activities must comply with.
In order that the works are in compliance with the contractual requirements, relevant sections (e.g. sections related to environmental measures) of works method statements submitted by the Contractor to the ER for approval should also be sent to the ET Leader for vetting to see whether sufficient environmental protection and pollution control measures have been included.
The ET Leader should also keep himself informed of the progress and programme of the works to check that relevant environmental laws have not been violated, and that any foreseeable potential for violation can be prevented.
The Contractor should regularly copy relevant documents to the ET Leader so that works checking can be carried out. The document should at least include the updated Work Progress Reports, the updated Works Programme, any application letters for different license / permits under the environmental protection laws, and copies of all the valid license / permit. The site diary should also be available for the ET Leader’s inspection upon his request.
After reviewing the document, the ET Leader should advise the Contractor of any non-compliance with contractual and legislative requirements on environmental protection and pollution control for them to take follow up action, including any potential violation of requirements.
Upon receipt of the advice, the Contractor should undertake immediate action to remedy the situation. The ER should follow up to ensure that appropriate action has been taken in order to satisfy contractual and legal requirements.
¡ The
Contractor to log complaint
and date of receipt onto the complaint database and inform the ER, ET and IEC
immediately;
¡ The
Contractor to investigate the
complaint to determine its validity, and assess whether the source of the
problem is due to construction works of the Project
with the support of additional monitoring frequency, stations and parameters,
if necessary;
¡ The
Contractor to identify mitigation measures
in consultation with the IEC, ET and ER if a complaint is valid and due to the
construction works of the Project;
¡ The
Contractor to implement the remedial measures as required by the ER and to
agree with the ET and IEC any additional monitoring frequency, stations and
parameters, where necessary, for checking the effectiveness of the mitigation
measures;
¡ The
ER, ET and IEC to review the effectiveness of the Contractor's remedial
measures and the updated situation;
¡ The
ET to undertake additional monitoring and audit to verify the situation if
necessary, and oversee that circumstances leading to the complaint do not
recur;
¡ If
the complaint is referred by the EPD, the Contractor to prepare interim report
on the status of the complaint investigation and follow-up actions stipulated
above, including the details of the remedial measures and additional monitoring
identified or already taken, for submission to EPD within the time frame
assigned by the EPD;
¡ The
ET to record the details of the complaint, results of the investigation, subsequent actions taken to address the
complaint and updated situation including the effectiveness of the remedial
measures, supported by regular and
additional monitoring results in the monthly EM&A reports.
Handling
of environmental complaints should follow the environmental complaint flow
diagram and reporting channel as presented in Figure
9.1.
During
the complaint investigation work, the Contractor and ER should cooperate with
the ET in providing all necessary information and assistance for completion of
the investigation. If mitigation measures are identified in the investigation,
the Contractor should promptly carry out the mitigation works. The ER should ensure that the measures have
been carried out by the Contractor.
The reporting requirements of EM&A
information are based upon a paper-documented approach. The same information
shall also be available in an electronic medium in a format agreed with the IEC, ER and EPD i.e. both
hard and electronic copy documents will be required.
Types of reports that the ET Leader should
prepare and submit include baseline monitoring report, monthly EM&A report,
quarterly EM&A summary report and final EM&A review report. 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. The exact details of the frequency,
distribution and time frame for submission should be agreed with EPD prior to
commencement of works.
The ET Leader should
prepare and submit a Baseline Environmental Monitoring Report within 10 working
days of completion of the baseline monitoring. Copies of the Baseline
Environmental Monitoring Report should be submitted to all parties: the
Contractor, the IEC, the ER and the EPD. The ET Leader should liaise with the
relevant parties on the exact number of copies required. The format and content
of the report, and the representation of the baseline
monitoring data should be in a format to the satisfaction of EPD and include,
but not be limited to the following:
1. up to half a page executive summary;
2. brief project background information;
3. drawings showing locations of the baseline
monitoring stations;
4. monitoring results (in both hard and diskette
copies) together with the following information:
¡ monitoring methodology;
¡ name of laboratory and types of equipment used and calibration details;
¡ parameters monitored;
¡ monitoring locations;
¡ monitoring date, time, frequency and duration;
¡ QA/QC results and detection limits;
5. details on influencing factors, including
¡ major activities, if any, being carried out on the Site during the period;
¡ weather conditions during the period;
¡ other factors which might affect the results.
6. statistical analysis of the baseline data;
the analysis should conclude if there is any significant difference between
control and impact stations for the parameters monitored, and the following
information should be recorded:
¡ graphical plots of monitored parameters in the month annotated against;
¡ the major activities being carried out on site during the period;
7. revisions for inclusion in the EM&A
Manual; and
8. comments and conclusions.
