TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  2

1       Introduction  4

1.1     Project Organization and Contacts of Key Management 4

1.2     Programme  4

1.3     Summary of Construction Works  4

2       Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements  5

2.1     Monitoring Parameters  5

2.2     Monitoring Locations  5

2.3     Environmental Quality Performance Limits (Action/Limit Levels) 5

2.4     Environmental Mitigation Measures  5

3       air quality monitoring   5

4       Noise MONITORING   6

5       Advice on the Solid and Liquid Waste Management Status  7

6       Summary of Exceedances of the Environmental Quality Performance Limit  7

7       Summary of Complaints, Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions  8

8       REVIEW of THE VALIDITY OF THE EIA/ERR Predictions  8

9       Review of the effectivness and efficiency of mitigation measures  8

10     Review of success of EM&A Programme  9

11     Comments, recommendations and Conclusions  9

11.1        Comments  9

11.2        Recommendations  10

11.3        Conclusions  10

 

List of Tables

                                                                                                                                              

Table 1.1         Contact Information of Key Personnel

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

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

Table 3.3        Summary of the Number of Exceedances for 1-hr & 24-hr TSP Monitoring

Table 4.1         Summary of Construction Noise Monitoring Results in the Reporting Period

Table 4.2        Summary of the Number of Monitoring Exceedances for Construction Noise

Table 5.1         Summary of Waste Flow Table

 

Figures

 

Figure 1.1         General Project Layout Plan

Figure 1.2a-b     Locations of Monitoring Station

 

List of Appendices

 

Appendix A       Project Organization Structure

Appendix B       Construction Programme

Appendix C       Implementation Schedule of Environmental Mitigation Measures (EMIS)

Appendix D      Summary of Action and Limit Levels

Appendix E       Impact Air Quality Monitoring Results and their Graphical Presentation

Appendix F       Meteorological Data

Appendix G      Impact Daytime Construction Noise Monitoring Results and their Graphical Presentation

Appendix H       Statistics on Complaints, Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions


 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The proposed widening of Tolo Highway and Fanling Highway between Island House Interchange and Fanling (the Project) is a Designated Project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) (EIAO). An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report (the approved EIA Report) together with an Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual (the approved EM&A Manual) were completed and approved under the EIAO on 14 July 2000 (Register Number: EIA-043/2000).

The objective of the Project ¡°Widening of Tolo Highway / Fanling Highway between Island House Interchange and Fanling¡± is to widen Tolo Highway and Fanling Highway to dual 4-lane carriageway in order to alleviate the current traffic congestion problems and to cope with the increasing transport demands to and from the urban areas and also cross boundary traffic.

The Project is a designated project and governed by an Environmental Permit (EP-324/2008) issued by the EPD on 23 December 2008. Subsequently, the EPD issued a Variation of Environmental Permit (EP-324/2008/A) (VEP) on 31 January 2012. The VEP (EP-324/2008/B) was subsequently granted on 17 March 2014 which superseded the previous EP (EP-324/2008/A).

The construction works for this Project will be delivered in 2 stages i.e. Stage 1 (between Island House Interchange and Tai Hang) and Stage 2 (between Tai Hang and Wo Hop Shek Interchange).  Stage 2 would be implemented under two works contracts.  Contract No. HY2012/06 ¡°Widening of Fanling Highway ¨C Tai Hang to Wo Hop Shek Interchange¡± and the entrusted portion to CEDD under Contract No. CV/2012/09 ¡±Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Site Formation and Infrastructure Works ¨C Contract 3¡±. This report focuses on Contract No. HY2012/06 ¡°Widening of Fanling Highway ¨C Tai Hang to Wo Hop Shek Interchange¡± in Stage 2 of the Project only.

Pursuant to the EP (EP-324/2008/B) Condition 2.7, the Capture Survey Trip Report for Ma Wat River Northern Meander (Version 2) for the Project was submitted on 24 December 2013 by the Environmental Team (ET) and verified by the Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) on 6 January 2014.

