Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499),
Section
5(7)
Environmental
Impact Assessment Study Brief No. ESB-121/2004
(hereinafter known as
the "Project")
Name of Applicant : Civil
EnigneeringEngineering and
Development Department
(hereinafter known as
the "Applicant")
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 An application (No. ESB-121/2004) for an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) study brief under section 5(1) of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was submitted by the Applicant on 15 October 2004
with a Project Profile (No. PP-230/2004) (the Project Profile).
1.2
The
proposed Project is to develop a logistics park on a proposed reclamation site
at Siu Ho Wan. Location of the Project is given on Figure No. PP1 of the
Project Profile and is indicated in Appendix A.
1.3
The
scope of the Project includes the following major works:
-
dredging,
construction of seawalls, and reclamation to a level of around +5.5mPD to
provide an approximately 112 ha land platform with approximately 72 ha for the
development of the LLP (the remaining approximately 40 ha at the western
portion will be for possible logistics park extension or other compatible uses,
e.g. recreational uses);
-
placement
and subsequent removal of surcharge mounds;
-
installation
of vertical drains within the reclamation;
-
construction
of an elevated interchange at the eastern end of Siu Ho Wan Depot to provide
connection between the North Lantau Highway (NLH) and the LLP, and the associated
road and utilities services diversion works and associated reprovision works
for the affected North Lantau Highway and Cheung Tung Road;
-
construction
of roads, footpaths, roadside planters, signage and road markings, road
lighting etc. and all other associated roadworks;
-
construction
of temporary roads for construction of the reclamation works;
-
construction
of stormwater drainage system;
-
construction
of sewerage system;
-
construction
of water supply system;
-
provision
of public utility services;
-
construction
of vertical seawall and land reserve for future provision of shared marine
cargo loading/unloading facility;
-
provision
of associated environmental mitigation measures; and
-
landscape
works.
1.4
The
engineering feasibility study of the Project is a designated project under item
1 of Schedule 3 of the EIAO (i.e. Engineering feasibility study of urban
development projects with a study area covering more than 20 ha or involving a
total population of more than 100 000). Initially, based on the scope of the
Project mentioned in Section 1.3 of this Study Brief, the Project also consists
of the following designated projects under Item C.1 and Item A.1 Part I Schedule
2 of the EIAO :
-
reclamation
works (including associated dredging works) of more than 5ha in size
-
distributor
roads
1.5
Pursuant
to section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the Director of Environmental Protection (the
Director) issues this EIA study brief to the Applicant to carry out an EIA
study.
1.6
The purpose of 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 related
activities that take place concurrently. This information will contribute to
decisions by the Director on:
(i) the overall
acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that is to arise as a
result of the Project and the associated activities of the Project;
(ii)
the
conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project to mitigate
against adverse environmental consequences; and
(iii)
the
acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are
implemented.
2. OBJECTIVES
OF THE EIA STUDY
2.1 The
objectives of the EIA study are as follows:
(i)
to
describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements for
carrying out the Project;
(ii)
to
identify the types of Designated Projects under Part I Schedule 2 of the EIAO
to be covered in the Project;
(iii)
to identify and describe the elements of the
community and environment to be affected by the Project and/or to cause adverse
impacts to the Project, including both the natural and man-made environment and
the associated environmental constraints;
(iv)
to consider alternatives with a view to
avoiding and minimizing the potential environmental impacts on marine waters
and the ecological sensitivity areas in Lantau Island and other sensitive uses;
to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of each of the different
options; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to
describe the part of environmental factors played in the selection;
(v)
to identify and quantify emission sources
and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential
affected uses;
(vi)
to identify and quantify any potential
losses or damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats and to propose measures
to mitigate these impacts;
(vii)
to identify any negative impacts on
Chinese White Dolphin and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
(viii)
to identify any negative impacts on
fisheries and to proposed measures to mitigate these impacts;
(ix)
to identify any potential landscape and
visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
(x)
to identify any negative impacts on sites
of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;
(xi)
to propose the provision of mitigation
measures to minimize 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 operation
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 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 study, as well as the provision of any necessary
modification; and
(xvi)
to design and specify the environmental
monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the
recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.
3. DETAILED
REQUIREMENTS OF THE EIA STUDY
3.1 The Purpose
The purpose of this study brief is to scope the
key issues of the EIA study and to specify the environmental issues that are
required to be reviewed and assessed in the EIA report. The Applicant has to demonstrate in the
EIA report that the criteria in the relevant sections of the Technical
Memorandum on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process of the Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (hereinafter referred to as ¡§the TM¡¨) are met.
3.2 The Scope
The
scope of this EIA study shall cover the Project proposed in the Project Profile
and shall include the works and facilities mentioned in Section 1.3 above. The EIA study shall address the key
issues described below, together with any other key issues identified during
the course of the EIA study and the cumulative environmental impacts of the
Project, through interaction or in combination with other existing, committed,
planned and known potential developments in the vicinity of the Project:
(i)
the potential water quality impact caused
by dredging, piling, fill extraction, filling and any other marine works
activities during construction, in particular the potential release of toxic
contaminants, and as a result of changes in the coastline, flow regime,
flushing capacity, and water quality in Hong Kong waters during operation of
the Project
(ii)
the potential hydrodynamic and water
quality impacts on engulfed Tai Ho Wan, Tai Ho Streams, Airport Channel and
Tung Chung Bay arising from the construction and operation of the Project;
(iii)
the potential impact to the ecological
sensitive areas, including the following and any other sensitive areas that may
be identified during the course of the EIA study:
(a) the
vicinities along the marine portion of the Project which are frequented by the
Chinese White Dolphins;
(b) the
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Tai Ho on Lantau;
(c) the
nursery and breeding grounds for horseshoe crabs along the northwest Lantau
coastline; and
(d) the
Lantau North Country Park;
(iv)
The potential ecological impacts arising
from the construction and operation of the Project, including loss of habitats,
disturbance to wildlife and pollution, if any, caused by run-off;
(v)
The potential fisheries impacts on
capture and culture fisheries during the construction and operation of the
Project, including the potential loss of fishing grounds, spawning and nursery
grounds of fish and shrimp, and pollution, if any, caused by run-off ;
(vi)
The potential noise and air pollution
impacts to sensitive receivers during the construction and operation of the
Project and the off-site traffic emissions and noise during operation of the
Project;
(vii)
The potential landscape and visual
impacts caused by reclamation, infrastructures, structures and associated works
on existing and planned sensitive receivers, in particular, villagers in Tai Ho
San Tsuen, Tai Ho, Ngau Kwu Long, Tin Liu and Pak Mong, during the construction
and operation of the Project;
(viii)
The potential glare impacts on the nearby
residents and wildlife during operation of the Project;
(ix)
The potential impacts of various types of
wastes to be generated from the construction and operation of the Project, in
particular the dredged sediment during reclamation;
(x)
The potential waste management issue
associated with the use of filling materials such as marine sand and inert
construction and demolition material (C&DM) for reclamation during
construction of the Project;
(xi)
The potential impacts on the marine
archaeological deposit in the seabed of the project area likely to be affected
during construction of the Project;
(xii)
The potential risk impacts on the workers
and users of the Project due to the chlorine storage and on-site transport at
Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works (SHW WTW);
(xiii)
The potential sewage discharge impact
arising from the operation of the Project, including the impact on the Siu Ho
Wan Sewage Treatment Works; and
(xiv)
The potential cumulative environmental
impacts of the Project, through interaction or in combination with other
existing, committed and planned developments in the vicinity of the Project,
and those impacts may have a bearing on the environmental acceptability of the
Project. Consideration shall be given to account for the impacts from likely
concurrent projects such as the planned contaminated mud disposal facilities at
the south of South Brothers, the proposed HK - Zhuhai ¡V Macao Bridge Hong Kong
Section & North Lantau Highway Connection, the proposed Siu Ho Wan Water
Treatment Works (SHW WTW) extension works, the upgrading works of Siu Ho Wan Sewage
Treatment Works, the proposed future reclamation for Tung Chung New Town
Development, the proposed Road P1, the future development on the Airport
Island, the proposed cross-boundary transport hub above MTRCL¡¦s Siu Ho Wan
Railway Depot, the possible container port in Northwest Lantau and the possible
logistics park extension and/or other compatible uses at Siu Ho Wan (western
portion of the proposed reclamation).
