executive
Summary
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Scope
of Report
1.3 Organization
Structure
1.4 Summary
of Construction Works
2 EM&A Results
2.1 Air
quality
2.2 Water
Quality Monitoring
2.3 Dolphin
Monitoring
2.4 EM&A
Site Inspection
2.5 Waste
Management Status
2.6 Environmental
Licenses and Permits
2.7 Implementation
Status of Environmental Mitigation Measures
2.8 Summary
of Exceedances of the Environmental Quality Performance Limit
2.9 Summary
of Complaints, Notification of Summons and Successful Prosecutions
3 Future Key Issues
3.1 Construction
Activities for the Coming Month
3.2 Key
Issues for the Coming Month
3.3 Monitoring
Schedule for the Coming Month
4 Conclusions
and recommendations
4.1 Conclusions
Executive
Summary
Under
Contract No. HY/2012/08,
Dragages – Bouygues Joint Venture (DBJV) is commissioned by the Highways
Department (HyD) to undertake the design and construction of the Northern
Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section of the Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link Project (TM-CLK
Link Project) while AECOM Asia Company Limited was appointed by HyD as the
Supervising Officer. For
implementation of the environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) programme
under the Contract, ERM-Hong Kong, Limited (ERM) has been appointed as the
Environmental Team (ET) in accordance with Environmental
Permit No. EP-354/2009/A. ENVIRON Hong Kong Ltd. was employed by HyD
as the Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) and Environmental Project Office
(ENPO). Subsequent
applications for variation of environmental permits (VEP), EP-354/2009/B and EP-354/2009/C,
were granted on 28 January 2014 and 10 December 2014, respectively.
The
construction phase of the Project commenced on 1 November 2013 and will
tentatively be completed by the end of 2018. The impact monitoring of the EM&A
programme, including air quality, water quality, marine ecological monitoring and
environmental site inspections, were commenced on 1 November 2013.
This is the Sixteenth
Monthly EM&A report presenting the EM&A works carried out during the
period from 1 to 28 February 2015 for the Contract
No. HY/2012/08 Northern
Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section (the “Project”) in
accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual of the TM-CLK
Link Project. As informed by the
Contractor, major activities in the reporting period included:
Marine-based
Works
·
Rock Bund Deposition for Marine Sheet Pile Remedial
Works at Works Area – Portion N-A.
Land-based
Works
·
Diaphragm Wall Construction for Ventilation Shaft at
Works Area – Portion N-C;
·
TBM Platform Construction at Works Area – Portion N-A;
·
Delivery & Assembly of TBM at Works Area – Portion
N-A and,
·
Set up of Slurry Treatment Plant at Works Area –
Portion N-C.
A summary of
monitoring and audit activities conducted in the reporting period is listed
below:
24-hour TSP Monitoring 8
sessions
1-hour TSP Monitoring 8
sessions
Impact Water
Quality Monitoring 11
sessions
Impact Dolphin
Monitoring 2
sessions
Joint
Environmental Site Inspection 4
sessions
Implementation of Marine Mammal Exclusion Zone
There was no dredging or marine sheet piling
works in open waters during this reporting period. The day-time monitoring of Dolphin
Exclusion Zone (DEZ) by dolphin observers was in effect throughout the period
of rock bund deposition for marine sheet pile remedial works, in which no
sighting of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis (i.e. Chinese White Dolphin) was recorded during
the exclusion zone monitoring in the reporting month. According to the Contractor, rock bund
deposition for marine sheet pile remedial works was completed on 28 February
2015. Thus, the day-time monitoring
of Dolphin Exclusion Zone (DEZ) by dolphin observers was suspended from 28
February 2015.
Summary of
Breaches of Action/Limit Levels
Breaches of Action and Limit Levels for Air Quality
No Action
Level or Limit Level of air quality exceedances were recorded in the air quality
monitoring of this reporting month.
Breaches of Action and Limit Levels for Water Quality
No Action Level
or Limit Level of water quality exceedances were recorded in the water quality
monitoring of this reporting month.
Breaches of Action and Limit Levels for Dolphin Monitoring
Whilst
one (1) Limit Level exceedance was observed for the quarterly dolphin monitoring
data between December 2014 and February 2015, no unacceptable impact from the
construction activities of the TM-CLKL Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section on Chinese White Dolphins was
noticeable from general observations.
