table of Contents
lExecutive Summary
1.1 Background
1.2 Scope of Report
1.3 Organization Structure
1.4 Summary of Construction Works
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
2.10 Comparison of EM&A Data with EIA Predictions
2.11 Summary of Monitoring Methodology and Effectiveness
2.12 Summary of Mitigation Measures
3.1 Site Inspections & Audits
3.2 Air Quality Monitoring
3.3 Marine Water Quality Monitoring
3.4 Waste Management
3.5 Marine Ecology Monitoring
3.6 Summary of Recommendations
Appendix
A
Project Organization
Appendix
B
Environmental Mitigation And Enhancement Measure Implementation Schedules
(EMIS)
Appendix
C
Action And Limit Levels
Appendix
D
Air Quality Monitoring Results
Appendix
E
Water Quality Monitoring Results
Appendix F
Event And Action Plan
Appendix
G
Cumulative Statistics On Exceedance And Complaint
Appendix
H
Waste Flow Table
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. Ramboll Hong Kong Limited 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, EP-354/2009/C and EP-354/2009/D, were granted on 28 January 2014, 10 December 2014 and 13 March 2015, respectively.
The construction phase of the Contract commenced on 1 November 2013 and will tentatively be completed in 2020. 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 Seventh Annual EM&A report presenting the EM&A works carried out during the period from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020 for the Contract No. HY/2012/08 Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section (the “Contract ”) in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual of the TM-CLK Link Contract . As informed by the Contractor, the major activities in the reporting year included:
|
Construction Activities Undertaken |
|
Land-based Works |
|
· Construction of Thermal barrier – TBM tunnel; · Construction of Walkway Corbel & Cover – TBM Tunnel; · Road & Drainage works – Portion N-A, Portion S-A, Portion S-B, Portion S-C, Northern Landfall; · Gantry Crane Removal – Portion N-A; · C&C Tunnel RC structure – Portion S-A; · Backfilling – Portion S-A & S-C; · Water Treatment Facilities Dismantling – Portion S-C; · Roofing System Installation – Portion S-A; · Fireboard installation –Tunnel; · UU installation - Portion S-A, S-B & S-C and Northern Landfall; · Carpark Formation - Portion S-A, S-B & S-C and Northern Landfall; · Carpark canopies installation - Portion S-A, S-B & S-C; · Hard paving and footpath - Pump Sump Area at Northern Landfall; · Installation of green roof system - South Ventilation Building; and · Reinstatement at Box culvert. Marine-based Works · Seawall Modification Works – Portion S-B. |
A summary of monitoring and audit activities conducted in the reporting period is listed below:
24-hour TSP Monitoring 114 sessions
1-hour TSP Monitoring 114 sessions
Impact Water Quality Monitoring 25 sessions
Impact Dolphin Monitoring 14 sessions
Post–Construction Water Quality Monitoring 12 sessions
Operational Phase Water Quality Monitoring 5 sessions
Operational Phase Dolphin Monitoring 10 sessions
Joint Environmental Site Inspection 47 sessions
Implementation of Marine Mammal Exclusion Zone
Daily marine mammal exclusion zone was in effect during the period of silt curtain installation in open waters between November and December 2019. No sighting of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis (i.e. Chinese White Dolphin) was recorded in November and December 2019 during the exclusion zone monitoring.
No marine works were undertaken since 30 December 2019, therefore, daily 250 m marine mammal exclusion zone monitoring was not undertaken since 30 December 2019.
No Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) was implemented in the reporting period.
Summary of Breaches of Action/Limit Levels
Breaches of Action and Limit Levels for Air Quality
Twenty (20) Action Level exceedances and six (6) Limit Level exceedances of 1-hour TSP were recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period. No Action Level and Limit Level exceedances of 24-hour TSP was recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period.
Breaches of Action and Limit Levels for Water Quality
One (1) Action Level exceedance for depth-averaged suspended solids was recorded from the water quality monitoring in this reporting period.
Dolphin Monitoring
Whilst three (3) Limit Level exceedances were recorded for three (3) sets of quarterly impact dolphin monitoring data between November 2019 and May 2020, 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 dolphin monitoring in this reporting period.
One (1) Limit Level exceedance was recorded for one (1) set of quarterly post-construction (operational) dolphin monitoring data between June and October 2020.
Environmental Complaints, Non-compliance & Summons
No environmental complaint, non-compliance with EIA recommendations, EP conditions and other requirements and environmental summons associated with the construction of this Contract was recorded in this reporting period.
Review of EM&A programme
The EM&A requirements have been reviewed and were considered as adequate and effective. No change to the requirements was considered to be necessary. The recommended environmental mitigation measures were also considered to be effective and efficient in reducing the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction of the Contract. No change was thus considered necessary.
Overall, the EM&A results indicated that the Contract has not caused unacceptable environmental impacts. This is in agreement with the assessment presented in the EIA Report.
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 (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 (VEP), EP-354/2009/B, EP-354/2009/C and EP-354/2009/D, were granted on 28 January 2014, 10 December 2014 and 13 March 2015, 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). Ramboll Hong Kong Limited 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 in 2020. 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.
1.2
Scope of Report
This is the
Seventh Annual 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 from 1 November 2019 to 31 October
2020.
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 24/SD |
Ken T.M. Cheng |
2762 4062 |
3188 6614 |
|
SOR (AECOM Asia Company Limited)
|
Chief Resident Engineer |
Roger Man |
2293 6388 |
2293 6300 |
|
ENPO / IEC (Ramboll Hong Kong Ltd.) |
ENPO Leader
|
Y.H. Hui |
3465 2850 |
3465 2899 |
|
IEC
|
Manson Yeung |
9700 6767 |
3465 2899 |
|
|
Contractor (Dragages – Bouygues Joint Venture) |
Deputy Environmental Manager |
Bryan Lee
|
2293 7323
|
2293 7499 |
|
|
24-hour hotline
|
|
2293 7330 |
|
|
ET (ERM-HK) |
ET Leader |
Jasmine Ng |
2271 3311 |
2723 5660 |
1.4
Summary of Construction Works
With reference to
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 B.
