1.6 Objectives of the EIA Study
1.7 Structure of this EIA Report
Figure 1.1 Latest Alignment and Key Elements
1.1.1.1 The Railway Development Strategy 2014 (RDS-2014) announced by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region included the conceptual scheme of Tung Chung West (TCW) Extension and a possible Tung Chung East (TCE) Station.
1.1.1.2 This new railway system has been included in the approved Schedule 3 EIA for Tung Chung New Town Extension (TCNTE), which has included the new stations at TCE area and TCW area and the associated trackwork and tunnel. However, a separate Schedule 2 EIA study for this railway system is conducted to address the associated environmental impacts, taking into account of the latest design.
1.1.1.3 In July 2020, the Project Proponent commissioned Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited to provide consultancy services for the compilation and submission of an EIA Report to fulfil the relevant legislative requirements under the EIAO.
1.2.1.1 The Project is an approximately 1.3km extension of the existing Tung Chung Line (TCL) with two new stations namely TCE Station and TCW Station.
1.2.1.2 The at-grade TCE Station will be located approximately 2km east of the existing Tung Chung Station (TUC) at the south of the future TCNTE (East) new reclamation area. The station is bounded by the future roads in the reclamation area and the existing TCL and Airport Express Line (AEL).
1.2.1.3 The underground TCW Station and aboveground station facilities will be located at the existing rural area – west of Yat Tung Estate. The area is an open space and currently occupied by orchard and some temporary structures.
1.2.1.4 The Emergency Access Point (EAP)/ Emergency Egress Point (EEP) building will be located at an artificial slope near Shun Tung Road.
1.3.1.1 Figure 1.1 shows the latest alignment and locations of the following key elements. More description of the Project elements is given in Section 2.7.
· A new TCE Station (at-grade) and diversion of a section of existing TCL;
· Railway alignment (in the form of a tunnel) extending from existing overrun of TUC to the new TCW Station;
· A new TCW Station (underground) and overrun tunnel;
· EAP/ EEP building;
· Station associated facilities (entrances, vent shaft structures, etc.); and
· Work sites / works areas, barging facility, etc.
1.3.1.2 Figure 1.1 also shows the works sites and works areas for Tung Chung Line Extension (the Project). Detailed descriptions of works sites and works areas are presented in Section 2.7.
1.3.1.3 The EIA report has included locations of the works sites and works areas of the Project for supporting the construction of the Project based on the latest information at the time of writing.
1.4.1.1 In accordance with the requirements of Section 5(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), a Project Profile (No. PP-600/2020) for the Project was submitted to the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) for application for an EIA Study Brief (SB) on 24 April 2020. Pursuant to Section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the DEP issued a SB (No.: ESB-329/2020) dated 4 June 2020 for the EIA Study.
1.5.1.1 The Project comprises the construction and operation of a new railway extension and the associated railway stations. The Project is a Designated Project (DP) under Schedule 2, Part I, Categories A.2 and A.7 of the EIAO which specifies “A railway and its associated stations” and “A road or railway tunnel more than 800m in length between portals” respectively.
1.6 Objectives of the EIA Study
1.6.1.1 According to Section 1.5 of the EIA Study Brief (No.: ESB-329/2020), this EIA study is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from the construction and operation of the Project and associated works that will take place concurrently. This information will contribute to decisions by the Director on:
· the overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the Project;
· the conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences wherever practicable; and
· the acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are implemented.
1.6.1.2 The objectives of the EIA study are as follows:
· to describe the Project and associated works, and any option(s) of alignment together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the proposed Project;
· to identify and describe the elements of the community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and/ or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including both the natural and man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;
· to identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts (air, noise, water, etc.) on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses; and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
· to identify and quantify potential waste management issues and impacts arising as a result of the construction and operation activities of the Project;
· to identify and quantify contaminated land within any project area for development works, and to propose measures to avoid disposal in the first stance;
· to identify and quantify any potential losses or damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats;
· to identify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
· to identify any negative impacts on sites of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
· to propose the provision of infrastructure or mitigation measures to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;
· to investigate the feasibility, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;
· 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 operation phases of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
· 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;
· to design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements; and
· to identify any additional studies necessary to implement the mitigation measures of monitoring and proposals recommended in the EIA report.
1.7 Structure of this EIA Report
1.7.1.1 The structure of this EIA Report is as follows:
|
Chapter |
Title |
Aims |
|
1 |
Introduction |
Introduces the project background and the objectives of the report |
|
2 |
Project Description and Consideration of Alternatives |
Summarises the various options and scope for various environmental aspects Describes relevant main construction/ engineering aspects of the recommended alignment |
|
3 |
Air Quality Impact |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for air quality impacts |
|
4 |
Noise Impact |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for noise impacts |
|
5 |
Water Quality Impact |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for water quality impacts |
|
6 |
Waste Management Implications |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for waste management |
|
7 |
Land Contamination |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for land contamination |
|
8 |
Ecological Impact (Terrestrial and Marine) |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for ecological impacts |
|
9 |
Fisheries Impact |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for fisheries impacts |
|
10 |
Landscape and Visual Impact |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for landscape and visual impacts |
|
11 |
Impact on Cultural Heritage |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for cultural heritage impacts |
|
12 |
Hazard to Life |
Presents the legislation, methodology, assessment and recommendations for hazard impacts |
|
13 |
Environmental Monitoring & Audit |
Presents the EM&A requirements |
|
14 |
Summary of Environmental Outcomes |
Presents a summary of the key environmental outcomes arising from the EIA study |
|
15 |
Conclusion |
Summarises the findings and concludes the overall acceptability of the project |