Contents
1.1 Purpose of the Report
1.2 Key Contact Information
2.1 Project Area
2.2 Environmental Sensitive Receivers
2.3 Major Construction Activities
2.4 Monitoring Schedule of The Reporting Period
2.5 Status of Environmental Approval Documents
2.6 Community Liaison Group Meeting
2.7 Summary of Non-Compliance with the Environmental
Quality Performance Limits
2.8 Summary of Environmental Complaints
2.9 Summary of Environmental Summons
3 Environmental Issues and Actions
3.1 Previous Environmental Deficiencies and Follow-up
Actions
3.2 Description of Actions Taken in Event of
Non-Compliance and Deficiency Reporting
3.3 Implementation Status on Environmental Protection
Requirements
4.1 Air and Noise
4.2 Water Quality
4.3 POPs Monitoring
4.4 Waste Management
4.5 Cultural Heritage
4.6 Landscape and Visual
4.7 Land Contamination, Hazard to Life and Fuel Spill
Risk
4.8 Ecology
4.9 EM&A Manual
4.10 Baseline Water Quality Monitoring
5 Future Key Issues and Conclusion
5.1 Key Issues for the Next Reporting Period
5.2 Impact Prediction for the Next Reporting Period
5.3 Works and Monitoring Schedule for the Next Reporting
Period
5.4 Conclusion
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Summary
of Works Undertaken During the Reporting Period
Table 2.2 Cumulative
Quantity of Excavated Materials
Table 2.3 Summary
of Environmental Licensing, Notification and Permit Status
Table 2.4 Summary
of Exceedances of Action and Limit Levels Recorded during the Reporting Period
Table 3.1 Environmental
Deficiencies (Observations) from Site Inspections during Reporting Period
LIST OF ANNEXES
Annex A Project Location
Annex B Water Quality Monitoring
Stations, Water Quality and Ecological Sensitive Receivers
Annex C Water Quality Monitoring
Schedule for the Reporting Period
Annex D Cumulative Complaints
Statistics
Annex
E Implementation Programme of Mitigation
Measures
Annex F Graphical Presentation of
Impact Water Quality Monitoring Results for the Reporting Period
Annex
G Dolphin Sighting Records
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The construction works for the Permanent Aviation
Fuel Facility resumed on 9 July 2007.
This twelfth quarterly
Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) report presents the EM&A work
carried out during the period from 1
October to 31 December 2009 in
accordance with the EM&A Manual.
Breaches of all Action and
Limit Levels
Water quality monitoring during dredging activities
(13 November to 11 December 2009) recorded no exceedance
of Action or Limit Levels for Bottom Dissolved Oxygen (DO). There were no exceedances
of Limit levels for Depth-averaged Turbidity during the reporting period but on
18 November and 3 December, there were exceedances of
Action Levels at four stations for Depth-averaged Turbidity. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged DO were recorded on 13, 14, 15, 17, 21 and 23 November. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged Suspended Solids were recorded on 15, 17, 18 and 19 November,
and 3 and 5 December.
Following a review of data in accordance with the
procedures specified in the EM&A Manual,
all these exceedances were considered to be due to
natural fluctuation rather than the Project Works.
Complaint Log
No environmental complaints were received during the
reporting period.
Notifications
of any Summons and Successful Prosecutions
No environmental summons or prosecutions were
received in this reporting period.
Reporting
Changes
There were no reporting changes in the
reporting period.
Future Key Issues
·
Dust
release and suppression; and
·
Backfilling
of rock armour over the pipelines..
Leighton Contractors (
The construction works for PAFF commenced in November
2005 based upon the previous EIA (EIAO Register Number AEIAR-062-2002)
conducted and the Environmental Permit EP-139/2002 granted on the 28 August
2002. Due to minor changes to the
detailed layout of the site and the site boundary, application for Variation to
the Environmental Permit (VEP) (VEP-133/2004) was submitted to the Director of
Environmental Protection (DEP) for approval.
The variation to the EP (EP-139/2002/A) was granted by EPD in February
2004.