Table 1.2 Summary of Construction Activities Undertaken during the Reporting Period
|
Construction Activities Undertaken |
|
Land-based Works |
|
· Construction of Thermal barrier – TBM tunnel; · Construction of Walkway Corbel & Cover – TBM Tunnel; · Road & Drainage works – Portion N-A, Portion S-A, Portion S-B, Portion S-C, Northern Landfall; · Gantry Crane Removal – Portion N-A; · C&C Tunnel RC structure – Portion S-A; · Backfilling – Portion S-A & S-C; · Water Treatment Facilities Dismantling – Portion S-C; · Roofing System Installation – Portion S-A; · Fireboard installation –Tunnel; · UU installation - Portion S-A, S-B & S-C and Northern Landfall; · Carpark Formation - Portion S-A, S-B & S-C and Northern Landfall; · Carpark canopies installation - Portion S-A, S-B & S-C; · Hard paving and footpath - Pump Sump Area at Northern Landfall; · Installation of green roof system - South Ventilation Building; and · Reinstatement at Box culvert. Marine-based Works · Seawall Modification Works – Portion S-B. |
Figure 1.2 Locations of Construction Activities – November 2019 to October 2020
|
|
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
Air quality
2.1.1
Monitoring Requirements and Equipment
In accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual and the Enhanced TSP Monitoring Plan ([1]), impact 1-hour TSP monitoring was conducted three (3) times in every six (6) days and impact 24-hour TSP monitoring was carried out once in 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.
Excavation works for launching shaft were completed and notification of change on air quality monitoring frequency was submitted to EPD on 14 September 2020. 1-hr and 24-hr TSP monitoring frequency was changed to three times per day every six days and daily every six days, respectively, since 14 September 2020.
High volume samplers (HVSs) were used to carry out the 1-hour and 24-hour TSP monitoring in the reporting period 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 anemometer 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.
Table 2.1 Locations of Impact Air Quality Monitoring Stations and Monitoring Dates in this Reporting Period
|
Monitoring Station |
Location |
Description |
Parameters & Frequency |
|
ASR1 |
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 |
Tisch Environmental Mass Flow Controlled Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) High Volume Sampler (Model No. TE-5170)
|
|
Wind Meter |
Davis (Model: Vantage Pro 2 (S/N: AS160104014) |
|
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 are provided in Appendix C. The Event and Action plan is presented in Appendix F.
2.1.3
Results and Observations
Impact air quality monitoring was conducted at all designated monitoring stations in the reporting period under acceptable weather conditions. The major dust sources in the reporting period include construction activities under the Contract as well as nearby traffic emissions.
The monitoring results for 1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP are summarized in Tables 2.3 and 2.4, respectively. Baseline and impact monitoring results are presented graphically in Appendix D. The detailed impact air quality monitoring data and meteorological information were reported in the Seventy-Third to Eighty-Fourth Monthly EM&A Reports.
Table 2.3 Summary of 1-hour TSP Monitoring Results in this Reporting Period
|
Month/Year |
Station |
Average (µg/m3) |
Range (µg/m3) |
Action Level (µg/m3) |
Limit Level (µg/m3) |
|
November 2019 to October 2020 |
ASR 1 |
131 |
13 - 747 |
331 |
500 |
|
ASR 5 |
155 |
13 - 534 |
340 |
500 |
|
|
AQMS1 |
101 |
13 - 303 |
335 |
500 |
|
|
ASR6 |
113 |
14 - 1454 |
338 |
500 |
|
|
ASR10 |
69 |
13 - 407 |
337 |
500 |
Table 2.4 Summary of 24-hour TSP Monitoring Results in this Reporting Period
|
Month/Year |
Station |
Average (µg/m3) |
Range (µg/m3) |
Action Level (µg/m3) |
Limit Level (µg/m3) |
|
November 2019 to October 2020 |
ASR 1 |
83 |
22 – 207 |
213 |
260 |
|
ASR 5 |
91 |
30 - 196 |
238 |
260 |
|
|
AQMS1 |
61 |
24 – 131 |
213 |
260 |
|
|
ASR6 |
68 |
20 – 149 |
238 |
260 |
|
|
ASR10 |
48 |
18 – 138 |
214 |
260 |
In this reporting period, a total of 114 monitoring events were undertaken. Twenty (20) Action Level exceedances and six (6) Limit Level exceedances of 1-hour TSP were recorded in the air quality monitoring in this reporting period. No Action Level and Limit Level exceedances of 24-hour TSP was recorded in the air quality monitoring in this reporting period. Summary of exceedances for Air Quality Impact Monitoring in this reporting period is detailed in Table 2.15.
As shown in Table 2.5, the annual average 1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP level in the reporting period were generally lower than the corresponding average levels of baseline at most monitoring stations. The annual average 1-hour TSP was higher than the corresponding average levels of baseline at ASR1 and ASR5.
In order to determine any significant air quality impacts caused by construction activities from this Contract, one-way ANOVA (with setting α at 0.05) was conducted to examine whether the observed differences are significant between reporting period and baseline monitoring. For 1-hour TSP, the average results of monitoring stations AQMS1, ASR6 and ASR10 in the reporting period were significantly lower than the average results of baseline monitoring while the average results of monitoring stations ASR1 and ASR5 in the reporting period were slightly higher than the average results of baseline monitoring (AQMS1: F 1, 383 = 15.44, p < 0.01, ASR6: F 1, 383 = 2.18, p = 0.141, ASR1: F 1, 374 = 0.188, p = 0.665, ASR10: F 1, 383 = 98.13, p < 0.01 and ASR5: F 1, 383 = 1.93 p = 0.166). For 24-hour TSP, the average results of all monitoring stations in the reporting period were significantly lower than the average results of baseline monitoring (AQMS1: F 1, 131 = 92.66, p < 0.01, ASR6: F 1, 131 = 136.02, p < 0.01, ASR1: F 1, 126 = 13.43, p < 0.01, ASR10: F 1, 131 = 150.81, p < 0.01 and ASR5: F 1, 131 = 48.48, p < 0.01). In the reporting period, 1-hour and 24-hour TSP were varied across sampling months (see Appendix D) and these variations were however not consistent throughout the reporting period.
