Contract No. HY/2011/03

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road

Section between Scenic Hill and Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly EM&A Report No. 18 (December 2016 to February 2017)

 

27 July 2017

 

Revision 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main Contractor                                                                                                                     Designer

 

 


 


Contents

Executive Summary

1...... Introduction.. 1

1.1                          Basic Project Information. 1

1.2                          Project Organisation. 1

1.3                          Construction Programme. 1

1.4                          Construction Works Undertaken During the Reporting Period. 1

2....... EM&A Requirement 3

2.1                          Summary of EM&A Requirements. 3

2.2                          Action and Limit Levels. 4

2.3                          Event Action Plans. 5

2.4                          Mitigation Measures. 5

3....... Environmental Monitoring and Audit 5

3.1                          Implementation of Environmental Measures. 5

3.2                          Air Quality Monitoring Results. 6

3.3                          Noise Monitoring Results. 6

3.4                          Water Quality Monitoring Results. 7

3.5                          Dolphin Monitoring Results. 7

3.6                          Mudflat Monitoring Results. 16

3.7                          Solid and Liquid Waste Management Status. 28

3.8                          Environmental Licenses and Permits. 28

4....... Environmental Complaint and Non-compliance. 29

4.1                          Environmental Exceedances. 29

4.2                          Summary of Environmental Complaint, Notification of Summons and Successful Prosecution. 29

5....... Comments, Recommendations and Conclusion.. 31

5.1                          Comments. 31

5.2                          Recommendations. 31

5.3                          Conclusions. 32

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figures

 

Figure 1.1         Location of the Site

Figure 2.1         Environmental Monitoring Stations     

Figure 2.2         Transect Line Layout in Northwest and Northeast Lantau Survey Areas

 

                           

Appendices

 

Appendix A       Environmental Management Structure

Appendix B       Construction Programme

Appendix C       Location of Works Areas

Appendix D       Event and Action Plan 

Appendix E       Implementation Schedule of Environmental Mitigation Measures

Appendix F       Site Audit Findings and Corrective Actions

Appendix G      Air Quality Monitoring Data and Graphical Plots

Appendix H       Noise Monitoring Data and Graphical Plots

Appendix I         Water Quality Monitoring Data and Graphical Plots

Appendix J        Dolphin Monitoring Results

Appendix K       Waste Flow Table

Appendix L       Summary of Environmental Licenses and Permits

Appendix M      Record of ¡§Notification of Environmental Quality Limit Exceedances¡¨ and Record of ¡§Notification of Summons and Prosecutions¡¨

Appendix N       Cumulative Statistics on Complaints

Appendix O      Mudflat Monitoring Results


Executive Summary

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR) serves to connect the HZMB Main Bridge at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Boundary and the HZMB Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) located at the north eastern waters of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

The HKLR project has been separated into two contracts.  They are Contract No. HY/2011/03 Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road-Section between Scenic Hill and Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (hereafter referred to as the Contract) and Contract No. HY/2011/09 Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road-Section between HKSAR Boundary and Scenic Hill.

China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Ltd. was awarded by Highways Department as the Contractor to undertake the construction works of Contract No. HY/2011/03. The main works of the Contract include land tunnel at Scenic Hill, tunnel underneath Airport Road and Airport Express Line, reclamation and tunnel to the east coast of the Airport Island, at-grade road connecting to the HKBCF and highway works of the HKBCF within the Airport Island and in the vicinity of the HKLR reclamation.  The Contract is part of the HKLR Project and HKBCF Project, these projects are considered to be ¡§Designated Projects¡¨, under Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance (Cap 499) and EIA Reports (Register No. AEIAR-144/2009 and AEIAR-145/2009) were prepared for the Project.  The current Environmental Permit (EP) EP-352/2009/D for HKLR and EP-353/2009/K for HKBCF were issued on 22 December 2014 and 11 April 2016, respectively. These documents are available through the EIA Ordinance Register. The construction phase of Contract was commenced on 17 October 2012.

BMT Asia Pacific Limited has been appointed by the Contractor to implement the Environmental Monitoring & Audit (EM&A) programme for the Contract in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual for HKLR (Version 1.0) and will be providing environmental team services to the Contract.

This is the eighteenth Quarterly EM&A report for the Contract which summarizes the monitoring results and audit findings of the EM&A programme during the reporting period from 1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017.

Environmental Monitoring and Audit Progress

The EM&A programme were undertaken in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual for HKLR (Version 1.0).  A summary of the monitoring activities during this reporting period is presented as below:

Monitoring Activity

Monitoring Date

December 2016

January 2017

February 2017

Air Quality

1-hr TSP

6, 12, 16, 22 and 28

3, 9, 13, 19, 24 and 27

2, 7, 13, 17 and 23

24-hr TSP

5, 9, 15, 21, 24 and 30

5, 10, 16, 20 and 26

1, 6, 10, 16, 22 and 28

Noise

6, 12, 22 and 28

3, 9, 19 and 24

2, 7, 13 and 23

Water Quality

2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28 and 30

2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27 and 30

1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24 and 27

Chinese White Dolphin

1, 6, 16 and 19

10, 12, 16 and 20

7, 9, 16 and 21

Mudflat Monitoring (Ecology)

3, 4, 5, 17, 18 and 19

--

--

Mudflat Monitoring (Sedimentation rate)

7

--

--

Site Inspection

7, 14, 21 and 30

4, 11, 18 and 27

3, 8, 15, 22 and 28

 

Due to boat availability, the dolphin monitoring schedule was rescheduled from 9 December 2016 to 16

December 2016 and from 12 December 2016 to 19 December 2016.

 

Due to boat availability, the dolphin monitoring schedule was rescheduled from 19 January 2017 to 16

January 2017 and from 23 January 2017 to 20 January 2017.

Due to weather condition, the dolphin monitoring schedule was rescheduled from 14 February 2017 to 16 February 2017. Due to boat availability, the dolphin monitoring schedule was rescheduled from 20 February 2017 to 21 February 2017.

Breaches of Action and Limit Levels

A summary of environmental exceedances for this reporting period is as follows:

Environmental Monitoring

Parameters

Action Level (AL)

Limit Level (LL)

Air Quality

1-hr TSP

0

0

24-hr TSP

0

0

Noise

Leq (30 min)

0

0

Water Quality

Suspended solids level (SS)

4

0

Turbidity level

0

0

Dissolved oxygen level (DO)

0

0

Dolphin Monitoring

Quarterly Analysis (Dec 2016 to Feb 2017)

0

1

The Environmental Team investigated all exceedances and found that they were not project related.

All investigation reports for exceedances of the Contract have been submitted to ENPO/IEC for comments and/or follow up to identify whether the exceedances occurred related to other HZMB contracts.

Implementation of Mitigation Measures

Site inspections were carried out on a weekly basis to monitor the implementation of proper environmental pollution control and mitigation measures for the Project.  Potential environmental impacts due to the construction activities were monitored and reviewed.

Complaint Log

There were five complaints received in relation to the environmental impacts during the reporting period.

A summary of environmental complaints for this reporting periods as follows:

Environmental Complaint No.

Date of Complaint Received

Description of Environmental Complaints

COM-2016-099

2 December 2016

Slurry on public road

COM-2016-100

14 December 2016

Mud/debris on public road

COM-2016-103 (See Remark 1)

14 December 2016

Noise

COM-2017-104 (See Remark 2)

9 January 2017

Cleanliness problem at East Coast

Road and Tung Fai Road

COM-2017-108

23 February 2017

and 2 March 2017

Cleanliness problem at East Coast Road

Remarks:

1.Based on updated information received in February 2017, the environmental complaint no. COM-2016-104 mentioned in Monthly EM&A Report for December 2016 and January 2017 should be COM-2016-103.

2. Based on updated information received in February 2017, the environmental complaint no. COM-2016-105 mentioned in Monthly EM&A Report for January 2017 should be COM-2016-104.

Notifications of Summons and Prosecutions

There were no notifications of summons or prosecutions received during this reporting period.

Reporting Changes

This report has been developed in compliance with the reporting requirements for the quarterly summary EM&A reports as required by the Updated EM&A Manual for HKLR (Version 1.0). 

The proposal for the change of Action Level and Limit Level for suspended solid and turbidity was approved by EPD on 25 March 2013.

The revised Event and Action Plan for dolphin monitoring was approved by EPD on 6 May 2013.

