Contents
1.1 Purpose
of the Report
2.1 Project
Area
2.2 Environmental
Sensitive Receivers
2.3 Major
Construction Activities
2.4 Monitoring
Schedule of The Reporting Month
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
5.1 Key
Issues for the Next One Month
5.2 Impact
Prediction for the Next One Month
5.3 Works
and Monitoring Schedule for the Next One Month
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Summary of Works Undertaken
During the Reporting Period
Table 2.2 Cumulative
Quantity of Excavated Materials up to 29 February 2008
Table
2.3 Summary of Environmental Licensing,
Notification and Permit Status
LIST OF ANNEXES
Annex A Project Location
Annex B Water Quality Monitor Stations, Water Quality and Ecological Sensitive
Receiver
Annex C Monitoring Schedule for the Reporting Period and Next Month
Annex D Cumulative Complaint Statics
Annex E Implementation Programme of Mitigation Measures
Annex F QA/QC Results of Laboratory Testing for Suspended Solids
Annex G Impact Water Quality Monitoring Results
Annex H Monitoring Results and QA/QC Reports of Laboratory Testing for POPs
Annex I Dolphin Sighting Records
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The construction
works for the Permanent Aviation Fuel Facility resumed on 9th July
2007. This sixteenth monthly Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A)
report presents the EM&A works carried out during the period from 1st February to 29th February 2008 in
accordance with the EM&A Manual.
Breaches of all Action and Limit Levels
Daily exceedance of
Action Levels of Turbidity was found between 1st to 20th February
2008 (with the exception of 11th February 2008) prior to the
introduction of the amended Action Level in accordance with the revised Final
Baseline Monitoring Report for water quality.
Following this amendment, no exceedances of Depth-averaged Turbidity
were recorded for the remainder of the monitoring month. Occasional exceedances of Action Limit Levels
of Suspended Solids were found on 10, 12, 13 and 24 February 2008. Following review of data in accordance with
the procedures specified in the EM&A
Manual, these exceedances were considered due to natural fluctuation from
the
Complaint Log
No environmental
complaints were received during the reporting period.
Notifications of any Summons
and Successful Prosecutions
No environmental summon 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;
·
Dredging
activities; and,
·
Water
quality monitoring and dolphin monitoring during the dredging activities.
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 28th 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 the EPD in February 2004.
The decision by
the 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 EP-262/2007/A and issued by the EPD on
30 November 2007.
It should be
noted that at the time of reporting, a further Variation to the Environmental
Permit has been approved, primarily to allow for dredging works to continue
during 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 were resumed on 9th 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 sixteenth EM&A Report which
summarizes the monitoring results and audit findings for the EM&A programme
during the reporting period from 1st
February to 29th February
2008.
The project area
is in Area 38 of Tuen Mun and the pipelines are located in
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. Table
2.2 presented the cumulative quantity of excavated materials up to 29th
February 2008. The cumulative dredging
volume during the reporting period was presented in Figure 2.1.
Table 2.1 Summary
of Works Undertaken During the Reporting Period
Area |
Works
undertaken |
Tuen Mun Area 38 |
Tank Farm and Bund Wall Construction Permanent Drainage Construction Operational & Fire Services Buildings
Construction Jetty Works (Non-piling) |
Submarine |
Dredging Operations |
Table
2.2 Cumulative
Quantity of Excavated Materials up to 29th February 2008
Type of Excavated Materials |
Cumulative Bulk Volume (m3) |
Contaminated
Mud |
63,292 |
Uncontaminated
Mud |
89,543 |
Daily water quality monitoring during dredging
activities commenced on 17 December 2007. A marine archaeological Watching Brief of two
sub-surface anomalies was also implemented from 21st to 28th
February 2008 during the dredging of the surrounding seabed located within the
route of the twin pipelines from the PAFF tank farm at Tuen Mun Area 38 to Sha
Chau. The monitoring schedule for February
and March 2008 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/A |
Throughout
Project |
Issued
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 |
Marine
Dumping Permit |
EP/MD/08-064 |
13
December 2007 to 29 February 2008 |
For
Type 1 marine 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 |
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) shall be 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. During the reporting month, there
was no meeting or site visit organised by the CLG.
The 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 recorded exceedance of Action Levels of
Depth-averaged Turbidity with exception of 11th February 2008. There
was exceedance of the Action Levels of Depth-averaged Suspended Solids (SS) on
the 10, 12, 13 and 24 February 2008. A
description of the actions taken following these non-compliances is discussed
in Section 3.2.
