This Section provides an evaluation of the potential noise impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project, associated works and marine activities.
The principal legislation relating to the
control of construction noise is the Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) (Cap. 499). The Technical
Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM), issued
under the EIAO, provides guidelines
and noise criteria for evaluating noise impacts. The assessment criteria are defined in Annex 5 of the EIAO-TM with reference made to Annex
13 of the EIAO-TM for the
guidelines of noise assessment.
The Noise Control Ordinance (NCO) (Cap. 400) also provides statutory controls on general construction works during restricted hours (i.e. 1900 – 0700 hours Monday to Saturday and at any time on Sundays and public holidays). A number of Technical Memoranda (TMs) have been issued under the NCO to stipulate noise control approaches and criteria. The Technical Memorandum on Noise from Construction Work other than Percussive Piling (GW-TM), which provides the guidelines for controlling the construction noise from the use of Powered Mechanical Equipment (PME) at the construction work sites, details the procedures that should be adopted for the assessment of noise from construction work other than percussive piling, the issuing of Construction Noise Permits (CNP), and for determining whether or not any such CNP is being complied with.
Under the EIAO, the potential noise impact arising from general construction works during normal working hours (i.e. 0700 to 1900 hours on any day not being a Sunday or public holiday) at noise sensitive receivers that rely on opened windows for ventilation, should be assessed in accordance with the noise criteria specified in the EIAO-TM. The EIAO-TM noise standards are presented in Table 6.1.
Table 6.1 EIAO-TM Daytime Construction Noise Standards (Leq, 30 min dB(A))
|
Uses |
Noise Standards (dB(A)) |
|
Domestic Premises |
75 |
|
Educational Institutions Educational Institutions (during examination periods) |
70 65 |
|
Notes: (a)
The
above standards apply to uses which rely on opened windows for ventilation. (b)
The
above standards shall be viewed as the maximum permissible noise levels
assessed at 1m from the external façade. |
|
When assessing a CNP application for the use of PME during the restricted hours (i.e. 1900 to 0700 hours of the next day and any time on Sundays and public holidays), the Noise Control Authority will compare the Acceptable Noise Levels (ANLs), as promulgated in GW-TM, and the Corrected Noise Levels (CNLs) (i.e. after accounting for factors such as barrier effects and reflections) associated with the proposed PME operations. The ANLs are related to the noise sensitivity of the area in question and different Area Sensitivity Ratings (ASRs) have been established to reflect the background characteristics of different areas. The appropriate ASR for the Noise Sensitive Receiver (NSR) is determined with reference to Table 6.2.
Table 6.2 Area Sensitivity Ratings
|
Types of
Area Containing NSR |
Degree to which NSR is affected by Influencing Factor (IF) |
||
|
|
Not Affected |
Indirectly
Affected |
Directly
Affected |
|
Rural
area, including |
A |
B |
B |
|
Low density residential area
consisting of low-rise or isolated high-rise developments |
A |
B |
C |
|
Urban area
|
B |
C |
C |
|
Area other
than those above |
B |
B |
C |
|
Notes: The following definitions apply: (a)
"Country Park" means an
area that is designated as a country park pursuant to Section 14 of the Country Parks Ordinance; (b)
"Directly
affected" means that the NSR is at such a location that noise generated
by the IF is readily noticeable at the NSR and is a dominant feature of the noise
climate of the NSR; (c)
"Indirectly affected"
means that the NSR is at such a location that noise generated by the IF,
whilst noticeable at the NSR, is not a dominant feature of the noise climate
of the NSR; (d)
"Not affected" means
that the NSR is at such a location that noise generated by the IF is not
noticeable at the NSR; and (e) "Urban area" means an area of high density, diverse development including a mixture of such elements as industrial activities, major trade or commercial activities and residential premises. |
|||
The relevant ANLs are shown in Table 6.3.