Due to monthly variation in dolphin occurrence within the study area, it
would be more appropriate to draw conclusion on whether any impacts on dolphins
have been detected related to the construction activities of the TM-CLKL
Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section
in the quarterly EM&A reports, where comparison on distribution, group size
and encounter rates of dolphins between the quarterly impact monitoring period
and baseline monitoring period will be made.
Environmental
Complaints, Non-compliance & Summons
No
non-compliance with EIA recommendations, EP conditions and other requirements associated with
the construction of this Contract was recorded in this reporting period.
No
environmental complaint was received in this reporting period.
No
environmental summons was received in this reporting period.
Reporting
Change
There was no
reporting change required in the reporting period.
Upcoming Works for the Next Reporting Month
Works to be
undertaken in the next monitoring period of March 2015 include the following:
Land-based
Works
·
Diaphragm Wall Construction for Ventilation Shaft at
Works Area – Portion N-C;
·
TBM Platform Construction at Works Area – Portion N-A;
·
Delivery & Assembly of TBM at Works Area – Portion
N-A ;
·
Set up of Slurry Treatment Plant at Works Area – Portion
N-C; and
·
Maintenance of armor rocks at Works Area – Portion
N-A.
Future Key
Issues
Potential
environmental impacts arising from the above upcoming construction activities
in the next reporting month of March 2015 are expected to be mainly associated
with dust, marine water quality, marine ecology and waste management.
1
Introduction
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 (the Project) 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-146/2009), 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 (VEP)
(EP-354/2009A) was issued on 8 December 2010. Subsequent applications for variation of
environmental permits (VEPs), EP-354/2009/B
and EP-354/2009/C, were granted on 28 January 2014 and 10 December 2014,
respectively.
Under
Contract No. HY/2012/08,
Dragages – Bouygues Joint Venture (DBJV) is commissioned by the Highways
Department (HyD) to undertake the design and construction of the Northern
Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section of TM-CLKL while AECOM Asia
Company Limited was appointed by HyD as the Supervising Officer. For implementation of the environmental
monitoring and audit (EM&A) programme under the Contract, ERM-Hong Kong,
Limited (ERM) has been appointed as the Environmental Team (ET). ENVIRON Hong Kong
Ltd. was employed by HyD as the Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) and
Environmental Project Office (ENPO).
Layout of the
Contract components is presented in Figure 1.1.
The construction phase of the Contract commenced on 1
November 2013 and will tentatively be completed by 2018. The impact monitoring phase of the EM&A
programme, including air quality, water quality, marine ecological monitoring and
environmental site inspections, were commenced on 1 November 2013.
This is the Sixteenth Monthly EM&A
Report under the Contract No. HY/2012/08
Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link – Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section. This
report presents a summary of the environmental monitoring and audit works in February
2015.
1.3
Organization Structure
The
organization structure of the Contract is shown in Appendix A. The key personnel contact names and contact
details are summarized in Table 1.1
below.
Table 1.1 Contact
Information of Key Personnel
|
Party
|
Position
|
Name
|
Telephone
|
Fax
|
|
Highways
Department
|
Engr
16/HZMB
|
Kenneth Lee
|
2762
4996
|
3188
6614
|
|
SOR
(AECOM Asia
Company Limited)
|
Chief
Resident Engineer
|
Edwin
Ching
Andrew
Westmoreland
|
2293
6388
2293
6360
|
2293
6300
2293
6300
|
|
ENPO / IEC
(ENVIRON
Hong Kong Ltd.)
|
ENPO Leader
|
Y.H. Hui
|
3465 2888
|
3465 2899
|
|
IEC
|
Dr. F.C. Tsang
|
3465 2828
|
3465 2899
|
|
Contractor
(Dragages –
Bouygues Joint Venture)
|
Environmental
Manager
|
C.F. Kwong
|
2293
7322
|
2670
2798
|
|
Environmental
Officer
24-hour
complaint hotline
|
Bryan Lee
Rachel Lam
|
2293
7323
2293
7342
|
2670
2798
|
|
ET (ERM-HK)
|
ET Leader
|
Jovy Tam
|
2271 3113
|
2723 5660
|
The construction phase of this Contract
was commenced on 1 November 2013.
The construction programme is shown in Appendix B.
As per DBJV’s information, details of
major construction works carried out in this reporting period are summarized in
Table 1.2.
The general layout plan of the site
showing the detailed works areas is shown in Figure 1.2. The Environmental Sensitive Receivers in
the vicinity of the Project are shown in Figure 1.3.
The implementation schedule of environmental
mitigation measures is presented in Appendix C.
