Contents
1.1 Background
1.2 Scope
of the Contract
1.3 Purpose
of this Specification
2 Implenentation of Dolphin Exclusion Zone
2.1 Relevant
Requirements of DEZ
2.2 Methodology
2.3 Training
of Dolphin Observers
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 (NLH) will
be operating beyond capacity after 2016 due to the increase in cross boundary
traffic, developments in the NWNT, and possible developments in North Lantau,
including the Airport developments, the Lantau Logistics Park (LLP) and the
Hong Kong ¡V Zhuhai ¡V Macao Bridge (HZMB).
In order to cope with the anticipated traffic demand, two new road
sections between NWNT and North Lantau ¡V Tuen Mun ¡V 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), which was submitted under the Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) in August 2009. Subsequent to the approval of the EIA (EIAO Register Number AEIAR-146/2009) ([1]), an Environmental Permit (EP-354/2009)
for TM-CLKL was granted by the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) on 4
November 2009. Applications for two
EP variations, EP-354/2009/A and EP-354/2009/B, were granted on 8
December 2010 and 28 January 2014, respectively.
As
per Clause 3.1 of the EP of TM-CLKL (EP-354/2009/B), a dolphin exclusion zone (DEZ) of 250m should be
implemented around the work areas of the Project for the dredging, reclamation
or sheet piling works in order to mitigate the potential acoustic disturbance
to dolphins caused by the works.
The Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual of the Project
also requires the implementation of DEZ for bored piling works in addition to
the aforementioned types of works.
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 (the ¡§Northern Connection¡¨) of TM-CLKL.
Specifically, the scope of Contract No.
HY/2012/08 includes:
¡P
design and construction of sub-sea TBM tunnels (two
tubes with cross passages) across the Urmston Road, connecting Tuen Mun Area 40 and HKBCF, of approximately
4 km in length with dual 2-lane carriageway;
¡P
design and construction of cut-and-cover tunnels (two
boxes with cross passages) at both the southern landfall and the northern
landfall for construction of approach roads to the sub-sea TBM tunnels, of
approximately 1.5 km in length;
¡P
construction of northern landfall reclamation of
approximately 16.5 hectares and about 2.0 km long seawalls;
¡P
design and construction of ventilation buildings at
the southern and northern landfalls;
¡P
design and construction of at-grade roads at the
southern and northern landfalls;
¡P
construction of extension of the existing 4-cell box
culvert adjacent to the River Trade Terminal (RTT);
¡P
provision of a temporary pontoon for the affected
existing Government berths;
¡P
design and construction for modification of a section
of vertical seawall of approximately 220m in length at the southern landfall to
sloping seawall;
¡P
design and construction of associated civil,
structural, building, geotechnical, marine, environmental protection, drainage
and sewerage, waterworks and utility works; and
¡P
design
and construction of advance SEM provision to facilitate installation of tunnel and
route-wide E&M, TCSS and other utilities.
Indicative
layout of the Contract components is depicted in Figure 1.1.
The
above scope of works would only include dredging, reclamation and sheet piling
works at the northern landfall only.
There will not be any marine bored piling works under the Contract.
This
Specification for Dolphin Exclusion Zone has been prepared by ERM-Hong Kong,
Limited (ERM) on behalf of DBJV to present the methodology of implementation of
DEZ for daylight hours ([2])
under the Contract,
including dredging, reclamation and sheet piling works, in accordance with Section 6.3.1.1 of the EM&A Manual ([3]).
According to
recommendation of the approved EIA Report, a dolphin exclusion zone should be
implemented in order to alleviate the potential acoustic disturbance to Chinese
White Dolphins (Sousa Chinensis). Requirements on the implementation of
DEZ during daylight hours are presented in the approved EIA Report ([4]),
EM&A Manual ([5]) and subsequently Clause 3.1 of EP-354/2009/B, which are summarized below:
¡P
A dolphin exclusion zone of 250m should be implemented
around the work areas. The dolphin
exclusion zone should be monitored by an independent dolphin observer with an
unobstructed, elevated view of the area. Dredging, reclamation and sheet piling
works would not be allowed to begin until the observer certifies that the area
is continuously clear of Chinese White Dolphins for a period of 30 minutes
¡P
Works should, also, cease if Chinese White Dolphins
move into the exclusion zone/area during these activities and works should not
start again until the observer has confirmed that the area is continuously
clear of Chinese White Dolphins for a period of 30 minutes.
