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 4^th EM&A report which summarizes the monitoring results and audit findings for the EM&A programme during the reporting period from 15^th February 2006 to 14^th March 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 15^th February and 14^th March 2006

Area	Works undertaken
Tuen Mun Area 38	Marine Piling Works Surcharges and Fuel Tanks Construction Trees Removal and Transplantation Operational Building Construction

Area

Works undertaken

Tuen Mun Area 38

Marine Piling Works

Surcharges and Fuel Tanks Construction

Trees Removal and Transplantation

Operational Building 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 except the 1^st, 2^nd, 7^th, 8^th March 2006, 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 14^th February 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
	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	--	--	Applied on 23 January 06

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 16^th, 24^th, February 2006, 2^nd and 10^th March 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. However, some exposed earth was found not covered during the 16^th Feb and 2^nd March 06 site inspections. Although no adverse dust emission was observed, it was recommended to the Contractor that the exposed earth should be covered to avoid potential dust emission. The exposed earth was removed during the 24^th Feb and 10^th Mar 05 site inspections respectively;

· 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

· Sedimentation tank was installed during the reporting period. The Contractor submitted an application for the wastewater discharge license on 23^rd January 2006. Although no wastewater was discharged from the site, wet season is approaching and the Contractor should provide measures to collect the wastewater generated on site for treatment and to avoid any discharge into the marine environment or outside the site. Discharge is only permitted once the licence is issued and the discharge standard should comply with the licence.

· 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;

· A stagnant pool of water was found near the site hoarding and fence boundary during the 24^th Feb and 2^nd March 06 site inspections respectively. The former stagnant pool was not removed until the 10^th Mar 06 site inspection. The latter pool was removed during the 10^th March site inspection.

Waste Management

· No chemical waste was disposed during the reporting period;

· The Contractor employed a bobcat machine to clean up excess soil or rubbish; and,

· Rubbish such as empty lunch box was found scattered in the site during the 2^nd March 06 site visit. The rubbish was removed during the 10^th March 06 site inspection. However, some rubbish was found near the site hoarding during 10^th Mar 06 site inspection. The Contractor was reminded to remove all rubbish from the site properly and to ensure that the site is kept tidy.

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.

IEC visited the site with the ET on 14^th March 06. Overall, the IEC satisfied with the Contractor’s performance, with the following observations:

· Water was found accumulated within the drip tray in one of the chemical waste stores as a result from the pervious rainy days. The water inside was found dripping into the ground. The Contractor was reminded to remove the water accordingly and to seal the drip tray to avoid soil contamination;

· The chemical waste drums were not labeled properly in one of the chemical waste stores. The Contractor was reminded to label the chemical waste drums accordingly; and,

· No water spraying was found during the concrete breaking activity next to the access road. The Contractor was reminded to spray water to the concrete during breaking activities to avoid dust emission.

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.

3.3.3 Waste Management

Auditing the Contractor’s Waste Management Plan (WMP) is part of the EM&A requirements. The final version of the WMP was submitted to EPD on 27^th February 2006.

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 include 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 is 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 except the 1^st, 2^nd, 7^th, 8^th March 2006, Sundays and public holidays. Dolphins were spotted on the 17^th February 2006 at the distances of 580m, 620m, 640m and 650m, and at the distances of 208m and 520m on the 28^th February 2006. No piling was conducted during the dolphin sighting at 208m on the 28^th February 2006. For the rest of the sightings, dolphins were sighted outside the exclusion zone during the piling activities. For the sighting during piling activity on 17^th February 2006 outside the exclusion zone at 620m, the dolphins were following a shrimp trawler and no sign of disturbance or unexpected behaviour was observed as a result of the piling activity. Such observations supported the results from the underwater noise monitoring of which the piling noise was negligible over ambient at a distance of 500m or more. The underwater noise monitoring results and summary report were included in the Third Monthly EM&A Report. The dolphin sighting record sheets are attached in Annex F.

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:

· Impacts on dolphins due to piling works;

· 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 piling works and site works. Only dolphin visual monitoring is required during piling activities. Weekly site inspections will also be undertaken. The contractor indicated that piling activities will be conducted during all weekdays (Monday to Saturday) between 7am to 7pm except public holidays in the next reporting period between 15^th March and 31^st March 2006. Thus, dolphin visual monitoring will be conducted during this period. According to the Environmental Permit, piling activity would not be allowed between April and June due to the dolphin calving period.