The original monitoring station at IS(Mf)9 (Coordinate- East:813273, North 818850) was observed inside the perimeter silt curtain of Contract HY/2010/02 on 1 July 2013, as such the original impact water quality monitoring location at IS(Mf)9 was temporarily shifted outside the silt curtain.  As advised by the Contractor of HY/2010/02 in August 2013, the perimeter silt curtain was shifted to facilitate safe anchorage zone of construction barges/vessels until end of 2013 subject to construction progress.  Therefore, water quality monitoring station IS(Mf)9 was shifted to 813226E and 818708N since 1 July 2013.  According to the water quality monitoring team¡¦s observation on 24 March 2014, the original monitoring location of IS(Mf)9 was no longer enclosed by the perimeter silt curtain of Contract HY/2010/02.  Thus, the impact water quality monitoring works at the original monitoring location of IS(Mf)9 has been resumed since 24 March 2014.

Transect lines 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 11 for dolphin monitoring have been revised due to the obstruction of the permanent structures associated with the construction works of HKLR and the southern viaduct of TM-CLKL, as well as provision of adequate buffer distance from the Airport Restricted Areas.  The EPD issued a memo and confirmed that they had no objection on the revised transect lines on 19 August 2015.

The water quality monitoring locations at IS10 (Coordinate: 812577E, 820670N) and SR5 (811489E, 820455N) are located inside Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Approach Restricted Areas. The previously granted Vessel's Entry Permit for accessing stations IS10 and SR5 was expired on 31 December 2016. Renewal of the permit was applied in mid of December 2016. As the application was still under Civil Aviation Department¡¦s review on 2 January 2017 to determine whether the proposed water quality monitoring at locations IS10 and SR5 would affect airport¡¦s operation and their permission is one of consideration for Marine Department to issue the Permit. Therefore, accessing monitoring locations at IS10 and SR5 was temporarily prohibited on 2, 4 and 6 January 2017. During the permit renewing process, the water quality monitoring location was shifted to IS10(N) (Coordinate: 813060E, 820540N) and SR5(N) (Coordinate: 811430E, 820978N) on 2, 4 and 6 January 2017 temporarily. IS10(N) and SR5(N) were located outside the restricted area but close to the original monitoring location. So, the monitoring results obtained at IS10(N) and SR5(N) are still representative and the baseline monitoring results are still applicable. The permit has been granted by Marine Department on 6 January 2017. Thus, the impact water quality monitoring works at original monitoring locations at IS10 and SR5 has been resumed since 9 January 2017.


1        Introduction

1.1                 Basic Project Information

1.1.1       The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR) serves to connect the HZMB Main Bridge at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Boundary and the HZMB Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) located at the north eastern waters of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

1.1.2       The HKLR project has been separated into two contracts. They are Contract No. HY/2011/03 Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road-Section between Scenic Hill and Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (hereafter referred to as the Contract) and Contract No. HY/2011/09 Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road-Section between HKSAR Boundary and Scenic Hill.

1.1.3       China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Ltd. was awarded by Highways Department (HyD) as the Contractor to undertake the construction works of Contract No. HY/2011/03.  The Contract is part of the HKLR Project and HKBCF Project, these projects are considered to be ¡§Designated Projects¡¨, under Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance (Cap 499) and EIA Reports (Register No. AEIAR-144/2009 and AEIAR-145/2009) were prepared for the Project.  The current Environmental Permit (EP) EP-352/2009/D for HKLR and EP-353/2009/K for HKBCF were issued on 22 December 2014 and 11 April 2016, respectively. These documents are available through the EIA Ordinance Register. The construction phase of Contract was commenced on 17 October 2012.  Figure 1.1 shows the project site boundary.

1.1.4       BMT Asia Pacific Limited has been appointed by the Contractor to implement the EM&A programme for the Contract in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual for HKLR (Version 1.0) for HKLR and will be providing environmental team services to the Contract.  Ramboll  Environ Hong Kong Ltd. was employed by HyD as the Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) and Environmental Project Office (ENPO) for the Project. The project organization with regard to the environmental works is provided in Appendix A.

1.1.5       This is the eighteenth Quarterly Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) report for the Contract which summarizes the monitoring results and audit findings of the EM&A programme during the reporting period from 1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017.

1.2                Project Organisation

1.2.1       The project organization structure and lines of communication with respect to the on-site environmental management structure with the key personnel contact names and numbers are shown in Appendix A. 

1.3                Construction Programme

1.3.1       A copy of the Contractor¡¦s construction programme is provided in Appendix B. 

1.4                Construction Works Undertaken During the Reporting Period

1.4.1       A summary of the construction activities undertaken during this reporting period is shown in Table 1.1.  The Works areas of the Contract are showed in Appendix C.

Table 1.1          Construction Activities during Reporting Period

Description of Activities

Site Area

Stockpiling

WA7

Dismantling/Trimming of Temporary 40mm Stone Platform for Construction of Seawall

Portion X

Construction of Seawall

Portion X

Pipe Piling

Portion X

Loading and Unloading of Filling Materials

Portion X

Backfilling at Scenic Hill Tunnel (Cut & Cover Tunnel)

Portion X

Construction of Tunnel Box Structure at Scenic Hill Tunnel (Cut & Cover Tunnel)

Portion X

Excavation for HKBCF to Airport Tunnel & construction of tunnel box structure

Portion X

Excavation for Diversion of culvert PR9 and PR14

Portion X

Works for Diversion of Airport Road

Airport Road

Utilities Detection

Airport Road / Airport Express Line / East Coast Road

Establishment of Site Access

Airport Road / Airport Express Line/ East Coast Road

Mined Tunnel Excavation / Box Jacking underneath Airport Road and Airport Express Line

Airport Road / Airport Express Line

Excavation and lateral support works at shaft 3 extension north shaft (Package T1.12.1)

Near Kwo Lo Wan Road

Construction of Tunnel box structure (Package T1.12.1)

Near Kwo Lo Wan Road

Construction of Tunnel box structure

Shaft 3 Extension South Shaft

Excavation and Lateral Support Works & Construction of Tunnel Box Structure for HKBCF to Airport Tunnel West (Cut & Cover Tunnel)

Airport Road

Excavation and Lateral Support Works & Construction of Tunnel Box Structure for HKBCF to Airport Tunnel West (Cut & Cover Tunnel)

Portion X

Sub-structure & superstructure works for Highway Operation and Maintenance Area Building

Portion X

Superstructure works for Scenic Hill Tunnel West Portal Ventilation Buildingilding

West Portal

Excavation for Scenic Hill Tunnel

West Portal

 


 

2        EM&A Requirement

2.1                Summary of EM&A Requirements

2.1.1       The EM&A programme requires environmental monitoring of air quality, noise, water quality, dolphin monitoring and mudflat monitoring as specified in the approved EM&A Manual.

2.1.2       A summary of Impact EM&A requirements is presented in Table 2.1. The locations of air quality, noise and water quality monitoring stations are shown as in Figure 2.1.  The transect line layout in Northwest and Northeast Lantau Survey Areas is presented in Figure 2.2.

Table 2.1          Summary of Impact EM&A Requirements

Environmental Monitoring

Description

Monitoring Station

Frequencies

Remarks

Air Quality

1-hr TSP

AMS 5 & AMS 6

At least 3 times every 6 days

While the highest dust impact was expected.

24-hr TSP

At least once every 6 days

--

Noise

Leq (30mins),
L10
(30mins) and
L90
(30mins)

NMS5

At least once per week

Daytime on normal weekdays (0700-1900 hrs).

Water Quality

¡P    Depth

¡P    Temperature

¡P    Salinity

¡P    Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

¡P    Suspended Solids (SS)

¡P    DO Saturation

¡P    Turbidity

¡P    pH

¡P    Impact Stations:
IS5, IS(Mf)6, IS7, IS8, IS(Mf)9 & IS10,

¡P    Control/Far Field Stations:
CS2 & CS(Mf)5,

¡P    Sensitive Receiver Stations:
SR3, SR4, SR5, SR10A & SR10B

Three times per week during mid-ebb and mid-flood tides (within ¡Ó 1.75 hour of the predicted time)

3

(1 m below water surface, mid-depth and 1 m above sea bed, except where the water depth is less than 6 m, in which case the mid-depth station may be omitted.  Should the water depth be less than 3 m, only the mid-depth station will be monitored).

