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 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 Month
5.2 Impact Prediction for
the Next Month
5.3 Works and Monitoring
Schedule for the Next Month
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Summary of Works Undertaken
During the Reporting Period
Table 2.2 Cumulative
Quantity of Excavated Marine Sediments
Table 2.3 Summary
of Environmental Licensing, Notification and Permit Status
LIST OF ANNEXES
Annex
B Water Quality and Ecological
Sensitive Receivers
Annex
C Cumulative Complaints Statistics
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The construction
works for the Permanent Aviation Fuel Facility resumed on 9 July 2007. This thirty-second
monthly Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) report presents the
EM&A work carried out during the period from 1 June to 30 June 2009
in accordance with the EM&A Manual.
Breaches of all Action and Limit Levels
No water quality
monitoring was conducted (due to no dredging work) during the reporting period
that required comparison against Action and Limit Levels.
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 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. 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 were resumed on 9 July 2007 following the
latest requirements of the EP-262/2007/B
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 thirty-second EM&A Report which
summarizes the monitoring results and audit findings for the EM&A programme
during the reporting period from 1 June to
30 June 2009.
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. Marine
dredging operations were completed on 23 January 2009. Table 2.2 presents the cumulative
quantity of excavated materials up to that date. Daily and cumulative dredging production rates
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) |
|
Submarine |
·
Riser connections at seawall and
Sha Chau ·
Backfilling and placing of rock
armour over the pipelines |
Table 2.2 Cumulative
Quantity of Excavated Marine Sediments
|
Type of Excavated Materials |
Cumulative Bulk Volume (m3) |
|
From
17 December 2007 to 31 March 2008 |
|
|
Contaminated
Mud |
105,974 |
|
Uncontaminated
Mud |
97,815 |
|
|
|
|
From
1 September 2008 to 23 January 2009 |
|
|
Contaminated
Mud |
0 |
|
Uncontaminated
Mud |
149,147 |
No water quality monitoring was conducted during the
reporting period, hence presentation of the monitoring schedule is not
applicable.
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 period, a meeting was organised by the CLG on 10 June 2009. 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).
No environmental
non-compliance was found during the reporting period.
No environmental
complaints were received during the reporting period. A summary of environmental complaints since
project commencement is presented in Annex C.
No summons was received
in this reporting period. A summary of
legal proceeding since project commencement is presented in Annex C.
As no
environmental complaints were received over the last reporting period, no
follow-up actions were required.
Site inspections
were carried out by the ET on 4, 12, 19 and 29 June 2009. 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
·
On 19 June 2009, the Contractor was reminded to water regularly on the
unpaved areas as well as during sediment excavation to avoid dust generation.
Water Quality
·
On 4 and 26 June 2009, stagnant water pools were observed inside
chemical waste storage area and within tank farm. The Contractor was reminded to arrange ad hoc water clearance as necessary and
regularly check the efficiency of the drainage system.
·
On 4 June 2009, sediment plume was observed at the drainage discharge
outfall at the jetty area. This is
probably due to the heavy rainfall that had occurred during the previous night
that may have hindered the sedimentation inside the septic tanks. The Contractor was reminded to check efficiency
of the septic tanks regularly, especially after heavy rain.
·
On 12, 19 and 26 June 2009, a small leakage was found in the tap water
system next to the workshop and the drainage pipes. The Contractor was reminded to maintain the
tap water systems/pipes in good conditions and avoid accumulation of stagnant
water pools.
·
On 19 June 2009, the seawater in the vicinity of the jetty area appeared
turbid but no sediment plume was observed.
Although this observation was thus considered to be unlikely to be due
to the construction works, the Contractor was reminded to check the drainage
system regularly.
Waste Management
·
On 4, 12 and 26 June 2009, stockpiles of construction wastes and
chemical waste drums were accumulated
within the tank farm area without proper receptacle. The Contractor was reminded to replace bins for
temporary storage as soon as possible.
·
On 19 June 2009, two petroleum gas tanks were found on the new access road without proper receptacle. The
Contractor was reminded to move the tanks to the designated storage area as
soon as possible.
·
On 19 June 2009,
waste paper bin in the tank farm area was observed to be full. The Contractor was recommended to arrange
collection of wastes by a licensed Contractor as soon as possible.
With the exception
of the above observations, 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.
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
D.
Air and Noise
monitoring is not required for the project.
No dredging activities were scheduled from 24 January 2009 onwards. Water quality monitoring was therefore not required
for the reporting month.
Persistent
organic pollutants (POPs) monitoring was not required since there was no
dredging operation during the reporting month.
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 was 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 an orderly and acceptable manner.
The ET and IEC
verified updated design audit plan was 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.
Dolphin visual
monitoring was not required as no dredging works were scheduled for the
reporting period.
The EM&A Manual for the Project has been
updated by the ET to include the detailed arrangements of setting up a CLG,
carrying out design audit, and monitoring of Persistent Organic Pollutants
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 issue to be
considered in the next month 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, it is not expected that unacceptable adverse impacts will arise.
Work programme
for the next month includes:
·
backfilling
works;
·
jetty
platform works (non-piling); and
·
site
works (construction works for tank farm, operational and fire services buildings,
drainages, bund wall, security wall etc).
Weekly site
inspections will be undertaken.