Contents
2 Project Organization and Construction Progress
2.3 Summary of Environmental Submissions
3 Construction Noise Monitoring
3.1 Monitoring Requirements, Frequency and Duration
5 Landscape & Visual Monitoring
6.2 Findings / Deficiencies During the Reporting Period
7 Environmental Complaint, Summons and Prosecution
7.1 Environmental Complaint, Summons and Prosecution
8 Implementation Status of Mitigation Measures
8.2 Tentative Construction Activities in the Coming Month
8.3 Key Issues for the Coming Month
C. Implementation Schedule for Environmental Mitigation Measures
Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Ltd. (“MMHK”) has been commissioned by the Gammon Engineering & Construction Company Limited, to undertake the Environmental Team (ET) services to carry out environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) for Ocean Park Tai Shue Wan Development Water World.
This is the 50th monthly EM&A report for the construction phase of Waterpark Main Building Works submitted under Condition 3.4 of the Environmental Permit (No. EP-487/2014/A). This report summarises the findings on EM&A during the period from 1 to 31 July 2021.
Reporting Changes
For the EM&A programme, the proposal for suspension of the construction phase environmental monitoring (including weekly noise monitoring and environmental site audits) by end of June 2021 was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021.
Environmental Monitoring and Audit Progress
Proposal to suspend impact monitoring for noise was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021. Therefore, the last weekly noise monitoring event was conducted on 30 June 2021, while no impact monitoring for noise was conducted in the Reporting Period.
Ecological, landscape and visual inspection conducted alongside the environmental site audits have been suspended as approved on 6 July 2021. Therefore, the last inspection event for ecological, landscape and visual monitoring was conducted on 25 June 2021 while no inspections were conducted in the Reporting Period.
Exceedance of Action and Limit Levels
Exceedance of Action or Limit Levels for noise levels was not applicable for the Reporting Period as the noise monitoring has been suspended as approved.
Record of Complaints
There was no record of complaints received in the Reporting Period.
Record of Notification of Summons and Successful Prosecutions
There were no record of notification of summons and successful prosecution in the Reporting Period.
Site inspection
Proposal to suspend site inspection was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021. Therefore, the last weekly environmental site inspection was conducted on 29 June 2021 while no site inspection was undertaken in the reporting period.
Future Key Issues
As the remaining works are related to minor defect works, there are no future key issues concerned.
On 27 August 2014, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual (Register No.: AEIAR-184/2014) for the “Tai Shue Wan Development at Ocean Park” (the Project) was approved and an Environmental Permit (EP) (Permit No.: EP-487/2014) was issued to the Ocean Park Corporation (Project Proponent).
The current valid EP (Permit No.: EP-487/2014/A) was issued on 10 January 2018 based on the Variation of Environmental Permit No. VEP-539/2017 which comprise variation of project boundary, location of sump pit and size of rising main. The Project location is indicated in Appendix A.
Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Ltd. (“MMHK”) has been commissioned by Gammon Engineering & Construction Company Limited to undertake the Environmental Team (ET) services to carry out environmental monitoring and audit for the Ocean Park Tai Shue Wan Water World Project.
As part of the EM&A program, baseline monitoring for the required parameters including background noise, landscape & visual baseline review and baseline ardeid inspection were carried out between 24 October 2014 and 10 December 2014 by the environmental consultants of Ocean Park Corporation. Furthermore, the baseline monitoring report which verified by the previous Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) was submitted to EPD and endorsed in December 2014.
The previous contract (Contract No.: TSW-C004) of Site Formation and Foundation Works has been completed since 31 May 2017, the next construction phase (Contract No.: TSW-C006) for the Ocean Park Tai Shue Wan Development was handed over to Gammon Engineering & Construction Company Limited on 31 May 2017.
This is the 50th monthly EM&A report summarizing the findings of EM&A activities for the Project during the Reporting Period from 1 to 31 July 2021.
The proposal for suspension of the construction phase environmental monitoring (including weekly noise monitoring and environmental site audits) by end of June 2021 was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021. Therefore, the last construction phase environmental monitoring events were completed in June 2021 and there were no environmental monitoring or site audits in this Reporting Period.
The project organization is shown in Appendix B. The responsibilities of respective parties are:
Ocean Park Corporation
Ocean Park Corporation is the Project Proponent and the Permit Holder of the EP for the development of the Project and will assume overall responsibility for the project. An Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) shall be employed by Ocean Park Corporation to audit the results of the EM&A works carried out by the ET.
Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
EPD is the statutory enforcement body for environmental protection matters in Hong Kong.
Project Management Representative (PMR) of Ocean Park Corporation
The PMR is responsible for overseeing the construction works and for ensuring that the works are undertaken by the Contractor in accordance with the specification and contract requirements. The duties and responsibilities of the ER with respect to EM&A are:
● Monitor the Contractors’ compliance with contract specifications, including the implementation and operation of the environmental mitigation measures and their effectiveness
● Monitor Contractors’, ET’s and IEC’s compliance with the requirements in the Environmental Permit (EP) and EM&A Manual
● Facilitate ET’s implementation of the EM&A programme
● Participate in joint site inspection by the ET and IEC
● Oversee the implementation of the agreed Event / Action Plan in the event of any exceedance
● Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation
● Liaison with the related government departments, ET, IEC, the Contractor and the other
Contractors of the Project discussing regarding the cumulative impact issues.
