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 A Project Location
Annex B Water Quality and Ecological
Sensitive Receivers
Annex C Cumulative Complaints Statistics
Annex D Implementation Programme of
Mitigation Measures
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The construction
works for the Permanent Aviation Fuel Facility resumed on 9 July 2007. This thirty-fourth
monthly Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) report presents the
EM&A work carried out during the period from 1 August to 31 August 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 was 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 was 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-fourth EM&A Report which
summarizes the monitoring results and audit findings for the EM&A programme
during the reporting period from 1 August
to 31 August 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) ·
Pre-Commission and Commissioning
Activities for Phase 1A (the first four tanks) |
Submarine |
·
Riser connections at 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 |
|
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 |
|
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) was established within three months of 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, no meetings were
organised by the CLG. The details of the CLG
(including Membership and its Terms of Reference) and the minutes of previous
meetings 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 5, 14, 19 and 28 August 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:
Water Quality
·
On 5, 14 and 19 August 2009, stagnant water pools were observed in the
drip trays of machinery or round drums. Stagnant
pools of water were found in the bunding around the
diesel tank and generator in the workshop area on 5 and 14 August 2009, in the bunding around the diesel drum near Tank 11 on 5, 14 and 19
August 2009, and in the bunding round the air
compressor and diesel tank next to the pumping station on 19 August 2009. The Contractor was reminded to cover the
diesel tank and generator in the workshop area with the tarpaulin during rain
storms, clear water in the bunded areas and regularly
clear stagnant water.
·
On 19 and 28 August 2009, a stagnant pool of water was observed
underneath the de-humidifier leading into Tank 8, due to a constant drip originating
from the machine. The Contractor was
advised to attach a pipe to the drip to dispose of water appropriately into the
drainage system and to clear the stagnant water.
·
On 5 August 2009, the water being pumped out of Tank 12 was not going
into the drainage system. The Contractor
was asked to source a longer hose so that water was directed into the drainage
system.
·
On 5 and 14 August 2009, the water hose leaving the sediment tank by
Tank 12 was not going directly into the drainage system. The Contractor was reminded to move the pipe
so that it went into the drainage system.
·
On 14 August a bund stopper and some water pipes were found to be
leaking. The Contractor was reminded to
reseal the join and repair the pipes to keep them all in good working order.
·
On 5, 14 and 19 August 2009, a sediment plume was observed at the
drainage discharge outfall at the jetty area.
After investigation, it was concluded that the plume was probably due to
the heavy rain during the previous night and the disrepair of the sandbags and
filters. The Contractor was reminded to repair
the sandbags and filters on all the open drains and check the efficiency of the
sediment tanks/ silt retention measures regularly, especially after heavy rain.
·
On 5 August 2009, a thin film of oil was observed on the steps going
down to the water in the jetty area. The
Contractor was asked to investigate the source of the problem and clear the oil
sheen as soon as possible.
·
On 19 August 2009, a drain by the pumping station was found to be
blocked, with a pool of water above it.
The Contractor was reminded to repair the drain as soon as possible and
ensure the whole drainage system was in good repair.
Waste/Chemical Management
·
On 14 and 19 August 2009, the cement holding the bunding
in place round the diesel tank and generator in the workshop area was found to
be in a state of disrepair. The
Contractor was advised to re-cement the bunding round
the diesel tank and generator.
·
On 5, 14 and 19 August 2009, stockpiles of construction waste were found
accumulated without proper receptacles on the tank circular road in the tank farm area and/or
inside Tank 10. The
Contractor was reminded to clear the waste or provide bins for temporary
storage as soon as possible.
·
On 14 August 2009, empty paint cans were found strewn in the chemical
storage area. The Contractor was reminded
to separate these from the chemical waste and store them in the appropriate area.
·
On 28 August 2009, the chemical waste storage containers were found to
be without sufficient ventilation. The
Contractor was reminded to cut ventilation holes in the storage containers.
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.
According
to EP Condition 3.3, the Contractor’s
revised Waste Management Plan (Revision 5) (WMP), which has been certified by
the ET and IEC, was submitted to the EPD on 5 November 2008.
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 the dredging phase of 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
and placing of rock armour works;
·
riser
connections at Sha Chau;
·
jetty
platform works (non-piling);
·
site
works (construction works for tank farm, roof truss, operational and fire
services buildings, drainages, bund wall, security wall etc); and
·
pre-commission and commissioning activities for Phase 1A (the first
four tanks) .
Weekly site
inspections will be undertaken.