The results and
findings of all EM&A work required in the Manual should be recorded in the
monthly EM&A reports prepared by the ET Leader. The EM&A report should
be prepared by the ER, endorsed by IEC and submitted within 10 working days of
the end of each reporting month, with the first report due in the month after
construction commences. Before submission of the first EM&A report, the ET
Leader should liaise with the parties on the exact number of copies and format
of the monthly reports in both hard copy and electronic medium requirement. The
ET Leader should review the number and location of monitoring stations and
parameters to monitor every 6 months or on as needed basis in order to cater
for the changes in surrounding environment and nature of works in progress.
i. First Monthly EM&A Report
The
First Monthly EM&A Report should include at least the following:
a. 1-2 pages executive summary;
¡ Breaches
of
¡ Complaints Log;
¡ Notifications of any summons and successful prosecutions;
¡ Reporting Changes; and
¡ Future key issues.
b. Basic Project Information
¡ Project organisations including key personnel contact names and telephone numbers;
¡ Programme;
¡ Management structure; and
¡ Works undertaken during the month.
c. Environmental Status
¡ Work undertaken during the month with illustrations (such as location of works daily dredging/filling rates percentage fines in the fill material used); and
¡ Drawing showing the project area, any environmental sensitive receivers and the locations of the monitoring and control stations.
d. Summary of EM&A requirements
¡ All monitoring parameters;
¡ AL Levels;
¡ Event-Action Plans;
¡ Environmental mitigation measures, as recommended in the project EIA Report; and
¡ Environmental requirements in contract documents.
e. Implementation Status
Advice on the
implementation status of environmental protection and pollution
control/mitigation measures, as recommended in the project EIA Report,
summarised in the updated implementation schedule (in Appendix
B).
f. Monitoring Results
To provide
monitoring results (in both hard and diskette copies) together with the
following information:
¡ Monitoring methodology;
¡ Name of laboratory and types of equipment used and calibration details;
¡ Parameters monitored;
¡ Monitoring locations;
¡ Monitoring date, time, frequency, and duration;
¡ Weather conditions during the period;
¡ Any other factors which might affect the monitoring results; and
¡ QA/QC results and detection limits.
g. Report on Non-compliance, Complaints,
Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions
¡ Record of all non-compliance (exceedances) of the environmental quality performance limits (AL Levels);
¡ Record of all complaints received (written or verbal) for each media, including locations and nature of complaints investigation, liaison and consultation undertaken, actions and follow-up procedures taken, results and summary;
¡ Record of all notifications of summons and successful prosecutions for breaches of the current environmental protection/pollution control legislations, including locations and nature of the breaches, investigation, follow-up actions taken, results and summary;
¡ Review of the reasons for and the implications of non-compliance, complaints, summons and prosecutions including review of pollution sources and working procedures; and
¡ Description of the actions taken in the event of non-compliance and deficiency reporting and any follow-up procedures related to earlier non-compliance.
h. Others
¡ An account of the future key issues as reviewed from the works programme and work method statements; and
¡ Advice on the solid and liquid waste management status.
ii. Subsequent Monthly EM&A Reports
The
subsequent Monthly EM&A Reports should include the following:
a. Executive Summary (1-2 pages)
¡ Breaches
of
¡ Complaint Log;
¡ Notifications of any summons and successful prosecutions;
¡ Future key issues.
b. Environmental Status
¡ Works undertaken during the month with illustrations including key personnel contact names and telephone number; and
¡ Drawing showing the project area, any environmental sensitive receivers and the locations of the monitoring and control stations.
c. Implementation Status
Advice on the implementation
status of environmental protection and pollution control/mitigation measures
including measures for air, noise, water quality and ecological impacts etc, as recommended in the EIA Report, summarised in the
updated implementation schedule (see Appendix
B).
d. Monitoring Results
To provide
monitoring results (in both hard and diskette copies) together with the
following information:
¡ Monitoring methodology;
¡ Name of laboratory and types of equipment used and calibration details;
¡ Parameters monitored;
¡ Monitoring locations;
¡ Monitoring date, time, frequency, and duration;
¡ Weather conditions during the period;
¡ Any other factors which might affect the monitoring results; and
¡ QA/QC results and detection limits.
e. Report on Non-compliance, Complaints,
Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions
¡ Record of all non-compliance (exceedances) of the environmental quality performance limits (AL Levels);
¡ Record of all complaints received (written or verbal) for each media, including locations and nature of complaints investigation, liaison and consultation undertaken, actions and follow-up procedures taken, results and summary;
¡ Record of all notifications of summons and successful prosecutions for breaches of the current environmental protection/pollution control legislations, including locations and nature of the breaches, investigation, follow-up actions taken, results and summary;
¡ Review of the reasons for and the implications of non-compliance, complaints, summons and prosecutions including review of pollution sources and working procedures; and
¡ A description of the actions taken in the event of non-compliance and deficiency reporting and any follow-up procedures related to earlier non-compliance.
f. Others
¡ An account of the future key issues as reviewed from the works programme and work method statements; and
¡ Advice on the solid and liquid waste management status.