3.3 Consideration of Alternative Location,
Layout and Construction Methods
3.3.1 Need for the Project
The
Applicant shall present in the EIA the information on the need for the Project
and the Project¡¦s implementation programme.
3.3.2 Consideration
of Different Layouts and Design Options
The Applicant
shall present in the EIA report the reasons of locating the Project at Siu Ho
Wan, and the considerations of alternative reclamation layouts and internal
layout and design (such as location of various infrastructures and facilities)
of the LLP with regard to minimising the requirement for reclamation and the
associated environmental impacts.
3.3.3 Consideration
of Alternative Construction Methods and Sequence of Works
Having regard
to the cumulative effects of the construction period and the severity of the
construction impacts to the affected sensitive receivers, the EIA study shall
explore alternative construction methods (such as those using sand fill or
inert C&DM) and sequences of works for the Project, with a view to avoiding
adverse environmental impacts to the maximum practicable extent. A comparison
of the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of applying different
construction methods and sequence of works shall be made with a view to
recommending the preferred option to avoid adverse on-site and off-site
environmental impact to the maximum practicable extent.
3.3.4 Selection
of Preferred Scenario
Taking into
consideration of the findings in Sections 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 above, the Applicant
shall provide justifications and recommend the preferred reclamation layout and
method and the internal layout and design of the LLP that will avoid or
minimize adverse environmental effects arising from the Project and shall
adequately describe the part that environmental factors played in arriving at
the final selection.
3.4 Technical Requirements
The
Applicant shall conduct the EIA study to address the environmental aspects as
described in Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 above. The assessment shall be based on
the best and latest information available during the course of the EIA study.
The Applicant shall assess the cumulative environmental impacts from the
Project with other interacting projects. The Applicant shall include in the EIA
report details of the construction programme and methodologies.
The
Applicant shall review previously approved studies or EIA reports which are
relevant to the Project and extract relevant information for the purpose of
this EIA study. The following studies or EIA reports shall be referred to :-
-
Remaining Development in Tung Chung and
Tai Ho Comprehensive Feasibility Study, Environmental Studies, Final Assessment
Report (June 2000);
-
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge : Hong Kong
Section and North Lantau Highway Connection;
-
Extension of Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment
Works : Investigation ¡V EIA Report; and
-
Proposed Contaminated Mud Disposal
Facility within the Airport East/East of Sha Chau Area ¡V EIA Report.
The
EIA study shall meet the following technical requirements on specific impacts,
unless otherwise approved by the Director specifically in writing.
3.4.1 Air Quality Impact
3.4.1.1 The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines as stated in
Section 1 of Annex 4 and Annex 12 of the TM for evaluating and assessing the air
quality impact due to the construction and operation of the Project, as
stipulated in Sections 1.2 and 1.3 above.
3.4.1.2 The study area for air quality impact assessment shall generally be
defined by a distance of 500 metres from the boundary of the project site, and
it shall be extended to include major emission sources that may have a bearing
on the environmental acceptability of the Project. For this Project, the
assessment shall include the existing and planned/ committed air sensitive
receivers within the study area as well as areas where the air quality may be
potentially affected by the Project. Such assessment shall be based on the best
available information at the time of the assessment.
3.4.1.3 The air quality impact assessment shall include the following:
(i) Background and Analysis of Activities
(a)
Provide
background information relating to air quality issues relevant to the Project,
e.g. description of the types of activities of the Project that may affect air
quality during both construction and operation stages.
(b)
Present
background air quality levels in the assessment area for the purpose of
evaluating cumulative constructional and operational air quality impacts.
(c)
Describe
the types of activities of the Project that may affect air quality during both
construction and operation stages.
(d)
Consider
alternative construction methods/phasing programmes and alternative modes of
operation to minimize the constructional and operational air quality impact.
(ii) Identification of Air Sensitive Receivers (ASRs) and
Examination of Emission/ Dispersion Characteristics
(a) Identify and describe existing and planned/committed ASRs that would
be affected by the Project, including those indicated on the relevant Outline
Zoning Plans, Development Permission Area Plans, Outline Development Plans and
Layout Plans. The Applicant shall select the assessment points of the
identified ASRs that represent the worst impact point of these ASRs. A map
showing the location and description such as name of buildings, their uses
and height of the selected assessment points shall be given. The
separation distances of these ASRs from the nearest emission sources shall also
be given. For phased development, the Applicant shall review the development
programme against the different construction stages to assess whether the
occupiers of the early phases could become ASRs to be affected by the construction
works of later phases.
(b) Provide an exhaustive list of air pollutant emission sources,
including emission sources such as the Hong Kong International Airport, the
North Lantau Highway, Castle Peak Power Station and Black Point Power Station, which
are to have impact related to the Project based on the analysis of
constructional and operational activities in Section 3.4.1.3(i) above. Besides, if the likely concurrent
projects as mentioned in Section 3.2 (xiv) are identified relevant, its
possible emissions shall also be taken into account in the air quality impact
assessment. Examples of construction stage emission sources include
stockpiling, blasting, concrete batching, marine construction plant and
vehicular movements on unpaved haul roads on site. Examples of operational
stage emission sources include exhaust emissions from vehicles and emission of
marine vessels from the operation of the LLP¡¦s marine cargo loading/unloading
facility. Confirmation of validity of the assumptions and magnitude of the
activities (e.g. volume of construction material handled, traffic mix and
volume on a road) shall be obtained from the relevant government
departments/authorities and documented.
(iii) Construction Phase Air Quality Impact
(a)
The
Applicant shall follow the requirements stipulated under the Air Pollution
Control (Construction Dust) Regulation to ensure that construction dust which
may arise as a result of the works are controlled within the
relevant standards as stipulated in Section 1 of Annex 4 of the TM. A monitoring and audit programme for the
construction phase shall be devised to verify the effectiveness of the control
measures.
(b)
If
the Applicant anticipates that the Project will give rise to significant
construction dust impacts likely to exceed recommended limits in the TM at the
ASRs despite the incorporation of the dust control measures proposed in
accordance with Section 3.4.1.3(iii)(a) above, a quantitative assessment should
be carried out to evaluate the construction dust impact at the identified
ASRs. The Applicant shall follow
the methodology set out in Section 3.4.1.3(v) below when carrying out the
quantitative assessment.
(iv) Operational Phase Air Quality Impact
(a)
The Applicant shall calculate the
expected air pollutant concentrations, including odour, gaseous emission and
dust, at the identified ASRs based on an assumed reasonably worst-case
scenario. The evaluation shall be
based on the strength of the emission sources identified in Section
3.4.1.3(ii)(b) above. The Applicant shall follow Section 3.4.1.3(v) below when
carrying out the quantitative assessment.
(b)
For calculation of future road traffic
air pollution impact, this shall be based on the highest emission strength from
the road within the next 15 years upon commencement of operation of the
proposed road. The Applicant shall demonstrate that the selected year of
assessment represents the highest emission scenario given the combination of
vehicular emission factors and traffic flow for the selected year.
(c)
If there are vehicular tunnels/full
enclosures proposed in the project, it is the responsibility of the Applicant
to ensure that the air quality inside these proposed structures shall comply
with EPD¡¦s ¡§Practice Note on Control of Air Pollution in Vehicle Tunnels¡¨ dated
April, 1995. For assessment of air quality impact due to emissions from the
tunnels/full enclosures, the Applicant shall ensure that the emission amount
and the pollutants emitted from these tunnel/full enclosure have been agreed
with the relevant tunnel ventilation design engineer and documented.
(d)
Addressing the significance, if any, of
the off-site air quality implication due to the Project by estimating the
additional air pollutant emissions in HKSAR caused by induced traffic (such as
internal traffic and cross-boundary vehicles and other transport modes) of the
proposed LLP.