The decision by EPD to grant the above Environmental
Permit was, however, subject to a Judicial Review. The Judicial Review sided in the favour of
the DEP, as did the subsequent Judgement from the Court of Appeal from the High
Court for Judicial Review in March 2005.
However, the DEP’s decision to grant the EP
was quashed by the Judgement of the Court of Final Appeal of July 2006.
The construction works were stopped following the
Judgement of the Court of Final Appeal of July 2006. As such, in order to continue with the
construction of the project, the project went through the statutory procedures
under the EIAO again with a new design in order to obtain an environmental
permit. The revised EIA was submitted in
2007 and the environmental permit (EP-262/2007) was granted in May 2007. EP-262/2007 has been amended to EP262/2007/A and issued by the EPD on 30
November 2007. A further Variation to
the Environmental Permit has been approved to allow dredging works to continue
until March 2008. As such, EP-262/2007/A has been amended to EP-262/2007/B and issued by the EPD on
27 February 2008.
The construction works and EM&A requirements
resumed on 9 July 2007 following the latest requirements of the EP-262/2007 and EM&A Manual. Details
regarding the EM&A requirements and changes should refer to the updated
EM&A Manual. For the marine works,
all piling activities were completed before the previous suspension of
construction works in 2006.
This is the
twelfth quarterly EM&A Report which summarizes the monitoring results
and audit findings for the EM&A programme during the reporting period from 1 October to 31 December 2009.
Key contact information of the Project is presented
in Table 1.1.
Name |
Position |
Telephone |
Facsimile |
E-mail |
Airport Authority |
||||
Anthony Wong |
Assistant General Manager Aviation Logistics |
2183 3099 |
2824 2786 |
anthony.wong@hkairport.com |
Contractor – Leighton ( |
||||
Brian Gillon |
Project Director |
2823 1111 |
2529 8784 |
brian.gillon@leightonasia.com |
Boyd Merrett |
Project Manager |
2404 8900 |
2404 0081 |
boyd.merrett@leightonasia.com |
Franchisee’s Site Representative – ECO Aviation
Fuel Development Limited |
||||
Philip Siu |
Franchisee’s Site Representative |
2963 2820 |
2563 6311 |
philip.siu@towngas.com |
Environmental Team – ERM- |
||||
Craig Reid |
Environmental Team Leader |
2271 3000 |
2723 5660 |
craig.reid@erm.com |
Independent Environmental Checker – Hyder Consulting Limited |
||||
Roger Leung |
Independent Environmental Checker |
2911 2233 |
2805 5028 |
roger.leung@hyderconsulting.com |
The project area is in Area 38 of Tuen
Mun and the pipelines are located at
No air and noise sensitive receivers were identified
close to the project area. However,
water sensitive receivers and ecological sensitive receivers were identified in
the EIA study, and are shown in Annex B.
A summary of the major works undertaken in this
reporting period is shown in Table 2.1.
Initial marine dredging operations were completed on 23 January
2009. Due to pipeline repairs, dredging
works were resumed on 13 November 2009 and completed on 11 December 2009. Table 2.2 presents the cumulative
quantity of excavated materials during marine dredging operations. Daily and cumulative dredging production
rates between September 2008 and December 2009 are illustrated in Figure 2.1.
Table 2.1 Summary of Works Undertaken During the
Reporting Period
Area |
Works undertaken |
Tuen Mun Area 38 |
·
Tank Farm, Roof Truss and Bund Wall
Construction ·
Permanent Drainage Construction ·
Operational & Fire Services
Buildings Construction ·
Jetty Works (Non-piling) ·
Pre-Commission and Commissioning
Activities for Phase 1a (the first four tanks) |
Submarine
|
·
Riser connections at seawall and Sha Chau ·
Backfilling and placing of rock
armour over the pipelines ·
Dredging operations |
Table 2.2 Cumulative
Quantity of Excavated Materials
Type
of Excavated Materials |
Period
Bulk Volume (m3) |
Cumulative
Bulk Volume (m3) |
From 17 December 2007 to 31 March 2008 |
|
|
Contaminated Mud |
71,564 |
71,564 |
Uncontaminated Mud |
123,953 |
123,953 |
|
|
|
From 1
September 2008 to 23 January 2009 |
|
|
Contaminated Mud |
0 |
71,564 |
Uncontaminated Mud |
149,147 |
273,100 |
|
|
|
From 13 November 2009 to 11 December 2009 |
||
Contaminated Mud |
7,399 |
78,963 |
Uncontaminated Mud |
18,561 |
291,661 |
Daily water quality monitoring
was carried out during dredging activities during the reporting period from 13
November 2009 to 11 December 2009. The
water quality monitoring schedule for November and December 2009 is presented
in Annex C.