g. Appendix
¡
¡ Graphical plots of trends of monitored parameters at key stations over the past four reporting periods for representative monitoring stations annotated against the following:
¡ major activities being carried out on site
during the period;
¡ weather conditions during the period; and
¡ any other factors which might affect the
monitoring results
¡ Monitoring schedule for the present and next reporting period
¡ Cumulative statistics
¡ On complaints, notifications of summons and successful prosecutions
¡ Outstanding issues and deficiencies
iii. Quarterly
EM&A Summary Reports
The
Quarterly EM&A Summary Report which should
generally be around 5 pages (including about 3 of text and tables and 2 of
figures) should contain at least the following information:
a. up to half a page executive summary;
b. basic project information including a
synopsis of the project organisation, programme, contacts of key management,
and a synopsis of work undertaken during the quarter;
c. a brief summary of EM&A requirements
including:
¡ monitoring parameters;
¡ environmental quality performance limits (AL Levels); and
¡ environmental mitigation measures, as recommended in the EIA Report.
d. advice on the implementation status of
environmental protection and pollution control/mitigation measures, as
recommended in the project EIA study report, summarised in the updated
implementation schedule;
e. drawings showing the project area, any
environmental sensitive receivers and the locations of the monitoring and
control stations;
f. graphical plots of the trends of monitored parameters
over the past 4 months (the last month of the previous quarter and the present
quarter) for representative monitoring stations annotated against;
¡ the major activities being carried out on site during the period;
¡ weather conditions during the period; and
¡ any other factors which might affect the monitoring results.
g. advice on the solid and liquid waste
management status;
h. a summary of non-compliance (exceedances) of the environmental quality performance
limits (AL Levels);
i. an quarterly assessment of constructional
impacts on water quality at the project site including but not limited to
comparison of the difference between the quarterly mean and 1.3 times of the
ambient which is defined as 30% increase of the baseline data or EPD data of
the related parameters by using appropriate statistical procedures. Suggestion
of appropriate mitigation measures if the quarterly assessment analytical
results demonstrate that the quarterly mean is significantly higher than the
liaison water quality times of the ambient mean (p < 0.05);
j. a brief review of the reasons for and the
implications of non-compliance including review of pollution sources and
working procedures;
k. a summary description of the actions taken in
the event of non-compliance and any follow-up procedures related to earlier
non-compliance;
l. a summary record of all complaints received
(written or verbal) for each media, liaison and consultation undertaken,
actions and follow-up procedures taken;
m. comments (e.g. effectiveness and efficiency
of the mitigation measures), recommendations (e.g. any improvement in the
EM&A programme) and conclusions for the quarter; and
n. proponents' contacts and any hotline telephone number
for the public to make enquiries.
iv. Final EM&A Review Reports
The
Final EM&A Report should contain at least the following information:
a. Executive Summary (1-2 pages);
b. drawings showing the project area, any
environmental sensitive receivers and the locations of the monitoring and
control stations;
c. basic project information including a synopsis
of the project organisation contacts of key management, and a synopsis of work
undertaken during the course of the project or past twelve months;
d. a brief summary of EM&A requirements
including:
(i) environmental
mitigation measures, as recommended in the project EIA Report;
(ii) environmental
impact hypotheses tested;
(iii) AL Levels;
(iv) all monitoring
parameters; and
(v) Event-Action Plans;
e. a summary of the implementation status of
environmental protection and pollution control/mitigation measures as recommended
in the project EIA study report summarized in the updated implementation
schedule;
f. graphical plots and the statistical analysis
of the trends of monitored parameters over the course of the project, including
the post project monitoring (for the past twelve months for annual report) for
all monitoring stations against:
¡ the major activities being carried out on site during the period;
¡ weather conditions during the period; and
¡ any other factors which might affect the monitoring results.
g. a summary of non-compliance (exceedances) of the environmental quality performance
limits (AL Levels);
h. a review of the reasons for and the
implications of non-compliance including review of pollution sources and
working procedures as appropriate;
i. a description of the actions taken in the
event of non-compliance;
j. a summary record of all complaints received
(written or verbal) for each media liaison and consultation undertaken, action
and follow-up procedures taken;
k. a summary record of notifications of summons
and successful prosecutions for breaches of the current environmental
protection pollution control legislations locations and nature of the breaches,
investigation, follow-up actions taken and results;
l. a review of the validity of EIA Report
predictions and identification of shortcomings in EIA Report recommendations;
m. a review of the effectiveness and efficiency
of the mitigation measures; and
n. a review of success of the EM&A programme
to cost effectively identify deterioration and to initiate prompt effective mitigatory action when necessary
The site document such
as the monitoring field records, laboratory analysis records, site inspection
forms, etc. are not required to be included in the monthly EM&A reports for
submission. However, the document should be well kept by the ET Leader and be
ready for inspection upon request. All relevant information should be clearly
and systematically recorded in the document. The monitoring data should also be
recorded in magnetic media form, and the software copy can be available upon
request. The water quality data software format should be agreed with EPD. All
the documents and data should be kept for at least one year
after completion of the construction contract.
With reference to Event and Action Plan, when the environmental quality limits are exceeded, the ET Leader should immediately notify the ER, the IEC and EPD, as appropriate. The notification should be followed up with advice to IEC and EPD on the results of the investigation, proposed action and success of the action taken, with any necessary follow-up proposals. A sample template for the interim notifications is shown in Appendix C.