Table 1.2 Summary
of Construction Activities Undertaken during the Reporting Period
|
Construction Activities Undertaken
|
|
Marine-based Works
|
|
·
Rock Bund Deposition for Marine Sheet Pile Remedial
Works at Works Area – Portion N-A.
|
|
Land-based Works
|
|
·
Diaphragm Wall Construction for Ventilation Shaft at
Works Area – Portion N-C;
·
TBM Platform Construction at Works Area – Portion
N-A;
·
Delivery & Assembly of TBM at Works Area –
Portion N-A; and
·
Set up of Slurry Treatment Plant at Works Area –
Portion N-C.
|
Figure
1.2 Locations
of Construction Activities – February 2015
2
EM&A
Results
The EM&A
programme required environmental monitoring for air quality, water quality and marine
ecology as well as environmental site inspections for air quality, noise, water
quality, waste management, marine ecology and landscape and visual impacts. The EM&A requirements and related
findings for each component are summarized in the following sections
2.1.1
Monitoring Requirements and Equipment
In accordance
with the Updated EM&A Manual and the Enhanced TSP Monitoring Plan, impact
1-hour TSP monitoring was conducted three (3) times every six (6) days and impact
24-hour TSP monitoring was carried out once every six (6) days when the highest
dust impact was expected. 1-hr and
24-hr TSP monitoring frequency was increased to three times per day every three
days and daily every three days, respectively, as excavation works for
launching shaft commenced on 24 October 2014.
High volume
samplers (HVSs) were used to carry out the 1-hour and 24-hour TSP monitoring on
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, 23 and 26 February 2015 at the five (5) air quality
monitoring stations in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the
Updated EM&A Manual (Figure 2.1; Table 2.1).
Wind meter was installed at the
rooftop of ASR5 for logging wind speed and wind direction. Details of the equipment deployed are provided
in Table 2.2. Copies of the calibration certificates
for the equipment are presented in Appendix E.
Table 2.1 Locations
of Impact Air Quality Monitoring Stations and Monitoring Dates in this
Reporting Period
|
Monitoring Station
|
Monitoring Dates
|
Location
|
Description
|
Parameters &
Frequency
|
|
ASR1
|
3,
6, 9, 12, 15, 17, 23 and 26 February 2015
|
Tuen
Mun Fireboat Station
|
Office
|
TSP monitoring
Ÿ 1-hour Total Suspended Particulates (1-hour TSP, µg/m3), 3
times in every 6 days
Ÿ 24-hour Total Suspended Particulates (24-hour TSP, µg/m3),
daily for 24-hour in every 6 days
Enhanced TSP monitoring (commenced on 24 October 2014)
Ÿ 1-hour Total Suspended Particulates (1-hour TSP, µg/m3), 3
times in every 3 days
Ÿ 24-hour Total Suspended Particulates (24-hour TSP, µg/m3),
daily for 24-hour in every 3 days
|
|
ASR5
|
|
Pillar
Point Fire Station
|
Office
|
|
AQMS1
|
|
Previous
River Trade Golf
|
Bare
ground
|
|
ASR6
|
|
Butterfly
Beach Laundry
|
Office
|
|
ASR10
|
|
Butterfly
Beach Park
|
Recreational
uses
|
Table 2.2 Air
Quality Monitoring Equipment
|
Equipment
|
Brand and Model
|
|
High
Volume Sampler
(1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP)
|
Tisch Environmental Mass Flow Controlled Total Suspended
Particulate (TSP) High Volume Sampler (Model No. TE-5170)
|
|
Wind
Meter
|
Davis
(Model: Weather Wizard III (S/N: WE90911A30)
|
|
Wind
Anemometer for calibration
|
Lutron
(Model No. AM-4201)
|
2.1.2
Action
& Limit Levels
The Action and
Limit Levels of the air quality monitoring is provided in Appendix D. The Event and Action plan is presented
in Appendix K.
2.1.3
Monitoring Schedule for the Reporting Month
The schedule
for air quality monitoring in February 2015 is provided in Appendix F. No construction works was carried out
from 19 February 2015 to 21 February 2015, thus Impact Air Quality Monitoring
was postponed to 23 February 2015.
2.1.4
Results and Observations
The
monitoring results for 1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP are summarized in Tables 2.3 and 2.4, respectively. Detailed
impact air quality monitoring results and graphical presentations are presented
in Appendix G.
