1. introduction

1.1 Project Background

1.1.1 The Yuen Long Highway (YLH) provides a continuation of Route 9 (viz. New Territories Circular Route) connecting San Tin, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun and forms part of the major road network serving various proposed developments in NWNT, including Hung Shui Kiu, Long Bin, Tin Shui Wai, Lam Tei Quarry (LTQ), Tan Kwai Tsuen, Yuen Long, etc. Upon commissioning of Route 11, YLH will serve as a major road connecting Route 11 and Northwest New Territories (NWNT), facilitating commuters travelling to and from urban areas.

1.1.2 In the course of the feasibility study on Route 11, their traffic impact assessment (TIA) revealed that the traffic demands at the section of YLH between LTQ and Tong Yan San Tsuen Interchange (TYSTI) were anticipated to exceed the traffic capacities on or before 2036 upon the commissioning of Route 11 and the progressive intakes of planned developments along YLH, such as Public Housing Developments at Long Bin, Yuen Long South Development, Tan Kwai Tsuen Public Housing Developments, LTQ Developments and Hung Shu Kiu / Ha Tsuen New Development Area, etc.

1.1.3 From the above TIA, the projected volume to capacity (V/C) ratio at YLH between LTQ and TYSTI would be 1.1 during peak hours in 2036 and 2041, indicating the onset of congestion. The TIAs for the NWNT developments put forward by CEDD and the Agreement No. CE 75/2019 (TT) – “Review of Highway Projects - Feasibility Study” managed by the Transport Department (TD) also indicated V/C ratio forecasts of similar order for this section of YLH.

1.1.4 To improve the traffic condition and the traffic-carrying capacities of YLH between LTQ and TYSTI, the TIA for Route 11 recommended widening of this road section from a dual three-lane to a dual four-lane carriageway so as to complement the commissioning of Route 11 and support future developments in the NWNT. The TIA forecasted that, after the widening, V/C ratio of YLH between LTQ and TYSTI would be reduced to 0.9 during peak hours in 2036 and 2041.

1.1.5 HyD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited in associated with specialist sub-consultants to carry out Agreement No. CE 17/2022 (HY) and undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Widening of Yuen Long Highway (section between Lam Tei and Tong Yan San Tsuen).

1.2 Designated Projects under EIAO

1.2.1 A Project Profile (No.PP-647/2022) was submitted to EPD on 6 June 2022 for application for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief under section 5(1)(a) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-356/2022 for the Project was issued on 14 July 2022 under the EIAO.

1.2.2 The Project is classified as a Designated Project (DP) under

Part I, Item A.1 of Schedule 2 of the EIAO – A carriageway for motor vehicles that is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district distributor road.

· the road widening of road section of Yuen Long Highway which is an expressway; and

· the road widening of a slip road connected from Hung Tin Road (district distributor) southbound to Yuen Long Highway eastbound.

1.3 Purpose of the EIA Study

1.3.1 The purpose of the EIA Study is to provide information on the nature and extent of the environmental impacts arising from design, construction and operation of the Project and related activities that take place concurrently. This information will contribute to decisions 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.

1.4 Objectives of this EIA Study

1.4.1 The objectives of the EIA study as stated in the EIA Study Brief are as follows:

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

(ii) 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;.

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

(iv) to identify and quantify potential waste management issues and impacts arising as a result of the construction and operation activities of the Project;

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

(vi) to identify, evaluate and address any potential ecological impact arising from the Project including impacts on recognised sites of conservation importance, as well as flora , fauna and natural habitats;

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

(viii) to identify any adverse impacts on sites of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(ix) to propose the provision of infrastructure or mitigation measures so as to minimise pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;

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

(xi) to identify, predict and evaluate the residual (i.e. after practicable mitigation) environmental impacts 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;

(xii) 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

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

(xiv) to design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements; and

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

1.5 Structure of the EIA Report

1.5.1 The background of the project, purpose and objectives of this Report are introduced in this section. A description of the Project and details of options consideration are provided in Section 2. Sections 3 to 10 detail the results of the environmental impact assessment of each key subject area, covering relevant legislation, environmental conditions, assessment criteria, methodology, and assessment findings.

1.5.2 Sections 3 to 13 are outlined as follows:

· Section 3: Air Quality Impact

· Section 4: Noise Impact

· Section 5: Water Quality Impact

· Section 6: Waste Management Implication

· Section 7: Land Contamination

· Section 8: Ecological Impact (Terrestrial)

· Section 9: Landscape and Visual Impact

· Section 10: Cultural Heritage

· Section 11: Environmental Monitoring and Audit

· Section 12: Summary of Environmental Outcomes

· Section 13: Conclusions

1.5.3 An outline of the requirements for the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme is presented in Section 11. The EM&A programme is presented in details in a separate EM&A Manual. A detailed implementation schedule of the recommended mitigation measures is provided in Section 11. A summary of environmental outcomes is presented in Section 12. Conclusions is provided in Section 13.

1.5.4 This EIA Report consists of the following booklets:

· Volume 1 of 3 – Main Text (This booklet)

· Volume 2 of 3 – Figures

· Volume 3 of 3 – Appendices

1.5.5 An Executive Summary has been prepared as a separate document in both Chinese and English, which contains summaries of the key findings, recommendations, and conclusions of the EIA Report.