Dolphin

Line-transect Methods

Northeast Lantau survey area and Northwest Lantau survey area

Twice per month

--

Mudflat

Horseshoe crabs, seagrass beds, intertidal soft shore communities, sedimentation rates and water quality

San Tau and Tung Chung Bay

Once every 3 months

--

 

 

 

2.2                Action and Limit Levels

2.2.1       Table 2.2 presents the Action and Limit Levels for the 1-hour TSP, 24-hour TSP and noise level.

Table 2.2         Action and Limit Levels for 1-hour TSP, 24-hour TSP and Noise

Environmental Monitoring

Parameters

Monitoring Station

Action Level

Limit Level

Air Quality

1-hr TSP

AMS 5

352 µg/m3

500 µg/m3

AMS 6

360 µg/m3

24-hr TSP

AMS 5

164 µg/m3

260 µg/m3

AMS 6

173 µg/m3

Noise

Leq (30 min)

NMS 5

When one documented complaint is received

75 dB(A)

 

2.2.2       The Action and Limit Levels for water quality monitoring are given as in Table 2.3.

Table 2.3         Action and Limit Levels for Water Quality

Parameter (unit)

Water Depth

Action Level

Limit Level

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

Surface and Middle

5.0

4.2 except 5 for Fish Culture Zone

Bottom

4.7

3.6

Turbidity (NTU)

Depth average

27.5 or 120% of upstream control station¡¦s turbidity at the same tide of the same day;

The action level has been amended to ¡§27.5 and 120% of upstream control station¡¦s turbidity at the same tide of the same day¡¨ since 25 March 2013.

47.0 or 130% of turbidity at the upstream control station at the same tide of same day;

The limit level has been amended to ¡§47.0 and 130% of turbidity at the upstream control station at the same tide of same day¡¨ since 25 March 2013.

Suspended Solid (SS) (mg/L)

Depth average

23.5 or 120% of upstream control station¡¦s SS at the same tide of the same day;

The action level has been amended to ¡§23.5 and 120% of upstream control station¡¦s SS at the same tide of the same day¡¨ since 25 March 2013.

34.4 or 130% of SS at the upstream control station at the same tide of same day and 10mg/L for Water Services Department Seawater Intakes;

The limit level has been amended to ¡§34.4 and 130% of SS at the upstream control station at the same tide of same day and 10mg/L for Water Services Department Seawater Intakes¡¨ since 25 March 2013

Notes:

                (1)    Depth-averaged is calculated by taking the arithmetic means of reading of all three depths.

                (2)    For DO, non-compliance of the water quality limit occurs when monitoring result is lower that the limit.

                (3)    For SS & turbidity non-compliance of the water quality limits occur when monitoring result is higher than the limits.

                (4)     The change to the Action and limit Levels for Water Quality Monitoring for the EM&A works was approved by EPD on 25 March 2013. Therefore, the amended Action and Limit Levels are applied for the water monitoring results obtained on and after 25 March 2013.

2.2.3       The Action and Limit Levels for dolphin monitoring are shown in Tables 2.4 and 2.5.

Table 2.4          Action and Limit Level for Dolphin Impact Monitoring

 

North Lantau Social Cluster

NEL

NWL

Action Level

STG < 70% of baseline &
ANI < 70% of baseline

STG < 70% of baseline &
ANI  < 70% of baseline

Limit Level

STG < 40% of baseline &
ANI < 40% of baseline

Remarks:

                 (1)        STG means quarterly average encounter rate of number of dolphin sightings.

                 (2)        ANI means quarterly average encounter rate of total number of dolphins.

                 (3)        For North Lantau Social Cluster, AL will be triggered if either NEL or NWL fall below the criteria; LL will be triggered if both NEL and NWL fall below the criteria.

 

Table 2.5          Derived Value of Action Level (AL) and Limit Level (LL)

 

North Lantau Social Cluster

NEL

NWL

Action Level

STG < 4.2  & ANI < 15.5

STG < 6.9 & ANI < 31.3

Limit Level

(STG < 2.4 & ANI < 8.9) and (STG < 3.9 & ANI < 17.9)

Remarks:

                 (1)        STG means quarterly average encounter rate of number of dolphin sightings.

                 (2)        ANI means quarterly average encounter rate of total number of dolphins.

                 (3)        For North Lantau Social Cluster, AL will be triggered if either NEL or NWL fall below the criteria; LL will be triggered if both NEL and NWL fall below the criteria.

2.3                Event Action Plans

2.3.1      The Event Actions Plans for air quality, noise, water quality and dolphin monitoring are annexed in Appendix D.

2.4                Mitigation Measures

2.4.1      Environmental mitigation measures for the contract were recommended in the approved EIA Report.  Appendix E lists the recommended mitigation measures and the implementation status. 

 

3        Environmental Monitoring and Audit

3.1                Implementation of Environmental Measures

3.1.1       In response to the site audit findings, the Contractor have rectified all observations identified in environmental site inspections undertaken during the reporting period. Details of site audit findings and the corrective actions during the reporting period are presented in Appendix F.

3.1.2       A summary of the Implementation Schedule of Environmental Mitigation Measures (EMIS) is presented in Appendix E. 

3.1.3       Regular marine travel route for marine vessels were implemented properly in accordance to the submitted plan and relevant records were kept properly.

3.1.4       Dolphin Watching Plan was implemented during the reporting period. No dolphins inside the silt curtain were observed. The relevant records were kept properly. 

3.2                Air Quality Monitoring Results

3.2.1       The monitoring results for 1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP are summarized in Tables 3.1 and 3.2 respectively. Detailed impact air quality monitoring results and relevant graphical plots are presented in Appendix G.

Table 3.1         Summary of 1-hour TSP Monitoring Results Obtained During the Reporting Period

Reporting Period

Monitoring

Station

Average (mg/m3)

Range (mg/m3)

Action Level (mg/m3)

Limit Level (mg/m3)

December 2016

AMS5

75

32 ¡V 168

352

500

AMS6

72

30 ¡V 136

360

January 2017

AMS5

101

19 ¡V 286

352

AMS6

91

38 ¡V 205

360

February 2017

AMS5

107

32 ¡V 191

352

AMS6

138

54 ¡V 329

360

 


 

Table 3.2         Summary of 24-hour TSP Monitoring Results Obtained During the Reporting Period

Reporting Period

Monitoring

Station

Average (mg/m3)

Range (mg/m3)

Action Level (mg/m3)

Limit Level (mg/m3)

December 2016

AMS5

117

52 ¡V 148

164

260

AMS6

111

79 ¡V 167

173

January 2017

AMS5

65

45 ¡V 89

164

AMS6

74

45 ¡V 98

173

February 2017

AMS5

72

36 ¡V 98

164

AMS6

75

52 ¡V 104

173

 


 

3.2.2       No Action/ Limit Level exceedances of 1-hr TSP and 24-hr TSP were recorded at AMS5 and AMS6 during the reporting period.

3.3                Noise Monitoring Results

3.3.1       The monitoring results for construction noise are summarized in Table 3.3 and the monitoring results and relevant graphical plots for this reporting period are provided in Appendix H.

Table 3.3 Summary of Construction Noise Monitoring Results Obtained During the Reporting Period

Reporting period

Monitoring Station

Average Leq (30 mins), dB(A)*

Range of Leq (30 mins), dB(A)*

Action Level

Limit Level Leq (30 mins), dB(A)

December 2016

NMS5

61

60 ¡V 61

When one documented complaint is received

75

January 2017

59

58 ¡V 60

February 2017

61

58 ¡V 63

*A correction factor of +3dB(A) from free field to facade measurement was included. 

3.3.2       There were no Action and Limit Level exceedances for noise during daytime on normal weekdays of the reporting period.

3.3.3       Major noise sources during the noise monitoring included construction activities of the Contract and nearby traffic noise and insect noise.

3.4                Water Quality Monitoring Results

3.4.1      Impact water quality monitoring was conducted at all designated monitoring stations during the reporting period. Impact water quality monitoring results and relevant graphical plots are provided in Appendix I.

3.4.2       During the reporting period, three Action Level exceedances of suspended solids were recorded at stations IS(Mf)6, IS7 and SR4 during mid-flood tide on 14 December 2016 respectively. An Action Level exceedance of suspended solids was recorded at station SR10B during mid-ebb tide on 15 February 2017. Record of ¡§Notification of Environmental Quality Limit Exceedances¡¨ is provided in Appendix M. No Action/ Limit Level exceedances of turbidity and dissolved oxygen level were recorded during the reporting period. No Limit Level exceedances of suspended solids level were recorded during the reporting period.