Table 2.3 Summary
of 1-hour TSP Monitoring Results in this Reporting Period
|
Station
|
Average (µg/m3)
|
Range (µg/m3)
|
Action Level (µg/m3)
|
Limit Level (µg/m3)
|
|
ASR1
|
176
|
102
– 275
|
331
|
500
|
|
ASR5
|
189
|
115
– 285
|
340
|
500
|
|
AQMS1
|
172
|
104
– 269
|
335
|
500
|
|
ASR6
|
164
|
76
– 284
|
338
|
500
|
|
ASR10
|
134
|
55
– 225
|
337
|
500
|
Table 2.4 Summary
of 24-hour TSP Monitoring Results in this Reporting Period
|
Station
|
Average (µg/m3)
|
Range (µg/m3)
|
Action Level (µg/m3)
|
Limit Level (µg/m3)
|
|
ASR1
|
118
|
78
– 162
|
213
|
260
|
|
ASR5
|
118
|
82
– 141
|
238
|
260
|
|
AQMS1
|
104
|
67
– 135
|
213
|
260
|
|
ASR6
|
98
|
56
– 123
|
238
|
260
|
|
ASR10
|
88
|
58
– 121
|
214
|
260
|
The weather
condition during the monitoring period varied from sunny to cloudy. The major dust sources in the reporting
period include construction activities under the Contract as well as nearby
traffic emissions.
A total of eight
monitoring events were undertaken in which no Action or Limit Level exceedances
of 1-hr TSP were recorded in this reporting month. No Action or Limit Level
exceedances for 24-hr TSP were record.
Meteorological
information collected at the ASR5, including wind speed and wind direction, is provided
in Appendix H.
2.2
Water Quality Monitoring
2.2.1
Monitoring Requirements & Equipment
In accordance
with the Updated EM&A Manual, impact water quality monitoring was carried
out three days per week during the construction period at nine (9) water
quality monitoring stations (Figure 2.2; Table 2.5).
Table 2.5 Locations
of Water Quality Monitoring Stations and the Corresponding Monitoring
Requirements
|
Station ID
|
Type
|
Coordinates
|
*Parameters, unit
|
Depth
|
Frequency
|
|
|
|
Easting
|
Northing
|
|
|
|
|
IS12
|
Impact
Station
|
813218
|
823681
|
Ÿ
Temperature(°C)
Ÿ
pH(pH unit)
Ÿ
Turbidity (NTU)
Ÿ
Water depth (m)
Ÿ
Salinity (ppt)
Ÿ
DO (mg/L and % of
saturation)
·
SS (mg/L)
|
3 water depths: 1m below
sea surface,
mid-depth and 1m above sea
bed. If the water depth is less
than 3m, mid-depth sampling only.
If water depth less than 6m, mid-depth may be omitted.
|
Impact monitoring: 3 days per week, at mid-flood
and mid-ebb tides during the construction period of the Contract.
|
|
IS13
|
Impact Station
|
813667
|
824325
|
|
IS14
|
Impact Station
|
812592
|
824172
|
|
IS15
|
Impact Station
|
813356
|
825008
|
|
CS4
|
Control / Far Field Station
|
810025
|
824004
|
|
CS6
|
Control / Far Field Station
|
817028
|
823992
|
|
SR8
|
Sensitive
receiver (Gazettal beaches in Tuen Mun)
|
816306
|
825715
|
|
SR9
|
Sensitive
receiver
(Butterfly Beach)
|
813601
|
825858
|
|
SR10A
|
Sensitive
receiver
(Ma Wan FCZ)
|
823741
|
823495
|
|
*Notes:
In addition to the parameters presented monitoring location/position,
time, water depth, sampling depth, tidal stages, weather conditions and any
special phenomena or works underway nearby were also recorded.
|
Table 2.6 summarizes the equipment used in the impact water
quality monitoring programme. Copies
of the calibration certificates are attached in Appendix E.
Table 2.6 Water
Quality Monitoring Equipment
|
Equipment
|
Model
|
|
Water Sampler
|
Kahlsico Water-Bottle Model 135DW 150
|
|
Dissolved Oxygen Meter
|
YSI Pro 2030
|
|
pH Meter
|
HANNA HI 8314
|
|
Turbidity Meter
|
HACH 2100Q
|
|
Monitoring Position Equipment
|
“Magellan” Handheld GPS Model explorist GC
|
|
DGPS Koden KGP913MK2 (1)
|
2.2.2
Action
& Limit Levels
The Action and Limit levels of water quality impact
monitoring are shown in Appendix D. The Event and Action plan is presented
in Appendix K.
