Contents

                        Executive summary                                                            I

1                      Introduction                                                                       1

1.1                   Purpose of the Report                                                    1

2                      Environmental Status                                                    2

2.1                   Project Area                                                                         2

2.2                   Environmental Sensitive Receivers                          2

2.3                   Major Construction Activities                                  2

2.4                   Monitoring Schedule of The Reporting Month 2

2.5                   Status of Environmental Approval Documents      2

2.6                   Summary of non-compliance with the environmental quality performance limits                                                          3

3                      Environmental Issues and Actions                          5

3.1                   Previous Environmental Deficiencies and Follow-up Actions   5

3.2                   Implementation Status on Environmental Protection Requirements     7

3.3                   Environmental Monitoring                                        7

4                      Future Key Issues                                                               10

4.1                   Key Issues for the Next One Month                         10

4.2                   Impact Prediction for the Next One Month     10

4.3                   Works and Monitoring Schedule for the Next One Month 10

 

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1    Summary of Works Undertaken During the Reporting Period, between 15th March and 14th April 2006

Table 2.2    Summary of Environmental Licensing, Notification and Permit Status

LIST OF ANNEXES

Annex A    Water Quality Monitoring Stations, Water Quality and Ecological Sensitive Receivers

Annex B     Project Location

Annex C    Implementation Programme of Mitigation Measures

Annex D    Action Plan for Dolphin Monitoring

Annex E     Cumulative Complaints Statistics

Annex F     Visual Monitoring Dolphin Sighting Record Sheets

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This fifth monthly Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) report presents the EM&A works carried out during the period from 15th March 2006 to 14th April 2006 in accordance with the EM&A Manual.

Breaches of all Action and Limit Levels

No breaches of action or limit levels was occurred during the reporting month as no monitoring, except visual dolphin monitoring was undertaken.  One dolphin sighting was observed within the exclusion zone but no piling was conducted.  Piling activities were completed on the 29th March 2006.

Complaint Log

No environmental complaint was received during the reporting period.

Notifications of any Summons and Successful Prosecutions

No environmental summon or prosecutions was received in this reporting period.

Reporting changes

There were no reporting changes in the reporting period. 

Future Key Issues

 

·       Noise from operating machinery and equipment;

 

·       Wastewater discharge (wet season);

 

·       Dust release and suppression.

 

1                                            Introduction

Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited (LCAL) has appointed ERM-Hong Kong, Limited (ERM) as the Environmental Team (ET) to implement the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme for the Permanent Aviation Fuel Facility (the Project) during construction works. 

1.1                                      Purpose of the Report

This is the 5th EM&A report which summarizes the monitoring results and audit findings for the EM&A programme during the reporting period from 15th March 2006 to 14th April 2006.

 

2                                            Environmental Status

2.1                                      Project Area

The project area is in Area 38 of Tuen Mun and the pipelines are located in Urmston Road between Tuen Mun Area 38 and Sha Chau.  The site is illustrated in Annex B.

2.2                                      Environmental Sensitive Receivers

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 A.

2.3                                      Major Construction Activities

A summary of the major works undertaken in this reporting period is shown in Table 2.1. 

Table 2.1         Summary of Works Undertaken During the Reporting Period, between 15th March and 14th April 2006

Area

Works undertaken

Tuen Mun Area 38

Marine Piling Works (till 29th March 06)

Surcharges and Fuel Tanks Construction

Operational Building Construction

Workshop Construction

2.4                                      Monitoring Schedule of The Reporting Month

Only dolphin visual monitoring was conducted during the piling activities over the reporting month.  Piling activities were conducted throughout the reporting period until 29th March 2006, except Sundays and public holidays.

2.5                                      Status of Environmental Approval Documents

A summary of the relevant permits, licences, and/or notifications on environmental protection for this Project as of 14th April 2006 is presented in Table 2.2. 