(v) Quantitative Assessment Methodology
(a) The Applicant shall apply the general principles enunciated in the
modelling guidelines in Appendices B-1 to B-3 while making allowance for the
specific characteristics of the Project.
This specific methodology must be documented in such level of details
(preferably with tables and diagrams) to allow the readers of the assessment
report to grasp how the model is set up to simulate the situation at hand
without referring to the model input files. Details of the calculation of the emission rates of air
pollutants for input to the modelling shall be presented in the report. The Applicant must ensure consistency
between the text description and the model files. In case of doubt, prior agreement between the Applicant and
the Director on the specific modelling details should be sought.
(b) The Applicant shall identify the key/representative air pollutant
parameters (types of pollutants and the averaging time concentration) to be
evaluated and provide explanation for choosing these parameters for the assessment
of the impact of the Project.
(c)
The
Applicant shall calculate the overall cumulative air quality impact at the
identified ASRs identified under Section 3.4.1.3(ii) above and compare these
results against the criteria set out in Section 1 of Annex 4 in the TM. The predicted air quality impacts (both
unmitigated and mitigated) shall be presented in the form of summary table and
pollution contours, to be evaluated against the relevant air quality standards
and on any effect they may have on the land use implications. Plans of a suitable scale should be
used to present pollution contour to allow buffer distance requirements to be
determined properly.
(d)
If
there are any direct technical noise remedies recommended in the study, the air
quality implication due to these remedies shall be assessed. For instance, if
barriers that may affect dispersion of air pollutants are proposed, then the
implications of such remedies on air quality impact shall be assessed. If an
enclosure is proposed, then both ¡§tunnel¡¨ portal emissions and air quality
inside the ¡§tunnel¡¨ shall also be addressed. The Applicant shall highlight
clearly the locations and types of agreed noise mitigation measures, ASRs as
well as tunnels and their portals (where applicable) on the contour maps for
easy reference.
(vi) Mitigation Measures for Non-compliance
The Applicant shall propose
remedies and mitigating measures where the predicted air quality impact exceeds
the criteria set in Section 1 of Annex 4 in the TM. If these measures will result in any constraints on future
land use planning outside the project site, the Applicant shall liaise with the
relevant government departments/authorities and document the agreement in the
EIA Report in order to demonstrate that the proposed measures are feasible and
practicable. The Applicant shall
demonstrate quantitatively that the residual impacts after incorporation of the
proposed mitigating measures will comply with the criteria stipulated in
Section 1 of Annex 4 in the TM.
(vii) Submission of Model Files
Input and output file(s) of
the model run(s) shall be submitted to the Director in electronic format.
3.4.2
Noise
Impact
3.4.2.1 The Applicant shall follow the criteria and
guidelines for evaluating and assessing the noise impacts arising from the
construction and operational stages of the Project as stated in Annexes 5 and
13 of the TM.
3.4.2.2 The noise impact assessment shall include the
following :
(i)
Determination
of Assessment Area
The study
area for the noise impact assessment shall be defined by a distance of 300m
from the boundary of the Project. Subject to the agreement of the Director, the
assessment area cab be reduced accordingly if the first layer of noise
sensitive receivers (NSRs), closer than 300m from the outer project limit,
provides acoustic shielding to those receivers at further distance behind.
(ii)
Provision
of Background Information and Existing Noise Levels
The
Applicant shall provide existing noise levels and background information
relevant to noise issue of the Project. The Applicant may refer to completed or
ongoing EIA and environmental studies to identify the background information.
(iii) Identification of Noise Sensitive Receivers
(a)
The Applicant shall refer to Annex 13 of
the TM when identifying the NSRs.
The NSRs shall include the existing NSRs and the planned/committed noise
sensitive developments and uses including those indicated on the relevant
Outline Zoning Plans, Development Permission Area Plans, Outline Development
Plans, Layout Plans and other relevant published land use plans. Photographs of the existing NSRs shall
be appended to the EIA report.
(b)
The Applicant shall select assessment
points to represent the identified NSRs for carrying out quantitative noise
assessment described below. The
assessment points shall be agreed with the Director prior to the quantitative
noise assessment. A map showing
the location and description such as name of building, use, and floors of the
selected assessment point shall be given.
For planned noise sensitive land uses without committed site layouts,
the Applicant shall use the relevant planning parameters to work out representative
site layouts for operational noise assessment purpose.
(iv)
Provision
of an Emission Inventory of the Noise Sources
The Applicant shall provide an inventory of
noise sources including representative construction equipment for construction
noise assessment and shall provide traffic flow, fixed plant noise sources,
noisy activities such as containers and marine cargos handling and aircraft and
helicopter noise sources for operational noise assessment.
(v)
Construction
Noise Assessment
(a) The
Applicant shall carry out assessment of noise impact from construction
(excluding percussive piling) of the Project during day time (i.e. 7 a.m. to 7
p.m., on weekdays other than general holidays) in accordance with the
methodology stipulated in paragraphs 5.3. and 5.4 of Annex 13 of the TM. The criteria in Table 1B of Annex 5 of
the TM shall be adopted in the assessment.
(b) The
assessment shall cover the cumulative noise impacts due to the construction
works of the Project and other likely concurrent projects as mentioned in
Section 3.2 (xiv) above and any other relevant concurrent projects identified
during the course of the EIA study.
(c) The
Applicant shall propose alternative construction methods and mitigation
measures to minimise the construction noise impact.
(d) If
the unmitigated construction noise levels are found exceeding the relevant
criteria, the Applicant shall propose direct mitigation measures to minimize
the impact. If the mitigated noise levels still exceed the relevant criteria,
the duration of the noise exceedance shall be given.
(vi)
Operational
Noise Assessment
(a)
Fixed Noise
Sources
If the Project will
cause any fixed noise sources the following assessment shall be followed.
(i)
Assessment of Fixed Source Noise Levels
The Applicant shall calculate the
expected noise using standard acoustics principles. Calculations for the expected noise shall be based on
assumed plant inventories and utilization schedule for the worst case scenario.
The Applicant shall calculate the noise levels taking into account correction
of tonality, impulsiveness and intermittency in accordance with the Technical
Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from Places other than Domestic
Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites.
(ii)
Presentation of Noise Levels
The Applicant shall present the existing
and future noise levels in Leq (30 min) at the NSRs at various
representative floor levels (in m P.D.) on tables and plans of suitable scale.
A quantitative assessment at the NSRs for
the proposed fixed noise source(s) shall be carried out and compared against
the criteria set out in Table 1A of Annex 5 of the TM.
(iii) Proposals
for Noise Mitigation Measures
The Applicant shall propose direct
technical remedies within the project limits in situations where the predicted
noise level exceeds the criteria set out in Table 1A of Annex 5 of the TM to
protect the affected NSRs.
(b)
Road
Traffic Noise
(i)
Calculation
of Noise Levels
The
Applicant shall analyze the scope of the proposed road alignment(s) to identify
appropriate new and existing road sections for the purpose of traffic noise
impact assessment. When an
existing road section undergoes major extensions or improvements, it shall be
regarded as a new road for the purpose of this noise impact assessment. Figures showing extents of new roads
and existing roads shall be provided in the EIA report.
The Applicant shall calculate the
expected road traffic noise using methods described in the U.K. Department of
Transport's ¡§Calculation of Road Traffic Noise¡¨ (1988). Calculations of future road traffic
noise shall be based on the peak hour traffic flow in respect of the maximum
traffic projection within a 15 years period upon commencement of operation of
the proposed roadwork. The
Applicant shall calculate traffic noise levels in respect of each road section
and the overall noise levels from combined road sections (both new and
existing) at NSRs. The EIA report shall
contain sample calculations and input parameters for 10 assessment points as
requested by the Director. The
Applicant shall prepare and provide drawings (i.e. road-plots of the traffic
noise model) of appropriate scale to show the road segments, topographic
barriers, and assessment points of sensitive receivers input into the traffic
noise model.
The Applicant shall provide input data sets of traffic noise
prediction model adopted in the EIA study as requested by the Director for the
following scenarios :
1.
unmitigated scenario at the assessment year;
2.
mitigated scenario at the assessment year; and
3.
prevailing scenario for indirect technical remedies eligibility
assessment.