3.4.3       Water quality impact sources during the water quality monitoring were the construction activities of the Contract, nearby construction activities by other parties and nearby operating vessels by other parties.

3.5                Dolphin Monitoring Results

Data Analysis

3.5.1       Distribution Analysis ¡V The line-transect survey data was integrated with the Geographic Information System (GIS) in order to visualize and interpret different spatial and temporal patterns of dolphin distribution using sighting positions.  Location data of dolphin groups were plotted on map layers of Hong Kong using a desktop GIS (ArcView© 3.1) to examine their distribution patterns in details.  The dataset was also stratified into different subsets to examine distribution patterns of dolphin groups with different categories of group sizes, young calves and activities.

3.5.2       Encounter rate analysis ¡V Encounter rates of Chinese white dolphins (number of on-effort sightings per 100 km of survey effort, and total number of dolphins sighted on-effort per 100 km of survey effort) were calculated in NEL and NWL survey areas in relation to the amount of survey effort conducted during each month of monitoring survey.  Dolphin encounter rates were calculated in two ways for comparisons with the HZMB baseline monitoring results as well as to AFCD long-term marine mammal monitoring results. 

3.5.3       Firstly, for the comparison with the HZMB baseline monitoring results, the encounter rates were calculated using primary survey effort alone, and only data collected under Beaufort 3 or below condition would be used for encounter rate analysis.  The average encounter rate of sightings (STG) and average encounter rate of dolphins (ANI) were deduced based on the encounter rates from six events during the present quarter (i.e. six sets of line-transect surveys in North Lantau), which was also compared with the one deduced from the six events during the baseline period (i.e. six sets of line-transect surveys in North Lantau). 

3.5.4       Secondly, the encounter rates were calculated using both primary and secondary survey effort collected under Beaufort 3 or below condition as in AFCD long-term monitoring study.  The encounter rate of sightings and dolphins were deduced by dividing the total number of on-effort sightings (STG) and total number of dolphins (ANI) by the amount of survey effort for the present quarterly period.

3.5.5       Quantitative grid analysis on habitat use ¡V To conduct quantitative grid analysis of habitat use, positions of on-effort sightings of Chinese White Dolphins collected during the quarterly impact phase monitoring period were plotted onto 1-km2 grids among NWL and NEL survey areas on GIS.  Sighting densities (number of on-effort sightings per km2) and dolphin densities (total number of dolphins from on-effort sightings per km2) were then calculated for each 1 km by 1 km grid with the aid of GIS.  Sighting density grids and dolphin density grids were then further normalized with the amount of survey effort conducted within each grid.  The total amount of survey effort spent on each grid was calculated by examining the survey coverage on each line-transect survey to determine how many times the grid was surveyed during the study period.  For example, when the survey boat traversed through a specific grid 50 times, 50 units of survey effort were counted for that grid.  With the amount of survey effort calculated for each grid, the sighting density and dolphin density of each grid were then normalized (i.e. divided by the unit of survey effort). 

3.5.6       The newly-derived unit for sighting density was termed SPSE, representing the number of on-effort sightings per 100 units of survey effort.  In addition, the derived unit for actual dolphin density was termed DPSE, representing the number of dolphins per 100 units of survey effort.  Among the 1-km2 grids that were partially covered by land, the percentage of sea area was calculated using GIS tools, and their SPSE and DPSE values were adjusted accordingly.  The following formulae were used to estimate SPSE and DPSE in each 1-km2 grid within the study area:

SPSE = ((S / E) x 100) / SA%

DPSE = ((D / E) x 100) / SA%

 

where        S = total number of on-effort sightings

D = total number of dolphins from on-effort sightings

E = total number of units of survey effort

SA% = percentage of sea area

3.5.7       Behavioural analysis ¡V When dolphins were sighted during vessel surveys, their behaviour was observed.  Different activities were categorized (i.e. feeding, milling/resting, traveling, socializing) and recorded on sighting datasheets.  This data was then input into a separate database with sighting information, which can be used to determine the distribution of behavioural data with a desktop GIS.  Distribution of sightings of dolphins engaged in different activities and behaviours would then be plotted on GIS and carefully examined to identify important areas for different activities of the dolphins. 

3.5.8       Ranging pattern analysis ¡V Location data of individual dolphins that occurred during the 3-month baseline monitoring period were obtained from the dolphin sighting database and photo-identification catalogue.  To deduce home ranges for individual dolphins using the fixed kernel methods, the program Animal Movement Analyst Extension, was loaded as an extension with ArcView© 3.1 along with another extension Spatial Analyst 2.0.  Using the fixed kernel method, the program calculated kernel density estimates based on all sighting positions, and provided an active interface to display kernel density plots.  The kernel estimator then calculated and displayed the overall ranging area at 95% UD level.

Summary of Survey Effort and Dolphin Sightings

3.5.9       During the period of December 2016 to February 2017, six sets of systematic line-transect vessel surveys were conducted to cover all transect lines in NWL and NEL survey areas twice per month.

3.5.10    From these surveys, a total of 878.35 km of survey effort was collected, with 86.5% of the total survey effort being conducted under favourable weather conditions (i.e. Beaufort Sea State 3 or below with good visibility).  Among the two areas, 340.00 km and 538.35 km of survey effort were conducted in NEL and NWL survey areas respectively.

3.5.11    The total survey effort conducted on primary lines was 632.39 km, while the effort on secondary lines was 245.96 km.  Survey effort conducted on both primary and secondary lines were considered as on-effort survey data.  A summary table of the survey effort is shown in Annex I of Appendix J.

3.5.12    During the six sets of monitoring surveys in December 2016 to February 2017, a total of 17 groups of 62 Chinese White Dolphins were sighted.  A summary table of the dolphin sightings is shown in Annex II of Appendix J.  

3.5.13    For the present quarterly period, 14 of the 17 dolphin sightings were made during on-effort search, while all except one on-effort dolphin sightings were made on primary lines.  In addition, all dolphin groups were sighted in NWL, and no dolphin was sighted at all in NEL.  In fact, since August 2014, only two sightings of two lone dolphins were made respectively in NEL during HKLR03 monitoring surveys.

Distribution

3.5.14    Distribution of dolphin sightings made during monitoring surveys in December 2016 to February 2017 is shown in Figure 1 of Appendix J.  

3.5.15    Dolphin sightings made in the present quarter were mainly located to the north of Lung Kwu Chau and at the northwestern end of NWL survey area (Figure 1 of Appendix J).  A few sightings were also made to the west of airport platform adjacent to the western territorial boundary (Figure 1 of Appendix J).  On the other hand, the dolphins were completely absent from the central and western portions of North Lantau waters as in previous quarters (Figure 1 of Appendix J).

3.5.16    All dolphin sightings were located far away from the HKBCF and HKLR03 reclamation sites as well as along the alignment of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (TMCLKL).  However, two dolphin groups were sighted adjacent to the HKLR09 alignment near Sham Wat (Figure 1 of Appendix J).

3.5.17    Sighting distribution of dolphins during the present impact phase monitoring period (December 2016 to February 2017) was drastically different from the one during the baseline monitoring period (September to November 2011) (Figure 1 of Appendix J).  In the present quarter, dolphins have disappeared from the NEL region, which was in stark contrast to their frequent occurrence around the Brothers Islands, near Shum Shui Kok and in the vicinity of HKBCF reclamation site during the baseline period (Figure 1).  The nearly complete abandonment of NEL region by the dolphins has been consistently recorded in the past 16 quarters of HKLR03 monitoring, which has resulted in zero to extremely low dolphin encounter rates in this area.

3.5.18    In NWL survey area, dolphin occurrence was also significantly different between the baseline and impact phase periods.  During the present impact monitoring period, much fewer dolphins occurred in this survey area (mostly to the north of Lung Kwu Chau at the northwestern corner of the survey area) than during the baseline period, when many dolphin groups were frequently sighted between Lung Kwu Chau and Black Point, around Sha Chau, near Pillar Point and to the west of the Chek Lap Kok Airport (Figure 1 of Appendix J). 

3.5.19    Another comparison in dolphin distribution was made between the five quarterly periods of winter months in 2012-17 (Figure 2 of Appendix J).  Among the five winter periods, dolphins were regularly sighted in NWL waters in 2012-13 and 2013-14, but their usage there has gradually diminished in the three subsequent winter periods, with the only occurrences mostly concentrated within and around the Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park (Figure 2 of Appendix J).