Table 2.2         Summary of Environmental Licensing, Notification and Permit Status

Permit/ Licenses/ Notification

Reference

Validity Period

Remarks

Environmental Permit

EP-139/2002

Throughout Project

Issued on 2 August 2002

 

Variation of Environmental Permit

 

VEP-133/2004

Throughout Project

Issued on 28 January 2004

Amended Environmental Permit

 

EP-139/2002/A

Throughout Project

Issued on 24 February 2004

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

 

001004989

Throughout Project

Notification on 5 November 2005 (Tank Farm at TM Area 38, Jetty at Urmston Road and Fuel Pipeline

Construction Noise Permit

PP-RW0024-05

12 Nov 05 to

31 Mar 06

Issued on 7 November 2005, for Hydraulic Hammer (single acting) driving steel pile

 

Construction Noise Permit

GW-RW0785-05

7 Dec 05 to 31 Mar 06

Issued on 7 December 2005, for General Works (Welding) at Jetty Area

 

Construction Noise Permit

GW-RW0032-06

1 Feb 06 to 31 July 06

Issued on 26 January 2006, for General Works at Tank Farm Area

 

Wastewater Discharge License (industrial trade effluent)

EP760/421/011399/I

Throughout Project

Issued on 15 March 2006

2.6                                      Summary of non-compliance with the environmental quality performance limits

Summary of Environmental Non-compliance

No environmental non-compliance was found during the reporting period.

Summary of Environmental Complaints

No environmental complaint was received during the reporting period.  A statistical summary of environmental complaints since project commencement is presented in Annex E.

Summary of Environmental Summons

No summons was received in this reporting period.  A statistical summary of legal proceeding since project commencement is presented in Annex E.

 

3                                            Environmental Issues and Actions

3.1                                      Previous Environmental Deficiencies and Follow-up Actions

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 the 17th, 23rd, 31st March 2006 and 7th, 13th April 2006.  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

·            No noticeable dust emission was observed during the stockpile loading activity and vehicle movement within the site ;

·            Earth mounds (surcharge) were covered to avoid dust emission;

·            Two large stockpiles, tar and sand were not covered during the site inspection on the 23rd March 06.  Stagnant pool was found next to the sand stockpile after rain.  The Contractor was reminded to provide covers for the large stockpiles to avoid dust emission as well as runoff.  The stockpiles were covered during the 31st March 06 site inspection;

·            Unpaved road appeared to be regularly wetted.  The site in general was also regularly wetted with water sprayed to the dust generating activities;

·            Site entrance/exit was paved and wheel-washing facility was provided at the site exit to avoid dust deposit in the access road; and,

·            Main access road within the site (near the entrance/exit) was paved to avoid dust emission.

Noise

·            No noisy activity was found during the audit;

·            A silenced generator was used on the piling barge to reduce noise emission.  Noise insulation device was provided at the bottom of the generator to reduce noise emission from the barge;

·            Rubber engine mounts are provide for all engines;

·            The air compressor had already got rubber tires to minimize noise emission from the barge; and,

·            Bubble jacket was used during the marine percussive piling activity.

Water Quality

·            Wastewater discharge license (industrial trade effluent) was issued by the EPD on 15 March 2006.  The license required the Contractor to conduct grab sampling at the discharge point(s) quarterly on suspended solids (SS).  The discharge limit for SS is 30 mg/L.  The license also set out the limitations for Flow rate (maximum 30 m3/day), pH (between 6 and 9), Chemical Oxygen Demand (80 mg/L);

·            Sedimentation tank was still in the progress of installation during the reporting period.  It is recommended that the Contractor should complete the site drainage/sedimentation tank installation works as soon as possible as it is now the beginning of the wet season.  Completion of such system can ensure that all wastewater generated on site will be collected and treated before discharging into nearby water bodies, thus reducing the potential risk of direct surface runoff into the sea;

·            The wastewater generated from the wheel-washing facility was reused ;

·            Manholes outside the site were free of sand;

·            Chemical toilets were provided on site;

·            No sediment plumes were observed during the marine piling activities; and,

·            A hole filled with stagnant water was found next to the installed sedimentation tank near the site entrance.  The Contractor was reminded to remove the stagnant water as soon as possible.

Waste Management

·            Rubbish found during the 10th March site inspection was removed.  However, empty drinking bottles/cans were found scattered along the seawall area during the 17th March 06 site inspection.  The rubbish was still not removed during the 23rd and 31st March 06 site inspections.  The Contractor was reminded to remove all rubbish daily from the site properly and to ensure that the site is kept tidy;

·            Rubbish (mainly lunch boxes) was found scattered around the rubbish bin near the pier during the 7th and 13th April 06 site inspections.  The rubbish bin was found over-filled with rubbish on 13th April 06.  The Contractor should either empty the rubbish bin more frequently or provide an extra bin for the site workers near the pier, and to ensure that no rubbish should be found scattered within the site;