No environmental complaints were received during the reporting period. A summary of environmental complaints since
project commencement is presented in Annex D.
No summons were received
in this reporting period. A summary of
legal proceeding since project commencement is presented in Annex D.
As no
environmental complaint was received over the last reporting period, no
follow-up action was required.
Weekly site
inspections were carried out by the ET on 5, 15, 22 and 29 February 2008. Overall, the site was in good orderly manner
and no non-compliance was found. Environmental
deficiencies and follow-up actions/mitigation measures were identified during
the inspections, as follows:
Air Quality
·
Water tankers
were used regularly to wet the road surface to minimize dust emission.
·
Site entrance was
paved and wheel-washing facility was provided to avoid dust deposit on the public
road.
·
Main access road
within the site (between site office and exit) was paved to avoid dust emission. Other sections of the major access road in
the construction area were paved with stones.
Noise
·
No noisy
activities were conducted during the audit.
·
All air
compressors on site were operated with a valid noise label.
Water Quality
·
During the site
inspection on 5 February 2008, oil stains were spotted on seawater around the
Grab Dredger (DG4503). The contractor
was recommended to clean up the oil stains and investigate the cause of
incidence to avoid further leakages.
·
Site toilets were
provided on site. A soil soakaway system
with holding tanks was installed to treat the sewage from the toilets. No effluent discharge out of the site was
made.
·
The site canteen
is no longer in operation and hence no waste water is generated.
Waste Management
·
During the site inspection on 22 February
2008, piles of general wastes from construction works inside the oil tanks were
spotted on roadsides without proper containers.
The Contractor was recommended to arrange a suitable waste bin for
temporary collection of wastes in accordance to the waste management plan
developed from the approved EIA.
·
During the site visit on 1 February 2008,
chemical storage barrels on dredger GD4503 were not stored properly. The Contractor was recommended to ensure
proper chemical management in accordance with the procedures presented in the
EIA.
Landscape and Visual
·
The transplanted trees at the new site were
in good and healthy condition; and,
·
The berm was habilitated by vegetation.
Overall, the site
was in a good orderly manner. 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 recorded daily exceedance of Action
Levels of Depth-averaged Turbidity, with exception of 11th February 2008. There was exceedance of the Action Levels of
Depth-averaged Suspended Solids (SS) on the 10, 12, 13 and 24 February 2008. Details of exceedance were presented in the
monitoring results Annex G. Descriptions of
the actions taken following identification of non-compliance are discussed in Section 3.
Although dredging
operations were undertaken during the reporting period, the exceedances
were unlikely to be caused by the Project and were considered to be an isolated
case due to the following reasons:
·
Exceedance
of Action Level of depth-averaged Turbidity was found on 17, 21, 22, 31
December 2007 and 4, 5 January 2008 (when no dredging was undertaken), whose
values were comparable to those of days with dredging operations
·
Depth-averaged
DO, bottom DO and depth-averaged SS did not show the same trend of exceedance
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 temporal and
spatial trend of the results collected during the impact monitoring have
been plotted against those collected during the baseline monitoring and are
discussed below. Results are illustrated
in Figure
G3 in Annex G.
During impact
monitoring on both ebb and flood tides, turbidity and SS levels at all stations
are generally comparable with those levels recorded during the baseline
monitoring. It is more likely that the
waters upstream of the works site are influenced by other factors, such as
natural fluctuations of turbidity and SS observed in the Pearl River
Estuary.
It is also
important to note that the construction works were not carried out continuously
over the weeks during the impact monitoring period. On some occasions, there were no marine works
undertaken on site during the monitoring period.
In accordance
with the required procedures specified in the EM&A Manual to be taken following the trigger of an Action
Level, discussions between the Environmental Team (ET) and the Independent
Environmental Checker (IEC) resulted in an amendment made to the Action Level
for the monitoring of Turbidity for the Project, such that the Action Level of
Turbidity be amended to follow the same principle as that currently applied to
DO and SS. This amendment was introduced
on 1st March 2008, following the submission of the revised Final Baseline Monitoring Report for
water quality to the EPD on 20 February 2008 and later under the EIAO register
on 29 February 2008. As such, the
compliance of depth-averaged Turbidity from that date onwards has been checked
against the revised Action Levels.
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, during dredging activities, water quality monitoring commenced
on 17 December 2007. QA/QC reports for Suspended Solids testing are
presented in Annex F. Monitoring data and graphical
presentations of the results are included in Annex G.