The Contractor
The duties and responsibilities of the Contractor are:
● Comply with the relevant contract conditions and specifications on environmental protection
● Employ an Environmental Team (ET) to undertake monitoring, laboratory analysis and reporting of EM &A Facilitate ET’s monitoring and site inspection activities
● Participate in the site inspections by the ET and IEC, and undertake any corrective actions
● Provide information / advice to the ET regarding works programme and activities which may contribute to the generation of adverse environmental impacts
● Submit proposals on mitigation measures in case of exceedances of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event / Action Plans
● Implement measures to reduce impact where Action and Limit levels are exceeded
● Adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation
Environmental Team (ET)
The ET should be employed by the Contractor to conduct the EM&A programme. The ET should be managed by the ET Leader. ET Leader should have relevant professional qualifications in environmental control and possess at least seven years’ experience in EM&A. Suitably qualified professional and technical staff should be included in the ET, and resources for the implementation of the EM&A programme should be allocated in the time under the Contract, to enable fulfilment of the Project’s EM&A requirements as specified in the EM&A Manual during construction of the Project. The ET shall include qualified botanist/ecologist for the ecological service and a Registered Landscape Architect for review of implementation of landscape and visual mitigation measures. The ET should report to the OPC and the duties should include:
● to monitor and audit various environmental parameters as required in the Approved EM&A Manual;
● to analyse the EM&A data, review the success of EM&A programme and the adequacy of mitigation measures implemented, confirm the validity of the EIA predictions, and identify any adverse environmental impacts arising;
● to monitor compliance with conditions in the EP, environmental protection, pollution prevention and control regulations and contract specifications;
● to audit environmental conditions on site;
● to report on the EM&A results to EPD, the ER, the IEC and Contractor or their delegated representatives;
● to recommend suitable mitigation measures to the Contractor in the case of exceedance of Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
● to liaise with the IEC on all environmental performance matters, and ensure timely submission of all relevant EM&A pro forma for IEC’s approval;
● to provide advice to the Contractor on environmental improvement, awareness and enhancement matters, etc. on site;
● to adhere to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation;
● to prepare reports on the
environmental monitoring data and the site environmental
conditions;
● to submit the EM&A report to Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) timely;
● to review proposals of mitigation measures from the Contractor in case of exceedance of Action and Limit levels, in accordance with the Event and Action Plan; and
● to carry out site inspection to investigate and audit the Contractor’s site practice, equipment and work methodologies with respect to pollution control and mitigation measures.
Independent Environmental Checker (IEC)
The IEC is empowered to audit the environmental performance of construction, but is independent from the management of construction works. As such, the IEC should not be in any way an associated body of the Contractor or the ET for the Project. The IEC should be employed by OPC prior to the commencement of the construction of the Project. The IEC should be a person who has relevant professional qualifications in environmental control and at least seven years’ experience in EM&A and environmental management. The duties and responsibilities of the IEC are:
● to provide proactive advice to the ER and OPC on EM&A matters related to the project;
● to review and verify the monitoring data and all submissions in connection with the EP and EM&A Manual submitted by the ET;
● to arrange and conduct regular, at
least monthly site inspections of the works during the construction phase, and
to carry out ad hoc inspections if significant environmental problems
are identified;
● to check compliance with the agreed Event and Action Plan in the event of any exceedance;
● to check compliance with the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation;
● to check the effectiveness of corrective measures;
● to feedback audit results to the ET by signing off relevant EM&A pro forma;
● to check that mitigation measures are effectively implemented;
● to report the works conducted, and the findings, recommendations and improvements of the site inspections, after reviewing ET’s and Contractor’s works, the ER and OPC on a monthly basis;
● to verify the investigation result of the environmental complaint cases and the effectiveness of corrective measures;
● to verify EM&A report that has been certified by the ET leader; and
● to audit EIA recommendations and requirements against the status of implementation of environmental mitigation measures on site.
The proposal for suspension of the construction phase environmental monitoring (including weekly noise monitoring and environmental site audits) by end of June 2021 was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021. Therefore, the weekly noise monitoring and environment site inspections as well as the ecological, landscape and visual inspections alongside the environmental site audits have been suspended from this month.
Summaries of validity permits, licenses, and/or notifications on environmental protection for the Project are presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Status of Environmental Licenses and Permits of the Project
In accordance with the EP stipulation, the required documents submitted to EPD for retention are as listed below:
● Project Layout Plans
● Management Organization of Main Construction Companies
● Detailed Vegetation Survey Report
● Woodland Compensation Plan
● Ardeid Inspection Report
● Short-nosed Fruit Bat Inspection Report
● Baseline Monitoring Report Revision A of the Project
● Ecological Enhancement Plan
Construction noise is one of the key environmental issues during the construction phase of the Project in accordance to the approved EM&A Manual. Following the requirements in the EM&A Manual, continuous noise monitoring for A-weighted levels Leq, L10, L90 shall be undertaken once per week during the construction phase. Measurement of Leq(30min) between 07:00-19:00 hours on normal weekdays.