·            A small emptied engine oil container was found dumping on the site near the site boundary during 23rd March 06 site inspection.  The Contractor was reminded that all chemical containers should be stored in the designated area and should be disposed by licensed waste collector.  The container was removed during 31st March 06 site inspection;

·            Chemical waste drums were found without labels in the two chemical waste stores on site during the 7th April 06 site inspection.  In addition, water was found accumulated in the drip tray of the waste store located near the site office.  The Contractor indicated that the chemical wastes will be collected within a few days.  The Contractor was reminded to provide labels for all the chemical waste containers and should ensure that the drip tray is free of water/chemical waste.  If the water within the drip tray appeared contaminated, such should be treated as chemical waste for disposal;

·            Most of the chemical waste drums were removed during the 13th April 06 site inspection.  However, there were two drums still without labels (one was empty).  The Contractor was again reminded that all chemical waste drums should have proper labels; and,

·            Waste batteries (solid) and spent lube oil were collected by licensed waste collector during the reporting period.  Trip tickets were inspected.

Landscape and Visual

·            The transplanted trees at the new site were in good and healthy conditions.

Overall, the site was in a good orderly manner.  Suitable mitigation measures, such as the use of water truck regularly and tarpaulin covers should continuous be used to ensure dust emission is avoided on site. 

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.

3.2                                      Implementation Status on Environmental Protection Requirements

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 C.

3.3                                      Environmental Monitoring

3.3.1                                Air and Noise

Air and Noise monitoring was not required for the project.   

3.3.2                                Water Quality

Water quality monitoring at the monitoring stations was not required as no dredging activity was taken place.

According to the wastewater discharge license (industrial trade effluent) issued by the EPD on 15 March 2006, the Contractor is required to conduct grab sampling/analysis on SS at the discharge point(s) quarterly.  However, there was no wastewater discharge from the site during the reporting period.

3.3.3                                Waste Management

Auditing the Contractor’s Waste Management Plan (WMP) is part of the EM&A requirements.  The Revision 1 of the WMP was submitted to EPD on 27th February 2006.  Comments regarding the above WMP were issued by EPD on the 27th March 2006.  The Contractor was still in the progress of reviewing their WMP during the reporting period.  The Contractor’s revised WMP will be reviewed by the ET and verified by the IEC before submitting to EPD for approval.

3.3.4                                Cultural Heritage

As no dredging activity was conducted along the pipe trench during the reporting period, marine archaeological monitoring was not required.

3.3.5                                Landscape and Visual

According to the EIA report and EM&A manual, mitigation measures and site inspection are required during the landscaping/planting works.  No landscaping or planting works were conducted on site during the reporting period.  However, existing trees were being transplanted to the new designated area in accordance to the Tree Felling Plan.

The weekly site inspections included audits on landscape and visual issues to ensure that the site was in orderly acceptable manner.

3.3.6                                Land Contamination, Hazard to Life and Fuel Spill Risk

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. As there was no construction works related to such issues in the reporting period, audit on the mitigation design and measures was not required. However, weekly site inspection covered the waste management aspects which included measures to prevent land contamination by chemical wastes.

3.3.7                                Ecology

Dolphin Visual Monitoring

The action plan for dolphin monitoring is shown in Annex D.  A 500m dolphin exclusion zone was enforced during all marine piling operations.  A qualified person was present during all piling activities and conducted visual monitoring in accordance with the monitoring requirements.  Piling activities were conducted throughout the reporting period until 29th March 2006 except Sundays and public holidays.  One Chinese White Dolphin was found at a distance of 370m on the 25 March 2006, however, no piling was conducted during the sighting.  No dolphin was observed near or within the exclusion zone during the piling activities.  The dolphin sighting record sheets are attached in Annex F.  The piling activity was completed on 29th March 2006.  As required by the EP, there were no piling conducted during the reporting period in April 2006.

 

4                                            Future Key Issues

4.1                                      Key Issues for the Next One Month

Key issues to be considered in the next one month will include:

 

·       Noise from operating machinery and equipment;

 

·       Wastewater discharge (approaching of wet season);

 

·       Dust release and suppression.

4.2                                      Impact Prediction for the Next One Month

Provided that environmental mitigation measures including good on-site practises are properly implemented, it is not expected that unacceptable adverse impact will arise.

4.3                                      Works and Monitoring Schedule for the Next One Month

Work programme for the next one month includes pile internal works (non-piling) and site works.  As piling work is completed, no dolphin visual monitoring will be required.  Weekly site inspections will be undertaken.