Table 6.3 Acceptable
Noise Levels for General Construction Works (ANLs, Leq, 5 min dB(A))
|
Time period |
Area Sensitivity Rating (dB(A)) |
||
|
|
A |
B |
C |
|
All days during the evening (i.e. 1900-2300 hours) and general holidays (including Sundays) during the day and evening (i.e. 0700-2300 hours) |
60 |
65 |
70 |
|
All days during the night-time (i.e. 2300-0700 hours of the next day) |
45 |
50 |
55 |
The Noise Control Authority will consider a well-justified CNP application, for construction works within restricted hours as guided by the relevant TMs issued under the NCO. The Noise Control Authority will take into account the adjoining land uses and any previous complaints against construction activities at the site before making a decision. Nothing in this EIA Report shall bind the Noise Control Authority in making its decision. The Noise Control Authority may include any conditions in a CNP that it considers appropriate. Failure to comply with any such conditions may lead to cancellation of the CNP and prosecution action under the NCO.
The Technical Memorandum on Noise From
Places Other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites (IND-TM)
issued under the NCO specifies the
applicable ANLs for assessing potential operation noise impacts. The ANLs are dependent on the ASR and
the time of the day and are presented in Table
6.4.
Table 6.4 ANLs to be used as Fixed Plant Noise Criteria
|
Time Period |
|
Leq
30min (dB(A)) |
||
|
|
ASR
“A” |
ASR
“B” |
ASR
“C” |
|
|
Day-time (i.e. 0700-1900 hours) |
60 |
65 |
70 |
|
|
Evening (i.e. 1900-2300 hours) |
60 |
65 |
70 |
|
|
Night-time (i.e. 2300-0700 hours of the next day) |
50 |
55 |
60 |
|
Fixed plant noise is controlled under Section 13 of the NCO and the
predictions will be undertaken in accordance with the IND-TM.
The noise criteria for planning and design of
Designated Projects are set out in Table 1A of Annex 5 of the EIAO-TM as follows:
·
The noise
level at the facade of the nearest NSR is at least 5 dB(A) below the
appropriate ANL (as shown in Table
6.4) as specified in the IND-TM; or
·
The
prevailing background noise level (for quiet areas with a noise level 5 dB(A)
below the appropriate ANL).
Where Project construction works sites are located in rural areas and no influencing factors affect the NSRs, an ASR of “A” is assigned. Where background noise levels are considered lower than ASR “A”, baseline noise measurements can be conducted to investigate the prevailing noise levels and to establish the noise limits for the assessment of the operational noise impacts. Details of the noise measurements for the Project are discussed further in Section 6.3.4.
The ASR assumed in this EIA Report is for an indicative operation noise assessment only. It should be noted that fixed noise sources are controlled under Section 13 of the NCO. At the time of investigation, the Noise Control Authority shall determine noise impact from concerned fixed noise sources on the basis of prevailing legislation and practices being in force, and taking account of contemporary conditions / situations of adjoining land uses. Nothing in this EIA Report shall bind the Noise Control Authority in the context of law enforcement against any fixed noise source being assessed.
In accordance with the requirements given in Clause 3.4.6.3 and Appendix C of the EIA Study Brief, the Assessment Area for the noise impact assessment covers a distance of 300m from the boundary of the Project. The Assessment Area considered in the assessment is shown in Figure 6.1.
The GRSs are located at the BPPS at Black Point
in Tuen Mun, and the LPS on Lamma Island.
Black Point and Lamma Island are rural in nature and surrounded by
natural terrain. To the west of the
GRS at the BPPS is open sea, whereas to the south of the GRS at the LPS is open
sea. Background noise at both GRS
sites is dominated by the operation of the existing power stations.
The LNG Terminal is located offshore in the
southern HKSAR waters. The noise
environment is anticipated to be dominated by the noise from the natural background
and occasional marine vessel traffic.