The data shall be in electronic text file (ASCII format)
containing road segments, barriers and noise sensitive receivers information. The data structure of the above file
shall be agreed with the Director. CD-ROM(s) containing the above data shall be attached in the
EIA report.
(ii)
Presentation
of Noise Levels
The Applicant shall present the prevailing and
future traffic noise levels in L10 (1hour) at the NSRs in the
following formats :
(1) on tables
and plans of suitable scale at various representative floors levels (in mPD); and
(2) on noise contour maps of predicted noise levels
of suitable scale at low, medium and high levels. The preparation of noise contour shall take into account road
traffic noise sources and relevant topographic elements including building,
podium, terrain, etc.
A
quantitative assessment at the NSRs for the proposed road alignments shall be
carried out and compared against the criteria set out in Table 1A of Annex 5 of
the TM. The potential noise impact
of the proposed developments shall be quantified by estimating the total number
of dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive elements that will be
exposed to noise levels exceeding the criteria set in Table 1A of Annex 5 in
the TM.
(iii) Proposals for Noise
Mitigation Measures
After
rounding of the predicted noise levels according to the U.K. Department of
Transport's ¡§Calculation of Road Traffic Noise¡¨ (1988), the Applicant shall
propose direct technical remedies in situations where the predicted traffic
noise level exceeds the criteria set in Table 1A of Annex 5 in the TM by 1
dB(A) or more. Specific reasons
for not adopting certain direct technical remedies in the design to reduce the
traffic noise to a level meeting the criteria in the TM or to maximize the
protection for the NSRs as far as possible shall be clearly quantified and laid
down. The total number of
dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive element that will be benefited
by the provision of direct technical remedies shall be provided. In order to clearly
present the extents/locations of the recommended noise mitigation measures,
plans prepared from 1:1,000 or 1:2,000 survey maps showing the mitigation
measures (e.g. enclosures/barriers, low noise road surfacing, etc.) shall be
included in the EIA report.
The
total number of dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive elements that
will still be exposed to noise above the criteria with the implementation of
recommended direct technical remedies shall be quantified. The Applicant shall
provide in the EIA report the information of the recommended noise mitigation
measures (such as barrier types, nominal dimensions at different
cross-sections, extents/locations, lengths, mPD levels of barriers) in
electronic format as agreed by the Director.
In
case where a number of the NSRs cannot be protected by the recommended direct
technical remedies, the Applicant shall identify and estimate the total number
of existing dwellings, classrooms and other noise sensitive elements which may
qualify for indirect technical remedies under the Executive Council directive
¡§Equitable Redress for Persons Exposed to Increased Noise Resulting from the
Use of New Roads¡¨, the associated costs and any implications for such
implementation. For the purpose of
determining the eligibility of the affected premises for indirect technical
remedies, reference shall be made to the following set of three criteria :
(1) the predicted overall noise level from the new
road together with other traffic noise in the vicinity must be above a
specified noise level (e.g. 70 dB(A) for domestic premises and 65 dB(A) for
education institutions, all in L10(1hr));
(2)
the predicted overall noise level is at
least 1.0 dB(A) more than the prevailing traffic noise level, i.e. the total
traffic noise level existing before the works to construct the road were
commenced; and
(3)
the contribution to the increase in the
predicted overall noise level from the new road must be at least 1.0 dB(A).
(c)
Aircraft
and Helicopter Noise
If
there will be NSRs in the LLP impacted by aircraft and/or helicopter noise, the
Applicant shall calculate the expected noise using standard acoustics
principles. Quantitative assessment at the NSRs in the LLP shall be carried out
and compared against the criteria set out in Table 1A of Annex 5 of the TM. The
Applicant shall propose mitigation measures for the affected NSRs in the LLP
and/or alternative internal layout and design at the LLP if the predicted noise
level exceeds the criteria set out in Table 1A of Annex 5 of the TM.
(vii)
Assessment
of Side Effects and Constraints
The Applicant shall identify, assess and
propose means to minimize any side effects and to resolve any potential
constraints due to the inclusion of any recommended direct technical remedies.
(viii)
Evaluation
of Constraints on Planned Noise Sensitive Developments/Landuses
For
planned noise sensitive uses which will still be affected even with the direct
technical remedies in place, the Applicant shall propose, evaluate and confirm
the practicality of additional measures within the planned noise sensitive uses
and shall make recommendations on how these noise sensitive uses will be
designed.
The
Applicant shall take into account agreed environmental requirements/
constraints identified by the study to assess the development potential of concerned
sites.
3.4.3
Water
Quality Impact
3.4.3.1 The Applicant shall
follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing water pollution
as stated in Annexes 6 and 14 of the TM.
3.4.3.2
The
study area for this water quality assessment shall cover North Western, North Western
Supplementary, Western Buffer and Southern Water Control Zones (as shown in
Appendix C) as designated under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).
This study area could be extended to include other areas such as stream courses
and the associated water system if they are found also being impacted during
the course of the EIA study and have a bearing on the environmental
acceptability of the Project.
3.4.3.3
The
Applicant shall identify and analyse physical, chemical and biological disruptions
of marine, fresh water or ground water system(s), catchment area(s), storm
water pipeline, submarine outfalls, and coastal water arising from construction
and operation of the Project.
3.4.3.4 The Applicant shall predict,
quantify and assess any water quality
impacts arising from the Project on the water system(s) and the sensitive
receivers particularly the engulfed Tai Ho Wan and Tai Ho Streams by
appropriate mathematical modelling and/or other techniques proposed by the
Applicant and agreed with the Director.
The mathematical modelling requirements are set out in Appendix D to
this study brief. Possible
impacts due to dredging, fill extraction, filling, mud/sediment transportation
and disposal activities shall include but not be limited to changes in hydrology,
flow regime, sediment erosion and deposition pattern, water and sediment
quality, downstream salinity profile and effects on the flora and fauna due to
such changes in the study area.
The prediction shall include possible different construction stages or
sequences, and different operational stages. Affected sensitive receivers shall be identified by the
assessment tool with indications of degree of severity.
3.4.3.5 The Applicant shall take into account and include
likely different construction and operational stages or sequences, including
maintenance dredging (if any) of the Project in the assessment. The assessment shall have regard to the
frequency, duration, volume and flow rate of the discharges and its pollutant
and sediment loading. Reference shall be made
to available information in previous studies including, but not limited to,
those listed in Appendix D to this study brief. Essentially the assessment shall address the following:
(i)
Collection and review of background
information on the existing and planned water system(s) and their respective
catchments and sensitive receivers which might be affected by the Project;
(ii)
Characterization
of water and sediment quality of the water system(s)
and respective catchments and sensitive receivers which might be affected by
the Project based on existing information or appropriate site survey and tests;
(iii)
Identification
and analysis of existing and planned future activities (such as industrial and
commercial activities in the LLP causing discharges) and beneficial uses
related to the water system(s) and identification of water sensitive receivers.
