15.1
Site
Inspection
15.1.1
Site inspection provides a direct means to initiate
and enforce specified environmental protection and pollution control measures.
These shall be undertaken routinely to inspect construction activities in order
to ensure that appropriate environmental protection and pollution control
mitigation measures are properly implemented. Site inspection is one of the
most effective tools to enforce the environmental protection requirements at
the works area.
15.1.2
The ET Leader shall be responsible for formulating
the environmental site inspection, the deficiency and action reporting system,
and for carrying out the site inspection works. Within 21 days of the
construction contract commencement, he shall submit a proposal for site
inspection and deficiency and action reporting procedures to the Contractor for
agreement, and to the ER for approval. The ET¡¦s proposal for rectification
would be made known to the IEC.
15.1.3
Regular site inspections shall be carried out at
least once per week. The areas of inspection shall not be limited to the
environmental situation, pollution control and mitigation measures within the
site. It should also review the environmental situations outside the works area
which is likely to be affected, directly or indirectly, by the site activities.
The ET Leader shall make reference to the following information in conducting
the inspection:
I.
EIA
recommendations on environmental protection and pollution control mitigation
measures;
II.
works
progress and programme;
III.
individual
works methodology proposals (which shall include proposal on associated
pollution control measures);
IV.
contract
specifications on environmental protection;
V.
relevant
environmental protection and pollution control laws; and
VI.
previous
site inspection results.
15.1.4
The Contractor shall keep the ET Leader updated with
all relevant information on the construction contract necessary for him to
carry out the site inspections. Inspection results and associated
recommendations for improvements to the environmental protection and pollution
control works shall be submitted to the IEC and the Contractor within 1 working
day. The Contractor shall follow the procedures and time-frame as stipulated in
the environmental site inspection, and the deficiency and action reporting
system formulated by the ET Leader, to report on any remedial measures
subsequent to the site inspections.
15.1.5
Ad-hoc site inspections shall also be carried out if
significant environmental problems are identified. Inspections may also be
required subsequent to receipt of an environmental complaint, or as part of the
investigation work, as specified in the Action Plan for environmental
monitoring and audit.
15.2
Compliance
with Legal and Contractual Requirements
15.2.1
There are contractual environmental protection and pollution
control requirements as well as environmental protection and pollution control
laws in Hong Kong with which construction activities must comply.
15.2.2
In order that the works comply with the contractual
requirements, all works method statements submitted by the Contractor to the ER
for approval shall be sent to the ET Leader for vetting to ensure sufficient
environmental protection and pollution control measures have been included. The
implementation schedule of mitigation measures is summarised in Appendix B.
15.2.3
The ET Leader shall also review the progress and
programme of the works to check that relevant environmental laws have not been
violated, and that any foreseeable potential for violating laws can be
prevented.
15.2.4
15.2.4A The
Contractor shall regularly copy relevant documents to the ET Leader so that
checking can be carried out. The document shall at least include the updated
Works Progress Reports, updated Works Programme, any application letters for
different licence / permits under the environmental protection laws, and copies
of all valid licences / permits. The site diary shall also be available for the
inspection by the relevant parties.
15.2.5
After reviewing the document, the ET Leader shall
advise the IEC and Contractor of any non-compliance with contractual and
legislative requirements on environmental protection and pollution control for
them to take follow-up actions. If
the ET Leader's review concludes that the current status on licence / permit
application and any environmental protection and pollution control preparation
works may result in potential violation of environmental protection and
pollution control requirements, he shall also advise the Contractor and the ER
accordingly.
15.2.6
Upon receipt of the advice, the Contractor shall undertake
immediate actions to correct the situation. The ER shall follow up to ensure
that appropriate action has been taken in order to satisfy contractual and
legal requirements.
15.3
Environmental
Complaints
15.3.1A Complaints
shall be referred to the ET Leader for action. The ET Leader shall undertake
the following procedures upon receipt of any complaint:
I.
Log
complaint and date of receipt onto the complaint database and inform the IEC
immediately;
II.
Investigate
the complaint to determine its validity, and assess whether the source of the
problem is due to works activities;
III.
Identify
mitigation measures in consultation with the IEC if a complaint is valid and
due to works;
IV.
Advise
the Contractor if mitigation measures are required;
V.
review
the Contractor's response to identified mitigation measures, and the updated
situation;
VI.
If
the complaint is transferred from the EPD, submit interim report to the EPD on
status of the complaint investigation and follow-up action within the time
frame assigned by the EPD;
VII.
Undertake
additional monitoring and audit to verify the situation if necessary, and
review that circumstances leading to the complaint do not recur;
VIII.
Report
investigation results and subsequent actions to complainant (if the source of
complaint is EPD, the results should be reported within the timeframe assigned
by the EPD); and
IX.
Record
the complaint, investigation, the subsequent actions and the results in the
monthly EM&A reports and
X.
For
each incident of environmental complaint received, prepare and certify the complaint
investigation
report. The certified complaint investigation report shall be submitted to the
IEC and ER for verification.