18.    Environmental Monitoring and Audit


18.1       Introduction

18.1.1.1    This section describes the need for Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) during the construction and operation phases of the project in accordance with the requirements as stipulated in Annex 21 of the EIAO-TM.

18.1.1.2    The purpose of the EM&A programme is to ascertain and verify the assumptions implicit to, and accuracy of, EIA study predictions. The EM&A programme includes the scope of the environmental monitoring and audit requirements for the project to ensure compliance with the 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.

18.2       Project Organisation

18.2.1.1    A project organisation consisting of the project proponent (i.e., AAHK), the Project Manager (PM), Independent Environmental Checker (IEC), Environmental Team (ET), and Contractor will be established to take on the responsibilities for environmental protection for the project.

18.3       EM&A Manual and Implementation Schedule

18.3.1.1    EM&A is an important aspect in the EIA process which specifies the timeframe and responsibilities for the implementation of environmental mitigation measures. The requirements on environmental monitoring (including baseline and impact monitoring) are given in a stand-alone EM&A Manual.  

18.3.1.2    The EM&A Manual includes the following:

¡  Organisation, hierarchy and responsibilities of AAHK, the Contractor, Engineer’s Representative, ET and IEC with respect to the EM&A requirements during construction and operational phases of the project;

¡  Information on project organisation and programming of construction activities;

¡  Requirements with respect to the construction schedule and necessary EM&A programme to track the varying environmental impacts;

¡  Details of methodologies to be adopted, including all field, laboratory and analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance;

¡  Procedure for undertaking on-site environmental audits;

¡  Definition of Action and Limit Levels;

¡  Establishment of Event and Action Plans;

¡  Requirements of reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of non-compliance of environmental criteria and complaints;

¡  Requirements for reviewing the implementation of mitigation measures, and effectiveness of environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted; and

¡  Presentation of requirements for EM&A data and appropriate reporting procedures.

18.3.1.3    An Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule (EMIS) has been prepared and included in Chapter 20 and the EM&A Manual to summarise all the required mitigation measures that need to be implemented during the construction and operational phases of the project. The implementation responsibilities are also identified in the EMIS.  The EM&A Manual also presents the requirements for environmental monitoring and auditing (e.g. monitoring locations, monitoring and audit frequency).

18.4       EM&A Programme

18.4.1.1    The following measurements and activities for each environmental aspect (where applicable) has been identified:

¡  Baseline monitoring;

¡  Impact monitoring; 

¡  Compliance monitoring;

¡  Remedial actions in accordance with the Event and Action Plan within the timeframe in case the specified criteria in the EM&A Manual were exceeded;

¡  Logging and keeping records of monitoring results; and

¡  Preparation and submission of Monthly and Final EM&A Reports.

18.4.1.2    Detailed requirements of the EM&A programme will be described in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.

18.5       Summary of Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

18.5.1     Air Quality

Construction Phase

18.5.1.1    The project is anticipated to give rise to construction dust impacts. The key activities that would potentially result in dust emissions include land formation works, construction works on the newly formed land, on the existing airport island, concrete batching plants, asphalt batching plants, crushing plant, barging points, haul roads, diversion of submarine fuel pipeline, diversion of submarine 11 kV cable and modifications to existing outfall. Regular dust monitoring is considered necessary during the construction phase of the project and regular site audits are also required to ensure the dust control measures are properly implemented.

18.5.1.2    Monitoring and audit of daily RSP and daily FSP levels are not proposed.  This is because even under the hypothetical worst case Tier 1 mitigated scenario both daily RSP and daily FSP would comply with the corresponding AQO at all ASR throughout the construction period, except the limited non-compliance with the AQO for daily RSP at up to three ASR in three of the nine construction years. Hence no significant RSP or FSP impacts are anticipated. Therefore, only hourly TSP will be monitored and audited at appropriate locations. Details of the EM&A programme are presented in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.

Operation Phase

18.5.1.3    The current airport air quality monitoring stations should be maintained. No additional air quality monitoring station is required.

18.5.2     Hazard to Human Life

18.5.2.1    Implementation of the recommended mitigation measures should be checked as part of the environmental monitoring and audit procedures during the construction and operation phase.