The construction phase of the Contract under the EP and the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme of the contract commenced on 21 November 2013. The impact environmental monitoring and audit includes air quality and noise monitoring.

This report documents the findings of EM&A works conducted in the period between 1 November 2013 and 31 October 2014. As informed by the Contractor, construction activities in the reporting period were:-

-          Site clearance;

-          Ground investigation;

-          Construction of site accommodation;

-          Tree felling and transplantation;

-          Piling works;

-          Pipe laying;

-          Retaining wall construction;

-          Excavation;

-          Backfilling;

-          Drainage;

-          Temporary bridge construction;

-          Noise barrier construction;

-          Houses demolition; and

-          Bridge demolition.

 

Reporting Change

There was no reporting change required in the reporting period.

Breaches of Action and Limit Levels for Air Quality

No exceedance of Action and Limit Level was recorded for 1-hour and 24-hour TSP monitoring in the reporting period.

Breaches of Action and Limit Levels for Noise

No Action Level exceedance of construction noise was recorded in the reporting period since no noise complaints related to 0700 ¨C 1900 hours on normal weekdays were received.

 

Two (2) Limit Level exceedances were recorded on 12 and 18 June 2014 respectively for noise monitoring at M3 in the reporting period. The exceedances were considered non-project-related. The details of exceedance are given in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report of June 2014.


1             Introduction

1.1          Project Organization and Contacts of Key Management

1.1.1       The project organization structure is shown in Appendix A. The key personnel contact names and numbers are summarized in Table 1.1.

  Table 1.1          Contact Information of Key Personnel

Party

Position

Name

Telephone

Fax

 

ER

(Hyder-Arup-Black & Veatch Joint Venture)

 

Chief Resident Engineer

Edwin Chung

6115 0818

2638 0950

 

IEC

 (Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited)

 

Independent Environmental Checker

Terence Kong

2828 5919

2827 1823

 

Contractor

 

(China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited)

 

Environmental Officer

Michael Tsang

9277 4956

2672 2501

C C Chow

9679 6315

2672 2501

ET

 (AECOM Asia Company Limited)

ET Leader

Y W Fung

3922 9393

   3922 9797

 

1.2          Programme

1.2.1       The Construction Programme is shown in Appendix B.

1.3          Summary of Construction Works

1.3.1       Details of the construction works carried out by the Contractor in this reporting period are listed below:-

-          Site clearance;

-          Ground investigation;

-          Construction of site accommodation;

-          Tree felling and transplantation;

-          Piling works;

-          Pipe laying;

-          Retaining wall construction;

-          Excavation;

-          Backfilling;

-          Drainage;

-          Temporary bridge construction;

-          Noise barrier construction;

-          Houses demolition; and

-          Bridge demolition.

1.3.2       The general layout plan of the Project site showing the contract areas is shown in Figure 1.1.

1.3.3       The environmental mitigation measures implementation schedule are presented in Appendix C.

 

2             Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

2.1          Monitoring Parameters

2.1.1       The updated EM&A Manual has designated 1 air quality monitoring station and 2 noise monitoring stations to monitor environmental impacts on air quality and noise due to Stage 2 of the Project.

2.1.2       The updated EM&A Manual also requires environmental site inspections for air quality, noise, water quality, chemical, waste management, ecology and landscape and visual impacts.

2.2          Monitoring Locations

2.2.1       For air quality monitoring, the monitoring station was set up at Fanling Government Secondary School, in accordance with updated EM&A Manual. The location is shown in Figure 1.2a.

2.2.2       For noise monitoring, the monitoring stations M2 and M3 were set up at West Tai Wo and Fanling Government Secondary School respectively in accordance with updated EM&A Manual. Figure 1.2a-b shows the locations of the monitoring stations.

2.3          Environmental Quality Performance Limits (Action/Limit Levels)

2.3.1       The environmental quality performance limits (i.e. Action/Limit Levels) of air quality monitoring were derived from the baseline air quality monitoring results at the monitoring station (AM2); while the environmental quality performance limits of noise monitoring were defined in the EM&A Manual.