The statutory Outline Zoning Plans (OZP) and other relevant development plan available from Lands Department or Town Planning Board have been reviewed with regard to the Assessment Area. The GRS (and related Assessment Area) at the BPPS is located within the boundary of the existing BPPS which is not covered by any OZP (see Figure 11.2). The GRS (and related Assessment Area) at the LPS is located within the boundary of the existing LPS, covered by the approved Lamma Outline Zoning Plan S/I-LI/11 under zoning ‘Other Specified Uses – For “Power Station” only’ (see Figure 11.3). There is no existing OZP in the Assessment Area for the LNG Terminal.
No existing or planned NSRs were identified
within the Assessment Area. The first layer of NSRs
were identified to be located approximately 1.3km away from the sites of the
GRS at the BPPS and the GRS at the LPS, approximately 2km from the LPS Pipeline
during construction, and approximately 4.7km from the LNG Terminal Project site
during operation.
The Soko Islands are located at approximately 4.5km from the Projects
site boundary. There is an
ex-Vietnam Refugee camp that is no longer in use and with no other existing
noise sensitive uses. A preliminary
feasibility study for a spa and resort development at Soko Islands is being
undertaken by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD). No confirmed development plan is
available at this time. In view of
the large separation distance between the Soko Islands and the Project, any
sensitive uses at the Soko Islands are not expected to be adversely affected by
the construction and operation of the Project.
Site visits were carried out to review the current situation for the
first layer of existing NSRs near the BPPS and the LPS. A site visit carried out on 20 July 2017
in the vicinity of the BPPS identified that the uses of Lung Kwu Sheung Tan is
currently industrial storage sites, and therefore, no existing NSR was
identified in the vicinity of the BPPS during the site visit. A site visit was also carried out on 1
to 2 August 2017 in the vicinity of the LPS. Existing and planned NSRs are listed in Table
6.5 and shown in Figure 6.1.
Photographs of the existing NSRs are presented in Annex 6A.
Table 6.5 Identified
Noise Sensitive Receivers (NSRs)
|
NSR ID |
Description |
Use |
Approximate
Distance to nearest Project Site (km) |
|
N1 |
Village House at Tai Shan Central at Lamma Island |
Existing Residential |
1.3 (a) |
|
N2 |
Concerto Inn |
Existing Hotel |
1.6 (a) |
|
N3 |
Proposed Residential Development in Lung Kwu Tan Reclamation Area |
Planned Residential |
1.7 (a) |
|
N4 |
Shek Kwu Chau Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre |
Existing Convalescent Home |
2.0 /4.7 (b) |
|
Notes: (a)
Nearest
distance for both construction and operation phases. (b)
2.0/4.7km
is the nearest distances between N4 and the LPS Pipeline during the
construction phase, and N4 and the LNG Terminal Project site during the
operation phase, respectively. |
|||
N1 - Village
House at Tai Shan Central at Lamma Island
The Village House at Tai Shan Central at Lamma Island (NSR N1) is located
approximately 1.3km to the north of the GRS at the LPS. The direct line of sight of NSR N1 to
the GRS at the LPS is screened by the existing building structures of the
LPS.
N2 - Concerto Inn at Lamma
Island
Concerto Inn (NSR N2) is an existing hotel located approximately
1.6km to the north-east of the GRS at the LPS. Openable doors are provided for the
balcony of the guest rooms, such that the occupants are considered as a NSR
that may be affected by the Project.
N3 - Proposed
Residential Development in Lung Kwu Tan Reclamation Area
Reference has been made to the approved EIA for Additional Gas-fired Generation Units Project
(AEIAR-197/2016), where the direct lines of sight between the site for the GRS
at the BPPS and the Proposed
Residential Development in Lung Kwu Tan Reclamation Area (NSR N3), which is located
1.7km, are screened by the natural terrain.
N4 - Shek
Kwu Chau Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre
Shek Kwu Chau Treatment Rehabilitation Centre (NSR N4) is located
approximately 2km to the north of the LPS Pipeline and 4.7km to the north-east
of the LNG Terminal Project site.