Table 2.5 Summary of Average Levels of TSP Level of Baseline Monitoring and Reporting Period (in µg/m3)
|
Monitoring Station |
Average Baseline Monitoring |
Average Impact Monitoring |
|
ASR1(1-hour TSP) |
125 |
131 |
|
ASR1(24-hour TSP) |
128 |
83 |
|
ASR5(1-hour TSP) |
138 |
155 |
|
ASR5(24-hour TSP) |
167 |
91 |
|
AQMS1(1-hour TSP) |
131 |
101 |
|
AQMS1(24-hour TSP) |
127 |
61 |
|
ASR6(1-hour TSP) |
135 |
113 |
|
ASR6(24-hour TSP) |
166 |
68 |
|
ASR10(1-hour TSP) |
134 |
69 |
|
ASR10(24-hour TSP) |
129 |
48 |
Further to the One-way ANOVA, Linear Regression was conducted to examine any relationship between TSP levels and time (i.e. number of days after construction works commencement) during this yearly monitoring period at each monitoring station. Linear regression analysis makes assumptions of equal variance and normal distribution of data. Therefore, the significance level of the test was set at 1 % (i.e. p = 0.01) to reduce the chance of committing a Type 1 error. If a significant regression relationship was found between TSP level and time (i.e. p < 0.01), r2 value from the analysis would be further assessed. This value represents the proportion of the total variation in the dependent variable (i.e. TSP level) that is accounted for by the fitted regression line and is referred to as the coefficient of determination. An r2 value of 1 indicates a perfect relationship (or fit) whereas a value of 0 indicates that there is no relationship (or no fit) between the dependent and independent variables. As there are no specific criteria to indicate how meaningful an r2 value is, for the purposes of this EM&A programme a value of 0.60 was adopted to indicate a meaningful regression. If r2 < 0.60 then it was considered that there was a weak relationship between TSP level and time or none at all. If the regression analysis indicated r2 > 0.60 then it had been interpreted that there was in fact a strong relationship between the dependent and independent variables (i.e. a strong temporal trend of increasing / decreasing TSP level with time).
As shown in Table 2.6, results of the regression analysis indicated that there was no significant (r2 < 0.60) relationship between TSP level and time during this yearly monitoring period. As such, it is considered that there is no apparent trend of increasing / decreasing TSP level during the reporting period.
Table 2.6 Linear Regression Result of TSP Monitoring
|
Parameter |
Station |
R2 |
F-ratio |
p-value |
Intercept |
Coefficient |
|
1-hour TSP |
AQMS1 |
0.124 |
F1,341 = 48.3 |
<0.001 |
500.2 |
-0.169 |
|
ASR6 |
0.001 |
F1,341 = 0.36 |
0.126 |
186.0 |
-0.031 |
|
|
ASR1 |
0.137 |
F1,332 = 52.3 |
<0.001 |
960.0 |
-0.351 |
|
|
ASR10 |
0.106 |
F1,341 = 40.4 |
<0.001 |
379.1 |
-0.131 |
|
|
ASR5 |
0.141 |
F1,341 = 55.6 |
<0.001 |
875.3 |
-0.304 |
|
|
24-hour TSP |
AQMS1 |
0.261 |
F1,117 = 41.0 |
<0.001 |
337.2 |
-0.117 |
|
ASR6 |
0.236 |
F1,117 = 37.8 |
<0.001 |
403.8 |
-0.142 |
|
|
|
ASR1 |
0.301 |
F1,112 = 47.9 |
<0.001 |
645.0 |
-0.238 |
|
|
ASR10 |
0.136 |
F1,117 = 18.2 |
<0.001 |
243.0 |
-0.083 |
|
|
ASR5 |
0.320 |
F1,117 = 54.7 |
<0.001 |
597.1 |
-0.214 |
Note:
1. Dependent variable is set as TSP levels (in µg/m3) and independent variable is set as number of day of construction works.
2. R2 <0.6 and p-value >0.01 (i.e. showing the regression insignificant) are underlined.
2.2
Water Quality Monitoring
The baseline water quality monitoring undertaken by the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge Hong Kong Projects (HZMB) between 6 and 31 October 2011 included all monitoring stations for the Project. Thus, the baseline monitoring results and Action/Limit Levels presented in HZMB Baseline Monitoring Report ([2]) are adopted for this Project.
2.2.1
Monitoring Requirements & Equipment
The Seawall Modification Works has commenced on 12 August 2019.
In accordance with the approved Environmental Review Report dated 21 March 2018 for the Change in Design of Vertical Seawall to Sloping Seawall on Southern Landfall, Updated Impact water quality monitoring programme and water quality monitoring stations IS17, SR7 and IS(Mf)11 specified under the EM&A Manual for HZMB HKBCF project were adopted.
The Action and Limit Levels of the water quality monitoring were adopted from the EM&A Manual for HZMB HKBCF project.
Impact water quality monitoring was carried out three (3) days per week during the construction period between 1 November 2019 and 30 December 2019 at the water quality monitoring stations in Figure 2.2a and Table 2.7.
According to the Updated EM&A Manual, a post-construction water quality monitoring shall be carried out upon completion of all marine-based construction activities. Post-construction water quality monitoring was undertaken three days per week for at least 4 weeks in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual. The proposal for post-construction water quality monitoring was approved by EPD on 5 March 2020. The post-construction water quality monitoring was conducted between 17 March 2020 and 11 April 2020. Locations of water quality monitoring stations presented in Figures 2.2a and 2.2b and in Table 2.8.
According to the Updated EM&A Manual, an operational phase water quality monitoring shall be performed monthly during the first year of Project operation at all designated monitoring stations including control stations. The operational phase water quality monitoring shall be ceased after the first year of operation of the Project subject to the first year review. Operational phase water quality monitoring commenced in June 2020. Locations of water quality monitoring stations presented in Figure 2.2c and in Table 2.9.
