11.     Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements.. 306

11.1          Overview.. 306

11.2          Air Quality. 306

11.3          Noise. 306

11.4          Ecology. 306

11.5          Water Quality. 306

11.6          Waste Management 307

11.7          Land Contamination. 307

11.8          Landscape and Visual 307

11.9          Cultural Heritage. 307

 

 

11.             Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

11.1          Overview

11.1.1.    A detailed Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual has been prepared for this Project as required under the Study Brief and the requirements as stipulated in Annex 21 of EIAO-TM. The following Sections provide a summary of the need for monitoring and auditing of the individual environmental aspects. The implementation schedule of the proposed mitigation measure and the good site practices is provided in Section 12.

11.2          Air Quality

11.2.1.    No adverse air quality impacts associated with the proposed drainage improvement works is anticipated, regular site audits are recommended to monitor the effectiveness of the dust control measures and ensure the dust control measures implemented properly.

11.3          Noise

11.3.1.    Based on the results of noise impact assessment, implementation of noise mitigation measure i.e. adopting quiet PMEs, temporary noise barrier and good site practices will be necessary in order to ensure the construction noise levels can comply with the relevant noise criteria. With implementation of proper noise mitigation measures, no residual noise impacts is anticipated. In order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of proposed mitigation measures, construction noise monitoring is proposed.

11.4          Ecology

11.4.1.    The potential ecological impact from the proposed drainage improvement project at Yuen Long has been evaluated in accordance with the applicable Technical Memorandum of the EIAO, and the works in Ha Che and Lin Fa Tei will unavoidably affect the watercourse habitat and potentially the local population of two endemic freshwater crab species Somanniathelphusa zanklon and Cryptopotamon anacoluthon in the Kam Tin area.

11.4.2.    A range of mitigation measures including good site management, scheduling of the staged work program have been recommended to avoid or minimize the identified impact within or in the vicinity of the work areas. Translocation of the two endemic crab species to area protected from anthropogenic disturbance or development pressure within the Kam Tin Valley has been recommended before the commencement of the construction work. Regular site audits, detailed vegetation survey and ecological monitoring during construction and post-construction phases are recommended to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of the ecological mitigation measures.

11.5          Water Quality

11.5.1.    The water quality assessment identified that the key issue in terms of water quality would be related to excavation works during the proposed drainage improvement. To minimize potential impacts on water quality during the channel construction, the excavation would be carried out in dry condition (even in wet season) by diverting the stream flow from upstream by a temporary drainage channel with a temporary sheet piles, earth bund or barrier, so that the works area will remain dry for later excavation and widening works.

11.5.2.    With implementation of recommended appropriate mitigation measures, the construction works for the proposed drainage improvement works would not be anticipated to result in unacceptable impacts on water quality.

11.5.3.    Details of the recommended water quality monitoring requirements and regular audit during construction phase are included in the EM&A Manual.

11.6          Waste Management

11.6.1.    With proper implementation of good site practices and proposed mitigation measures, no adverse waste management related impact is anticipated. 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 WMP to be developed by the Contractor at the construction phase. A WMP should be prepared in accordance to with ETWB TC(W) No. 19/2005 and submitted to the Engineer for approval. The recommended mitigation measures should form the basis of the WMP. The monitoring and auditing requirement stated in ETWB TC(W) No. 19/2005 should be followed with regard to the management C&D materials. Regular site audits are recommended to monitor the site tidiness and construction waste management.

11.7          Land Contamination

11.7.1.    According to the results of the land contamination assessment, all identified potential contaminated sites are located outside the proposed works area boundaries and no contamination potential arising from the proposed drainage improvement works is anticipated. Therefore, contamination potential arising from the Project works is not anticipated. Further site investigation for this Project is considered not necessary.

11.8          Landscape and Visual

11.8.1.    The recommended landscape and visual mitigation measures to be undertaken during both the construction and operational phases of the project. The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual mitigation measures should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised and that 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.

11.9          Cultural Heritage

11.9.1.    Protective measures have been recommended for built heritage. Three graded historic buildings, Lee Tat Bridge (Grade 3) in Shui Tsan Tin, Lan Fong Study Hall (Grade 3) in Chuk Hang and St. John’s Chapel (Grade 2) in Cheung Po may be indirectly affected by the Project during the construction phase and require mitigation measures.

11.9.2.    The archaeological potential within Lin Fa Tin was established during previous investigations and recognized as Lin Fa Tei Site of Archaeological Interest however, the proposed works are limited to the streambanks which have been affected by stream meandering erosion, deposition processes, previous streambank works.  The assessment concludes that the archaeological potential overall of the Lin Fa Tei Study Area is deemed limited (around Kam Sheung Road) to minimal with the exception of the area near the previous findings and other undisturbed areas within Lin Fa Tei SAI outside the proposed works boundary. The proposed works have the potential to affect some unknown archaeology associated with the previous Song dynasty (or older) wooden findings within Lin Fa Tei SAI.  It is therefore, recommended that an Archaeological Survey be undertaken prior to the construction phase by a qualified archaeologist who obtains a licence under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53) within the area identified near the previous findings of wooden remains (Figure 10.16). If significant remains are uncovered, the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) should be notified and mitigation and/or an appropriate way forward should be formulated and implemented in agreement with AMO.

11.9.3.    The archaeological potential at the other Study Areas, i.e. Tai Wo Study Area, Ha Che River Study Area and Sung Shan New Village Study Area is deemed minimal based on known archaeological information and location of works i.e. focus on river banks which would have affected soil deposit through meandering, erosional processes and previous stream bank works. The proposed drainage works at Lin Fa Tei Study Area (outside the area identified for archaeological survey), Tai Wo Study Area, Ha Che River Study Area and Sung Shan New Village Study Area are generally not expected to impact on archaeology during the construction and operational phases and no mitigation is required. As a precautionary measure, the AMO should be informed immediately in case of discovery of antiquities or supposed antiquities in the course of excavation for any of the proposed drainage improvement works outside of the area identified for archaeological survey, so that appropriate mitigation measures, if needed can be timely formulated and implemented in agreement with AMO.