For NSRs N1 and N3, the separation distances between the
nearest Project sites (i.e. the GRS at the LPS and the GRS at the BPPS,
respectively) and these NSRs are at least 1.3km, and they are screened by the
natural terrain and existing building structures, therefore unacceptable noise
impacts due to the construction and operation of the Project are not
anticipated. Based on this, a
quantitative noise assessment is considered not necessary at NSRs N1 and N3. Considering NSR N4 is located approximately 2km away from the LPS
Pipeline construction, and about 4.7km away from the Jetty construction, noise
from the LPS Pipeline and the Jetty construction will not be noticeable at NSR
N4. During the operation phase, no
noise impact is anticipated from the LPS Pipeline. As the LNG Terminal Project site is
located approximately 4.7km away from the NSR N4, adverse noise impact is also
not anticipated. Based on the
above, a quantitative noise assessment is also considered not necessary at NSR N4.
Despite the large separation distance of
approximately 1.6km between the GRS at the LPS and NSR N2, in view of the
background noise environment at
NSR N2 being typically rural in nature, and it being the nearest unscreened NSR
to the GRS site, operation of the GRS at the LPS may have potential fixed noise
impacts to this NSR. Based on the
above, NSR N2 is identified as the representative NSR for a quantitative
operational noise impact assessment to present the worst case scenario from the
Project. As NSR N2 is located
approximately 18km away from the LNG Terminal, no adverse noise
impact on the NSR N2 is anticipated.
To investigate the prevailing noise levels at the NSR N2, noise measurements were taken at Concerto Inn on Lamma Island on 1 and 2 August 2017. The noise measurement was conducted using a Solo 01 Premium Sound Level Meter (Type 1), which had been calibrated using a 01dB-Stell CAL21 Sound Calibrator with a calibration signal of 94.0 dB(A) at 1kHz. The microphone was set at 1.2m above ground level with façade reflection. The measurements were conducted in accordance with the calibration and measurement procedures stated in the IND-TM. The measurement location is shown in Figure 6.2 with measured prevailing background noise levels summarised in Table 6.6.
Table 6.6 Measured
Prevailing Background Noise Levels
|
Location |
Time Periods |
Averaged
Measured Noise Levels (Measured Noise Levels), Leq (30min) dB(A) (b) |
ANL-5 for ASR “A”, dB(A) (a) |
Operational
Noise Criteria, dB(A) (a) |
|
N2 |
Daytime & Evening |
54 (54.1 & 54.2) |
55 |
54 |
|
|
Night-time |
55 (54.8 & 54.8) |
45 |
45 |
|
Notes: (a) IND-TM
specifies the applicable Acceptable Noise Levels (ANLs)
for the operation of the Project. The noise criteria for planning
and design of Designated Projects are set out in the EIAO-TM as
follows: -
the
noise level at the facade of the nearest NSR is at least 5 dB(A) below the
appropriate ANL (as shown in Table 6.4)
as specified in the IND-TM; or, -
the
prevailing background noise level (for quiet areas with a noise level 5 dB(A)
below the appropriate ANL). (b)
The
background noise is mainly dominated by the sound of sea waves. |
||||
Potential noise sources during the construction phase of the Project will
mainly arise from PME operating at the construction works sites in the HKSAR
southern waters, the BPPS and the LPS.
The major construction works will include:
·
Construction
of the Jetty;
·
Marine
construction activities for the subsea BPPS Pipeline and the LPS Pipeline; and
·
Construction
of the GRSs at the BPPS and the LPS.
The working hours of the contractors for land-based works are anticipated to be 24 hours a day from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays. The working hours of the contractors for marine works are expected to be 24 hours a day from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays. For evening and night works between 1900 and 0700 hours of the next day or on public holidays (including Sundays), the contractor will submit a CNP application which will be assessed by the Noise Control Authority.