2.2.3
Monitoring Schedule for the Reporting Month
The schedule
for water quality monitoring in February 2015 is provided in Appendix F. No
construction works was carried out from 19 February 2015 to 21 February 2015,
thus Impact Water Quality Monitoring was postponed to 23 February 2015.
2.2.4
Results and Observations
During this
reporting period, only minor marine works included rock bund deposition for
marine sheetpile remedial works was carried out at Portion
N-A. It is useful to note that
heavy marine traffic (not associated with the Project) was commonly observed
nearby the Project site and its vicinity.
Impact water
quality monitoring was conducted at all designated monitoring stations in the
reporting month. Results and
graphical presentations of impact water quality monitoring are presented in Appendix I.
In this
reporting period, a total of eleven monitoring events were undertaken in which no
Action Level or Limit Levels of exceedances for impact water quality monitoring
was recorded.
2.3
Dolphin Monitoring
2.3.1
Monitoring Requirements
Impact dolphin
monitoring is required to be conducted by a qualified dolphin specialist team
to evaluate whether there have been any effects on the dolphins. In order to fulfil the EM&A
requirements and make good use of available resources, the on-going impact line
transect dolphin monitoring data collected by HyD’s Contract No. HY/2011/03 Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Hong
Kong Link Road - Section between Scenic Hill and Hong Kong Boundary Crossing
Facilities on the monthly basis is adopted to avoid duplicates of survey
effort.
2.3.2
Monitoring Equipment
Table 2.7 summarises the equipment used for the impact dolphin
monitoring.
Table 2.7 Dolphin
Monitoring Equipment
|
Equipment
|
Model
|
|
Global Positioning
System (GPS)
|
Garmin 18X-PC
Geo One Phottix
|
|
Camera
|
Nikon D90 300m 2.8D fixed focus
Nikon D90 20-300m zoom lens
|
|
Laser Binocular
|
Infinitor LRF 1000
|
|
Marine Binocular
|
Bushell 7 x 50 marine binocular with compass and
reticules
|
|
Vessel for Monitoring
|
65 foot single
engine motor vessel with viewing platform 4.5m above water level
|
2.3.3
Monitoring Parameter, Frequencies & Duration
Dolphin
monitoring should cover all transect lines in Northeast Lantau (NEL) and the
Northwest Lantau (NWL) survey areas twice per month throughout the entire
construction period. The monitoring
data should be compatible with, and should be made available for, long-term
studies of small cetacean ecology in Hong Kong. In order to provide a suitable long-term
dataset for comparison, identical methodology and line transects employed in
baseline dolphin monitoring was followed in the impact dolphin monitoring.
2.3.4
Monitoring Location
The impact
dolphin monitoring was carried out in the NEL and NWL along the line transect
as depicted in Figure 2.3. The co-ordinates of all transect lines
are shown in Table 2.8 below.
Table 2.8 Impact
Dolphin Monitoring Line Transect Co-ordinates
|
Line No.
|
Easting
|
Northing
|
Line No.
|
Easting
|
Northing
|
|
1
|
Start Point
|
804671
|
814577
|
13
|
Start Point
|
816506
|
819480
|
|
1
|
End Point
|
804671
|
831404
|
13
|
End Point
|
816506
|
824859
|
|
2
|
Start Point
|
805475
|
815457
|
14
|
Start Point
|
817537
|
820220
|
|
2
|
End Point
|
805477
|
826654
|
14
|
End Point
|
817537
|
824613
|
|
3
|
Start Point
|
806464
|
819435
|
15
|
Start Point
|
818568
|
820735
|
|
3
|
End Point
|
806464
|
822911
|
15
|
End Point
|
818568
|
824433
|
|
4
|
Start Point
|
807518
|
819771
|
16
|
Start Point
|
819532
|
821420
|
|
4
|
End Point
|
807518
|
829230
|
16
|
End Point
|
819532
|
824209
|
|
5
|
Start Point
|
808504
|
820220
|
17
|
Start Point
|
820451
|
822125
|
|
5
|
End Point
|
808504
|
828602
|
17
|
End Point
|
820451
|
823671
|
|
6
|
Start Point
|
809490
|
820466
|
18
|
Start Point
|
821504
|
822371
|
|
6
|
End Point
|
809490
|
825352
|
18
|
End Point
|
821504
|
823761
|
|
7
|
Start Point
|
810499
|
820690
|
19
|
Start Point
|
822513
|
823268
|
|
7
|
End Point
|
810499
|
824613
|
19
|
End Point
|
822513
|
824321
|
|
8
|
Start Point
|
811508
|
820847
|
20
|
Start Point
|
823477
|
823402
|
|
8
|
End Point
|
811508
|
824254
|
20
|
End Point
|
823477
|
824613
|
|
9
|
Start Point
|
812516
|
820892
|
21
|
Start Point
|
805476
|
827081
|
|
9
|
End Point
|
812516
|
824254
|
21
|
End Point
|
805476
|
830562
|
|
10
|
Start Point
|
813525
|
820872
|
22
|
Start Point
|
806464
|
824033
|
|
10
|
End Point
|
813525
|
824657
|
22
|
End Point
|
806464
|
829598
|
|
11
|
Start Point
|
814556
|
818449
|
23
|
Start Point
|
814559
|
821739
|
|
11
|
End Point
|
814556
|
820992
|
23
|
End Point
|
814559
|
824768
|
|
12
|
Start Point
|
815542
|
818807
|
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
End Point
|
815542
|
824882
|
|
|
|
|
2.3.5
Action
& Limit Levels
The Action and
Limit levels of impact dolphin monitoring are shown in Appendix D. The Event and Action plan is presented
in Appendix K.