A summary of the relevant permits,
licences, and/or notifications on environmental protection for this Project
since July 2007 is presented in Table 2.3.
Table 2.3 Summary of Environmental Licensing,
Notification and Permit Status
Permit/ Licenses/ Notification |
Reference |
Validity Period |
Remarks |
Environmental
Permit |
EP-262/2007/B |
Throughout
Project |
Issued
on 27 February 2008 (EP-262/2007/A on
30 November 2007, EP-262/2007
issued on 31 May 2007, EP-139/2002
originally granted on 28 August 2002 and EP-139/2002/A
granted on 24 February 2004 were superseded) |
Chemical
Waste Producer Registration |
WPN 5111-421-L2174-25 |
Throughout
Project |
Issued
on 10 November 2005 |
Notification
of Construction Works under Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust)
Regulation |
H2104/U1D/5542/DG/DH/PL |
Throughout
Project |
Notification
on 6 July 2007 |
Construction
Noise Permit |
GW-RW0676-07 |
21
December 2007 to 19 June 2008 |
For
land-based works including air compressors, breakers, excavators, wheeled
loaders, mobile cranes, concrete lorry mixers, hand-held pokers, bar
benders/cutters, wood saws, grinders, submarine water pump, lorries with
crane, dump trucks, rollers, ventilation fans and generators |
GW-RW0677-07 |
21
December 2007 to 29 February 2008 |
For
marine dredging operation including grab dredger, tug boat, split hopper barge
and motor sampan |
|
GW-RW0678-07 |
21
December 2007 to 18 June 2008 |
For
marine jetty works including concrete pump derrick barges, hand-held
grinders, generators, air compressors, boring machines, water pumps, tug
boat, grout mixers and grout pumps |
|
GW-RW0094-08 |
1
March to 31 March 2008 |
For
marine dredging operation including grab dredger, tug boat, split hopper
barge and motor sampan |
|
GW-RW0312-08 |
04
July 2008 to 22 December 2008 |
For
marine jetty works including concrete pump derrick barges, hand-held
grinders, generators, air compressors, boring machines, water pumps, tug
boat, grout mixers and grout pumps |
|
GW-RW0313-08 |
04
July 2008 to 19 December 2008 |
For
land-based works including air compressors, breakers, excavators, wheeled
loaders, mobile cranes, concrete lorry mixers, hand-held pokers, bar
benders/cutters, wood saws, grinders, submarine water pump, lorries with
crane, dump trucks, rollers, ventilation fans and generators |
|
GW-RW0373-08 |
1
August 2008 to 20 January 2009 |
For
land-based works including air compressors, breakers, excavators, wheeled
loaders, mobile cranes, concrete lorry mixers, hand-held pokers, bar benders/cutters,
wood saws, grinders, submarine water pump, lorries with crane, dump trucks,
rollers, ventilation fans, generators, stirrer, jet chisel, water jet machine
and dehumidifier |
|
GW-RW0368-08 |
1
September to 30 November 2008 |
For
marine dredging operation including grab dredger, tug boat, split hopper
barge and motor sampan |
|
GW-RW0054-09 |
16
February 2009 to 5 August 2009 |
For
land-based and marine works including passenger launch, winch, welding machine,
grinder, generator, power pack, tug boat, crane, air compressor, roller,
hoist and derrick barge |
|
|
GW-RW0261-09 |
3
July 2009 to 3 November 2009 |
For
land-based and marine works including derrick barge, grinder, crane, tug
boat, drill, welding machine, hopper barge, motor sampan, air compressor |
|
GW-RW0299-09 |
21
July 2009 to 20 January 2010 |
For
land-based works including air compressors, breakers, excavators, wheeled