2.3.2       The environmental quality performance limits are given in Appendix D.

2.4          Environmental Mitigation Measures

2.4.1       Relevant environmental mitigation measures were stipulated in the Particular Specification and EP for the Contractor to adopt. A list of environmental mitigation measures and their implementation statuses are given in Appendix C.

2.5          Environmental Impact Hypotheses Tested

2.5.1       The EIA Report concluded that with proper mitigation measures implemented, fugitive dust emission during the construction phase would be controlled and will not exceed the acceptable criteria. 

2.5.2       For construction noise, exceedances were predicted only at 2 schools (SR41 Wong Shiu Chi Middle School and SR45 HK Teacher¡¯s Association Secondary School) but they are out of the scope of this EM&A Programme.  Hence, the EIA did not anticipate any noise exceedances during the construction phase within the scope of this EM&A Programme.

2.5.3       The above criteria have been tested under this EM&A Programme during the reporting period.

 

 

3             air quality monitoring

3.1.1       In accordance with the updated EM&A Manual, baseline 1-hour and 24-hour TSP levels at one air quality monitoring station was established. Impact 1-hour TSP monitoring was conducted for at least three times every 6 days, while impact 24-hour TSP monitoring was carried out for at least once every 6 days.

3.1.2       The weather was mostly sunny, with several fine, cloudy and rainy days in the reporting period. Weather information including the wind speed and wind direction is annexed in Appendix F. The information was obtained from the Hong Kong Observatory Tai Po and Tai Mei Tuk Automatic Weather Stations.

3.1.3       The monitoring results for 1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP monitoring are summarized in Tables 3.1 and 3.2 respectively. Detailed impact air quality monitoring results are presented in Appendix E.


 

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

Location

Average (mg/m3)

Range (mg/m3)

Action Level  (mg/m3)

Limit Level (mg/m3)

AM2

(Fanling Government Secondary School)

76.9

61.7 ¨C 89.6

317.8

500

 

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

Location

Average (mg/m3)

Range (mg/m3)

Action Level  (mg/m3)

Limit Level (mg/m3)

AM2

(Fanling Government Secondary School)

45.6

0.2 ¨C 176.1

200.7

260

 

3.1.4       The major dust sources in the reporting period included construction activities from Stage 2 of the Project, as well as nearby traffic emissions.

3.1.5       All 1-hour and 24-hour TSP results were below the Action and Limit Level in the reporting period.

3.1.6       Detailed impact air quality monitoring results are presented in Appendix E.

 

4             Noise MONITORING

4.1.1       In accordance with the EM&A Manual, impact noise monitoring was conducted for at least once per week during the construction phase of the Contract.

4.1.2       The monitoring results for construction noise are summarized in Table 4.1 and the monitoring data are provided in Appendix G.

  Table 4.1          Summary of Construction Noise Monitoring Results in the Reporting Period

 

Average (dB(A))

Leq (30 mins)

Range (dB(A))

Leq (30 mins)

Limit Level (dB(A)) 

Leq (30 mins)

M2*

68.0

64.9 ¨C 72.9

75

M3#

64.6

60.1 ¨C 69.7

65/70

              *+3dB(A) Façade correction included

# Limit Level of 70dB(A) applies to education institutes while 65dB(A) applies during school examination period.

 

4.1.3       The major noise sources during the noise monitoring included nearby road traffic noise.

4.1.4       There was no noise complaint related to 0700 ¨C 1900 hours on normal weekdays was received and followed up by Environmental Team in the reporting period. Hence, no Action Level exceedance was recorded.

4.1.5       Two (2) Limit Level exceedances were recorded on 12 and 18 June 2014 respectively for noise monitoring at M3 in the reporting period. The exceedances were considered non-project-related. The details of exceedance are given in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report of June 2014.