Table 2.7 Locations of Impact Water Quality Monitoring Stations and the Corresponding Monitoring Requirements
|
Station ID |
Type |
Coordinates |
*Parameters, unit |
Depth |
Frequency |
|
|
|
|
Easting |
Northing |
|
|
|
|
IS(Mf)11 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) 8 |
813562 |
820716 |
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.
|
|
IS17 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
814539 |
820391 |
|||
|
SR7 |
Sensitive receivers (Tai Mo Do) |
814293 |
821431 |
|||
|
IS(Mf)9 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
813273 |
818850 |
|||
|
IS(Mf)16 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
814328 |
819497 |
|||
|
IS8(N) |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
814413 |
818570
|
|||
|
SR4(N2) |
Sensitive receiver (Tai Ho Inlet) |
814688 |
817859
|
|||
|
SR4a |
Sensitive receiver |
815247 |
818067 |
|||
|
CS(Mf)3(N) |
Control Station |
808814 |
822355 |
|||
|
CS(Mf)5 |
Control Station |
817990 |
821129 |
|
|
|
|
*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. Water Quality Monitoring Station CS(Mf)3 was relocated to CS(Mf)3(N) since 2 May 2017. Water Quality Monitoring Station SR4 was relocated to SR4(N) since 2 March 2018. Water Quality Monitoring Station SR4(N) was relocated to SR4(N2) since 12 June 2019 Water Quality Monitoring Station IS8 was relocated to IS8(N) since 12 June 2019. |
||||||
Table 2.8 Locations of Post-Construction Water Quality Monitoring Stations and the Corresponding Monitoring Requirements
|
Station ID |
Type |
Coordinates |
*Parameters, unit |
Depth |
Frequency |
|
|
|
|
Easting |
Northing |
|
|
|
|
IS(Mf)11 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
813562 |
820716 |
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.
|
Post construction monitoring: 3 days per week, at mid-flood and mid-ebb tides for four weeks. |
|
IS17 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
814539 |
820391 |
|||
|
SR7 |
Sensitive receivers (Tai Mo Do) |
814293 |
821431 |
|||
|
IS(Mf)9 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
813273 |
818850 |
|
|
|
|
IS(Mf)16 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
814328 |
819497 |
|
|
|
|
IS8(N) |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
814413 |
818570
|
|
|
|
|
SR4(N2) |
Sensitive receiver (Tai Ho Inlet) |
814688 |
817996
|
|
|
|
|
SR4a |
Sensitive receiver |
815247 |
818067 |
|
|
|
|
CS(Mf)3(N) |
Control Station |
808814 |
822355 |
|
|
|
|
CS(Mf)5 |
Control Station |
817990 |
821129 |
|
|
|
|
IS12 |
Impact Station (Close to TMCLKL construction site) |
813218 |
823681 |
|
|
|
|
IS13 |
Impact Station (Close to TMCLKL construction site) |
813667 |
824325 |
|
|
|
|
IS14 |
Impact Station (Close to TMCLK construction site) |
812592 |
824172 |
|
|
|
|
IS15 |
Impact Station (Close to TMCLK construction site) |
813356 |
825008 |
|
|
|
|
SR8 |
Sensitive receiver (Gazettal beaches in Tuen Mun)
|
816306 |
825715 |
|
|
|
|
SR9 |
Sensitive
receiver |
813601 |
825858 |
|
|
|
|
SR10A(N) |
Sensitive
receiver |
823644 |
823484 |
|
|
|
|
CS4 |
Control Station |
810025 |
824004 |
|
|
|
|
CS6 |
Control Station |
817028 |
823992 |
|
|
|
|
*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. Water Quality Monitoring Station CS(Mf)3 was relocated to CS(Mf)3(N) since 2 May 2017. Water Quality Monitoring Station SR4 was relocated to SR4(N) since 2 March 2018. Water Quality Monitoring Station SR4(N) was relocated to SR4(N2) since 12 June 2019 Water Quality Monitoring Station IS8 was relocated to IS8(N) since 12 June 2019. Water Quality Monitoring Station SR10A was relocated to SR10A(N) since 5 March 2020. |
||||||
Table 2.9 Locations of Operational Phase Water Quality Monitoring Stations and the Corresponding Monitoring Requirements
|
Station ID |
Type |
Coordinates |
*Parameters, unit |
Depth |
Frequency |
|
|
|
|
Easting |
Northing |
|
|
|
|
IS(Mf)11 |
Impact Station (Close to HKBCF construction site) |
813562 |
820716 |
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.
|
Monthly at each station, at mid-flood and mid-ebb tides during the first year of Project operation. |
|
SR4(N2) |
Sensitive receiver (Tai Ho Inlet) |
814688 |
817996 |
|||
|
CS2(A) |
Control Station |
805232 |
818606 |
|||
|
CS(Mf)5 |
Control Station |
817990 |
821129 |
|
|
|
|
*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. With reference to the EM&A Report under Contract No. HY/2011/03, water quality monitoring station SR3 was relocated to SR3(N) since 1 September 2017. With reference to the EM&A Report under Contract No. HY/2011/03, water quality monitoring station SR4 was relocated to SR4(N) since 1 January 2018. With reference to the EM&A Report under Contract No. HY/2011/03, water quality monitoring station SR4(N) was relocated to SR4(N2) since 21 August 2019. With reference to the EM&A Report under Contract No. HY/2011/03, water quality monitoring station CS2 was relocated to CS2(A) since 23 August 2017. |
||||||
Table 2.10 summarizes the equipment used in the impact, post construction and operational phase water quality monitoring programme.
Table 2.10 Water Quality Monitoring Equipment
|
Equipment |
Model |
Qty. |
|
Multi-Parameters |
YSI ProDss 18A104824 |
1 |
|
Multi-Parameters |
YSI ProDss 0001C6A7 |
1 |
|
Multi-Parameters |
YSI ProDss 17H105557 |
1 |
|
Multi-Parameters |
YSI ProDss 17E100747 |
1 |
|
Multi-Parameters |
YSI ProDss 16H104234 |
1 |
|
Multi-Parameters |
YSI ProDss 16H104233 |
1 |
|
Multi-Parameters |
YSI ProDss 00019CB2 |
1 |
|
Positioning Equipment |
Furuno GP-170 |
1 |
|
Water Depth Detector |
Lowrance Mark 5x / Garmin Striker 4 |
1 |
2.2.2
Action & Limit Levels
The Action and Limit Levels of the water quality monitoring is provided in Appendix C. The Event and Action plan is presented in Appendix F.