loaders, mobile cranes, concrete lorry mixers, hand-held pokers, bar
benders/cutters, wood saws, grinders, submarine water pump, lorries with
crane, dump trucks, rollers, ventilation fans, generators, stirrer, jet
chisel, water jet machine and dehumidifier etc |
|
GW-RW0459-09 |
26
October 2009 to 28 February 2010 |
For
marine dredging operation including air compressors, derrick barge, tug boat,
mobile crane, hand-held grinder, generator, hand-held drill, winch, welding
machine, motor sampan, grab dredger hopper barge etc |
Marine
Dumping Permit |
EP/MD/08-064 |
13
December 2007 to 29 February 2008 |
For
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal |
EP/MD/08-065 |
13
December 2007 to 12 January 2008 |
For
Type 1d & Type 2 marine disposal |
|
EP/MD/08-071 |
13
January 2008 to 12 February 2008 |
For
Type 1d & Type 2 marine disposal |
|
EP/MD/08-090 |
3
March to 31 March 2008 |
For
Type 1d & Type 2 marine disposal |
|
EP/MD/08-091 |
3
March to 31 March 2008 |
For
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal |
|
EP/MD/09-018 |
1
September to 30 September 2008 |
For
Type 1d & Type 2 marine disposal |
|
EP/MD/09-032 |
1
October to 31 October 2008 |
For
Type 1d & Type 2 marine disposal |
|
EP/MD/09-017 |
1
September to 30 November 2008 |
For
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal |
|
EP/MD/09-039 |
1
December 2008 to 31 January 2009 |
For
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal |
|
|
EP/MD/10-041 |
11
November 2009 to 31 December 2009 |
For
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal |
EP/MD/10-042 |
11
November 2009 to 10 December 2009 |
For
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal (Dedicated Site) & Type 2 – Confined Marine
Disposal |
|
Wastewater
Discharge License |
EP760/421/011399/l |
15 March 2006 to 31 March 2011 |
Issued
on 15 March 2006 |
According to the EP
requirements, a Community Liaison Group (CLG) was established within three
months after commencement of construction of the Project. The major duty of the CLG is to advise on and
monitor the proper design, construction and operation of the Project. The CLG comprises representatives from
Airport Authority, members of Tuen Mun community and academics. Whereas
previously the CLG would meet quarterly, following their last meeting on 13
September 2009, it was agreed to meet every six months. Therefore, during the reporting period, no meetings
were organised by the CLG. Details of the CLG (including Membership and its Terms of
Reference) and the meeting minutes can be found on the Project website (http://www.paffhk.com).
Water
quality monitoring during dredging activities (13 November to 11 December 2009)
recorded no exceedance of
Action or Limit Levels for Bottom Dissolved Oxygen (DO). There were no exceedances
of Limit levels for Depth-averaged Turbidity during the reporting period but on
18 November and 3 December, there were exceedances of
Action Levels at four stations for Depth-averaged Turbidity. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged DO were recorded on 13, 14, 15, 17, 21 and 23 November. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged Suspended Solids were recorded on 15, 17, 18 and 19 November,
and 3 and 5 December.
A summary of the exceedances
occurring during the reporting period is shown in Table 2.4 and a description of the actions taken following these
non-compliances is detailed in Section
3.2.