2.3.6
Monitoring Schedule for the Reporting Month
Dolphin
monitoring was carried out on 5, 13, 16 and 25 of February 2015. The dolphin monitoring schedule for the
reporting month is shown in Appendix F.
2.3.7
Results & Observations
A total of 298.01
km of survey effort was collected, with 100% of the total survey effort being
conducted under favourable weather conditions (ie Beaufort Sea State 3 or below
with good visibility) in February 2015. Amongst the two areas, 115.15 km and
182.86 km of survey effort were collected from NEL and NWL survey areas,
respectively. The total survey
effort conducted on primary and secondary lines were 214.26 km and 83.75 km,
respectively. The survey efforts are
summarized in Appendix J.
A total of 1 group of one Chinese
White Dolphin sighting was recorded during the two sets of surveys
in February 2015. The sighting was
made in NWL during the survey in February 2015, while no dolphin was sighted in
NEL. The sighting was made on
primary lines during on-effort search, and the sighting was not associated with
operating fishing vessel.
None of the sightings was made in the vicinity of
the TM-CLKL Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section. The distribution of
dolphin sightings during the reporting month is shown in Figure 2.4.
Encounter
rates of Chinese White Dolphins are deduced from the survey effort and
on-effort sighting data made under favourable conditions (Beaufort 3 or below
with good visibility) in February 2015 with the results present in Tables 2.9 and 2.10.
Table 2.9 Individual
Survey Event Encounter Rates
|
|
Encounter rate (STG) (no. of on-effort dolphin sightings per 100 km of survey effort)
|
Encounter rate (ANI)
(no. of dolphins from all on-effort sightings per
100 km of survey effort)
|
|
Primary Lines Only
|
Primary Lines Only
|
|
NEL
|
Set 1: February 5th/13th
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
Set 2: February 16th/25th
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
NWL
|
Set 1: February 5th/13th
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
|
Set 2: February 16th/25th
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
Note:
Dolphin Encounter Rates
are deduced from the Two Sets of Surveys (Two Surveys in Each Set) in February 2015
in Northeast (NEL) and Northwest Lantau (NWL)
Table 2.10 Monthly
Average Encounter Rates
|
|
Encounter rate (STG)
(no. of on-effort dolphin sightings per
100 km of survey effort)
|
Encounter rate (ANI)
(no. of dolphins from all on-effort sightings per 100 km of survey
effort)
|
|
Primary Lines Only
|
Both Primary and Secondary Lines
|
Primary Lines Only
|
Both Primary and Secondary Lines
|
|
Northeast Lantau
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
Northwest Lantau
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
Note: Overall dolphin encounter rates (sightings per
100 km of survey effort) from all four surveys are conducted in February 2015 on
primary lines only as well as both primary lines and secondary lines in
Northeast and Northwest Lantau.
Table d 4.6
nd limit
levels of dolphin impact monitoring are shown in Table Whilst one (1) Limit Level exceedance
(Both Northeast Lantau social cluster and Northwest Lantau social cluster
exceeded Limit Level) was observed for the quarterly dolphin monitoring data
between December 2014 and February 2015, no unacceptable impact from the
construction activities of the Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section on Chinese White Dolphins was
noticeable from general observations during the dolphin monitoring in this
reporting month.