 

Encounter Rate

3.5.20    During the present three-month study period, the encounter rates of Chinese White Dolphins deduced from the survey effort and on-effort sighting data from the primary transect lines under favourable conditions (Beaufort 3 or below) for each set of the surveys in NEL and NWL are shown in Table 3.4.  The average encounter rates deduced from the six sets of surveys were also compared with the ones deduced from the baseline monitoring period (September ¡V November 2011) (See Table 3.5).

3.5.21    To facilitate the comparison with the AFCD long-term monitoring results, the encounter rates were also calculated for the present quarter using both primary and secondary survey effort.  The encounter rates of sightings (STG) and dolphins (ANI) in NWL were 2.91 sightings and 10.73 dolphins per 100 km of survey effort respectively, while the encounter rates of sightings (STG) and dolphins (ANI) in NEL were both nil for this quarter.

Table 3.4         Dolphin Encounter Rates (Sightings Per 100 km of Survey Effort) During Reporting Period (December 2016 ¡V February 2017) 

Survey Area

Dolphin Monitoring

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

Northeast Lantau

Set 1 (1 & 6 Dec 2016)

0.00

0.00

Set 2 (16 & 19 Dec 2016)

0.00

0.00

Set 3 (10 & 12 Jan 2017)

0.00

0.00

Set 4 (16 & 20 Jan 2017)

0.00

0.00

Set 5 (7 & 9 Feb 2017)

0.00

0.00

Set 6 (16 & 21 Feb 2017)

0.00

0.00

Northwest Lantau

Set 1 (1 & 6 Dec 2016)

1.58

1.58

Set 2 (16 & 19 Dec 2016)

5.99

22.45

Set 3 (10 & 12 Jan 2017)

0.00

0.00

Set 4 (16 & 20 Jan 2017)

6.27

20.38

Set 5 (7 & 9 Feb 2017)

0.00

0.00

Set 6 (16 & 21 Feb 2017)

8.99

42.71


 

Table 3.5         Comparison of average dolphin encounter rates from impact monitoring period (December 2016 ¡V February 2017) and baseline monitoring period (September ¡V November 2011)

Survey Area

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)

December 2016 ¡V February 2017

September ¡V November 2011

December 2016 ¡V February 2017

September ¡V November 2011

Northeast Lantau

0.0

6.00 ¡Ó 5.05

0.0

22.19 ¡Ó 26.81

Northwest Lantau

3.80 ¡Ó 3.79

9.85 ¡Ó 5.85

14.52 ¡Ó 17.21

44.66 ¡Ó 29.85

Notes:
1) The encounter rates deduced from the baseline monitoring period have been recalculated based only on the survey effort and on-effort sighting data made along the primary transect lines under favourable conditions.

2) ¡Ó denotes the standard deviation of the average encounter rates.

 

3.5.22    In NEL, the average dolphin encounter rates (both STG and ANI) in the present three-month impact monitoring period were both zero with no on-effort sighting being made, and such extremely low occurrence of dolphins in NEL have been consistently recorded in the past 16 quarters of HKLR03 monitoring (Table 3.6).  This is a serious concern as the dolphin occurrence in NEL in the past few years (0.0-1.0 for ER(STG) and 0.0-3.9 for ER(ANI)) have remained exceptionally low when compared to the baseline period (Table 3.6).  Dolphins have been virtually absent from NEL waters since January 2014, with only three groups of six dolphins sighted there since then despite consistent and intensive survey effort being conducted in this survey area.

Table 3.6     Comparison of Average Dolphin Encounter Rates in Northeast Lantau Survey Area from All Quarters of Impact Monitoring Period and Baseline Monitoring Period (Sep ¡V Nov 2011)

Monitoring Period

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)

September-November 2011 (Baseline)

6.00 ¡Ó 5.05

22.19 ¡Ó 26.81

December 2012-February 2013 (Impact)

3.14 ¡Ó 3.21*

6.33 ¡Ó 8.64*

March-May 2013 (Impact)

0.42 ¡Ó 1.03

0.42 ¡Ó 1.03

June-August 2013 (Impact)

0.88 ¡Ó 1.36

3.91 ¡Ó 8.36

September-November 2013 (Impact)

1.01 ¡Ó 1.59

3.77 ¡Ó 6.49

December 2013-February 2014 (Impact)

0.45 ¡Ó 1.10*

1.34 ¡Ó 3.29*

March-May 2014 (Impact)

0.00

0.00

June-August 2014 (Impact)

0.42 ¡Ó 1.04

1.69 ¡Ó 4.15

September-November 2014 (Impact)

0.00

0.00

December 2014-February 2015 (Impact)

0.00*

0.00*

March-May 2015 (Impact)

0.00

0.00

June-August 2015 (Impact)

0.44 ¡Ó 1.08

0.44 ¡Ó 1.08

September-November 2015 (Impact)

0.00

0.00

December 2015-February 2016 (Impact)

0.00*

0.00*

March-May 2016 (Impact)

0.00

0.00

June-August 2016 (Impact)

0.00

0.00

September-November 2016 (Impact)

0.00

0.00

December 2016-February 2017 (Impact)

0.00*

0.00*

Notes:
1) The encounter rates deduced from the baseline monitoring period have been recalculated based only on survey effort and on-effort sighting data made along the primary transect lines under favourable conditions.

2) ¡Ó denotes the standard deviation of the average encounter rates.

3) The encounter rates in winter months were in blue and marked with asterisk.

 

3.5.23    On the other hand, the average dolphin encounter rates (STG and ANI) in NWL during the present impact phase monitoring period (reductions of 61.4% and 67.5% respectively) were only small fractions of the ones recorded during the three-month baseline period, indicating a dramatic decline in dolphin usage of this survey area as well during the present impact phase period (Table 3.7).

3.5.24    During the same winter quarters, dolphin encounter rates in NWL during 2016-17 was slightly higher than the previous two winter periods, but was still much lower than the ones in the winter periods of 2012-13 and 2013-14 (Table 3.7).  Such temporal trend should be closely monitored in the upcoming monitoring quarters whether the dolphin occurrence would continue to increase as the construction activities of HZMB works have been mostly completed in coming months.

Table 3.7    Comparison of Average Dolphin Encounter Rates in Northwest Lantau Survey Area from All Quarters of Impact Monitoring Period and Baseline Monitoring Period (Sep ¡V Nov 2011)

Monitoring Period

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)

September-November 2011 (Baseline)

9.85 ¡Ó 5.85

44.66 ¡Ó 29.85

December 2012-February 2013 (Impact)

8.36 ¡Ó 5.03*

35.90 ¡Ó 23.10*

March-May 2013 (Impact)

7.75 ¡Ó 3.96

24.23 ¡Ó 18.05

June-August 2013 (Impact)

6.56 ¡Ó 3.68

27.00 ¡Ó 18.71

September-November 2013 (Impact)

8.04 ¡Ó 1.10

32.48 ¡Ó 26.51

December 2013-February 2014 (Impact)

8.21 ¡Ó 2.21*

32.58 ¡Ó 11.21*

March-May 2014 (Impact)

6.51 ¡Ó 3.34

19.14 ¡Ó 7.19

June-August 2014 (Impact)

4.74 ¡Ó 3.84

17.52 ¡Ó 15.12

September-November 2014 (Impact)

5.10 ¡Ó 4.40

20.52 ¡Ó 15.10

December 2014-February 2015 (Impact)

2.91 ¡Ó 2.69*

11.27 ¡Ó 15.19*

March-May 2015 (Impact)

0.47 ¡Ó 0.73

2.36 ¡Ó 4.07

June-August 2015 (Impact)

2.53 ¡Ó 3.20

9.21 ¡Ó 11.57

September-November 2015 (Impact)

3.94 ¡Ó 1.57

21.05 ¡Ó 17.19

December 2015-February 2016 (Impact)

2.64 ¡Ó 1.52*

10.98 ¡Ó 3.81*

March-May 2016 (Impact)

0.98 ¡Ó 1.10

4.78 ¡Ó 6.85

June-August 2016 (Impact)

1.72 ¡Ó 2.17

7.48 ¡Ó 10.98

September-November 2016 (Impact)

2.86 ¡Ó 1.98

10.89 ¡Ó 10.98

December 2016-February 2017 (Impact)

3.80 ¡Ó 3.79*

14.52 ¡Ó 17.21*

 


 

Notes:

1) The encounter rates deduced from the baseline monitoring period have been recalculated based only on survey effort and on-effort sighting data made along the primary transect lines under favourable conditions.