Table 2.4 Summary
of Exceedances of Action and Limit Levels Recorded
during the Reporting Period
Date |
Parameter |
Monitoring Stations |
|
Mid-Ebb Tide |
Mid-Flood Tide |
||
13 Nov 2009 |
DO (Depth-averaged) |
|
IMO1*, IMO3*, IMO4* |
SS (Depth-averaged) |
|
IMO4* |
|
14 Nov 2009 |
DO (Depth-averaged) |
IMO1, MPB1, MPB2 |
IMO1, IMO2, IMO3, IMO4, MPB1*, MPB2*,
MP* |
15 Nov 2009 |
DO (Depth-averaged) |
MPB1, MPB2, MP |
IMO1*, IMO2, IMO3, IMO4, MPB2 |
|
SS (Depth-averaged) |
MP |
IMO2*, IMO3, IMO4* |
17 Nov 2009 |
DO (Depth-averaged) |
MPB1 |
IMO1*, IMO2*, MP |
|
SS (Depth-averaged) |
MPB1*, MPB2, MP* |
IMO1*, MPB1*, MPB2*, MP* |
18 Nov 2009 |
Turbidity (Depth-averaged) |
IMO5*, MPB2* |
IMO5*, MPB2* |
|
SS (Depth-averaged) |
MPB1*, MPB2 |
MPB1* |
19 Nov 2009 |
SS (Depth-averaged) |
MPB2* |
IMO1*, IMO6*, MPB2* |
21 Nov 2009 |
DO (Depth-averaged) |
IMO5*, IMO6* |
IMO6 |
SS (Depth-averaged) |
MPB1* |
|
|
23 Nov 2009 |
DO (Depth-averaged) |
|
IMO5* |
3 Dec 2009 |
Turbidity (Depth-averaged) |
|
IMO5*, MPB1*, MPB2*, MP* |
SS (Depth-averaged) |
MPB1 |
IMO5, IMO6*, MPB1, MPB2, MP |
|
5 Dec 2009 |
SS (Depth-averaged) |
|
IMO5, IMO6 |
*Note: Action Level
but not Limit Level exceedance
No environmental complaint was received during
the reporting period. A statistical
summary of environmental complaints since project commencement is presented in Annex D.
No summons was received in this reporting
period. A statistical summary of legal
proceeding since project commencement is presented in Annex D.
As no environmental complaints were received over the
last reporting period, no follow-up action was required.
Weekly site inspections were carried out by the ET on
7, 14, 21 and 28 October, 6, 12, 19 and 26 November, and 2, 10, 18, 23 and 30
December 2009. Overall, the site was in good orderly manner and no
non-compliances were found.
Environmental deficiencies and follow-up actions/mitigation measures
were identified during the inspections and summarised in Table 3.1.
Table
3.1 Environmental
Deficiencies (Observations) from Site Inspections during Reporting Period
Reporting Month |
Observation |
Follow-up Action |
October 2009 |
Much of the Tank Farm area was unpaved. |
The
Contractor was reminded to regularly water the unpaved areas to avoid dust
generation. |
Black smoke was seen being emitted
from a barge sitting offshore of the Jetty area. |
The Contractor
was advised to inspect or service the engine as soon as possible. |
|
The exposed
slope surfaces at excavation site near the main entrance were not
sufficiently covered. |
The Contractor was reminded to cover
exposed surfaces by tarpaulin or planting vegetation to avoid dust
generation. |
|
Water was
found leaking from Tank 11. |
The Contractor was reminded to
ensure the water drained adequately and was not left to accumulate in
stagnant pools. |
|
A stagnant pool of water was
observed underneath the dehumidifier leading into Tank 8, and the hose
leading from the dripping pipe was not leading to a drain. |
The
Contractor was advised to fill in the stagnant water pool and to ensure the
hose from the pipe led to a drain. |
|
Mosquito larvae were observed in
the sediment tanks near the middle entrance (to Phase 1a). |
The
Contractor was advised to cover the sediment tanks as soon as possible. |
|
The sea water near the Jetty area was
turbid, which might have been due to sediment disturbance from the propeller
of the barge operating in the shallow area. |
Since the
operation was temporary and the disturbance was localised,
no remedial action was advised. |
|
Water was observed in the bunding around the diesel tank and the generator
respectively, in the workshop area. |
The Contractor was advised to
clear the water immediately. |
|
Cleaning of
Tank 11 caused water to collect at its base. |
The Contractor was advised to clear or backfill
the water as soon as the cleaning was completed. |
|
The paper recycling bin near the
main office area was starting to overflow. |
The Contractor was advised to
empty the bin and put the spare, new recycling bins out around the site. |
|
The labels on the drums in the
chemical waste storage area were observed to be damaged or absent. |
The
Contractor was advised to renew the labels. |
|
Painting material
without proper receptacles was found near the sediment tank near the middle
entrance (to Phase 1a). |
The
Contractor was advised to clear this into the chemical waste storage area as
soon as possible. |
|
Scattered pieces of debris were found
around the Tank Farm and Jetty areas. |
The
Contractor was advised to collect all debris and dispose of it appropriately. |
