13.1.1
A
project organisation consisting of the Engineer’s Representative (ER),
Independent Environmental Checker (IEC), Environmental Team (ET), Project
Proponent (Civil Engineering and Development Department) and Contractor should
be established to take on the responsibilities for environmental protection for
the Project. The IEC will be appointed by the Project Proponent to conduct
independent auditing on the overall EM&A programme including environmental
and operation monitoring, implementation of mitigation measures, EM&A
submissions, and any other submission required under the Environmental Permit
(EP). The organisation, responsibilities of respective parties and lines of
communication with respect to environmental protection works are given in the
EM&A Manual.
13.2.1
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 the EM&A Manual.
13.2.2
A project specific EM&A Manual to the Project
has been prepared as part of the EIAO submission with reference to the latest
design information available and EPD’s generic EM&A Manual. The project
specific EM&A Manual highlights the following issues:
·
Organisation, hierarchy and responsibilities of the
Contractor, the Engineer or ER, ET and IEC with respect to the EM&A
requirements during construction phase of the Project;
·
Information on project organisation and programming of
construction activities for the project;
·
Requirements with respect to the construction schedule
and necessary EM&A programme to track the varying environmental impacts;
·
Full 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.
13.2.3 The Contractor shall be requested to review the mitigation measures and Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule (EMIS) with respect to the design developments and construction methodology. In case when the Contractor needs to update the mitigation measures and the EMIS, an updated EM&A Manual shall be submitted to the EPD for approval. The Contractor shall seek EPD’s prior approval on these amendments before construction commences.
13.3 Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule
13.3.1
An EMIS has been prepared and included in the
EM&A Manual to summarize all the required mitigation measures need to be
implemented during the design, the construction and operational phases of the
Project. The implementation responsibilities will also be identified in the
EMIS. The EM&A Manual will also present the requirements for environmental
monitoring and auditing (e.g. monitoring and audit frequency), throughout the
entire construction phase.
13.3.2
The Contractor should review the mitigation
measures and EMIS with respect to the design developments and construction
methodology. In case the Contractor needs to update the mitigation measures and
EMIS, the EM&A Manual should be updated accordingly.
13.4.1 The Contractor will be requested to implement and operate a monitoring programme throughout the entire construction period of the Project. This mechanism will include a system to report the monitoring results on the Project Proponent’s website within a period of time, to be agreed by EPD, after the relevant monitoring data are collected. In cases where exceedance is found, the Contractor and ET should take immediate actions to implement remediation measures following the procedures specified in the EM&A Manual.
13.4.2
Detailed requirements of the EM&A programme
will be described in the EM&A Manual. Measurements and activities that
shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements in the EM&A Manual
are summarised as follows:
·
Baseline monitoring (construction dust, airborne
noise and water etc.);
·
Impact monitoring (construction dust, airborne
noise and water etc.);
·
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 Baseline, Monthly and
Final EM&A Reports.
13.5 Environmental Management Plan
13.5.1
A systematic Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
shall be set up by the Contractor to ensure effective implementation of the
mitigation measures, monitoring and remedial requirements presented in the EIA,
EM&A and EMIS. The Project Proponent and IEC will audit the implementation
status against the EMP and advise the necessary remedial actions required.
These remedial actions shall be enforced by the Engineer’s Representative
through contractual means.
13.5.2
The EMP will require the Contractor (together with
it’s sub-contractors) to define in details how to implement the recommended
mitigation measures in order to achieve the environmental performance defined
in the Hong Kong environmental legislation and the EIA documentation. The EMP
would also need to include a Waste Management Plan to demonstrate the
Contractor’s proposal to minimize the waste generation and maximize the re-use
of spoil as far as practicable
13.5.3
The review of on-site environmental performance
shall be undertaken by the Project Proponent and IEC through a systematic
checklist and audit once the project commences. The environmental performance
review programme comprises a regular assessment on the effectiveness of the
EMP.