Results of the
monitoring demonstrated that all measured dissolved oxygen levels of all Impact
Stations were compliant with the Action and Limit (AL) Levels specified in the EM&A Manual. Concentrations of Suspended Solids (SS) were
generally below AL Levels, however, exceedances were noted for 10, 12, 13 and
24 February 2008. Turbidity levels were,
however, above Action Levels on a daily basis (except on 11 and 17 February
2008) during the reporting month. A
review of the above exceedances concluded that these were not attributable to
Project works and were likely due to natural variation (see Section 3.2 for further details).
Biweekly monitoring of water samples was conducted for POPs
analysis. At the time of this report,
results were available for 23 January and 6 February 2008. All POPs parameters (ie total PCBs, total
DDTs and total PAHs) were below detection limits. Monitoring results and QA/QC reports
for POPs testing are presented in Annex
H.
The remaining
results of February’s monitoring will be presented in the next Monthly Monitoring Report once they
become available.
In accordance
with the EM&A Manual, a marine
archaeological Watching Brief of two sub-surface anomalies was implemented from
21st to 28th February 2008 during the dredging of the
surrounding seabed located within the route of the twin pipelines from the PAFF
tank farm at Tuen Mun Area 38 to Sha Chau.
The watching
process consisted of monitoring the dredging of sediments to the recorded
sub-surface depths of the anomalies, followed by a diver inspection of the
uncovered seabed within the trench.
Material found in
the location of the two anomalies consisted of urban waste, trash and recently
quarried granite and feldspar rocks. No
archaeological sites or relics were found and it is considered by the licensed
Marine Archaeologist that the anomalies have no cultural heritage significance. No additional mitigation measures were thus
required to be implemented by the PAFF project in regard to the anomalies SS1
and SS2.
The details and
findings of this watching process will be presented in the Watching Brief Report and submitted separately to EPD and AMO for
review.
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 was grown during the project suspension period. The transplanted trees were in good and
healthy condition.
The weekly site
inspections included audits on landscape and visual issues to ensure that the
site was in orderly acceptable manner.
According to the
EIA report and EM&A Manual, mitigation measures and design phase audit are
required to minimise the risk of fuel spill and hazards. The Contractor will
submit the updated design audit plan according to the EP requirements.
Pursuant to Condition 3.5 of the EP, the Contractor
submitted three design drawings which address the specific sub-clauses on Condition 3.5a of the EP concerning the
containment systems of aviation fuel storage tank farm. The ET and the IEC have provided
certification and verification to the drawings respectively and the drawings
were submitted to the EPD on 7 November 2007.
Weekly site
inspection covered the waste management aspects which included measures to
prevent land contamination by chemical wastes.
In accordance with
EM&A Manual, dolphin monitoring
has been undertaken during dredging activities since 17 December 2007. During the reporting period, a total of eleven
dolphin sightings were recorded.
Appropriate action was taken in accordance with the EM&A Manual. The
sighting locations and field records are presented in Annex I.
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 during construction of the Project. The updated EM&A Manual was revised
accordingly to the comments received from the EPD on 6th December
2007 and was submitted to the EPD on 10th December 2007. Comments were received from the EPD on 22
January 2008. The ET will update the EM&A
Manual accordingly within the next reporting period.
Baseline water
quality monitoring was conducted between 24 October and 30 October 2007 at six
designated monitoring stations (three impact stations and three control
stations) established for the Project in accordance with the EM&A Manual. The
Final
Baseline Monitoring Report
was submitted to the EPD on 21 November and comments were received from the EPD
on 6th December. A revised Final Baseline Monitoring Report was
submitted to the EPD on 20th February 2008 with no further comments
received and later placed under the EIAO register.
As noted in
Section 1, the VEP-262/2007/A has
allowed for dredging to continue through the next reporting period, ie March
2008. As such, key issues to be
considered in the next one month will include:
·
Dust
release and suppression;
·
Operation
of dredging activities; and,
·
Water
quality monitoring and dolphin monitoring during the dredging activities
Provided that
environmental mitigation measures including good on-site practises are properly
implemented, it is not expected that unacceptable adverse impacts will arise.
Based on the water
quality monitoring results recorded to date, it may be expected that further
exceedances in Suspended Solids may be recorded. However, as with those recorded so far, it is
not expected that such exceedances would be attributable to Project Works.
Work programme
for the next one month includes jetty platform works (non-piling), site works
(construction works for tank farm, operational and fire services buildings,
drainages, bund wall, security wall etc) and dredging operation. Weekly site inspections will be undertaken. Water quality and dolphin monitoring will be
undertaken in accordance with the EM&A
Manual.