|
Black plastic bags and hosepipes
were found deposited in the chemical waster storage area by Tank 10. |
The Contractor
was advised to clear these to the appropriate place as soon as possible. |
|
No fire
extinguisher was found next to the generator by Tank 10. |
The
Contractor was reminded to put a fire extinguisher next to the generator as
soon as possible. |
|
November 2009 |
The air compressor near the Jetty area was found
without a label or drip tray. The air
compressor was evidently not yet in operation. |
The Contractor was advised to ensure the air compressor
had the correct label and a drip tray before starting operation. |
The CNP permit
showing at the main site entrance showed an expiry date of 3 November 2009. |
The
Contractor was advised to put up the new permit that had been obtained. |
|
The sediment
tanks near the middle entrance (to Phase 1a) were left uncovered and a
possible breeding ground for mosquitoes. |
The
Contractor was advised to cover the sediment tanks as soon as possible. |
|
A pipe connection
on the path leading from the main to the middle entrance was found to be
leaking. |
The
Contractor was asked to fix the connection as soon as possible. |
|
Water was
observed in the bunding around the generator in the
Workshop area and in the drip tray of the diesel drum near the Workshop
area. |
The
Contractor was advised to clear this water immediately. |
|
A thin oil film
was observed on the seawater by the jetty.
Water coming out of the drainage system appeared clean and it was concluded
that the oil film was probably not resulting from the PAFF site. |
No action
necessary. |
|
Dirty water was
found behind the painting area by Tank 8. |
The
Contractor was advised to clear the water as soon as possible. |
|
Scattered pieces of debris were
found around the Tank Farm areas, a stockpile of debris and construction
waste were found just inside the middle entrance to the site, and wire debris
was found behind a lorry by Tank 10.
Black plastic bags and hosepipes were also found deposited in the
chemical waster storage area by Tank 10. |
The Contractor was advised to
collect all debris and dispose of it appropriately. |
|
A temporary paint area had been
set up by Tank 8. |
The Contractor was advised to
check the set-up of the paint area near Tank 8 to ensure it was safe and
there was no contamination of the surrounding area. They were also advised to ensure that all
empty paint cans were stored in the chemical waste facility. |
|
The dredging barge
was inspected and there were insufficient waste receptacles. |
The Contractor was advised to
ensure that rubbish bins were provided on all levels of the barge, and that
they were of adequate capacity. |
|
Oil was
identified in the drip tray around the generator aboard the grab dredger and
there was an open plastic bucket of oil near the generator. |
The
Contractor was advised to clear the drip tray immediately and cover the
plastic bucket. |
|
The electric hazard label on the generator
aboard the grab dredger was illegible. |
The
Contractor was advised to arrange for a new sign to be put in place. |
|
December 2009 |
A sediment plume
was observed in the run-off drainage near the Jetty area. |
The
Contractor was advised to settle the run-off via a sediment tank before being
discharged. |
Water was
observed in the drip tray of the diesel drum outside the workshop area and in
the air compressor by Tank 11. |
The
Contractor was advised to clear all this water as soon as practicable. |
|
The bunding round the
generator in the workshop area was found to have a pipe leaking water from
inside to outside. |
The Contractor was advised to bung the pipe as
soon as possible. |
|
The drainage system was not in operation as the
sediment tanks had been removed due to the construction works. |
The Contractor was advised to reinstate the
sediment tanks and restore the drainage system as soon as possible as there
had been some rain recently and there was some surplus water onsite. |
|
General refuse had accumulated without receptacles
in the tank farm area and debris in black plastic bags was found near the
Jetty Area. |
The
Contactor was advised to remove and store all refuse in proper containers and
to place black plastic bags of debris in a skip or remove them as soon as
possible. |
|
Empty paint cans were found in the chemical waste
storage area. Drums with no labels and
no drip trays were also found near the office block. |
The Contractor was advised to place the empty
paint cans in black plastic bags and label them appropriately and to label