2) ¡Ó denotes the standard deviation of the average encounter rates.

3) The encounter rates in winter months were in blue and marked with asterisk.

 

 

3.5.25    As recently discussed in Hung (2016), the dramatic decline in dolphin usage of NEL waters in the past few years (including the declines in abundance, encounter rate and habitat use in NEL, as well as shifts of individual core areas and ranges away from NEL waters) was possibly related to the HZMB construction works that were commenced since 2012.  It appeared that such noticeable decline has already extended to NWL waters progressively in the past few years, and with no sign of recovery even the HZMB-related construction activities has well past the peak.

3.5.26    A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and unequal sample size was conducted to examine whether there were any significant differences in the average encounter rates between the baseline and impact monitoring periods.  The two variables that were examined included the two periods (baseline and impact phases) and two locations (NEL and NWL).

3.5.27    For the comparison between the baseline period and the present quarter (17th quarter of the impact phase being assessed), the p-values for the differences in average dolphin encounter rates of STG and ANI were 0.0110 and 0.0440 respectively.  If the alpha value is set at 0.05, significant differences were detected between the baseline and present quarters in both the average dolphin encounter rates of STG and ANI.

3.5.28    For the comparison between the baseline period and the cumulative quarters in impact phase (i.e. the first 17 quarters of the impact phase being assessed), the p-values for the differences in average dolphin encounter rates of STG and ANI were 0.000003 and 0.000001 respectively.  Even if the alpha value is set at 0.00001, significant differences were still detected in both the average dolphin encounter rates of STG and ANI (i.e. between the two periods and the locations).

3.5.29    As indicated in both dolphin distribution patterns and encounter rates, dolphin usage has been significantly reduced in both NEL and NWL survey areas during the present quarterly period, and such low occurrence of dolphins has also been consistently documented in previous quarters.  This raises serious concern, as the timing of the decline in dolphin usage in North Lantau waters coincided well with the construction schedule of the HZMB-related projects (Hung 2016).

3.5.30    To ensure the continuous usage of North Lantau waters by the dolphins, every possible measure should be implemented by the contractors and relevant authorities of HZMB-related works to minimize all disturbances to the dolphins.

Group Size

3.5.31    Group size of Chinese White Dolphins ranged from one to eight individuals per group in North Lantau region during December 2016 to February 2017. The average dolphin group sizes from these three months were compared with the ones deduced from the baseline period in September to November 2011, as shown in Table 3.8.

Table 3.8         Comparison of Average Dolphin Group Sizes between Reporting Period (Dec 2016 ¡V Feb 2017) and Baseline Monitoring Period (Sep ¡V Nov 2011)

Survey Area

Average Dolphin Group Size

Reporting Period

Baseline Monitoring Period

Overall

3.65 ¡Ó 2.37 (n = 17)

3.72 ¡Ó 3.13 (n = 66)

Northeast Lantau

---

3.18 ¡Ó 2.16 (n = 17)

Northwest Lantau

3.65 ¡Ó 2.37 (n = 17)

3.92 ¡Ó 3.40 (n = 49)

 


 

Note:

1)     ¡Ó denotes the standard deviation of the average group size.

3.5.32    The average dolphin group size in NWL waters during December 2016 to February 2017 was slightly lower than the one recorded during the three-month baseline period (Table 3.8).  Most of these dolphin groups were composed of 1-4 individuals only, while there were five medium-sized groups of 5-8 individuals.

3.5.33    Distribution of the larger dolphin groups (i.e. five individuals or more per group) during the present quarter is shown in Figure 3 of Appendix J, with comparison to the one in baseline period.  During the winter months of 2016-17, the five medium-sized groups were sighted to the north of Lung Kwu Chau, near Sha Chau, and to the west of the airport platform (Figure 3 of Appendix J).  Such distribution pattern was very different from the baseline period, when the larger dolphin groups were more frequently sighted and more evenly distributed in NWL waters, with a few more sighted in NEL waters (Figure 3 of Appendix J).

Habitat Use

3.5.34    From December 2016 to February 2017, the more important habitats utilized by Chinese White Dolphins were mostly concentrated around Lung Kwu Chau and to the north of the island (Figures 4a and 4b of Appendix J).  Two grids located to the west of the airport platform and adjacent to HKLR09 alignment also recorded moderate to high densities of dolphins.  On the contrary, all grids near HKLR03/ HKBCF reclamation sites as well as TMCLKL alignment did not record any presence of dolphins at all during on-effort search in the present quarterly period (Figures 4a and 4b of Appendix J).

3.5.35    However, it should be emphasized that the amount of survey effort collected in each grid during the three-month period was fairly low (6-12 units of survey effort for most grids), and therefore the habitat use pattern derived from the three-month dataset should be treated with caution.  A more complete picture of dolphin habitat use pattern should be examined when more survey effort for each grid will be collected throughout the impact phase monitoring programme.

3.5.36    When compared with the habitat use patterns during the baseline period, dolphin usage in NEL and NWL has drastically diminished in both areas during the present impact monitoring period (Figure 5 of Appendix J).  During the baseline period, many grids between Siu Mo To and Shum Shui Kok in NEL recorded moderately high to high dolphin densities, which was in stark contrast to the complete absence of dolphins there during the present impact phase period (Figure 5 of Appendix J).

3.5.37    The density patterns were also very different in NWL between the baseline and impact phase monitoring periods, with higher dolphin usage throughout the area, especially around Sha Chau, near Black Point, to the west of the airport, as well as between Pillar Point and airport platform during the baseline period.  In contrast, the only areas with moderate to high dolphin densities were restricted to the waters near Lung Kwu Chau during the present impact phase period (Figure 5 of Appendix J).

Mother-calf Pairs

3.5.38    During the present quarterly period, three unspotted juveniles were sighted with their mothers in the North Lantau region.  These sightings of young calves were located near Sha Chau and to the west of the airport platform (Figure 6 of Appendix J).

3.5.39    The infrequent occurrence of young calves in the present quarter was very different from their regular occurrence in North Lantau waters during the baseline period (Figure 6 of Appendix J).  This should be of a serious concern, and the occurrence of young calves in North Lantau waters should be closely monitored in the upcoming quarters.

Activities and Associations with Fishing Boats

3.5.40    Four of the 17 dolphin groups were engaged in feeding activities, while none of them was engaged in socializing, traveling or milling/resting activity during the three-month study period.

3.5.41    The percentage of sightings associated with feeding activities (23.5%) was much higher than the one recorded during the baseline period (11.6%).  However, it should be noted the sample size on total numbers of dolphin sightings during the present quarter (17 dolphin groups) was much lower than the baseline period (66 dolphin groups).

3.5.42    Distribution of dolphins engaged in various activities during the present impact phase period and the baseline period is shown in Figure 6 of Appendix J.  The four dolphin groups engaged in feeding activities were sighted around Lung Kwu Chau, Sha Chau as well as to the west of Shum Wat adjacent to the HKLR09 alignment during the present quarterly period, which was very different from the baseline period when various dolphin activities occurred throughout the North Lantau region (Figure 6 of Appendix J).

3.5.43    Notably, none of the 17 dolphin groups was found to be associated with any operating fishing vessel during the present impact phase period.

 

Summary Photo-identification works

3.5.44    From December 2016 to February 2017, over 2,100 digital photographs of Chinese White Dolphins were taken during the impact phase monitoring surveys for the photo-identification work.

3.5.45    In total, 26 individuals sighted 43 times altogether were identified (see summary table in Appendix III and photographs of identified individuals in Annex IV of Appendix J).  All of these re-sightings were made in NWL.  Nine individuals (NL46, NL98, NL104, NL136, NL182, NL210, NL321 WL145 and WL275) were re-sighted twice, while two individuals (NL202 and NL286) were both re-sighted five times during the three-month period (Annex III of Appendix J).

3.5.46    Notably, six of these 26 individuals (CH105, NL98, NL120, NL123, NL182 and NL226) were also sighted in West Lantau waters during the HKLR09 monitoring surveys from December 2016 to February 2017, showing their extensive individual movements across different survey areas.

Individual range use

3.5.47    Ranging patterns of the 26 individuals identified during the three-month study period were determined by fixed kernel method, and are shown in Annex V of Appendix J.

