Contents
1.1 Background
1.2 Scope
of the Contract
1.3 Purpose
of this Specification
2 Implenentation of Dolphin Exclusion Zone
2.1 Relevant
Requirements of DEZ
2.2 Methodology
2.3 Training
of Dolphin Observers
1
Introduction
1.1
Background
According to
the findings of the Northwest New Territories (NWNT) Traffic and Infrastructure
Review conducted by the Transport Department, Tuen Mun Road, Ting Kau Bridge,
Lantau Link and North Lantau Highway would be operating beyond capacity after
2016. This forecast has been based
on the estimated increase in cross boundary traffic, developments in the
Northwest New Territories (NWNT), and possible developments in North Lantau,
including the Airport developments, the Lantau Logistics Park (LLP) and the
Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge (HZMB).
In order to cope with the anticipated traffic demand, two new road sections
between NWNT and North Lantau – Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL) and Tuen
Mun Western Bypass (TMWB) are proposed.
An
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of TM-CLKL was prepared in accordance
with the EIA Study Brief (No. ESB-175/2007) and the Technical Memorandum of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process
(EIAO-TM). The EIA Report was submitted under the
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) in August 2009. Subsequent to the approval of the EIA
Report (EIAO Register Number AEIAR-145/2009), an Environmental Permit (EP-354/2009)
for TM-CLKL was granted by the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) on 4
November 2009, and EP variation (EP-354/2009A) was issued on 8 December
2010. Another
application for variation of environmental permit (VEP) (EP-354/2009/B) was granted on 28 January 2014.
As
per Clause 3.1 of the EP of TM-CLKL (EP-354/2009/B), a dolphin exclusion zone (DEZ) of 250m should be
implemented around the work areas of the Project for the dredging, reclamation
or sheet piling works in order to mitigate the potential acoustic disturbance
to dolphins caused by the works.
The Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual of the Project
also requires the implementation of DEZ for bored piling works in addition to
the aforementioned types of works.
1.2
Scope
of the Contract
Under Contract No. HY/2012/07, Gammon
Construction Limited (GCL) is commissioned by the Highways Department (HyD) to
undertake the design and construction of the section of TM-CLKL connecting the southern landfall of
TM-CLKL and North Lantau Highway (NLH) near Tai Ho Wan, including the
following:
·
A
dual 2-lane main marine crossing (Structures E2, E5, E6, E7 and E8) across the
sea between the southern landfall of TM-CLKL and NLH;
·
Five
link or slip roads (Structures F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) at the southern landfall
of TM-CLKL connecting a dual 2-lane rural trunk road (main marine crossing) in
(i) above with the HKBCF and the TM-CLKL Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel
Section;
·
Four
link roads (Structures E1, A1, A2, B1, B2, B3,C1, C2, C3, C4, D1, D2, D3 and
D4) at North Lantau connecting the main marine crossing in (i) above with the
NLH ;
·
Associated
civil, structural, geotechnical, marine, environmental protection, landscaping,
drainage, highway electrical and mechanical (E&M) works, street lightings,
traffic aids and sign gantries, marine navigational aids, ship impact
protection system, water mains and
fire hydrants, lightning protection system, SHMS, as well as operation and maintenance
provisions of viaducts, provisioning of facilities for installation of TCSS, provisioning
of facilities for installation of telecommunication cables/equipment and reprovisioning
works of affected existing facilities/utilities; and
·
Incidental
works thereto the above and other associated works which are shown on the Drawings
or specified in the Contract.
The
above scope of works would involve bored piling and temporary staging piling. There will not be any sheet piling, dredging
and reclamation works under the Contract.
Preliminary
layout plan of the pier sites of the Contract, which is relevant to the
implementation of DEZ, is presented in Figure 1.1.