the drums and place them in drip trays. |
|
The painting subcontractor’s chemical waste disposal
trip tickets for disposal of their empty paint cans were not available for
inspection. |
The Contractor was advised to follow this up with
the subcontractor as soon as possible to make them available. |
|
The chemical waste storage by Tank 8 and by the
offices was found to be full, some waste was observed outside the storage
facility and a dead rat was also found under the black plastic bags. |
The Contractor was advised to clear the waste to a
designated chemical waste area as soon as possible, and then get the waste
cleared by a licensed collector immediately. |
|
Some oil stains were found on the floor inside the
bunded area of the machinery on the grab dredger. |
The Contractor was advised to clear the oil as
soon as possible. |
|
Two oil drums were found on the grab dredger
without drip trays. |
The Contractor was advised to put the drums inside
a trip tray as soon as possible. |
|
Waste receptacles on the grab dredger were found to
be of inadequate capacity. |
The Contractor was advised to provide larger waste
receptacles as soon as possible. |
|
A leaking diesel pump was found on the grab
dredger, with a plastic bucket below it to catch the drips. |
The Contractor was advised to get the pump fixed
as soon as possible. |
|
A small amount of soil was observed outside the
vehicle entrance on the site access road. |
The Contractor was advised to clean it as soon as
possible and to implement wheel-wash procedures properly. |
|
|
A water pipe connection and another hosepipe
behind Tank 11 were found to be leaking and producing stagnant pools of
water. |
The Contractor was asked to fix the leaking water
and clear/fill the stagnant water as soon as possible. |
The ET will keep track on the EM&A programme to
ensure compliance of environmental requirements and the proper implementation
of all necessary mitigation measures.
Water quality monitoring during dredging activities
(13 November to 11 December 2009) recorded no exceedance
of Action or Limit Levels for Bottom Dissolved Oxygen (DO). There were no exceedances
of Limit levels for Depth-averaged Turbidity during the reporting period but on
18 November and 3 December, there were exceedances of
Action Levels at four stations for Depth-averaged Turbidity. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged DO were recorded on 13, 14, 15, 17, 21 and 23 November. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged Suspended Solids were recorded on 15, 17, 18 and 19 November and
3 and 5 December.
A summary of the exceedances
recorded during the reporting period is shown in Table 2.4 of Section 2.7 and
graphical representations of the results are presented in Annex F.
Descriptions of the actions taken following identification of
non-compliance are discussed below.
Although dredging operations were undertaken during the
reporting period, on examination of the results, it was concluded that all the exceedances described above were unlikely
to be caused by the Project for the following reasons:
·
Not
all parameters showed the same trend of exceedance
results at the same stations at the same tide (eg on
3 December there were exceedances of Depth-averaged
Turbidity and Suspended Solids at various stations, but there were no exceedances of Bottom or Depth-averaged DO at any station
throughout the day).
·
Exceedances were found
at monitoring stations upstream and downstream of dredging vessels that were
not in operation (e.g. exceedance of Action Level of
depth-averaged DO on 13 November 2009 at IMO3 and IMO4). The values were comparable to exceedances found at stations upstream and downstream of
operational dredging vessels on the same day (eg exceedance of Action Level of depth-averaged DO on 13
November 2009 at IMO1).
·
There
have been incidents in the past in this area where exceedances
have occurred despite the dredger not being in operation (eg
10 Feb 2008, exceedance in SS despite no dredging
work; 17 and 22 Dec 2007, 4 and 5 Jan 2008, 6 and 10 Feb 2008, exceedances in Turbidity despite no dredging work).
Although the measured levels of Suspended Solids were
particularly high at MPB1 on 3 December 2009, MPB1 station was located far away
from the dredging operation at the time.
As mentioned previously, there have also been incidents in the past in
this area where exceedances have occurred despite the
dredger not being in operation, it was concluded that the exceedances
were unlikely to be due to the project works.