Due to monthly
variation in dolphin occurrence within the survey area, it would be more
appropriate to draw conclusion on whether any unacceptable impacts on dolphins
have been detected related to the construction activities of this Project in
the quarterly EM&A reports, where comparison on distribution, group size
and encounter rates of dolphins between the quarterly impact monitoring period
and baseline monitoring period will be made.
2.3.8
Implementation of Marine Mammal Exclusion Zone
There was no dredging or marine sheet piling
works in open waters during this reporting period. The day-time monitoring of Dolphin
Exclusion Zone (DEZ) by dolphin observers was in effect throughout the period
of rock bund deposition for marine sheet pile remedial works, in which no
sighting of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis (i.e. Chinese White Dolphin) was recorded during
the exclusion zone monitoring in the reporting month. According to the Contractor, rock bund
deposition for marine sheet pile remedial works was completed on 28 February
2015. Thus, the day-time monitoring
of Dolphin Exclusion Zone (DEZ) by dolphin observers was suspended from 28
February 2015.
2.4
EM&A Site Inspection
Site
inspections were carried out on a weekly basis to monitor the implementation of
proper environmental pollution control and mitigation measures under the
Contract. In the reporting month, four
(4) site inspections were carried out on 4, 11, 18 and 25 February 2015.
Key
observations and recommendations during the site inspections in this reporting
period are summarized in Table 2.11.
Table 2.11 Specific
Observations and Recommendations during the Weekly Site Inspection in this
Reporting Month
|
Inspection Date
|
Observations
|
Recommendations/ Remarks
|
|
4 February
2015
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ Oil
drums without drip tray were observed.
Works
Area - Portion N-B
Ÿ Accumulated
general refuse should be cleared more frequently.
Ÿ Chemical
containers without drip tray were observed.
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to provide drip tray for the oil drums.
Works
Area - Portion N-B
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to clear the general refuse more frequently.
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to provide drip tray for the chemical containers.
|
|
11
February 2015
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ Used
cement bags should be removed or stored properly.
Ÿ Idle
stockpile should be covered.
Ÿ Cement
bags should be covered.
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to remove the used cement bags.
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to cover the idle stockpile.
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to cover the cement bags.
|
|
18 February
2015
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ Drip
tray should be cleaned up more frequently.
Ÿ Cement
bags were observed without cover.
Works
Area - Portion N-C
Ÿ Oil
leakage was observed under the machine.
Ÿ Chemical
containers should be stored in chemical storage area.
Ÿ Accumulated
general refuse should be cleared more frequently.
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to clean up the drip tray more frequently.
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to cover the cement bags.
Works
Area - Portion N-C
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to fix the oil leakage problem and clean up the
stained soil as chemical waste.
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to store the chemical containers in proper storage
area.
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to clear the accumulated general refuse more
frequently.
|
|
25
February 2015
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ Idle
stockpile should be covered by tarpaulin.
Works
Area - Portion N-B
Ÿ Accumulated
general refuse should be cleared.
|
Works
Area - Portion N-A
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to cover the idle stockpile.
Works
Area - Portion N-B
Ÿ The
Contractor was reminded to clear accumulated general refuse.
|
The Contractor
has rectified all of the observations as identified during environmental site
inspections in the reporting month.
The Contractor
had submitted application form for registration as chemical waste producer under
the Contract. Sufficient numbers of
receptacles were available for general refuse collection and sorting.
Wastes
generated during this reporting period include mainly construction wastes
(inert and non-inert). Reference
has been made to the waste flow table prepared by the Contractor (Appendix M).
The quantities of different types of wastes are summarized in Table 2.12.
Table 2.12 Quantities
of Different Waste Generated in the Reporting Month
|
Month/Year
|
Inert Construction Waste (a)
(tonnes)
|
Imported Fill (tonnes)
|
Inert Construction Waste
Re-used
(tonnes)
|
Non-inert Construction Waste (b)
(tonnes)
|
Recyclable Materials (c) (kg)
|
Chemical Wastes (kg)
|
Marine Sediment (m3)
|
|
Category L
|
Category M
(Mp
& Mf)
|
|
February 2015
|
4,152
|
0
|
0
|
74
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Notes:
|
|
(a) Inert
construction wastes include hard rock and large broken concrete, and
materials disposed as public fill.
(b) Non-inert
construction wastes include general refuse disposed at landfill.