The
Applicant shall refer to, inter alia,
those developments and uses indicated on the relevant Outline Zoning Plans, Development
Permission Area Plans, Outline Development Plans and Layout Plans and other
relevant published land use plans;
(iv) Identification of pertinent water and
sediment quality objectives and establishment of other appropriate water and
sediment quality criteria or standards for the water system(s) and the
sensitive receivers in Section 3.4.3.5(i) above and particularly those
ecological (such as Chinese White Dolphins) and fisheries sensitive receivers
for the assessments in Sections 3.4.5 and 3.4.6;
(v)
Review of the construction sequences and methods,
and operation of the Project to identify any alteration of existing water courses,
natural streams/ponds, shoreline or bathymetry, flow regimes, ground water
levels and catchment types or areas;
(vi)
Identification
and quantification of existing and likely future water and sediment pollution sources and loading
(such as discharges from industrial and commercial activities in the LLP,
run-off from the LLP). An emission
inventory on the quantities and characteristics of all
existing and likely future water pollution sources in the study area shall also
be provided. Field investigation
and laboratory tests shall be conducted as appropriate to fill in any major
information gaps;
(vii) Prediction and
quantification of impacts on the water system(s) and respective catchments and
sensitive receivers that likely be affected by the alternations and changes
identified in Section 3.4.3.5(v) above and the pollution sources identified in
Section 3.4.3.5(vi) above. Both
the local and regional effects on erosion, sedimentation pattern, sediment
dispersion, flow regime and water quality due to any dredging of marine
sediment and backfilling activities, interim and ultimate alteration of
shoreline and bathymetry as a result of any marine works for the Project shall
be assessed through undertaking a mathematical modelling. The location, nature, extent and rate
of such works for the Project shall be clearly identified and evaluated. The assessment shall also take into
account the additional pollution loading and oxygen demand exerted by sediment
disturbed and any fill materials;
(viii) Identification and quantification of dredging, fill
extraction, filling, mud/sediment transportation and disposal activities and
requirements. Potential fill
source and dumping ground to be involved shall also be identified and
cumulative environmental impacts be evaluated. Field investigation, sampling and chemical and biological
laboratory tests to characterize the sediment/mud concerned shall be conducted
as appropriate. The potential
release of contaminants during dredging and any other marine works shall be
addressed using the chemical testing results derived from sediment samples
collected on site and relevant historic data. Appropriate laboratory tests such
as elutriate tests and sediment pore water (interstitial water) analyses shall
be performed on the sediment samples to simulate and quantify the degree of
mobilization of various contaminants such as metals, ammonia, trace organic
contaminants (including PCBs, PAHs, TBT and chlorinated pesticides) into the
water column during dredging. The
ranges of parameters to be analyzed; the number, location, depth of sediment,
type and methods of sampling; sample preservation; and chemical and biological
laboratory test methods to be used shall be subject to the approval of the
Director. The Applicant shall also
assess the pattern of the sediment deposition and the potential increase in
turbidity and suspended solid levels in the water column and at the sensitive
receivers due to the disturbance of sediments during dredging;
(ix) Assessment
of the impacts of the sewage discharge from the proposed LLP developments on
the Siu Ho Wan Sewage Treatment Works and the relevant sewerage system of
Lantau and that due to industrial and commercial discharges;
(x)
Assessment of the cumulative impacts due
to other related concurrent and planned projects, activities or pollution
sources along the identified water system(s) and sensitive receivers that may
have a bearing on the environmental acceptability of the Project. This shall include the potential cumulative
water quality impact arising from, inter alia, other pollution sources within
the study area;
(xi)
The Applicant shall
devise
mitigation measures to avoid or minimize the impacts identified above. The residual impacts on the water
system(s) and the sensitive receivers with regard to the relevant water and
sediment quality objectives, criteria, standards or guidelines shall be
assessed and quantified using appropriate mathematical models set out in
Appendix D to this study brief;
(xii)
With
reference to the assessment findings in Section 3.4.3.4 above, review relevant
existing emergency response plan(s) and if necessary, propose modification(s)
to the existing emergency response plan(s), or derive additional emergency
response plan(s) as appropriate to deal with chemical spillage due to vehicle
accidents during the operational stage of the Project. The plan(s) shall aim to contain and/or
remove the accidental spillage so as to prevent and/or minimize exposure to
contaminants by environmentally sensitive receivers/areas such as Chinese White
Dolphins and SSSI/marine park.
3.4.4
Waste Management
Implications
3.4.4.1 The Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for
evaluating and assessing waste management implications as stated in Annexes 7
and 15 of the TM.
3.4.4.2 The assessment of waste
management implications shall cover the following:
(i) Analysis
of Activities and Waste Generation
The
Applicant shall identify the quantity, quality and timing of the waste and
chemical waste arising as a result of the construction and operation activities
of the Project, based on the sequence and duration of these activities. The
Applicant shall adopt the design, general layout, construction methods and
programme that will maximise the use of public fill/inert C&DM for the
reclamation works.
(ii) Proposal
for Waste Management
(a)
Prior
to considering the disposal options for various types of wastes, opportunities
for reducing waste generation, on-site or off-site re-use and recycling shall
be evaluated. Measures that can be
taken in the planning and design stages e.g. by modifying the design approach
and in the construction stage for maximizing waste reduction shall be
separately considered.
(b)
After
considering the opportunities for reducing waste generation and maximizing
re-use, the types and quantities of the wastes required to be disposed of as a
consequence shall be estimated and the disposal options for the wastes shall be
described in detail. The disposal options recommended for each type of wastes
shall take into account the result of the assessment in item (c) below. The EIA report shall also state clearly
the transportation routings and the frequency of the trucks/ vessels involved,
any barging point or conveyor system to be used, the stockpiling areas and the
disposal outlets for the wastes identified; and
(c)
The
impact caused by handling (including stockpiling, labelling, packaging &
storage), collection, transportation and disposal of wastes shall be addressed
in detail and appropriate mitigation measures shall be proposed. This
assessment shall cover the following areas :
- potential hazard;
- air
and odour emissions;
- noise;
- wastewater
discharge;
-
public
transport; and
-
landscape and visual impacts, if any.
(iii) Dredging, Filling and
Dumping
(a)
The categories of
sediments which are to be disposed of in accordance with a permit under the
Dumping at Sea Ordinance (DASO) shall be identified by both chemical and
biological tests and their quantities shall be estimated. If the presence of any seriously
contaminated sediment which requires Type 3 disposal is confirmed, the
Applicant shall identify the most appropriate treatment and/or disposal
arrangement and demonstrate its feasibility;
(b)
Identification and evaluation of the best
practicable construction methods, treatment methods, in-situ/ex-situ
arrangements, reuse/ recycling options and construction programme to minimize
dredging and dumping requirements and demand for fill sources based on the
criterion that existing marine mud shall be left in place and not to be
disturbed as far as possible and the inert C&DM shall be used to maximum
practicable extent for reclamation works.
3.4.5
Ecological
Impact (Both Terrestrial and Aquatic)
3.4.5.1 The
Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing
ecological impact as stated in Annexes 8 and 16 of the TM.
3.4.5.2 The
study area for the purpose of terrestrial ecological assessment shall include
areas within 500 metres from the site boundary of the land based works areas or
the area likely to be impacted by the Project. For aquatic ecology, the study area shall be the same as the
water quality impact assessment and any other area likely to be impacted by the
Project.
3.4.5.3 In
the ecological impact assessment, the Applicant shall examine the flora, fauna
and other components of the ecological habitats within the assessment area, including
those highlighted in Section 3.2 above. The aim shall be to protect, maintain or rehabilitate the
natural environment. In particular, the Project shall avoid impacts on
recognized sites of conservation importance (e.g. Sites of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI)) and other ecological sensitive areas (e.g. mud flats,
mangroves and seagrass beds at Tai Ho Wan). The assessment shall identify and
quantify as far as possible the potential ecological impacts arising from the
construction and operation of the Project and in combination with those
cumulative impacts from associated works of the Project, both directly by
physical disturbance and indirectly by changes of water quality, run-off,
sedimentation patterns and hydrodynamic regime. The assessment shall describe
any potential impact to the ecological habitats and species of conservation interest.
Details of specific requirements on the assessment of impacts on the Chinese
White Dolphin are stipulated in Section 3.4.5.5 below.