1.3
Purpose of this Specification
This
Specification for Dolphin Exclusion Zone has been prepared by ERM-Hong Kong,
Limited (ERM) on behalf of GCL to present the methodology of implementation of
DEZ for daylight hours ([1])
under the Contract,
including bored piling works, in
accordance with Section 6.3.1.1 of
the EM&A Manual ([2]).
The specification also covers piling works for the installation of
temporary staging of the Contract.
2
Implenentation
of Dolphin Exclusion Zone
2.1
Relevant
Requirements of DEZ
According to
recommendation of the approved EIA Report, a dolphin exclusion zone should be
implemented in order to alleviate the potential acoustic disturbance to Chinese
White Dolphins (Sousa Chinensis). Requirements on the implementation of
DEZ during daylight hours are presented in the approved EIA Report ([3]),
EM&A Manual ([4]) and subsequently Clause 3.1 of EP-354/2009/B, which are summarized below:
· A
dolphin exclusion zone of 250m should be implemented around the work
areas. The dolphin exclusion zone
should be monitored by independent dolphin observers with an unobstructed,
elevated view of the area. Dredging,
bored piling and sheet piling works would not be allowed to begin until the
observer certifies that the area is continuously clear of Chinese White
Dolphins for a period of 30 minutes
· Dredging,
bored piling and sheet piling works should, also, cease if Chinese White
Dolphins move into the exclusion zone/area during these activities and works
should not start again until the observer has confirmed that the area is
continuously clear of Chinese White Dolphins for a period of 30 minutes.
· The
observers must be suitably trained in biology and should be independent of the Contractor
and should form part of the independent Environmental Team (ET) to be employed
by the Contractor. An Independent
Environmental Checker (IEC) would be required to audit the work of the ET. An important aspect of applying this
mitigation technique effectively is that the observer should have the power to
call-off construction activities to monitor the exclusion zone.
The above
requirements are taken into account for the development of methodology of DEZ
monitoring presented in Section 2.2 below.
2.2
Methodology
2.2.1
Implementation
Period
The
requirement of DEZ will be implemented when bored piling works are being
undertaken within the works area. In
addition, DEZ will also be implemented during the piling works for the construction
of the temporary staging under the Contract which is a mitigation measure
recommended in the Environmental Review of the temporary staging ([5]). The period of DEZ implementation should
be reviewed with reference to the progress of the construction works.
2.2.2
Deployment Location of Dolphin Observers
Trained
dolphin observers from the ET will be deployed at the site to monitor the DEZ. In accordance with relevant requirements
presented in Section 2.1 above, the
DEZ will cover a radius
of 250 m from the works area of bored piling and temporary staging piling. The dolphin observers will be stationed
onboard derrick barges (Figure 2.1),
which has a higher air draft when compared to other works vessel, in order to
obtain an unobstructed, elevated view of the DEZ.
The derrick barge selected for the DEZ monitoring will be reviewed based
on actual location of the barges relative to the distribution of other works vessels
at the site. Should location other
than a derrick barge be identified as a better viewing platform in terms of
providing unobstructed, elevated view of the area, it will also be considered
for use. Coordinates of the
selected derrick barges/viewing platform will be included on the sighting
records.
A
small vessel should be available at all times to support the DEZ monitoring (eg
for the dolphin observers to approach the observed dolphin(s) for any necessary
detailed observations).
Figure 2.1 Photo and General Information of
Derrick Barge
|
Vessel Details |
Photo |
|
Length: 47m Breadth: 20m |
|
The
estimated number of dolphin observers required is provide in Figure 2.2 with reference to the preliminary
construction schedule of the pier sites.
During the estimation, the number of pier site/temporary staging platform
that will be constructed concurrently and their separation distance have be
considered to ensure that there will be a dolphin observer covering each work
front which may comprise more than one pier site/temporary platform/ staging in
close vicinity to each other. The
dolphin observer will be stationed on a derrick barrage which can provide an unobstructed
view of the DEZ for each work front.