(c) Recyclable
materials include metals, paper, cardboard, plastics, timber and others.
|
The Contractor
was advised to properly maintain on site C&D materials and waste
collection, sorting and recording system, dispose of C&D materials and
wastes at designated ground and maximize reuse/ recycle of C&D materials
and wastes. The Contractor was also
reminded to properly maintain the site tidiness and dispose of the wastes
accumulated on site regularly and properly.
For chemical
waste containers, the Contractor was reminded to treat properly and store temporarily
in designated chemical waste storage area on site in accordance with the Code
of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes.
The status of
environmental licensing and permit is summarized in Table 2.13 below.
In response to
the site audit findings, the Contractors carried out all corrective actions.
A summary of
the Implementation Schedule of Environmental Mitigation Measures (EMIS) is
presented in Appendix C. The necessary mitigation measures relevant
to this Contract were implemented properly.
No Action
Level or Limit Level exceedances were recorded in the air quality monitoring of
this reporting month.
No Action Level
or Limit Level exceedances were recorded in the water quality monitoring of this
reporting month.
Whilst
one (1) Limit Level exceedance was observed for the quarterly dolphin
monitoring data between December 2014 and February 2015, no unacceptable impact
from the construction activities of the TM-CLKL
Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section
on Chinese White Dolphins was noticeable from general observations. Due to monthly variation in dolphin
occurrence within the study area, it would be more appropriate to draw
conclusion on whether any impacts on dolphins have been detected related to the
construction activities of the TM-CLKL Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section in the quarterly EM&A reports,
where comparison on distribution, group size and encounter rates of dolphins
between the quarterly impact monitoring period and baseline monitoring period
will be made.
Cumulative
statistics are provided in Appendix L.
The
Environmental Complaint Handling Procedure is provided in Figure 2.5.
No environmental
complaint was received in the reporting period.
No
notification of summons and prosecution were received in the reporting period.
Statistics on
complaints, notifications of summons and successful prosecutions are summarized
in Appendix L.
3
Future
Key Issues
As informed by
the Contractor, the major works for the Project in March 2015 are summarized in
Table 3.1.
Table
3.1 Construction
Works to Be Undertaken in the Coming Month
|
Works to be undertaken
|
|
Land-based Works
|
|
·
Diaphragm Wall Construction for Ventilation Shaft at
Works Area – Portion N-C;
·
TBM Platform Construction at Works Area – Portion
N-A;
·
Maintenance of armor rocks at Works Area – Portion
N-A;
·
Delivery & Assembly of TBM at Works Area –
Portion N-A and,
·
Set up of Slurry Treatment Plant at Works Area –
Portion N-C.
|
Potential
environmental impacts arising from the above upcoming construction activities in
the next reporting month of March 2015 are mainly associated with dust, marine
water quality, marine ecology and waste management issues.
The tentative
schedule for environmental monitoring in March 2015 is provided in Appendix F.
4
Conclusions
and recommendations
This Sixteenth
Monthly EM&A Report presents the findings of the EM&A activities
undertaken during the period from 1 to 28 February 2015, in accordance with the
Updated EM&A Manual and the requirements of EP-354/2009/C.
Air quality
(including 1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP), water quality and dolphin monitoring were
carried out in this reporting month. No Action Level or Limit Level exceedances
were recorded in the water quality monitoring of this reporting month. No Action
Level or Limit Level exceedances were recorded in the air quality monitoring of
this reporting month.
A total of one
(1) group of one (1) Chinese
White Dolphin sighting was recorded during the two sets of surveys
in February 2015. The sighting was
made in NWL during the survey in February 2015, while no dolphin was sighted in
NEL. The sighting was made on
primary line during on-effort search, and none of the dolphin groups was
associated with operating fishing vessel. Whilst one (1) Limit Level exceedance was observed for the quarterly
dolphin monitoring data between December 2014 and February 2015. No unacceptable impact from the construction
activities of the TM-CLKL Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section on Chinese
White Dolphins was noticeable from general observations during the dolphin
monitoring in this reporting month.
Environmental
site inspection was carried out four (4) times in February 2015. Recommendations on remedial actions recommended
for the deficiencies identified during the site audits were properly
implemented by the Contractor.
No
non-compliance event was recorded during the reporting period.
No
environmental complaint was received during the reporting period.
No summons/
prosecution was received during the reporting period.
The ET will
keep track on the construction works to confirm compliance of environmental
requirements and the proper implementation of all necessary mitigation
measures.