3.5.48    All identified dolphins sighted in the present quarter were utilizing NWL waters only, but have completely avoided NEL waters where many of them have utilized as their core areas in the past (Annex V of Appendix J).  This is in contrary to the extensive movements between NEL and NWL survey areas observed in the earlier impact monitoring quarters as well as the baseline period. 

3.5.49    On the other hand, several individuals (NL98, NL120, NL123, NL182 and NL226) consistently utilized North Lantau waters in the past have extended their range use to WL during the present quarter.  In the upcoming quarters, individual range use and movements should be continuously monitored to examine whether there has been any consistent shifts of individual home ranges from North Lantau to West or Southwest Lantau, as such shift could possibly be related to the HZMB-related construction works (see Hung 2015, 2016).

Conclusion

3.5.50    During the present quarter of dolphin monitoring, no adverse impact from the activities of this construction project on Chinese White Dolphins was noticeable from general observations.

3.5.51    Although dolphins rarely occurred in the area of HKLR03 construction in the past and during the baseline monitoring period, it is apparent that dolphin usage has been dramatically reduced in NEL since 2012, and many individuals have shifted away completely from the important habitat around the Brothers Islands.

3.5.52    It is critical to continuously monitor the dolphin usage in North Lantau region in the upcoming quarters, to determine whether the dolphins are continuously affected by the various construction activities in relation to the HZMB-related works, and whether suitable mitigation measure can be applied to revert the situation.

References

3.5.53    Buckland, S. T., Anderson, D. R., Burnham, K. P., Laake, J. L., Borchers, D. L., and Thomas, L.  2001.  Introduction to distance sampling: estimating abundance of biological populations.  Oxford University Press, London.

3.5.54    Hung, S. K.  2008.  Habitat use of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in Hong Kong.  Ph.D. dissertation.  University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 266 p.

3.5.55    Hung, S. K.  2015.  Monitoring of marine mammals in Hong Kong waters ¡V data collection: final report (2014-15).  An unpublished report submitted to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong SAR Government, 198 pp.

3.5.56    Hung, S. K.  2016.  Monitoring of marine mammals in Hong Kong waters ¡V data collection: final report (2015-16).  An unpublished report submitted to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong SAR Government, 163 pp.

3.5.57    Jefferson, T. A.  2000.  Population biology of the Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin in Hong Kong waters.  Wildlife Monographs 144:1-65.

3.6                Mudflat Monitoring Results

Sedimentation Rate Monitoring

3.6.1       The baseline sedimentation rate monitoring was in September 2012 and impact sedimentation rate monitoring was undertaken on 7 December 2016. The mudflat surface levels at the four established monitoring stations and the corresponding XYZ HK1980 GRID coordinates are presented in Table 3.9 and Table 3.10.

Table 3.9          Measured Mudflat Surface Level Results

Baseline Monitoring
(September 2012)

Impact Monitoring
(
December 2016)

Monitoring Station

Easting
(m)

Northing (m)

Surface Level
(mPD)

Easting
(m)

Northing (m)

Surface Level

(mPD)

S1

810291.160

816678.727

0.950

810291.174

816678.732

1.102

S2

810958.272

815831.531

0.864

810958.273

815831.508

0.961

S3

810716.585

815953.308

1.341

810716.583

815953.287

1.456

S4

811221.433

816151.381

0.931

811221.428

816151.395

1.058

Table 3.10       Comparison of Measurement  

Comparison of measurement

Remarks and Recommendation

Monitoring Station

Easting
(m)

Northing (m)

Surface Level
(mPD)

S1

0.0014

0.005

0.152

Level continuously increased

S2

0.0001

-0.023

0.097

Level continuously increased

S3

-0.002

-0.021

0.115

Level continuously increased

S4

-0.005

0.014

0.127

Level continuously increased

 

3.6.2       This measurement result was generally and relatively higher than the baseline measurement at S1, S2, S3 and S4. The mudflat level is continuously increased.

Water Quality Monitoring

3.6.3       The mudflat monitoring covered water quality monitoring data.  Reference was made to the water quality monitoring data of the representative water quality monitoring station (i.e. SR3) as in the EM&A Manual.  The water quality monitoring location (SR3) is shown in Figure 2.1. 

3.6.4       Impact water quality monitoring in San Tau (monitoring station SR3) was conducted in December 2016. The monitoring parameters included dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity and suspended solids (SS).

3.6.5       The Impact monitoring result for SR3 were extracted and summarised below:

Table 3.11  Impact Water Quality Monitoring Results (Depth Average)

Date

Mid Ebb Tide

Mid Flood Tide

DO (mg/L)

Turbidity (NTU)

SS (mg/L)

DO (mg/L)

Turbidity (NTU)

SS (mg/L)

2-Dec-16

7.19

6.55

4.95

6.90

7.20

11.60

5-Dec-16

7.14

7.10

7.50

6.80

7.05

9.00

7-Dec-16

6.90

7.35

16.50

7.30

10.15

19.50

9-Dec-16

6.98

4.35

8.85

7.22

5.20

7.45

12-Dec-16

7.27

3.80

5.15

7.51

7.15

8.00

14-Dec-16

7.69

2.55

7.15

7.65

2.20

14.30

16-Dec-16

8.30

3.10

7.45

7.81

3.60

8.40

19-Dec-16

7.74

4.30

7.15

8.04

4.40

6.75

21-Dec-16

7.53

6.85

9.85

7.64

6.90

8.25

23-Dec-16

7.56

3.70

5.10

7.88

5.15

4.20

26-Dec-16

7.96

3.45

4.75

8.37

3.20

5.90

28-Dec-16

8.55

3.85

7.50

8.51

5.20

7.90

30-Dec-16

8.68

4.35

10.50

8.53

6.10

11.00

Average

7.65

4.72

7.88

7.70

5.65

9.40

 

Mudflat Ecology Monitoring

Sampling Zone

3.6.6       In order to collect baseline information of mudflats in the study site, the study site was divided into three sampling zones (labeled as TC1, TC2, TC3) in Tung Chung Bay and one zone in San Tau (labeled as ST) (Figure 2.1 of Appendix O). The horizontal shoreline of sampling zones TC1, TC2, TC3 and ST were about 250 m, 300 m, 300 m and 250 m respectively. Survey of horseshoe crabs, seagrass beds and intertidal communities were conducted in every sampling zone. The present survey was conducted in December 2016 (totally 6 sampling days between 3rd and 19th December 2016).

Horseshoe Crabs

3.6.7       Active search method was conducted for horseshoe crab monitoring by two experienced surveyors in every sampling zone. During the search period, any accessible and potential area would be investigated for any horseshoe crab individuals within 2-3 hours of low tide period (tidal level below 1.2 m above Chart Datum (C.D.)). Once a horseshoe crab individual was found, the species was identified referencing to Li (2008). The prosomal width, inhabiting substratum and respective GPS coordinate were recorded. A photographic record was taken for future investigation. Any grouping behavior of individuals, if found, was recorded. The horseshoe crab surveys were conducted on 5th (for TC3 and ST) and 19th (for TC1 and TC2) December 2016. The weather was generally warm and sunny on 5th December while it was cloudy and windy on 19th December.

Seagrass Beds

3.6.8       Active search method was conducted for seagrass bed monitoring by two experienced surveyors in every sampling zone. During the search period, any accessible and potential area would be investigated for any seagrass beds within 2-3 hours of low tide period. Once seagrass bed was found, the species, estimated area, estimated coverage percentage and respective GPS coordinates were recorded. The seagrass beds surveys were conducted on 5th (for TC3 and ST) and 19th (for TC1 and TC2) December 2016. The weather was generally warm and sunny on 5th December while it was cloudy and windy on 19th December.

Intertidal Soft Shore Communities

3.6.9       The intertidal soft shore community surveys were conducted in low tide period on 3rd (for TC2), 4th (for TC3), 17th (for ST) and 18th (for TC1) December 2016. In every sampling zone, three 100m horizontal transect lines were laid at high tidal level (H: 2.0 m above C.D.), mid tidal level (M: 1.5 m above C.D.) and low tidal level (L: 1.0 m above C.D.). Along every horizontal transect line, ten random quadrats (0.5 m x 0.5 m) were placed.