Fixed plant noise associated with the Project will arise from the
operation of the plant items listed below:
· FSRU Vessel;
· Jetty topsides;
· LNGC (when on berth to unload LNG cargo only);
and
· GRSs at the BPPS and the LPS.
The
operation of the above plant items will be 24 hours a day from Monday to
Sunday, including public holidays.
There
will not be any noise impact due to the operation of the BPPS Pipeline and the
LPS Pipeline as they will be buried under the seabed. Also, the operation of the FSRU Vessel,
Jetty and LNGC, and GRS at the BPPS will not induce any noise impact to NSRs as
discussed in Section 6.3.3.
As no
NSRs were identified within the 300m Assessment Area and the nearest
representative NSRs are located approximately 1.3km from the Project’s
construction works sites, adverse noise impacts due to construction works
activities of the Project are not anticipated. Therefore, quantitative
noise assessment for the construction works of the Project is considered not
necessary.
Since
no NSR was identified within the 300m Assessment Area and the nearest NSR N1 is
located at approximately 1.3km from the Project’s operational sites, noise
impacts due to operational activities of the Project are not anticipated as the
direct line of sight of NSR N1
to the GRS at the LPS is screened by the existing building structures of the
LPS.
As a conservative assessment, as operational noise criteria are more
stringent, and in view of the background noise
environment which is typically rural in nature, and as per the requirements in
the EIA Study Brief, a quantitative noise assessment has been carried out for
the operation of the GRS at the LPS for the nearest unscreened representative
NSR N2 which is approximately 1.6km away.
This is the next nearest NSR with direct line of sight towards the GRS
at the LPS. With reference to the
discussion in Section 6.3.3, a quantitative operational noise assessment for
the other NSRs is considered not necessary.
As such, the fixed plant noise sources from the GRS at the LPS are identified as the major noise sources from the Project which may cause noise impact to the NSR N2. The worst case operation mode which represents the maximum noise emission in connection with the identified fixed noise sources of the operation of the GRS at the LPS has been assessed.
The methodology used for the quantitative fixed plant noise assessment is in accordance with the procedures outlined in the IND-TM and the EIAO-TM and is presented below:
· Identify the types of equipment and their
number;
· Calculate the maximum total SWL from the GRS at
the LPS;
· Identify representative NSR as defined by
the EIAO-TM based on existing and committed land uses in the
Assessment Area that may be affected by the site of the GRS at the LPS;
· Calculate the distance correction factors,
using a conservative approach, based on the horizontal distance between the NSR
and the noise sources;
· Calculate the corrected noise levels after
taking into account other corrections such as potential screening effects, if
any, by adopting standard acoustics principles; and
· Present the results in terms of Leq, 30min
dB(A), as specified in the IND-TM.
The predicted noise levels at the NSR N2 (see Section 6.6.2) were compared with the criteria set out in Section 6.3.4.
With regard
to the quantitative operational noise assessment for the GRS at the LPS,
reference has been made to the manufacturers’ data and the field
measurements. As a conservative
approach, it is assumed that all GRS equipment will be operated on a 24-hour basis. The equipment inventory of the GRS at
the LPS together with their respective sound power levels (SWLs) are presented
in Annex 6B.
The
predicted noise levels at the identified NSR N2 due to operation of the GRS at
the LPS are summarised in Table 6.7. Detailed calculation
of predicted noise levels are presented in Annex
6C.
Table 6.7 Predicted
Noise Level at the Representative NSR (N2)
|
NSR
ID |
Predicted Noise Level, dB(A) |
Noise Criteria, dB(A)(b) |
Compliance (Yes/No) |
|||
|
|
D(a) |
N(a) |
D |
N |
D |
N |
|
N2 |
44 |
44 |
54 |
45 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Note: (a)
D:
Daytime and Evening, 0700-2300 hours, N: Night, 2300-0700 hours. (b)
Please
refer to Table 6.6. |
||||||
Based
on the plant inventory presented in Annex
6B,
results of the quantitative noise assessment due to operation of the GRS at the
LPS indicate that the predicted noise levels at 1m from
the facade of the NSR N2 comply with both noise criteria during daytime and
night-time periods.