The actual number of dolphin observers deployed may vary depend on
actual progress and conditions of construction works. Additional dolphin observers will be
deployed if deemed necessary to ensure effective monitoring of the DEZ.
Figure 2.3 indicates the maximum extent of the
DEZ assuming works will be undertaken along the entire alignment of the marine
viaduct. Given that the dolphin
observers would have a field of view of 500m from the observation point, a
maximum number of six (6) dolphin observers will be required to monitor the
maximum extent of the DEZ according to current implementation plan which should
be considered adequate as illustrated in Figure 2.3.
2.2.3
Implementation of DEZ before and during Works
Qualified
dolphin observers will stand on the open upper deck of the derrick barge /viewing
platform, allowing for relatively unobstructed elevated view of the DEZ (ie within
a radius of 250 m from
the works vessels which are engaged in bored piling and temporary staging
piling works). Qualified observer
will scan the 250 m exclusion zone, including waters underneath the temporary staging
platforms, for at least 30 minutes prior to the start of relevant works. If dolphin is observed in the exclusion
zone, bored piling / temporary staging piling will be delayed until they have left
the DEZ. This measure will confirm
that the area in the vicinity of the bored piling / temporary staging piling works
is clear of dolphin prior to the commencement of works and will serve to reduce
any potential disturbance to dolphin.
In
case dolphin is observed within the exclusion zone during bored piling /
temporary staging piling works, the relevant part of the works should cease and
works should not be started again until the observer has confirmed that the
area is continuously clear of dolphin for a period of 30 minutes.
The
dolphin observer will communicate any instruction to other works vessels
through the skipper onboard the derrick barge where the observer is
stationed. Should dolphin is
observed by other vessel crews during works, the observation should be
communicate to the observer through the same skipper. The observer should then instruct to delay
starting of or cease works if necessary.
In
the event that a Chinese White Dolphin, or other marine mammal, is found
injured or dead within the DEZ, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) should be contacted at the government 24-hour hotline (i.e.
1823) to seek assistance from the corresponding responsible team of AFCD.
2.2.4
Reporting
Reports
on DEZ monitoring, eg sighting records, should be submitted to the IEC/ENPO within
10 working days from the end of the previous reporting month. The sighting record will be in the form
a log-sheet recording the initial sighting time, position, distance and angle
data of the sighted dolphin. Other
information on sea state, weather conditions (Beaufort scale), as well as notes
on dolphin appearance, behaviour, direction of movement, response to vessel,
group size, etc can also be recorded.
A
Dolphin Intrusion Report will be provided to the SOR, IEC/ENPO and the dolphin
specialist (Dr Samuel Hung) within
three working days after each incidence of CWD intrusion/presence within the
DEZ. The CWD Intrusion Report will
include date, time, position and number of CWD observed, a chronological list
of actions taken, with time, by the observer(s) and construction workers.
A
flowchart showing the communication procedure is shown in Figure 2.4.
2.3
Training
of Dolphin Observers
All dolphin
observers will be suitably trained by the dolphin specialist (Dr Samuel Hung) in
accordance with requirements of the EM&A Manual. Training materials and schedule will be
submitted to the Environmental Protection Office (ENPO) and the IEC of the
Project prior to the start of training for their records. Training records/certificates of dolphin
observers will also be submitted to ENPO/IEC and SOR for records. Trained dolphin observers should attend
refreshment training conducted by the dolphin specialist on an annual basis.
3
Conclusion
In accordance
with recommendation of the approved EIA Report and requirements of the EP-354/2009/B and EM&A Manual of the Project, this
Specification for Dolphin Exclusion Zone has been prepared to
present the methodology of implementing DEZ for works during daylight hours, including
bored piling and temporary staging piling works, of the Contract. This specification covers the
observation period, location, implementation and reporting for the DEZ
monitoring as well as training requirements of the qualified dolphin observers which
will be followed during the construction works of the Contract.