As per the requirements of the EM&A Manual, incidents were notified to the Franchisee’s Site
Representative, the Contractor and the Independent Environmental Checker upon
identification of an exceedance.
The implementation status of environmental mitigation
measures and requirements as stated in the EIA
Report, Environmental Permits and
EM&A Manual during the reporting period is
summarized in Annex
E.
Air and Noise monitoring is not required for the
project.
In accordance to the EM&A Manual, water quality monitoring was carried out during
dredging activities, which commenced on 13 November 2009 and were completed on
11 December 2009. QA/QC reports for Suspended Solids testing and
monitoring results have been presented in
37th and 38th Monthly EM&A Reports. Graphical presentations of the
monitored parameter during the reporting period are included in Annex F.
Results of the monitoring demonstrated that all measured
Bottom Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels were compliant with the Action and Limit
Levels specified in the EM&A Manual. Concentrations of Depth-averaged Turbidity
were also all compliant with Limit levels but exceeded Action Levels on two
days, 18 November and 3 December, at four stations. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged DO were recorded on 13, 14, 15, 17, 21 and 23 November. Exceedances of
Depth-averaged Suspended Solids were recorded on 15, 17, 18 and 19 November and
3 and 5 December. A review of the above exceedances concluded that they were not attributable to
the Project works and were likely due to natural variation (see Section 3.2 for further details).
Biweekly monitoring of water samples was
conducted for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
analysis and during the reporting period on 25
November and 8 December. Total PCBs, PAHs and DDTs were all below
detection limits.
Monitoring results and QA/QC
reports for POPs testing have been presented in 37th
and 38th Monthly EM&A Reports.
The Watching Brief
Report, verified by the Independent Environmental Checker, was submitted to
the EPD and AMO on 9 May 2008.
According to the EIA report and EM&A Manual,
mitigation measures and site inspection are required during the landscaping/planting
works. The berm/landscaping
bund was habilitated by vegetation which has grown during the project
suspension period.
The weekly site inspections included general audits
on landscape and visual issues to ensure that the site was in orderly and acceptable
manner.
The ET and IEC verified updated design audit plan
which was submitted to the EPD on 7 November 2007.
Weekly site inspections covered the waste management
aspects which included measures to prevent land contamination by chemical
wastes.
In accordance to EM&A
Manual, dolphin monitoring was undertaken during dredging activities from
13 November 2009 to 11 December 2009.
During the reporting period, a total of eight dolphin
sightings were recorded. Four sightings
were recorded outside the exclusion zone while four sightings were recorded
within the zone. Five sightings occurred
during dredging, but only one occurred of these occurred within the exclusion
zone. No action was considered necessary
should dolphins are sighted within the zone during dredging according to the EM&A Manual. The sighting locations and field records are
presented in Annex
G.
The EM&A
Manual for the Project has been updated by the ET to include the detailed
arrangements of setting up a Community Liaison Group, carrying out design
audit, and monitoring of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
during construction of the Project. The
revised EM&A Manual, which has
been verified by the IEC, was submitted to the EPD on 1 April 2009.
The
Final Baseline Monitoring Report was
submitted to the EPD on 20 February 2008 and placed under the EIAO register.
Key issues to be considered in the next reporting
period will be:
·
dust
release and suppression; and
·
backfilling
of rock armour over pipelines.
Provided that environmental mitigation measures
including good on-site practises are properly implemented, no unacceptable
adverse environmental impacts are expected.
Work programme for the next reporting period
includes:
·
backfilling
and placing of rock armour works;
·
riser
connections at Sha Chau;
·
jetty
platform works (non-piling);
·
site works
(construction works for tank farmdrainages, bund
wall, security wall, emergency vehicle access road etc); and,
·
commissioning
activities for Phase 1a (the first four tanks).
Weekly site inspections will be undertaken in
accordance with the EM&A Manual.
The EM&A works were conducted throughout the
construction period and the relevant monitoring was conducted in accordance
with the EP’s requirements. Mitigation
measures were used to minimise the environmental impacts, where
appropriate. Some environmental
deficiencies were observed during the site inspections and the Contractor
implemented corrective action to mitigate the issues. Overall, the site was in an orderly manner.