2.2.3
Results and Observations
During this reporting period, major marine works included Seawall Modification Works at Portion S-B.
Impact water quality monitoring was conducted between 1 November 2019 and 30 December 2019 at all designated monitoring stations under favourable weather conditions.
In this reporting period, a total of 25 monitoring events were undertaken for impact water quality monitoring in which one (1) Action Level exceedance for depth-averaged suspended solids was recorded from the water quality monitoring in this reporting period. Summary of exceedances for Water Quality Impact Monitoring in this reporting period is detailed in Table 2.16.
A total of 12 monitoring events were undertaken for post-construction water quality monitoring. Post-construction monitoring results are presented graphically in Appendix E and detailed post-construction water quality monitoring data were reported in the Seventy-Seventh and Seventy-Eighth Monthly EM&A Reports.
A total of 5 monitoring events were undertaken for operational phase water quality monitoring. Operational phase monitoring results are presented graphically in Appendix E and detailed operational phase water quality monitoring data were reported in the Eightieth to Eighty-Fourth Monthly EM&A Reports.
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, Contract No. HY/2012/08 has taken over the responsibility for implementation of dolphin monitoring from HZMB HKLR Contract No. HY/2011/03 since October 2019.
According to the EM&A Manual, Operational Phase Monitoring on dolphin monitoring shall be undertaken based upon the frequency of forty-eight, one-day survey events at a frequency of 2 per month over a period of 24 months following cessation of the construction. Post construction (operational) phase dolphin monitoring commenced since June 2019.
2.3.2
Monitoring Equipment
Table 2.11 summarize the equipment used for the impact and operational phase dolphin monitoring.
Table 2.11 Dolphin Monitoring Equipment
|
Equipment |
Model |
|
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Camera
Laser Binoculars Marine Binocular Vessel for Monitoring
|
Garmin 18X-PC Geo One Phottix Nikon D90 300m 2.8D fixed focus Nikon D90 20-300m zoom lens Infinitor LRF 1000 Bushell 7 x 50 marine binocular with compass and reticules 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 and operational phase dolphin monitoring were 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 2.12 below.
Table 2.12 Impact and Operational Phase Dolphin Monitoring Line Transect Co-ordinates
|
Line No. |
Easting |
Northing |
Line No. |
Easting |
Northing |
||
|
1 |
Start Point |
804671 |
815456 |
13 |
Start Point |
816506 |
819480 |
|
1 |
End Point |
804671 |
831404 |
13 |
End Point |
816506 |
824859 |
|
2 |
Start Point |
805476 |
820800* |
14 |
Start Point |
817537 |
820220 |
|
2 |
End Point |
805476 |
826654 |
14 |
End Point |
817537 |
824613 |
|
3 |
Start Point |
806464 |
821150* |
15 |
Start Point |
818568 |
820735 |
|
3 |
End Point |
806464 |
822911 |
15 |
End Point |
818568 |
824433 |
|
4 |
Start Point |
807518 |
821500* |
16 |
Start Point |
819532 |
821420 |
|
4 |
End Point |
807518 |
829230 |
16 |
End Point |
819532 |
824209 |
|
5 |
Start Point |
808504 |
821850* |
17 |
Start Point |
820451 |
822125 |
|
5 |
End Point |
808504 |
828602 |
17 |
End Point |
820451 |
823671 |
|
6 |
Start Point |
809490 |
822150* |
18 |
Start Point |
821504 |
822371 |
|
6 |
End Point |
809490 |
825352 |
18 |
End Point |
821504 |
823761 |
|
7 |
Start Point |
810499 |
822000* |
19 |
Start Point |
822513 |
823268 |
|
7 |
End Point |
810499 |
824613 |
19 |
End Point |
822513 |
824321 |
|
8 |
Start Point |
811508 |
821123 |
20 |
Start Point |
823477 |
823402 |
|
8 |
End Point |
811508 |
824254 |
20 |
End Point |
823477 |
824613 |
|
9 |
Start Point |
812516 |
821303 |
21 |
Start Point |
805476 |
827081 |
|
9 |
End Point |
812516 |
824254 |
21 |
End Point |
805476 |
830562 |
|
10 |
Start Point |
813525 |
821176 |
22 |
Start Point |
806464 |
824033 |
|
10 |
End Point |
813525 |
824657 |
22 |
End Point |
806464 |
829598 |
|
11 |
Start Point |
814556 |
818853 |
23 |
Start Point |
814559 |
821739 |
|
11 |
End Point |
814556 |
820992 |
23 |
End Point |
814559 |
824768 |
|
12 |
Start Point |
815542 |
818807 |
24* |
Start Point |
805476* |
815900* |
|
12 |
End Point |
815542 |
824882 |
24* |
End Point |
805476* |
819100* |
Remarks: The coordinates of several starting and ending points have been revised since August 2017 due to the presence of a work zone to the north of the airport platform with intense construction activities in association with the construction of the third runway expansion for the Hong Kong International Airport. Co-ordinates in red and marked with asterisk are revised co-ordinates of transect line.
2.3.5
Action &
Limit Levels
The Action and Limit levels of dolphin impact monitoring are shown in Appendix C. The Event and Action plan is presented in Appendix F.
2.3.6
Results & Observations
In this reporting period, a total of 14 monitoring events were undertaken for dolphin impact monitoring and a total of 10 monitoring events were undertaken for operational phase dolphin monitoring.
Whilst three (3) Limit Level exceedances were recorded for three (3) sets of quarterly impact dolphin monitoring data between November 2019 and May 2020, 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 dolphin monitoring in this reporting period.
One (1) Limit Level exceedance was recorded for one (1) set of quarterly post-construction (operational) dolphin monitoring data between June 2020 and October 2020.
In the reporting period, no unacceptable impact from the activities of this Contract on Chinese White Dolphins was noticeable from the general observations.
2.3.7
Implementation of Marine Mammal Exclusion Zone
Daily marine mammal exclusion zone was in effect during the period of silt curtain installation in open waters between November and December 2019. No sighting of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis (i.e. Chinese White Dolphin) was recorded in November and December 2019 during the exclusion zone monitoring.