3.4.5.4 The
assessment shall include the following major tasks:
(i) review and incorporate the findings of relevant previous and on-going studies including but not limited to those in Appendix E and in particular, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Section and North Lantau Highway Connection - Investigation and Extension of Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works ¡V Investigation, and collate the available information regarding the ecological characters of the study area;
(ii) evaluate the information collected and determine whether further ecological surveys shall be required for a comprehensive assessment under the following Sections;
(iii) carry out further ecological surveys and investigations to fill in the information gap identified in Section 3.4.5.4 (ii) above, if any, and to fulfil the objectives of the EIA study;
(iv) establish an ecological profile of the study area based on data of relevant previous studies/surveys and results of additional ecological field surveys, and describe the characteristics of each habitat found. Major information to be provided shall include:
(a)
description
of the physical environment, including recognized sites of conservation
importance and ecologically sensitive areas as listed in Section 3.2 above, and
assess whether these sites will be affected by the Project or not;
(b)
habitats maps of suitable scale showing
the types and locations of habitats in the study area;
(c)
ecological characteristics of habitat
types such as size, vegetation type, species present, dominant species found,
species diversity and abundance, community structure, seasonal patterns,
inter-dependence of the habitats and species, and presence of any features of
ecological importance;
(d)
representative colour photographs of
habitat types and any important ecological features identified;
(e)
species found that are rare, endangered
and/or listed under local legislation, international conventions for
conservation of wildlife/habitats or Red Data Books;
(v) investigate and describe the existing wildlife uses of the various habitats with special attention to those wildlife groups and habitats with conservation interests, including but not limited to the following:
(a)
inter-tidal mudflat
(b)
mangrove
(c)
seagrass bed
(d)
woodlands
(e)
wetlands
(f)
natural stream courses and rivers
(g)
vertebrates (e.g. avifauna, mammals
including bats, fish, herpetofauna)
(h)
macroinvertebrates (e.g. butterflies,
odonates, crustaceans)
(i)
inter-tidal and sub-tidal benthic
communities
(j)
Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)
(k)
Horseshoe Crabs
(l)
Tai Ho Stream SSSI
(m)
Lantau North Country Park
(n)
any other habitats and wildlife groups
(such as Brown Fish Owls) identified as having special conservation
interests by this EIA study
(vi) using suitable methodology to identify and quantify as far as possible any direct, indirect (e.g. changes in water qualities, hydrodynamics properties, sedimentation rates and patterns, hydrology), on-site, off-site, primary, secondary and cumulative ecological impacts on the wildlife groups and habitats mentioned in Section 3.4.5.4 (vi) above, such as loss of approximately 112 ha of marine habitats, reduction of species abundance/diversity, loss of feeding grounds, reduction of ecological carrying capacity, habitat fragmentation; and in particular the following:
(a)
habitat fragmentation to the north
Lantau;
(b)
marine habitat loss and disturbance to
wildlife;
(c)
potential impacts on horseshoe crabs and
their nursery areas at northwest Lantau including the intertidal habitats at
Tai Ho Wan;
(d)
potential impacts associated with dredging,
spoil disposal, extraction and placement of fill materials during construction,
and in particular to the benthic communities;
(e)
deterioration of environmental quality
(e.g. water quality) and the subsequent impacts to the biological communities;
and
(f)
potential impacts to the avifauna during
operational stage due to the increase in noise, air pollution, lighting, glare
and physical barrier and glare pollution such as potential impact of floodlight
and high mast lightings installed in the LLP on the surrounding wildlife.
(vii) demonstrate that the ecological impacts due to the construction and operation of the Project are avoided by design to the maximum practicable extent;
(viii) evaluate the significance and acceptability of the ecological impacts identified using the criteria in Annex 8 of the TM;
(ix) recommend possible alternatives (such as different layouts, design and/or using other construction methods and sequences) and practicable mitigation measures to avoid, minimize and/or compensate for the adverse ecological impacts identified (such as possible impacts of changing hydrodynamics to the ecologically sensitive areas e.g. horseshoe crabs nursery grounds), such as :
(a)
measures
to recreate the natural inter-tidal and sub-tidal habitats lost;
(b)
reinstatement
of habitats temporarily affected by the Project to its original state and if
possible with some enhancement features;
(x) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the recommended mitigation measures and define the scope, type, location, implementation arrangement, subsequent management and maintenance of such measures;
(xi) determine and quantify as far as possible the residual ecological impacts after implementation of the proposed mitigation measures;
(xii) evaluate the severity and acceptability of the residual ecological impacts using the criteria in Annex 8 of the TM; and
(xiii) review the need for and recommend any ecological monitoring programme required.
3.4.5.5 Impacts
on Chinese White Dolphins
The
assessment of impacts on Chinese White Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) shall include
the following tasks:
(i)
review
and incorporate the findings of relevant studies including the previous dolphin
studies, in particular the ¡§Population Biology of the Indo-Pacific
Hump-backed Dolphin in Hong Kong Waters¡¨ (Wildlife Monograph No. 144, page 1-65,
published in October 2000), and collate available information regarding the
ecological characters of the study area;
(ii)
evaluate
the information collected and identify any information gap relating to the
assessment of potential impacts on the Chinese White Dolphins;
(iii)
as part
of the requirement under Section 3.4.5.4 (iii) above, carry out necessary field
surveys and investigations to verify the information collected, fill the
information gaps identified, if any, and to fulfil the objectives of the EIA study;
(iv)
present relevant survey findings including previous surveys conducted in
relevant studies together with surveys carried out under this study;
(v)
assess the
direct and indirect impacts, including loss of
habitat, water
quality changes, release of toxic contaminants from sediments, underwater noise
disturbance and their consequential ecological effects on the Chinese White
Dolphins, during the construction and operational stages of the Project. The assessment shall include:
(a) impacts
and disturbance to the Chinese White Dolphins associated with dredging, fill
extraction, filling, transportation and disposal of dredged sediment;
(b) impacts
on the Chinese White Dolphins of the possible use of underwater blasting and
underwater percussive pilling during construction stage, due to shock wave and
underwater noise generated;
(c) predicted
water quality changes and consequential ecological impacts on the Chinese White
Dolphins. Parameters to be
assessed should include suspended solids, dissolved oxygen and contaminants present
in disturbed or dredged sediment;
(d) ecological
impacts on the Chinese White Dolphins associated with potential bioaccumulation
of toxic contaminants released from the disturbed or dredged sediment;
(e) potential
risk on the Chinese White Dolphins colliding with marine vessels during
construction;
(f) change
in marine traffic volume, distribution and pattern during operational stage,
and the consequential increase or decrease in risk of Chinese White Dolphins colliding
with marine vessels; and
(g) potential
risk on the Chinese White Dolphins due to chemical spillages arising from
vehicle accident during operation of the Project.
(vi)
assess the overall
cumulative ecological impacts on the Chinese White Dolphins due to this
Project, any associated works of the Project, and any nearby development;
(vii)
identify precautionary
and mitigatory measures for protection of the Chinese White Dolphins. The proposed measures may include, but
need not be limited to, those recommended in previous EIA studies and dolphin
studies;
(viii) review
the need for and recommend any dolphin monitoring programme; and
(ix)
assess and determine the
acceptability of the overall residual ecological impact on the Chinese White Dolphin, after implementation of
the precautionary and mitigatory measures as identified under Section 3.4.5.5
(vii) above.
3.4.6 Fisheries Impact
3.4.6.1 The
Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating and assessing
fisheries impact as stated in Annexes 9 and 17 of the TM.
3.4.6.2 The
study area for fisheries impact assessment shall be the same as for water
quality impact assessment as set out in Section 3.4.3.2 above and any areas
likely to be impacted by the Project.
Special attention shall be given to the potential loss of fishing grounds,
spawning and nursery grounds of fish and shrimp, the Ma Wan fish culture zone
and the artificial reefs deployed within the Chek Lap Kok Marine Exclusion Zone
3.
3.4.6.3 The
assessment shall cover potential impact on both capture and culture fisheries,
during the construction and operation of the Project and in combination with those
cumulative impacts from associated works of the Project.
3.4.6.4 Existing
information regarding the study area shall be reviewed. Based on the review results, the study
shall identify data gap and determine if there is any need for field
surveys. If field surveys are
considered necessary, the study shall recommend appropriate methodology,
duration and timing for the field surveys.
3.4.6.5 The fisheries impact assessment shall include
the following:-
(i)
description of the physical environmental
background;
(ii)
description and quantification of
existing capture fisheries and mariculture activities;
(iii)
description and quantification as far as
possible of the existing fisheries resources (e.g. major fisheries products and
stocks);
(iv)
identification of parameters (e.g. water
quality parameters) and areas (e.g. breeding/spawning grounds and nursery
grounds) that are important to fisheries and will be affected;
(v)
identification and quantification of
direct/indirect and on-site/off-site impacts to fisheries (e.g. loss of fishing
grounds, reduction of catch/productivity,
deterioration of water quality and pollution, if any, caused by surface
run-off to mariculture activity);
(vi)
evaluation of impacts and make recommendations
for environmental mitigation measures with details on justification,
description of scope and programme, feasibility as well as manpower and
financial implications including those related to subsequent management and
maintenance requirements of the proposals; and
(vii)
review the need for monitoring during the
construction and operation phases of the Project and, if necessary, propose a
monitoring and audit programme.