¡P
The observers must be suitably trained in biology and
should be independent of the Contractor and should form part of the independent
Environmental Team (ET) to be employed by the Contractor. An Independent Environmental Checker
(IEC) would be required to audit the work of the ET. An important aspect of applying this
mitigation technique effectively is that the observer should have the power to
call-off construction activities to monitor the exclusion zone.
The above
requirements are taken into account for the development of methodology of DEZ
monitoring presented in Section 2.2 below.
The tentative
marine works sequence of the Contract is presented in Figure 2.1. According to the latest works sequence, dredging,
reclamation (filling) and sheet piling works will be undertaken during Stages
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. As such, DEZ will
be implemented during these stages.
For Stage 5, marine works at Portion N-a is tentatively
to be undertaken between October 2016 and December 2016. DEZ will thus only be implemented during
the marine works period of Stage 5.
The indicative locations of 250 m DEZ at different stages are presented
in Figure 2.1.
The period of DEZ implementation should be considered as preliminary and
be reviewed with reference to the actual progress of the construction works.
One trained dolphin
observer from the ET will be deployed at the site to monitor the DEZ. In accordance with relevant requirements
presented in Section 2.1 above, the
DEZ will cover a radius
of 250 m from the works area of dredging, reclamation and sheet piling. The dolphin observer will be stationed onboard a derrick barge (Figure 2.2), which has a higher air draft
when compared to other works vessel, in order to obtain an unobstructed,
elevated view of the DEZ. The derrick barge selected for the DEZ
monitoring will be reviewed based on actual location of the barges relative to
the distribution of other works vessels at the site. Preferably the derrick barge where the
dolphin observer is stationed should be located in the middle of the relevant
works areas. Should location other
than a derrick barge be identified as a better viewing platform in terms of
providing unobstructed, elevated view of the area, it will also be considered
for use. Location of the selected
derrick barge/viewing platform will be included on the sighting records.
A
small vessel should be available at all times to support the DEZ monitoring (eg for the dolphin observer to approach the observed
dolphin(s) for any necessary detailed observations).
Table 2.1 summarized the number of dolphin
observer required in different stages of the works sequence. Additional dolphin observer(s) will be
deployed if deemed necessary to ensure effective monitoring of the DEZ.
Figure 2.2 Photo and General Information of Derrick
Barge
Vessel
Details |
Photo |
Length: 50m Breadth: 20m Air Draft: 38m |
|
Table 2.1 Summary
of 250 m DEZ Implementation at different stages of works sequence
Stage |
Works |
Number
of Dolphin Observer |
Remarks |
1 |
Dredging
for seawall construction by two dredgers |
1 |
Given
that each dolphin observer has a field of view of 500 m and the dredgers will
be operated in the close proximity of each other (< 100m), only one
dolphin observer is required at this stage. |
2 |
Dredging
for seawall construction, filling, sheet pile wall construction |
1 |
Filling
in the middle of Portions N-a and N-b will be
undertaken in a fully enclosed area, thus implementation of 250 m DEZ will
not be required. Only dredging at
Portion N-c will be carried out in open waters, thus 250 m DEZ will be
implemented with one dolphin observer. |
3 |
Dredging
for seawall construction, dredging in middle of portion N-c, filling |
1 |
Implementation
of 250 m DEZ will not be required for marine works undertaken in the fully
enclosed area in the middle of Portions N-a and N-b. Only dredging at Portion N-c will be
carried out in open waters, thus 250 m DEZ will be implemented. |
4 |
Seawall
construction, filling |
1 |
Implementation
of 250 m DEZ will not be required for marine works undertaken in the fully
enclosed area in the middle of portions N-a and N-b. Only seawall construction at Portion
N-c will be carried out in open waters, thus 250 m DEZ will be implemented. |
5 |
Filling |
1 |
After
the seawall has fully completed, implementation of 250mDEZ will not be
required at Portions N-b and N-c.