18.5.3     Noise

Aircraft Noise

18.5.3.1    In accordance with the requirements of the EIA Study Brief, an aircraft noise monitoring and audit programme has been recommended and this shall include the following key elements as detailed in the EM&A Manual:

¡  An exercise to verify predictions on the effectiveness of measures to mitigate aircraft noise impact and the preparation of a Prediction Verification Report;

¡  Review Report, prepared on an annual basis, for detailing the compliance with noise abatement procedures and unanticipated events, as well as any further necessary investigation and/or remedial action(s);

¡  Noise Contour Report, prepared in at least every five years, to compare actual airport operation to forecast airport operation with respect to aircraft noise, taking into account data collected on actual aircraft operational levels, fleet mix, runway and flight track utilizations; and produce an updated noise contour using the most currently available and internationally accepted noise modelling methodology

18.5.3.2    In additional to the above reporting requirements, AAHK shall continue to engage with the neighbouring communities in the vicinity of HKIA, other stakeholders and interested parties on aircraft noise issues associated with the operation of the project. 

18.5.3.3    A clear EM&A framework has been established as presented in the EM&A Manual.  Prior to commencement of project operation, a detailed EM&A Plan should be submitted to EPD for agreement.

Fixed Noise Sources

18.5.3.4    Prior to the operation phase of the project, as part of the design process, commissioning tests should be conducted to ensure the operation noise from the fixed plant would comply with the relevant EIAO-TM noise criteria. The commissioning test methodology statement shall be submitted by the Contractor to seek approval from AAHK and EPD. The test should be carried out by a qualified person possessing at least seven years of noise control experience and a corporate membership of Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics or equivalent. The noise commissioning test report should be submitted to the ET Leader, IEC and PM for approval.

18.5.3.5    Noise commissioning tests are also required for noise enclosure of aircraft engine run-up facilities. Details of the requirement of tests are presented in the stand-alone EM&A Manual. The test should be carried out by a qualified person possessing at least seven years of noise control experience and a corporate membership of Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics or equivalent.  The noise commissioning test report should be submitted to the ET Leader, IEC and PM for approval.

Construction Noise

18.5.3.6    Although no residual airborne noise impact is predicted during construction phase, an EM&A programme is recommended to ensure that the nearby NSRs will not be subject to unacceptable construction noise impact. Details of the EM&A programme is presented in the stand-alone EM&A Manual. 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 PM and monitored by the ET.

Traffic Noise

18.5.3.7    No adverse road or marine traffic noise impacts are anticipated from operation of the project, hence no environmental monitoring and audit is proposed.   

18.5.4     Water Quality

Construction Phase

18.5.4.1    During construction phase, specific mitigation measures in the form of silt curtains will be required, and other measures in the form of general good construction works practices have been specified. An EM&A programme is recommended to check and review the effectiveness of these mitigation measures during construction phase. A silt curtain efficiency pilot test is also recommended to confirm the silt removal efficiency of the silt curtains. Details of the EM&A requirements are specified in the EM&A Manual.

18.5.4.2    To ensure no adverse water quality impacts during construction activities, a water quality monitoring programme as well as a specific DCM monitoring programme is recommended to be implemented throughout construction phase, as part of the management and control programme defined in the action plan of the EM&A Manual. Details of the water quality monitoring programme are specified in the EM&A Manual.

Operation Phase

18.5.4.3    With the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, no adverse water quality impacts are anticipated during operation phase, hence no specific environmental monitoring and audit is required. However, water quality monitoring for the spent cooling water discharges will be undertaken in accordance with the future WPCO license conditions. Water quality monitoring is also proposed for the greywater treatment facility during commissioning and operation to ensure the treated effluent quality complies with the reuse standards as defined in the EIA.

18.5.5     Sewerage and Sewage Treatment

18.5.5.1    With the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, the existing public sewerage system would be upgraded to cater for the maximum development flows arising from the project.  In order to monitor the sewage flow build-up for the project to ensure timely completion of the mitigation works for the affected gravity sewer before the flow would exceed the sewer design capacity, it is recommended to implement a regular sewage flow monitoring programme.

18.5.5.2    Moreover, in order to ensure the additional sewage generated from the 3RS project would not impose adverse impacts in respect of sewage septicity and odour issues on the existing sewerage networks including the public sewerage system, it is recommended to implement a hydrogen sulphide (H2S) monitoring system for the sewerage system of the 3RS.