4.1.6       The graphical plots of the trends of the monitoring results are provided in Appendix G.

 

5             Advice on the Solid and Liquid Waste Management Status

5.1.1       As advised by the Contractor, 10,986 m3 of inert C&D material was disposed of as public fill to Tuen Mun 38 (of which 0m3 was broken concrete), while 965 m3 of general refuse was disposed of at NENT landfill. 507 kg of paper/cardboard packaging, 0 kg of plastics and 28 kg of metals were collected by recycling contractors in the reporting period. 3,560 m3, 708 m3, and 6,566 m3 of inert C&D materials were reused on site, in other projects and in NENT for backfilling purpose respectively. 0kg of chemical wastes was collected by licensed contractors in the reporting period.

5.1.2       The actual amounts of different types of waste generated by the activities of the Project in the reporting period are summarized in Table 5.1.

Table 5.1            Summary of Waste Flow Table

 

Waste Type

Actual Amount

Disposal/Reuse Locations

Inert C&D materials

10,986 m3 (of which 0m3 was broken concrete)

Tuen Mun 38

General refuse

965 m3

NENT Landfill

Paper/cardboard packaging

507 kg

Recycling Contractors

Plastics

0 kg

Recycling Contractors

Metals

28 kg

Recycling Contractors

C&D materials reused on site

3,560 m3

Site Area

C&D materials reused in other projects

708 m3

Other projects

C&D materials reused in NENT for backfilling

6,566 m3

NENT Landfill

Chemical wastes

0kg

Licensed Contractors

 

6             Summary of Exceedances of the Environmental Quality Performance Limit

6.1.1       All 1-hour and 24-hour TSP monitoring results complied with the Action / Limit Levels in the reporting period.

6.1.2       For construction noise, no Action Level exceedance was recorded. Two (2) Limit Level exceedances were recorded on 12 and 18 June 2014 respectively for noise monitoring at M3 in the reporting period.

 

7             Summary of Complaints, Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions

7.1.1       One (1) noise-and-odour-related complaint was received on 19 December 2013 and followed up by the Environmental Team in the reporting period. The full complaint investigation report is annexed in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report for December 2013.

7.1.2       One (1) air-and-odour-related complaint was received on 24 February 2014 and followed up by the Environmental Team in the reporting period. The full complaint investigation report is annexed in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report for February 2014.

7.1.3       One (1) air-related complaint was received on 23 October 2014 and followed up by the Environmental Team in the reporting period. The full complaint investigation report is annexed in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report for October 2014.

7.1.4       No notification of summons and successful prosecution was received in the reporting period.

7.1.5       The statistics on complaints, notifications of summons and successful prosecutions are summarized in Appendix H.

7.1.6       A 24-hour complaint hotline at 6628 8366 has been established for the Project. The hotline number is displayed at the site entrances, fencings and project signboards, as well as printed on publications such as newsletters for the public.

 

8             REVIEW of THE VALIDITY OF THE EIA/ERR Predictions

8.1.1       All the air quality monitoring results in the reporting period were below the Action and Limit Levels. The result was in line with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Review Report (ERR) prediction that dust generation would be controlled and would not exceed the acceptable criteria, with proper implementation of the recommended dust mitigation measures.

8.1.2       Two (2) Limit Level exceedances were recorded on 12 and 18 June 2014 respectively for noise monitoring at M3 in the reporting period. The exceedances were considered non-project-related. As a result, this is generally in line with the EIA and ERR prediction that with the implementation of noise mitigation measures, the construction noise from the Project works will meet the stipulated criterion at the residential NSRs and at a majority of the education institutions.

 

9             Review of the effectivness and efficiency of mitigation measures

9.1.1       The impact air quality and noise monitoring programme ensured that any environmental impacts to the receivers would be readily detected and timely actions could be taken to rectify any non-compliance.  The environmental monitoring results indicated that the construction activities in general were in compliance with the relevant environmental requirements and were environmentally acceptable.  The weekly site inspections ensured that all the environmental mitigation measures recommended in the EIA/ERR were effectively implemented. Despite the minor deficiencies found during site audits, the Contractor has taken appropriate actions to rectify deficiencies within a reasonable timeframe. Therefore, the effectiveness and efficiency of the mitigation measures were considered high in most of the time.