Filling in the middle of Portion N-a will be undertaken with marine
access, thus 250m DEZ will be implemented. |
6 |
All
marine works completed |
0 |
- |
One
qualified dolphin observer will stand on the open upper deck of the derrick/viewing
platform, allowing for relatively unobstructed elevated view of the DEZ (ie within a
radius of 250 m from the works vessels such as dredgers and barges, which are
engaged in dredging, reclamation and sheet piling works). Qualified observer will scan the 250 m
exclusion zone for at least 30 minutes prior to the start of dredging / reclamation
/ sheet piling. If dolphin is sighted
in the exclusion zone, dredging / reclamation / sheet piling will be delayed
until they have left the DEZ. This
measure will confirm that the area in the vicinity of the dredging / reclamation
/ sheet piling work is clear of dolphin prior to the commencement of works and
will serve to reduce any potential disturbance to dolphin.
In
case dolphin is observed within the exclusion zone during dredging, reclamation
or sheet piling works, the relevant part of the works should cease and works
should not be started again until the observer has confirmed that the area is
continuously clear of dolphin for a period of 30 minutes. If the dolphin is found within the works
area which is semi-enclosed, the dolphin specialist (Dr Samuel Hung) should
also be informed and arrive on site as soon as practicable to attend the
matter.
In
the event that a Chinese White Dolphin, or other marine mammal, is found
injured or dead within the DEZ, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) should be contacted at the government 24-hour hotline (i.e.
1823) to seek assistance from the corresponding responsible team of AFCD. The dolphin specialist should also be
informed and arrive on site as soon as practicable to determine if the
injury/death is works related.
A
flowchart showing the communication procedure is shown in Figure 2.3.
Reports
on DEZ monitoring, eg sighting records, should be submitted
to the IEC/ENPO within 10 working days from the end of the previous reporting
month. The sighting record will be in
the form a log-sheet recording the initial sighting time, position, distance
and angle data of the sighted dolphin.
Other information on sea state, weather conditions (Beaufort scale), as
well as notes on dolphin appearance, behaviour, direction of movement, response
to vessel, group size, etc can also be recorded.
A
Dolphin Intrusion Report will be provided to the SOR, IEC/ENPO and the dolphin
specialist (Dr Samuel Hung) within three working days after each
incidence of CWD intrusion/presence within the DEZ. The CWD Intrusion Report will include
date, time, position and number of CWD observed, a chronological list of
actions taken, with time, by the observer(s) and construction workers.
All dolphin
observers will be suitably trained by the dolphin specialist (Dr Samuel Hung) in accordance with requirements of the
EM&A Manual. Training materials
and schedule will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Office (ENPO)
and the IEC of the Project prior to the start of training for their records. Training records/certificates of dolphin
observers will also be submitted to ENPO/IEC and SOR for records. Trained dolphin observers should attend
refreshment training conducted by the dolphin specialist on an annual basis.
In accordance
with recommendation of the approved EIA Report and requirements of the EP-354/2009/B and EM&A Manual of the Project, this
Specification for Dolphin Exclusion Zone has been prepared to
present the methodology of implementing DEZ for works during daylight hours,
including dredging, reclamation and sheeting works, of the Contract. This specification covers the
observation period, location, implementation and reporting for the DEZ
monitoring as well as training requirements of the qualified dolphin observers
which will be followed during the construction works of the Contract.
([1]) AECOM
(August 2009) EIA Report of Tuen Mun
¡V Chek Lap Kok Link (Register
No.: AEIAR- 146/2009). Prepared
under Agreement No. CE 52/2007 (HY).
([2]) Daylight
hours will be defined in accordance with definitions provided by the Hong Kong
Observatory.