3.6.10    Inside a quadrat, any visible epifauna were collected and were in-situ identified to the lowest practical taxonomical resolution. Whenever possible a hand core sample (10 cm internal diameter ´ 20 cm depth) of sediments was collected in the quadrat. The core sample was gently washed through a sieve of mesh size 2.0 mm in-situ. Any visible infauna were collected and identified. Finally the top 5 cm surface sediments was dug for visible infauna in the quadrat regardless of hand core sample was taken.

3.6.11    All collected fauna were released after recording except some tiny individuals that are too small to be identified on site. These tiny individuals were taken to laboratory for identification under dissecting microscope.

3.6.12    The taxonomic classification was conducted in accordance to the following references: Polychaetes: Fauchald (1977), Yang and Sun (1988); Arthropods: Dai and Yang (1991), Dong (1991); Mollusks: Chan and Caley (2003), Qi (2004).

Data Analysis

3.6.13    Data collected from direct search and core sampling was pooled in every quadrat for data analysis. Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index (H¡¦) and Pielou¡¦s Species Evenness (J) were calculated for every quadrat using the formulae below,

H¡¦= -£U ( Ni / N ) ln ( Ni / N ) (Shannon and Weaver, 1963)

J = H¡¦ / ln S, (Pielou, 1966)

 

where S is the total number of species in the sample, N is the total number of individuals, and Ni is the number of individuals of the ith species.

Mudflat Ecology Monitoring Results and Conclusion

Horseshoe Crabs

3.6.14    In the present survey, two species of horseshoe crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (total 70 ind.) and Tachypleus tridentatus (total 24 ind.) were recorded in TC3 and ST only. For one sight record, grouping of 2-19 individuals was observed at same locations with similar substratum (fine sand or soft mud). Photo records were shown in Figure 3.1 of Appendix O while the complete survey records were listed in Annex II of Appendix O.

3.6.15    Table 3.1 of Appendix O summarizes the survey results of horseshoe crab in present survey. For Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, there were 27 and 43 individuals in TC3 and ST respectively. For ST, the search record was the higher (7.2 ind. hr-1 person-1) while the average body size was 44.05 mm (prosomal width ranged 25.61-66.22 mm). The search record of TC3 was 4.5 ind. hr-1 person-1 with average body size 41.68 mm (prosomal width ranged 16.85-65.73 mm).

3.6.16    For Tachypleus tridentatus, there were 17 and 7 individuals in TC3 and ST respectively. For TC3, the search record was higher (2.8 ind. hr-1 person-1) while the average body size was 39.13 mm (prosomal width ranged 20.40-64.24 mm). For ST, the search record was 1.2 ind. hr-1 person-1 while the average body size was 44.79 mm (prosomal width ranged 41.50-52.57 mm).

3.6.17    In the previous survey of March 2015, there was one important finding that a mating pair of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda was found in ST (prosomal width: male 155.1 mm, female 138.2 mm) (Figure 3.2 of Appendix O). It indicated the importance of ST as a breeding ground of horseshoe crab. Moreover, two moults of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda were found in TC1 with similar prosomal width 130-140 mm (Figure 3.2 of Appendix O). It reflected that a certain numbers of moderately sized individuals inhabited the sub-tidal habitat of Tung Chung Wan after its nursery period on soft shore. These individuals might move onto soft shore during high tide for foraging, moulting and breeding. Then it would return to sub-tidal habitat during ebb tide. Because the mating pair should be inhabiting sub-tidal habitat in most of the time. The record was excluded from the data analysis to avoid mixing up with juvenile population living on soft shore. In another previous survey of Jun. 2016, the records of the two big individuals of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (prosomal width 117.37 mm and 178.17 mm) in TC1 were excluded from data analysis according to the same principle.

3.6.18    No marked individual of horseshoe crab was recorded in present survey. Some marked individuals were found in previous surveys conducted in Sep. 2013, Mar. 2014 and Sep. 2014. All of them were released through a conservation programme conducted by Prof. Paul Shin (Department of Biology and Chemistry, The City University of Hong Kong (CityU)). It was a re-introduction trial of artificial bred horseshoe crab juvenile at selected sites. So that the horseshoe crabs population might be restored in the natural habitat. Through a personal conversation with Prof. Shin, about 100 individuals were released in the sampling zone ST on 20 June 2013. All of them were marked with color tape and internal chip detected by specific chip sensor. There should be second round of release between June and September 2014 since new marked individuals were found in the survey of September 2014.

3.6.19    The artificial bred individuals, if found, would be excluded from the results of present monitoring programme in order to reflect the changes of natural population. However, the mark on their prosoma might have been detached during moulting after a certain period of release. The artificially released individuals were no longer distinguishable from the natural population without the specific chip sensor. The survey data collected would possibly cover both natural population and artificially bred individuals.

Population difference among the sampling zones

3.6.20    Figures 3.3 and 3.4 of Appendix O show the changes of number of individuals, mean prosomal width and search record of horseshoe crabs Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus tridentatus respectively in every sampling zone throughout the monitoring period.

3.6.21    Throughout the monitoring conducted, it was obvious that TC3 and ST (western shore of Tung Chung Wan) was an important nursery ground for horseshoe crab especially newly hatched individuals due to larger area of suitable substratum (fine sand or soft mud) and less human disturbance (far from urban district). Relatively, other sampling zones were not a suitable nursery ground especially TC2. Possible factors were less area of suitable substratum (especially TC1) and higher human disturbance (TC1 and TC2: close to urban district and easily accessible). In TC2, large daily salinity fluctuation was a possible factor either since it was flushed by two rivers under tidal inundation. The individuals inhabiting TC1 and TC2 were confined in small foraging area due to limited area of suitable substrata.

3.6.22    For TC3 and ST, high to medium search records (i.e. number of individuals) of both species were always found. The search record of ST was higher from Sep. 2012 to Jun. 2014 while it was replaced by TC3 from Sep. 2014 to Jun. 2015. The search records were similar between two sampling zones from Sep. 2015 to Jun. 2016. In Sep. 2016, the search record of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda in ST was much higher than TC3. In the present survey (Dec. 2016), the search records of both species were similar again between two sampling zones. It reflected a natural variation of horseshoe crab population in these two zones due to weather condition and tidal effect during the survey.

3.6.23    For TC1, the search record was at low to medium level throughout the monitoring period. The change of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda was relatively more variable than that of Tachypleus tridentatus. Relatively, the search record was very low in TC2 (2 ind. in Sep. 2013; 1 ind. in Mar., Jun., Sep. 2014, Mar. and Jun. 2015; 4 ind. in Sep. 2015; 6 ind. in Jun. 2016; 1 ind. in Sep. 2016).

3.6.24    About the body size, larger individuals of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda were usually found in ST and TC1 relative to those in TC3. For Tachypleus tridentatus, larger individuals were usually found in ST followed by TC3 and TC1.

3.6.25    Throughout the monitoring period, it was obvious that TC3 and ST (western shore of Tung Chung Wan) was an important nursery ground for horseshoe crab especially newly hatched individuals due to larger area of suitable substratum (fine sand or soft mud) and less human disturbance (far from urban district). Relatively, other sampling zones were not a suitable nursery ground especially TC2. Possible factors were less area of suitable substratum (especially TC1) and higher human disturbance (TC1 and TC2: close to urban district and easily accessible). In TC2, large daily salinity fluctuation was a possible factor either since it was flushed by two rivers under tidal inundation. The individuals inhabiting TC1 and TC2 were confined in small foraging area due to limited area of suitable substrata.

Seasonal variation of horseshoe crab population

3.6.26    Throughout the monitoring period conducted, the search record of horseshoe crab declined obviously during dry season especially December (Figures 3.3 and 3.4 of Appendix O). In Dec. 2012, 4 individuals of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and 12 individuals of Tachypleus tridentatus were found only. In Dec. 2013, no individual of horseshoe crab was found. In Dec. 2014, 2 individuals of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and 8 individuals of Tachypleus tridentatus were found only. In Dec. 2015, 2 individuals of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, 6 individuals of Tachypleus tridentatus and one newly hatched, unidentified individual were found only. The horseshoe crabs were inactive and burrowed in the sediments during cold weather (<15 ºC). Similar results of low search record in dry season were reported in a previous territory-wide survey of horseshoe crab. For example, the search records in Tung Chung Wan were 0.17 ind. hr-1 person-1 and 0.00 ind. hr-1 person-1 in wet season and dry season respectively (details see Li, 2008). Relatively the serach records were much higher in the present survey (Dec. 2016). There were totally 70 individuals of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and 24 individuals of