As
the identified NSRs are located at least 1.3km from the
Project sites (BPPS, LPS and southern Hong Kong waters) which are separated by
distances of at least 15km,
cumulative impacts from the Project components are therefore not expected
during both construction and operation phases of the Project.
In view of the insignificant noise impact arising from
the Project, no mitigation measures are required for the construction
phase.
The predicted noise levels for the conservative
quantitative assessment at the representative NSR N2 at the GRS at the LPS are
well below the daytime and night time criteria as a result of the considerable
separation distance between the NSR N2 and the GRS at the LPS. Therefore, no mitigation measures are
required during the operation phase.
No unacceptable residual noise impacts are anticipated from the construction or operation of the Project.
No specific environmental monitoring and audit
(EM&A) requirements related to noise are required during the construction
and operation phases.
At present the known projects that are existing, committed and planned to be constructed and operated in the vicinity of the Project sites have been considered when assessing the cumulative noise impacts; these are the Additional Gas-fired Generation Units Project at the BPPS, Additional Gas-fired Generation Units at the LPS, and Improvement Dredging for Lamma Power Station Navigation Channel, as presented in Annex 3A.
In accordance with the EIA Report of Additional Gas-fired Generation Units Project (AEIAR-197/2016), the construction and installation of the CCGT Unit No. 1 is expected to be completed by end of 2019. As the direct line of sight between the BPPS and NSR N3 are screened by the natural terrain, cumulative construction and operation noise impacts are not anticipated at NSR N3.
The construction of two new gas-fired units at the LPS, i.e. L10 and L11, has commenced, and they are expected to be commissioned in 2020 and 2022, respectively. In accordance with the EIA Report for 1,800 MW Gas-fired Power Station at Lamma (AEIAR-010/1999), the predicted maximum noise level due to construction are 55dB(A) at NSR N1 and 62dB(A) at Hung Shing Ye near NSR N2, which are well below noise criterion of 75dB(A). The predicted noise level due to operation of these new plants are below 30dB(A) at NSR N1 and 45dB(A) at Hung Shing Ye near NSR N2. Therefore operational noise impact is considered insignificant. Cumulative noise impacts of all these existing, committed and planned projects are not expected for the construction and operation phases of the Project.
In accordance with the EIA
for Improvement Dredging for Lamma Power
Station Navigation Channel (EIA-251/2017), the recurrent improvement
dredging during the operation phase will be required approximately once every
four to ten years in order to maintain sufficient clearance. The predicted maximum noise levels due
to construction of the Project during daytime period, including the cumulative
noise impact from concurrent project (construction of L10 and L11), are 68dB(A)
and 65dB(A) at NSRs N1 and N2 , respectively, which comply with the
construction noise criterion of 75dB(A).
No adverse noise impact is anticipated during operational phase and
hence no quantitative operational noise impact assessment was carried out in
the EIA for Improvement Dredging for
Lamma Power Station Navigation Channel. Therefore, no cumulative noise impacts
are anticipated during construction and operation phases.
No existing or planned NSR was identified within the
Assessment Area for the Project and all NSRs are located approximately 1.3km or
farther away from the Project sites, therefore unacceptable noise impact
associated with the construction and operation of the Project is not
anticipated.
Predicted noise levels at NSR N2 due to the operation
of the GRS at the LPS indicated full compliance with the relevant operational
noise criteria during both daytime and night-time periods.
Mitigation measures are therefore not required in
meeting the requirements of Section 6
of Annex 13 of the EIAO-TM. Noise monitoring is also considered not
necessary during both the construction and operation phases of the Project.