No marine works were undertaken since 30 December 2019, therefore, daily 250 m marine mammal exclusion zone monitoring was not undertaken since 30 December 2019.
No Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) was implemented in the reporting period.
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. Forty-seven (47) site inspections were carried out in the reporting period. Key observations were summarized in the Seventy-Third to Eighty-Fourth Monthly EM&A Reports.
2.5
Waste Management Status
The Contractor was registered 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) and recyclable materials. Reference has been made to the waste flow table prepared by the Contractor (Appendix H). The quantities of different types of wastes are summarized in Table 2.13.
Table 2.13 Quantities of Different Waste Generated in the Reporting Period
|
Month/Year |
Inert Construction Waste (a) (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 |
||||||
|
November 2019 |
6,215 |
0 |
525 |
273,630 |
1,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
December 2019 |
4,216 |
0 |
441 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
January 2020 |
174,690 |
0 |
2,540 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
February 2020 |
1,455 |
0 |
349 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
March 2020 |
3,252 |
0 |
1,226 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
April 2020 |
4,200 |
0 |
521 |
23,440 |
6,400 |
0 |
0 |
|
May 2020 |
7,015 |
0 |
536 |
6,740 |
600 |
0 |
0 |
|
June 2020 |
2,670 |
0 |
303 |
740 |
1,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
July 2020 |
1,440 |
0 |
140 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
August 2020 |
1,159 |
0 |
110 |
1,060 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
September 2020 |
74 |
0 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
October 2020 |
253 |
0 |
145 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
206,639 |
0 |
6,936 |
305,610 |
9,000 |
0 |
0 |
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.
2.6
Environmental Licenses and Permits
The status of environmental licensing and permit is summarized in Table 2.14 below.
Table 2.14 Summary of Environmental Licensing and Permit Status
|
License/ Permit |
License or Permit No. |
Date of Issue |
Date of Expiry |
License/ Permit Holder |
Remarks |
|||||||||||
|
|
Environmental Permit |
EP-354/2009/D |
13-Mar-15 |
Throughout the Contract |
HyD |
Application for VEP on 3 March 2015 to supersede EP-354/2009/C |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Dust Notification |
363510 |
19-Aug-13 |
Throughout the Contract |
DBJV |
Northern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Dust Notification |
403620 |
10-Jun-16 |
Throughout the Contract |
DBJV |
Southern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Chemical Waste Registration |
5213-422-D2516-02 |
18-Jan-17 |
Throughout the Contract |
DBJV |
Northern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Chemical Waste Registration |
5213-951-D2591-01 |
25-May-16 |
Throughout the Contract |
DBJV |
Southern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Waste Disposal Account |
7018108 |
28-Aug-13 |
Throughout the Contract |
DBJV |
Waste disposal in Contract No. HY/2012/08 |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Waste Disposal Account |
7021715 |
4-Oct-19 |
14-Jan-20 |
DBJV |
Vessel Disposal |
||||||||||
|
|
Waste Water Discharge License |
WT00031435-2018 |
2-Aug-18 |
31-Aug-23 |
DBJV |
Southern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Waste Water Discharge License |
WT00034060-2019 |
25-Jul-19 |
30-Jun-24 |
DBJV |
Northern Landfall (4 Discharge Point) |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RW0406-18 |
17-Oct-19 |
15-Apr-20 |
DBJV |
Urmston Road in front of Pillar Point |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RW0181-20 |
29-Apr-20 |
14-Oct-20 |
DBJV |
Urmston Road in front of Pillar Point |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RW0374-19 |
20-Aug-19 |
19-Feb-20 |
DBJV |
WA23 @ Tsing Yi |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RW0144-20 |
14-Apr-20 |
31-Aug-20 |
DBJV |
WA23 Tsing Yi Storage Area |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RS0766-19 |
2-Sep-19 |
25-Feb-20 |
DBJV |
Southern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RS1137-19 |
26-Dec-19 |
5-Jun-20 |
DBJV |
Southern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RS0418-20 |
22-Jun-20 |
21-Dec-20 |
DBJV |
Southern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
|
Construction Noise Permit |
GW-RW0497-19 |
17-Oct-19 |
15-Apr-20 |
DBJV |
Northern Landfall |
||||||||||
|
Notes: |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
HyD = Highways Department DBJV = Dragages – Bouygues Joint Venture VEP = Variation of Environmental Permit
|
||||||||||||||||
2.7
Implementation Status of Environmental Mitigation
Measures
In response to the EM&A site audit findings mentioned in Section 2.4 of this report, the Contractor has carried out the corrective actions.
A summary of the Implementation Schedule of Environmental Mitigation Measures (EMIS) is presented in Appendix B. The necessary mitigation measures relevant to this Contract were implemented properly.
2.8
Summary of Exceedances of the Environmental Quality
Performance Limit
In this reporting period, a total of 114 air quality monitoring events were undertaken in which twenty (20) Action Level exceedances and six (6) Limit Level exceedances of 1-hour TSP were recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period. No Action Level and Limit Level exceedances of 24-hour TSP was recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period (Table 2.15).
Table 2.15 Summary of Exceedances for Air Quality Impact Monitoring in this Reporting Year
|
Station |
Exceedance Level |
Number of Exceedances |
|
|
1-hr TSP |
24-hr TSP |
||
|
AQMS1 |
Action Level |
0 |
0 |
|
Limit Level |
0 |
0 |
|
|
ASR1 |
Action Level |
7 |
0 |
|
Limit Level |
4 |
0 |
|
|
ASR5 |
Action Level |
9 |
0 |
|
Limit Level |
1 |
0 |
|
|
ASR6 |
Action Level |
3 |
0 |
|
Limit Level |
1 |
0 |
|
|
ASR10 |
Action Level |
1 |
0 |
|
Limit Level |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Total number of Action level Exceedances: |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Total number of Limit level Exceedances: |
6 |
0 |
|
For marine water quality impact monitoring, a total of 25 monitoring events were undertaken in which one (1) Action Level exceedance for depth-averaged suspended solids was recorded from the water quality monitoring in this reporting period (Table 2.16).