3.4.7 Landscape and Visual Impact
3.4.7.1 The
Applicant shall follow the criteria and guidelines as stated in Annexes 10 and
18 of the TM for evaluating and assessing landscape and visual impacts of any
above ground structures and works areas associated with the Project. Landscape
and visual impacts during both construction and operation stages within the
study area and related works areas shall be assessed.
3.4.7.2 The study area for the landscape impact
assessment shall include areas within 500 metres from the boundary of the Project.
The study area for the visual impact assessment shall be defined by the visual
envelope of the Project. The
defined visual envelope must be shown on a plan.
3.4.7.3 The Applicant shall review relevant Outline
Zoning Plans, Development Permissions Area Plans, Outline Development Plans, Layout
Plans, other relevant published land use plans, planning briefs and studies
which may identify areas of high landscape value and recommend country park,
coastal protection area, conservation area, open space, amenity area and green
belt designations. Any guidelines on landscape strategies, landscape frameworks,
urban design concepts, building height profiles, special design areas,
landmarks, designated view corridors, open space networks, landscape links that
may affect the appreciation of the Project shall also be reviewed. The aim is
to gain an insight to the future outlook of the area so as to assess whether
the project can fit into surrounding setting. Any conflict with statutory town plan(s) and any published
land use plans shall be highlighted and appropriate follow-up action shall be
recommended.
3.4.7.4 The Applicant shall describe, appraise,
analyse and evaluate the existing and planned landscape resources and landscape
character of the study area. A system shall be derived for judging landscape
and visual impact significance as required under the TM. Annotated oblique aerial photographs
and plans of suitable scale showing the baseline landscape character areas and
landscape resources and mapping of impact assessment shall be extensively used
to present the findings of impact assessment. Descriptive text shall provide a
concise and reasoned judgment from a landscape and visual point of view. The assessment
shall be particularly focused on the sensitivity of the landscape framework and
its ability to accommodate change. The Applicant shall identify the degree of
compatibility of the Project with the existing and planned landscape settings. The landscape impact assessment shall
quantify the potential landscape impacts as far as possible, so as to
illustrate the significance of such impacts arising from the Project. Clear mapping of the landscape impact
is required. A tree survey shall be carried out and the impacts on existing
mature trees and trees planted along Cheung Tung Road during upgrading of Siu
Ho Wan Sewage Treatment Plant shall be addressed. Cumulative landscape and
visual impacts of the Project with other committed and planned developments, in
particular the proposed Hong Kong ¡V Zhuhai ¡V Macao Bridge Hong Kong Section
& North Lantau Highway Connection project, the future Road P1, the extension
of logistics park/other compatible uses (western portion of the proposed
reclamation) and other possible developments in the study area, shall be
assessed.
3.4.7.5 The Applicant shall assess the visual
impacts of the Project. Clear
illustrations including mapping of visual impact is required. The assessment shall include the
following:
(i) Identification and plotting of visual envelope of the Project;
(ii) Identification of the key groups of sensitive receivers within the
visual envelope with regard to views from both ground level, sea level and
elevated vantage points;
(ii)
Description
of the visual compatibility of the Project with the surrounding and the planned
setting, and its obstruction and interference with the key views of the
adjacent areas;
(iii)
Description
of the severity of visual impacts in terms of nature, distance and number of
sensitive receivers;
(iv)
Identification
and evaluation of the glare impact due to the 24-hour operation of the LLP.
3.4.7.6 The Applicant shall evaluate the merits of preservation
in totality, in parts or total destruction of existing landscape and the
establishment of a new landscape character area. In addition, alternative layout, design and construction
methods that would avoid or reduce the identified landscape and visual impacts
shall be evaluated for comparison before adopting other mitigation or
compensatory measures to alleviate the impacts. The mitigation measures proposed shall not only be concerned
with damage reduction but shall also include consideration of potential
enhancement of existing landscape and visual quality. The Applicant shall recommend mitigation measures to
minimize the adverse effects identified above, including provision of a
landscape design. Encroachment on adjacent country park, country park extension
and natural landscape shall be avoided.
3.4.7.7 The mitigation measures shall
include preservation of vegetation and natural coastline, transplanting of
mature trees, provision of screen planting, re-vegetation of disturbed land, woodland
restoration, compensatory planting, provisioning/ reprovisioning of amenity
areas and open spaces, minimization of noise barriers, design of structures,
provision of finishes to structures, colour scheme and texture of material used
and any measures to mitigate the impact on existing and planned land uses. Parties shall be identified for the on
going management and maintenance of the proposed mitigation works to ensure
their effectiveness throughout the operation phase of the Project. A practical programme and funding
proposal for the implementation of the recommended measures shall be provided. For noise barriers, presentation of
photomontages of the Project including noise barrier in the existing setting
and planned setting illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation
measures shall be included.
3.4.7.8 Annotated
illustration materials such as coloured perspective drawings, plans and
section/elevation diagrams, oblique aerial photographs, photographs taken at
vantage points, and computer-generated photomontage shall be adopted to fully
illustrate the landscape and visual impacts of the Project to the satisfaction
of the Director. In particular, the
landscape and visual impacts of the Project with and without mitigation
measures shall also be properly illustrated in existing and planned setting by
computer-generated photomontage so as to demonstrate the effectiveness of the
proposed mitigation measures. Computer graphics shall be compatible with
Microstation DGN file format. The
Applicant shall record the technical details such as system set-up, software,
data files and function in preparing the illustration, which may need to be
submitted for verification of the accuracy of the illustrations.
3.4.8 Impact
on Cultural Heritage
3.4.8.1
The Applicant shall follow the criteria
and guidelines for evaluating and assessing the cultural heritage impacts as
stated in Annexes 10 and 19 of the TM.
3.4.8.2
The cultural heritage impact assessment
shall include terrestrial and marine archaeological investigation as well as built
heritage investigation. The
Applicant shall refer to Appendix F of this EIA study brief for the detailed
requirements.
(i)
Terrestrial Archaeological Investigation
The study areas for
terrestrial archaeological investigation shall include areas within 50 metres
from the recommended alignment of the Project and works areas that may have
adverse impacts on known and unknown archaeological sites. Special attention shall be paid to the
archaeological sites at Tai Ho and Pak Mong. The Applicant shall engage a qualified archaeologist who
shall obtain a License from the Antiquities Authority before undertaking the
field evaluation under the provision of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance
(Cap. 53). The Applicant shall draw necessary reference to relevant sections of
Appendix F of this study brief on the Criteria for Cultural Heritage Impact
Assessment.
(ii)
Marine Archaeological Investigation
The Applicant shall
engage a qualified marine archaeologist to review available information to
identify whether there is any possible existence of sites of objects of
cultural heritage, for example shipwreck, within any seabed that will be
affected by the marine works of the Project. The information shall include but
not be limited to the information as stipulated in Task 1 ¡V Baseline Review and
Task 2 ¡V Geophysical Survey of Annex to Appendix F of this EIA study brief. The
result of the review shall be presented as a written report and charts. If
sites or objects of cultural heritage are found, A Marine Archaeological
Investigation (MAI) shall be required. The MAI shall be carried out by a
qualified marine archaeologist who shall obtain a Licence from the Antiquities
Authority under the provision of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance
(Cap.53). The requirements of the MAI are set out in Annex to Appendix F of
this EIA study brief.