18.5.5.3    Details of the above monitoring works are given in the EM&A Manual.

18.5.6     Waste Management

Construction Phase

18.5.6.1    It will be the contractor’s responsibilities to ensure that all wastes produced during the construction phase of the project are handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with good waste management practices and the relevant regulations and requirements.  The recommended mitigation measures shall form the basis of the Waste Management Plan to be developed by the contractor in the construction phase.

18.5.6.2    During construction phase, regular site inspection as part of the EM&A procedures should be carried out to check if various types of waste are being managed in accordance with approved procedures and the Waste Management Plan. It should cover different aspects of waste management including waste generation, storage, recycling, treatment, transport and disposal.

Operation Phase

18.5.6.3    During operation phase, weekly inspection should be carried out along the artificial seawall of the expanded airport island to check for any entrapment or accumulation of floating refuse. Where an appreciable amount of floating refuse is found on the artificial seawall during the weekly inspection, the locations of such refuse will be recorded and arrangements with the contractor will immediately be made to collect and clear the refuse from the seawall.

18.5.7     Land Contamination

18.5.7.1    In view of the desktop review results and the site reconnaissance findings, excavation of soil for land remediation will be subject to the findings of site investigation (SI) to be conducted.

18.5.7.2    Further site reconnaissance would be conducted once inaccessible areas (i.e. fuel tank room within Terminal 2 (T2) building, fuel tank room to the west of Civil Aviation Department (CAD) antenna farm, seawater pump house and switching station, pumping station and fire training facility) are accessible in order to identify any land contamination concern for these areas. Subject to the further site reconnaissance findings, a supplementary Contamination Assessment Plan (CAP) for additional SI (if necessary) may be prepared and submitted to EPD for endorsement prior to the commencement of SI at these areas. 

18.5.7.3    After completion of the SI, Contamination Assessment Report (CAR) will be prepared and submitted to EPD for approval prior to start of the proposed construction works at the golf course, the underground and above-ground fuel storage tank areas, emergency power generation units, airside petrol filling station and fuel tank room. Should remediation be required, Remediation Action Plan (RAP) and Remediation Report (RR) will be prepared for EPD’s approval prior to commencement of the proposed remediation and any construction works respectively.

18.5.7.4    During construction phase, EM&A is to be carried out in the form of regular site inspections. All related procedures and facilities for handling or storage of chemicals and chemical wastes will be audited regularly to ensure they are in order, intact and reported in the EM&A reports accordingly.

18.5.8     Terrestrial Ecology

18.5.8.1    Implementation of the recommended mitigation measures for Sha Chau egretry should be checked and confirmed as part of the EM&A programme during the construction phase, the details of which are presented in the stand alone EM&A Manual.  In particular, a pre-construction survey is recommended to update the latest boundary of the egretry during the breeding season before commencement of the HDD drilling works to ensure the daylighting location can avoid direct encroachment on the egretry. During the works period, monitoring shall be undertaken to identify and evaluate any impacts with appropriate actions taken as required to address and minimise any adverse impact found. Details of the pre-construction egretry survey are presented in stand-alone EM&A Manual. Subject to the pre-construction survey findings, the daylighting location/ works area will be adjusted to avoid the future egretry location.

18.5.8.2    No EM&A requirements are considered during the operation phase.

18.5.9     Marine Ecology

18.5.9.1    The EIA has predicted the project would lead to some ecological impacts and has recommended a series of measures to avoid, minimise, and mitigate the impacts to an acceptable level.  An ecological monitoring and audit programme would be needed to ensure the recommended measures are properly implemented. In addition, the EM&A programme also serves other purposes, including but not limited to verify the accuracy of the ecological assessment study and recommending action plans in response to unpredicted impacts or ineffective mitigation. 

18.5.9.2    The monitoring and audit requirements specific for marine ecology are presented in the Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual. It is proposed to conduct ecological monitoring during the baseline, construction, post-construction and operation phases of the third runway project, with the aims to monitor the effects on the CWDs over the construction period, including the potential shift in the CWD travelling areas and habitat use, to determine the effectiveness of the reduction in HSF speeds on the acoustic impacts and disturbance to the CWDs and also determine the effectiveness of the mitigation (i.e. after the proposed Marine Park comes into operation) on CWD numbers. The CWD monitoring will be conducted by the ET, led by a CWD monitoring team leader with five years post-graduate experience in CWD monitoring.

