TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. introduction.. 1-1

1.1 Background. 1-1

1.2 Purpose of the EIA Report 1-1

1.3 Objectives of the EIA Report 1-2

1.4 Structure of the Report 1-3

1. introduction

1.1 Background

1.1.1.1 The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) commissioned a study entitled “Tolo Harbour Catchment Study on Unsewered Developments” (SMP) in 1989. The purposes of conducting the study were to establish an inventory of all unsewered areas within the Tolo Harbour Catchment, to identify specific solutions to alleviate the pollution problems caused by these unsewered areas, and to recommend short- and long-term measures to reduce pollution entering the Tolo Harbour.

1.1.1.2 The short-term measures were implemented under the project entitled “Tolo Harbour Catchment – first-aid measures” and comprised the interception and diversion of pollution flows into the existing sewerage system at seven locations in Sha Tin and Tai Po. These measures are completed and in operation. The long-term measures include the provision of sewerage facilities to collect pollution discharges from 165 unsewered areas within the Tolo Harbour Catchment.

1.1.1.3 Since the completion of the SMP, the projected populations in the region have increased significantly. To assess whether the existing sewerage system has the capacity for the future need, EPD completed another study, the Review of North District and Tolo Harbour Sewerage Master Plans (the Review) in November 2002. The Review recommended, amongst others, construction of sewers and pumping stations with associated rising mains for provision of sewerage to the unsewered areas in Sha Tin and Tai Po and also the extension of existing trunk sewer in Ma On Shan along Sai Sha Road with construction of a pumping station at the downstream of this trunk main. Based on the findings and recommendations of the Review, the scope of works under Stage II has been repackaged. To tackle the local pollution issues at Shing Mun River and the proposed Lung Mei Artificial Beach, the proposed village sewerage works under Stage I Phase IIC and Stage II have also been re-prioritised.

1.1.1.4 A Preliminary Environmental Review (PER), undertaken for the proposed sewerage works under the “Tolo Harbour Sewerage of Unsewered Areas, Stage II – Investigation, Design and Construction” (hereinafter referred to as “the Assignment”), identified the proposed Sai O Trunk Sewer sewage pumping station (SPS) located at the north of Sai O near Nai Chung, as a designated project (DP) that requires an environmental permit under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) for its construction and operation by virtue of Item F.3(b) of Part I, Schedule 2 of the EIAO – a sewage pumping station with an installed capacity of more than 2 000 m³ per day and a boundary of which is less than 150 m from an existing or planned (i) residential area; (ii) place of worship; and (iii) educational institution.

1.1.1.5 In accordance with the requirements of Section 5(1)(a) of the EIAO, an application for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief for the proposed sewage pumping station was submitted on 30 October 2014 under EIAO with a Project Profile (PP) (No. PP-517/2014). An EIA Study Brief No.ESB-281/2014 for “Sai O Trunk Sewer Sewage Pumping Station” (hereafter referred to as “the Project”) was issued on 10 December 2014. This EIA Report for the Project has been prepared by AECOM Asia Company Limited in accordance with the EIA Study Brief and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM).

1.2 Purpose of the EIA Report

1.2.1.1 As per the requirement in Section 1.5 of the EIA Study Brief, the purpose of the EIA Report is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from construction and operation of the Project and related activities that take place concurrently. This information will contribute to decisions by the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) on:

(i) the overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the Project;

(ii) the conditions and requirements for the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of the Project to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences; and

(iii) the acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are implemented.

1.3 Objectives of the EIA Report

1.3.1.1 In accordance with Section 2.1 of the EIA Study Brief, the objectives of the EIA Report are as follows:

(i) to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements for carrying out the Project;

(ii) to identify and describe elements of community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including natural and man-made environment;

(iii) to present the consideration of alternatives to avoid and minimise the potential adverse environmental impacts on the sensitive uses, particularly, Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, Sai O Village, Villa Concerto, Sai Sha Villa, Zessa Vista, Nai Chung Village, Villa Rhapsody, Helping Hand Father Sean Burke Care Home for The Elderly, Holiday Centre for the Elderly, The Outward Bound Alumni Association of Hong Kong and the planned international school nearby; to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of the different options; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part environmental factors played in the selection of preferred option(s);

(iv) to identify and quantify emission sources, to determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(v) to identify and quantify any potential impacts from point and non-point pollution sources on the identified water systems and sensitive receivers and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(vi) to identify and quantify any potential loss or damage and other potential impacts to flora, fauna and natural habitats;

(vii) to identify and quantify contaminated land within any project area for development works, and to propose measures to avoid disposal in the first instance;

(viii) to identify and quantify waste management requirements and to propose measures to mitigate impacts;

(ix) to identify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(x) to identify any potential impacts on any archaeological resources and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(xi) to propose the provision of mitigation measures to minimise pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;

(xii) to investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;

(xiii) to identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) and the cumulative effects expected to arise during the construction and operational phases of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(xiv) to identify, assess and specify methods, measures and standards to be included in the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project which are necessary to mitigate these residual environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable levels;

(xv) to investigate the extent of the secondary environmental impacts that may arise from the proposed mitigation measures and to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA Report, as well as the provision of any necessary modification;

(xvi) to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures; and

(xvii) to identify any additional studies necessary to implement the mitigation measures or monitoring and proposals recommended in the EIA report.

1.4 Structure of the Report

1.4.1.1 The background of the Project and the objectives of this EIA Report are introduced in this section. Consideration of alternatives and description of the Project are provided in Section 2. Section 3 to Section 11 detail the assessment results and recommended mitigation measures for each of the identified environmental parameters:

· Section 3 – Air quality

· Section 4 – Noise

· Section 5 – Water Quality

· Section 6 – Waste Management Implications

· Section 7 – Land Contamination

· Section 8 – Ecological Impact

· Section 9 – Hazard to Life

· Section 10 – Landscape and Visual Impact

· Section 11 – Cultural Heritage

1.4.1.2 An outline of the requirements for the environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) programme is presented in Section 12. The EM&A programme is presented in detail in a separate EM&A Manual. A detailed implementation schedule of the recommended mitigation measures is provided in Section 13. A summary of environmental outcome and an overall conclusion of the EIA Report are presented in Section 14 and Section 15 respectively.