(iii)
Built Heritage Investigation
The
Applicant shall identify sites of historic buildings and structures based on
the result of desktop research and field evaluation, and establish a comprehensive
inventory of these sites that might have the potential to be affected by the
Project. Historic buildings and
structures include a variety of forms with a wide range of different functions
like domestic, working and cultural uses, places of worship, houses,
agricultural buildings, boundary stones and walls, workshops etc. Special attention shall be paid to the
areas of historic interest including Tai Ho, Ngau Kwu Long, Tin Liu and Pak
Mong. A plan showing the location
of both the proposed work areas and sites of historic buildings and structures
identified is required. The investigation shall be undertaken by an expert in
cultural heritage.
(iv)
In the event that the investigations as
stated in Sections 3.4.8.2 (i), (ii) and (iii) proved to be inadequate, the
Applicant shall undertake supplementary studies as agreed by the Director. The
Applicant can make necessary reference to Appendix F ¡§Criteria for Culture Heritage Impact Assessment¡¨ of
this EIA study brief.
3.4.8.3
The Applicant shall demonstrate that the
disturbance, including access, to those sites of cultural heritage are avoided
to the maximum practicable extent by modification of the layout and design of
the Project. For those sites of cultural heritage that might still be directly
and indirectly affected by the Project, the Applicant shall recommend practicable
mitigation measures and monitoring to avoid or keep the adverse impacts on the
site of cultural heritage to the minimum. A checklist including the affected
sites of cultural heritage, impacts identified, recommended mitigation measures
as well as the implementation agent and period shall also be included in the
EIA report.
3.4.9 Hazard To Life
3.4.9.1 The Applicant shall
follow the criteria and guidelines for evaluating hazard to life as stated in
Annexes 4 and 22 of the TM in conducting hazard assessment for the potential
risk to workers during construction stage and to the users of the Project
during operation due to the chlorine storage and on-site transport at Siu Ho
Wan Water Treatment Works (SHW WTW). The hazard assessment shall include the
following :
(i)
Identification of all
credible hazardous scenarios associated with the chlorine storage and on-site
transport at SHW WTW, which may cause fatalities on the Project during
construction and operational phases;
(ii)
Execution of a
Quantitative Risk Assessment to determine risks to the population in both
individual and societal terms during construction and operational phases of the
Project;
(iii)
Comparison of individual
and societal risks with the Criteria for Evaluating Hazard to Life stipulated
in Annex 4 of the TM, to determine the acceptability of the assessed risk; and
(iv)
Identification and
assessment of practicable and cost effective risk mitigation measures to
demonstrate the compliance with the Risk Guidelines during construction and
operational phases of the Project;
3.4.9.2
The methodology of
hazard assessment shall take into account relevant previous studies (e.g. the
chapter of ¡§Hazard to Life¡¨ in the EIA Report for ¡§Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment
Works Extension¡¨) and be agreed with the Director.
3.4.10 Land Contamination Impact
3.4.10.1 To
prevent contamination problems arising from the future operation of the
proposed Logistics Park, in accordance with ProPECC Practice Note No. 3/94 ¡§Contaminated
Land Assessment and Remediation¡¨, the Applicant shall:
(i)
identify the possible sources of contamination in the operational phase
of the proposed Logistics Park; and
(ii)
formulate appropriate operational practices, waste management strategies
and precautionary measures to be implemented on site for prevention of
contamination problems when it becomes operational.
3.4.11 Summary of
Environmental Outcomes
The
EIA report shall contain a summary of the key environmental outcomes arising
from the EIA study, including the population and environmentally sensitive
areas protected, environmentally friendly designs recommended, key
environmental problems avoided, compensation areas included and the
environmental benefits of environmental protection measures recommended.
3.4.12 Environmental
Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Requirements
3.4.12.1 The Applicant shall identify and
justify in the EIA study whether there is any need for EM&A activities
during construction and operation phases of the Project and, if affirmative, to
define the scope of EM&A requirements for the Project.
3.4.12.2 Subject
to confirmation of EIA findings, the Applicant shall comply with requirements
as stipulated in Annex 21 of the TM. The Applicant shall also propose real-time
reporting of monitoring data for the Project through a dedicated internet
website.
3.4.12.3 The
Applicant shall prepare a project implementation schedule (in the form of a
checklist as shown in Appendix G to this EIA study brief) containing the EIA
study recommendations and mitigation measures with reference to the
implementation programme.
4. DURATION
OF VALIDITY
4.1 This EIA study brief is valid
for 36 months from the date of issue.
If the EIA study does not commence within this period, the Applicant
shall apply to the Director for a fresh EIA study brief before commencement of
the EIA study.
5. REPORT
REQUIREMENTS
5.1 In
preparing the EIA report, the Applicant shall refer to Annex 11 of the TM for
the contents of an EIA report. The Applicant shall also refer to Annex 20 of
the TM, which stipulates the guidelines for the review of an EIA report.
5.2 The
Applicant shall supply the Director with the following number of copies of the
EIA report and the executive summary:
(i) 50 copies of the EIA report in English and 80 copies
of the executive summary (each bilingual in both English and Chinese) as
required under section 6(2) of the EIAO to be supplied at the time of
application for approval of the EIA report.
(ii) when necessary, addendum to the EIA report and
the executive summary submitted in 5.2 (i) above as required under section 7(1) of the EIAO, to be supplied upon
advice by the Director for public inspection.
(iii) 20 copies of the EIA report in English and 50
copies of the executive summary (each bilingual in both English and Chinese)
with or without Addendum as required under section 7(5) of the EIAO, to be
supplied upon advice by the Director for consultation with the Advisory Council
on the Environment.
5.3 The Applicant shall, upon request, make
additional copies of above documents available to the public, subject to
payment by the interested parties of full costs of printing.
5.4 In addition, to facilitate
public inspection of the EIA report via the EIAO Internet Website, the
Applicant shall provide electronic copies of both the EIA report and the
executive summary prepared in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) (version 4.0 or
later) and in Portable Document Format (PDF version 4.0 or later), unless
otherwise agreed by the Director.
For the HTML version, a content page capable of providing hyperlink to
each section and sub-section of the EIA report and the executive summary shall
be included in the beginning of the document. Hyperlinks to all figures,
drawings and tables in the EIA report and executive summary shall be provided
in the main text from where the respective references are made. All graphics in the report shall be in
interlaced GIF format unless otherwise agreed by the Director.
5.5 The electronic copies of the EIA report and the
executive summary shall be submitted to the Director at the time of application
for approval of the EIA report.
5.6 When the EIA report and the executive
summary are made available for public inspection under s.7(1) of the EIAO, the
content of the electronic copies of the EIA report and the executive summary
must be the same as the hard copies and the Director shall be provided with the
most updated electronic copies.
5.7 To promote environmentally
friendly and efficient dissemination of information, both hardcopies and
electronic copies of future EM&A reports recommended by the EIA study shall
be required and their format shall be agreed by the Director.
5.8 To facilitate public involvement
in the EIA process, the applicant shall produce 3-dimensional electronic visualisations
of the major findings and elements of the EIA report, including baseline
environmental information, the environmental situations with or without the
project, key mitigated and unmitigated environmental impacts, and key
recommended environmental mitigation measures so that the public can understand
the project and the associated environmental issues. The visualisations shall
be based on the EIA report and released to the public. The visualisations shall
be submitted in CD-ROM or other suitable means agreed with the Director in
commonly readable formats. Unless otherwise advised or agreed by the Director, the
number of copies of CD-ROM required shall be the same as that for EIA reports
under Section 5.2.
6. OTHER
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
6.1 If there is any change in the
name of Applicant for this EIA study brief during the course of the EIA study,
the Applicant must notify the Director immediately.
6.2
If
there is any key change in the scope of the Project mentioned in Section 1.2 and
1.3 of this EIA study brief and in Project Profile (No. PP-230/2004), the
Applicant must seek confirmation from the Director in writing on whether or not
the scope of issues covered by this EIA study brief can still cover the key
changes, and the additional issues, if any, that the EIA study must also
address. If the changes to the
Project fundamentally alter the key scope of the EIA study brief, the Applicant
shall apply to the Director for a fresh EIA study brief.
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END OF EIA STUDY BRIEF ---
November
2004
Environmental
Assessment and Noise Division,
Environmental
Protection Department