Table 2.16 Summary of Exceedances for Marine Water Quality Impact Monitoring in this Reporting Period
|
Station |
Exceedance Level (a) |
DO (Surface and Middle) |
DO (Bottom) |
Turbidity (depth-averaged) |
SS (depth-averaged) |
||||
|
IS(Mf)11 |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
SR7 |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
IS17 |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
IS(Mf)16 |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
IS(Mf)9 |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
IS8(N) |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
SR4(N2) |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
SR4a |
AL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
LL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
Total AL Exceedances: |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|||||
|
Total LL Exceedances: |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
There were a total of three (3) Limit Level exceedances recorded for three (3) sets of quarterly impact dolphin monitoring data between November 2019 and May 2020, 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 dolphin monitoring in this reporting period.
One (1) Limit Level exceedance was recorded for one (1) set of quarterly post-construction (operational) dolphin monitoring data between June 2020 and October 2020.
Detailed investigation findings are presented in the Twenty-First to Twenty-Seventh Quarterly EM&A Reports.
Cumulative statistics are provided in Appendix G.
2.9
Summary of Complaints, Notification of Summons and
Successful Prosecutions
The Environmental Complaint Handling Procedure is provided in Figure 2.4.
No non-compliance event was recorded during the reporting period.
No environmental complaint, non-compliance with EIA recommendations, EP conditions and other requirements and environmental summons associated with the construction of this Contract was recorded in this reporting period.
Statistics on complaints, notifications of summons and successful prosecutions are summarized in Appendix G.
2.10
Comparison of EM&A Data with EIA Predictions
Findings of the EM&A activities undertaken during the period from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020 were compared with the relevant EIA predictions where appropriate to provide a review of the validity of the EIA predictions and identify potential shortcomings in the EIA recommendations.
2.10.1
Air Quality
Based on the findings presented in TM-CLKL EIA study, the major sources of dust nuisance arising from the Northern Connection are related to excavation, wind erosion from reclaimed areas, open sites and stockpiling areas. Therefore, during these construction activities, the TSP monitoring frequency will be increased at all air quality monitoring stations such that any deteriorating air quality can be readily detected and timely action taken to rectify the situation. Comparison of EIA prediction, average baseline monitoring and average impact monitoring results of TSP is presented in Table 2.17.
Table 2.17 Comparison of EIA prediction and EM&A Results on Air Quality
|
Station |
EIA Predicted Maximum |
Maximum Impact Monitoring |
Average Impact Monitoring |
Maximum Baseline Monitoring |
Average Baseline Monitoring |
|
ASR1 (1-hour) |
195 |
747 |
131 |
182 |
125 |
|
ASR1 (24-hour) |
148 |
207 |
83 |
173 |
128 |
|
ASR5 (1-hour) |
235 |
534 |
155 |
211 |
138 |
|
ASR5 (24-hour) |
133 |
196 |
91 |
249 |
167 |
|
AQMS1 (1-hour) |
N/A |
303 |
101 |
196 |
131 |
|
AQMS1 (24-hour) |
N/A |
131 |
61 |
211 |
127 |
|
ASR6 (1-hour) |
226 |
1454 |
113 |
226 |
135 |
|
ASR6 (24-hour) |
153 |
149 |
68 |
221 |
166 |
|
ASR10 (1-hour) |
189 |
407 |
69 |
215 |
134 |
|
ASR10 (24-hour) |
112 |
138 |
48 |
181 |
129 |
As shown in Table 2.17, maximum 1-hour TSP at ASR1, ASR5, ASR6 and ASR10 and 24-hour TSP impact monitoring levels at ASR1, ASR5 and ASR10 were higher than their corresponding EIA predicted maximum levels. Occasional exceedances were recorded at these stations during impact monitoring period. However, they were not project-related upon investigation. It also appeared that the construction activities of the Contract did not cause significant impact on air quality with similar average TSP levels between the baseline and impact monitoring. The EIA has concluded that no adverse residual construction dust impacts will occur after implementation of mitigation measures. Thus, the monitoring results are considered to be in line with the EIA prediction.
2.10.2
Water Quality
As identified in the EIA Report, key water quality issues during construction phase may be caused by dredging and filling works for the reclamation of the Project. Thus, marine water quality monitoring should be carried out during the construction phase to ensure that any unacceptable increase in suspended solids / turbidity or unacceptable decrease in dissolved oxygen due to dredging and filling activities could be readily detected and timely action could be taken to rectify the situation.
According to the EIA prediction, no SS exceedance is anticipated from this Project at the water sensitive receivers in the vicinity of the Contract works area (WSR 12, WSR 13 and WSR 47a). SS exceedance was recorded during impact monitoring period. However, it was not project-related upon investigation.
According to the Updated EM&A Manual, a post-construction water quality monitoring shall be carried out upon completion of all marine-based construction activities. Post-construction water quality monitoring was undertaken three days per week for at least 4 weeks in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual. The proposal for post-construction water quality monitoring was approved by EPD on 5 March 2020. The post-construction water quality monitoring was conducted between 17 March 2020 and 11 April 2020.
A total of 12 monitoring events were undertaken for post-construction water quality monitoring. Post-construction monitoring results are presented graphically in Appendix E and detailed post-construction water quality monitoring data were reported in the Seventy-Seventh and Seventy-Eighth Monthly EM&A Reports.
According to the Updated EM&A Manual, an operational phase water quality monitoring shall be performed monthly during the first year of Project operation at all designated monitoring stations including control stations. The operational phase water quality monitoring shall be ceased after the first year of operation of the Project subject to the first year review. Operational phase water quality monitoring commenced in June 2020.
A total of 5 monitoring events were undertaken for operational phase water quality monitoring. Operational phase monitoring results are presented graphically in Appendix E and detailed operational phase water quality monitoring data were reported in the Eightieth to Eighty-Fourth Monthly EM&A Reports.