18.5.9.3    An overarching goal of these surveys is to provide a dataset that can be compatible with the AFCD long term monitoring, be stratified in such a way as to allow the calculation of density and abundance for the various different phases listed above and to facilitate the calculation of trends from these estimates, providing some assessment of how the project may be impacting the CWDs. Further details on the survey methodologies are provided in the standalone EM&A Manual.

18.5.9.4    Three major types of field work have been proposed as follows: 

a)      Focused vessel line transect surveys and also to collect individual CWD identification photos for examination of ranging patterns.  As part of this vessel-based work, focal follows of individual CWD groups provide information on movements and travel patterns;

b)      Land-based theodolite tracking of movements provides information on swimming and movement patterns of dolphin groups, and responses to vessels and other potential stressors; and

c)   Autonomous passive acoustic monitoring (PAM or equivalent) of the dolphins and their environment (especially vessel and marine-construction noise), providing information on CWD presence and vocal activity, as well as noise levels in CWD habitat.

18.5.9.5    The vessel based monitoring surveys and CWD focal follows have been proposed over a period of at least 6 months for the baseline phase, on-going for the duration of the construction works, 12 month post construction monitoring and at least 12 months during operational stage to test the effectiveness of the mitigation measures, so that all four seasons are represented and seasonal differences can be examined.

18.5.9.6    In addition to the proposed vessel transect monitoring, some additional monitoring in the form of underwater acoustic monitoring and land-based theodolite tracking for CWD monitoring will be undertaken during the baseline and construction works. In all cases, the scope, locations and frequency of the monitoring will be further defined at the detailed design phase in agreement with AFCD and EPD. The main aim for these two monitoring types is to supplement the vessel transect survey findings detailed above and to help verifying the predictions in the EIA but not for monitor the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.  The need for further land-based theodolite and underwater acoustic surveys will be subject to a review of the above findings.

18.5.9.7    In conjunction with the monitoring efforts, given the uncertainty on the growth of HSF traffic from SkyPier / the ITT in future years, the EM&A will monitor actual numbers of HSFs operating from SkyPier after the HZMB and HKBCF commence operations by obtaining HSF movement data from the SkyPier operators.

18.5.9.8    A pre-construction coral dive survey is also proposed at the artificial seawall at northern and northeastern airport island, and the daylighting locations at Shau Chau to check the status of Balanophyllia sp. and other coral species and review the feasibility of translocation. A pre-construction coral dive survey plan and report will be prepared for agreement with the Authority.

18.5.10  Fisheries

18.5.10.1 With the implementation of the recommended water quality mitigation measures during construction and operation phases as well as the proposed establishment of new Marine Park to compensate the permanent loss of fisheries habitats (and resources), no adverse residual impact on fisheries is anticipated.

18.5.10.2 The implementation of the water quality mitigation measures should be checked as part of the environmental monitoring and audit procedures during the construction period as presented in the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual. Apart from water quality mitigation measures, the consideration of alternative construction methods e.g. use of non-dredge ground improvement methods by DCM would also reduce the potential release of contaminant to the water column and reduce the indirect impact on fisheries resources. Water quality monitoring and audit has been proposed at locations covering sites of fisheries importance during construction and operation phases to monitor the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures, thus fisheries specific monitoring is considered not necessary.

18.5.11  Landscape and Visual

Construction Phase

Monitoring of Design, Construction and Establishment Works

18.5.11.1 The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual mitigation measures should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised and that any potential conflicts between the proposed landscape measures and any other project works and operational requirements are resolved at the earliest possible date and without compromise to the intention of the mitigation measures.  

Design of Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures

18.5.11.2 The detailed design of the landscape and visual mitigation measures should be undertaken so as to ensure compliance with the recommended measures.

Site Supervision of Landscape Works

18.5.11.3 The implementation of the landscape works during the construction phase and establishment works should be inspected through the site audit program.

Operation Phase

Monitoring of Landscape Establishment

18.5.11.4    All landscape and visual mitigation measures shall be monitored during the landscape establishment period to check that intended mitigation effects are realised. 

18.5.12  Cultural Heritage

18.5.12.1 No EM&A is required for marine archaeology or terrestrial cultural heritage.

18.5.13  Health

18.5.13.1 No specific EM&A is required for health impacts related to aircraft emissions and noise.