9.1.2       For all the parameters under monitoring as mentioned in Section 8, the measured levels were in line with the EIA and ERR predictions generally. This indicates that the mitigation measures were effectively and efficiently implemented.

 

10          Review of success of EM&A Programme

10.1.1    The environmental monitoring methodology was considered well established as the monitoring results were found in line with the EIA predictions. 

10.1.2    As effective follow-up actions were promptly taken once exceedances were recorded, no further exceedance occurred. The EM&A programme was considered successfully and adequately conducted during the course of the reporting period.

 

11          Comments, recommendations and Conclusions

11.1        Comments

11.1.1    According to the environmental site inspections performed in the reporting period, the following comments are made to the Contractor for precautionary and rectification purposes:

Air Quality Impact

11.1.2    The Contractor should maintain effective wheel washing facilities and clear the mud trails left on public road.

11.1.3    The Contractor should spray the stockpiles with water or cover them entirely by tarpaulin sheets for dust suppression.

11.1.4    The Contractor was reminded to spray water on main haul roads to maintain the surfaces wet and suppress dust. (Reminder)

Construction Noise Impact

11.1.5    The Contractor should re-position the generator and air compressors to reduce the noise generated to the house nearby.

11.1.6    The Contractor should further wrap the upper part of the breaker with absorptive materials to minimize noise generation.

Water Quality Impact

11.1.7    The Contractor should review measures to prevent silt and debris from depositing in drainage systems and clear the muddy water in the U-channel and public road.

11.1.8    The Contractor was reminded to divert muddy water to desilting facilities prior to discharge. (Reminder)

11.1.9    The Contractor should clear the muddy water and add sand bundings near the site boundary to prevent the discharge of muddy water when necessary.


 

Chemical and Waste Management

11.1.10  The Contractor should label the chemical containers properly.

11.1.11  The Contractor should close all the gaps between the drip tray and the generator.

11.1.12  The Contractor should educate workers to recycle wastes properly and clear the refuse in the recycle bins regularly.

11.1.13  The Contractor was reminded to use absorptive materials to soak leaked oil, if any, when maintaining the power pack. (Reminder)

11.1.14  The Contractor should clear oil stains on the ground and prevent oil leakage to air, soil and water bodies.

11.1.15  The Contractor should provide drip trays to chemicals and generator to prevent any oil leakage.

11.1.16  The Contractor should clear the general refuse regularly to maintain site hygiene.

Landscape and Visual Impact

11.1.17  No adverse observation was identified in the reporting month.

Miscellaneous

11.1.18  The Contractor should clear the stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding.

11.2        Recommendations

11.2.1    The impact air quality and noise monitoring programme ensures that any deterioration in environmental condition is readily detected and timely actions are taken to rectify any non-compliances. Assessment and analysis of monitoring results collected demonstrated the environmental acceptability of the Project. The weekly environmental site inspections ensure that all the environmental mitigation measures recommended in the ERR are effectively implemented.

11.2.2    The EM&A programme effectively monitored the environmental impacts from the construction activities and no particular recommendations were advised for the improvement of the programme.

11.3        Conclusions

11.3.1    All 1-hour and 24-hour TSP monitoring results complied with the Action / Limit Levels in the reporting period.

11.3.2    For construction noise, no Action Level exceedance was recorded. Two (2) Limit Level exceedances were recorded on 12 and 18 June 2014 respectively for noise monitoring at M3 in the reporting period.

11.3.3    One (1) noise-and-odour-related complaint was received on 19 December 2013 and followed up by the Environmental Team in the reporting period. The full complaint investigation report is annexed in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report for December 2013.

11.3.4    One (1) air-and-odour-related complaint was received on 24 February 2014 and followed up by the Environmental Team in the reporting period. The full complaint investigation report is annexed in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report for February 2014.

11.3.5    One (1) air-related complaint was received on 23 October 2014 and followed up by the Environmental Team in the reporting period. The full complaint investigation report is annexed in Appendix M of the Monthly EM&A Report for October 2014.

11.3.6    No notification of summons and successful prosecution was received in the reporting period.