2.10.3
Marine Ecology
Impact monitoring on marine ecology was undertaken during the monitoring period. According to the baseline results in the Appendix F of the approved EIA Report, the dolphin groups were largely sighted near Lung Kwu Chau and the waters between Lung Kwu Chau and Black Points and infrequently along the alignment of this Contract. Two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures were conducted to compare results of average encounter rate of sightings (STG) and average encounter rate of dolphins (ANI) between baseline and impact periods. The STG and ANI in impact monitoring period were lower than that before the commencement of this Contract (see Section 2.3.6) and the distribution pattern was also different between the impact monitoring period and before the commencement (i.e. transition period in 2012 – 2013) of this Contract. In addition, the habitat use pattern between impact monitoring in this reporting period and before the commencement of this Contract is different. During the present impact and operational phase monitoring period in 2019-20, the most heavily utilized habitats by Chinese White Dolphins were only found on both northwestern end of the North Lantau region, mainly to the north and east of Lung Kwu Chau. Dolphin usage of NWL waters declined during the present and previous phase monitoring periods. The monitoring results in this reporting period are considered to be in line with the EIA predictions, and the review of monitoring data suggested that no unacceptable impacts was noted from the marine dredging and reclamation activities under this Contract. It is essential to monitor the dolphin usage in North Lantau region for the rest of impact monitoring period to keep track on the trend of dolphin ranging pattern.
2.10.4
Waste Management
For wastes generated from the construction activities including C&D materials (inert and non-inert), chemical wastes, recyclable materials and marine sediments (both categories L and M), the types of wastes generated were in line with the EIA predictions. The wastes were disposed of in accordance with the recommendations of the EIA.
2.11
Summary of Monitoring Methodology and Effectiveness
The EM&A monitoring programme has been reviewed and was considered effective and adequate to cater for the nature of works in progress. No change to the monitoring programme was considered necessary.
The EM&A programme will be evaluated as appropriate in the next reporting period and improvements in the EM&A programme will be recommended if deemed necessary.
2.12
Summary of Mitigation Measures
The mitigation measures stipulated in the Updated EM&A Manual were undertaken by the Contractor in the reporting period. The mitigation measures were reviewed and considered effective. No addition or change on mitigation measures was considered necessary.
3
Review of EM&A Programme
3.1
Site Inspections & Audits
Weekly joint environmental site inspections have been conducted in the reporting period to assess the effectiveness of the environmental controls established by the Contractor and the implementation of the environmental mitigation measures recommended in the EIA Report. Findings of the site inspections confirmed that the environmental mitigation measures recommended in the EIA Report were properly implemented by the Contractor, and the recommended mitigation measures have been working effectively. There was no non-compliance recorded during the site inspections and environmental performance complied with environmental requirements.
The requirements for site inspections and audits have been reviewed and were considered as adequate. No change to the requirements was considered to be necessary.
The recommended environmental mitigation measures are also considered to be effective and efficient in reducing the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction phase of the Project. No change was thus considered necessary.
3.2
Air Quality Monitoring
Construction phase air quality monitoring was conducted during this reporting period when land-based construction works were undertaken. Twenty (20) Action Level exceedances and six (6) Limit Level exceedances of 1-hour TSP were recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period. No Action Level and Limit Level exceedances of 24-hour TSP were recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period.
The monitoring programme has been reviewed and was considered to be adequate to cater for the nature of works. No change to the requirements was considered to be necessary.
3.3
Marine Water Quality
Monitoring
One (1) Action Level exceedance for depth-averaged suspended solids was recorded from the water quality monitoring in this reporting period.
The monitoring programme has been reviewed and was considered to be adequate to cater for the nature of works. No change to the requirements was considered to be necessary.
3.4
Waste Management
The waste inspection and audit programme has been implemented during this reporting period. Wastes generated from construction activities have been managed in accordance with the recommendations in the EIA Report, the EM&A Manual, the WMP and other relevant legislative requirements.
The requirements for construction waste management have been reviewed and were considered as adequate. No change to the requirements was considered to be necessary.
3.5
Marine Ecology Monitoring
Daily marine mammal exclusion zone was in effect during the period of silt curtain installation in open waters between November and December 2019. No sighting of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis (i.e. Chinese White Dolphin) was recorded in November and December 2019 during the exclusion zone monitoring.
No marine works were undertaken since 30 December 2019, therefore, daily 250 m marine mammal exclusion zone monitoring was not undertaken since 30 December 2019.
No Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) was implemented in the reporting period.
3.6
Summary of Recommendations
Findings of the EM&A programme indicate that the recommended mitigation measures have been properly implemented and working effectively. The EM&A programme has been reviewed and was considered as adequate and effective. No change to the EM&A programme was considered to be necessary.
The EM&A programme will be evaluated as appropriate in the next reporting period and improvements in the EM&A programme will be recommended if deemed necessary.
4
Conclusions
This Seventh Annual EM&A Report presents the findings of the EM&A activities undertaken during the period from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020, in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual and the requirements of EP-354/2009/D.
Air quality (including 1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP) and dolphin monitoring were carried out in the reporting period. Twenty (20) Action Level exceedances and six (6) Limit Level exceedances of 1-hour TSP were recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period. No Action Level and Limit Level exceedances of 24-hour TSP were recorded in the air quality monitoring of this reporting period. The Contractor was reminded to ensure that all dust mitigation measures are provided at the construction sites.
One (1) Action Level exceedance for depth-averaged suspended solids was recorded from the water quality monitoring in this reporting period.
Whilst three (3) Limit Level exceedances were recorded for three (3) sets of quarterly impact dolphin monitoring data between November 2019 and May 2020, 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 dolphin monitoring in this reporting period.
One (1) Limit Level exceedance was recorded for one (1) set of quarterly post-construction (operational) dolphin monitoring data between June 2020 and October 2020.
Forty-seven (47) weekly environmental site inspections were carried out in the reporting period. Recommendations on remedial actions provided 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, non-compliance with EIA recommendations, EP conditions and other requirements and environmental summons associated with the construction of this Contract was recorded in this reporting period.
The review of monitoring data suggested that the construction works under this Contract have proceeded in an environmentally acceptable manner in this reporting period.
The monitoring programme has been reviewed and was considered as adequate to cater for the nature of works in progress. Change to the monitoring programme was thus not recommended at this stage. The ET will keep track on the construction works to confirm compliance of environmental requirements and the proper implementation of all necessary mitigation measures.