If construction works are necessary to be carried out at other time periods, i.e. restricted time period (19:00-07:00 the next morning and whole day on public holidays) (hereinafter referred as “the restricted hours”), three consecutive Leq(5min) measurements shall be recorded, while complying specific conditions as stipulated on the Construction Noise Permit (CNP). Supplementary information for data auditing and statistical results such as L10 and L90 shall also be obtained for reference. Summary of these monitoring requirements is shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Noise Monitoring Parameters
Monitoring Station |
Parameters |
NM1A and NM2 |
● Leq(30min) on normal working days (Monday to Saturday) 07:00-19:00 except public holiday; ● 3 sets of consecutive Leq(5min) during restricted hours i.e. 19:00 to 07:00 next day, and whole day of public holiday or Sunday when applicable, and ● Supplementary information for data auditing and statistical results such as L10 and L90 shall also be obtained for reference |
The baseline results form the basis for determining the environmental acceptance criteria for the impact monitoring. According to the approved EM&A Manual with baseline monitoring results, construction noise criterion, namely Action and Limit levels proposed are listed in Table 3.
Table 3: Action and Limit Levels for Construction Noise
Monitoring Location |
Action Level |
Limit Level in dB(A) |
NM1A and NM2 |
When one or more documented complaints are received |
70 dB(A)1,2 |
Note: 1. Acceptable noise levels
for school should be reduced to 65 dB(A) during examination period
2. If works are to be carried out during restricted hours, the conditions
stipulated in the CNP must be followed.
Two designated noise monitoring locations were established in the EM&A (refer to Monthly EM&A Report No. 49). After the baseline monitoring, alternative location NM1A has been proposed by MMHK due to rejection of the monitoring location set up at NM1. The proposal was verified and agreed by EPD in the Baseline Monitoring Report. The construction noise monitoring locations for the Project are shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Impact Monitoring locations
Monitoring location |
Descriptions |
Type of measurement |
NM1A |
Slope near Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA) to replace NM1 of the VSA |
Free field |
NM2 |
Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre (HKJCC) |
Facade |
Integrating sound level meter in compliance with the International Electrotechnical Commission Publications 651: 1979 (Type 1) and 804: 1985 (Type 1) specifications shall be used for carrying out the noise monitoring. The sound level meter shall be checked using an acoustic calibrator. The wind speed shall be checked with a portable wind speed meter capable of measuring the wind speed in ms-1. The acoustic calibrator and sound level meter to be used in the impact monitoring will be calibrated yearly.
Noise monitoring equipment used for monitoring is listed in Table 5.
Table 5: Noise Monitoring Equipment
Equipment |
Model |
Integrating Sound Level Meter |
Rion NL-52 |
Calibrator |
Larson Davis CAL200 |
Portable Wind Speed Indicator |
Anemometer/ Lutron AM-4201 |
Field Monitoring
● Sound Level Meter was set up on a tripod at a height of at least 1.2 m above ground.
● Noise measurements were taken in terms of the A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level (Leq) measured in decibels (dB). Supplementary statistical results (L10 and L90) were also obtained for reference.
● Free field measurement was made at NM1A while facade measurement was made at NM2.
● The battery condition was checked to ensure the correct functioning of the meter.
● Prior to and after each noise measurement, the meter was calibrated using an acoustic calibrator for 94 dB at 1 kHz. The checking was performed before and after the noise measurement.
● During the monitoring, all noise measurements would be performed with the meter with Fast time weighting and on the A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (Leq). Leq(30min) as the monitoring parameter for the time period between 0700-1900 hours on weekdays; and also Leq(15min) in three consecutive Leq(5min) measurements would be used as monitoring parameter for other time periods (e.g. during restricted hours), if necessary. In addition, any site observations and noise sources were recorded on a standard record sheet.
● A correction of +3 dB(A) was made to the free field measurement.
● Noise measurements were not made in fog, rain, wind with a steady speed exceeding 5 ms-1 or wind with gust exceeding 10 ms-1.
Equipment calibration
● The sound level meter and calibrator are calibrated and certified by a HOKLAS accredited laboratory at yearly intervals.
Meteorological Information
Meteorological information was extracted from “the Hong Kong Observatory Wong Chuk Hang Station” to provide the humidity, wind speed, wind direction and temperature etc. as background weather information.
Derivation of Action/Limit (A/L) Levels
According to the approved EM&A Manual and baseline monitoring results, Action and Limit levels criterion proposed for construction noise monitoring are listed in Table 6.
Table 6: Action and Limit Levels for Construction Noise
Monitoring Location |
Action Level |
Limit Level in dB(A) |
|
Time Period: 07:00-19:00 hours on normal weekdays |
|
NM1A and NM2 |
When one or more documented complaints are received |
70 dB(A) 1, 2 |
Note: 1. A
correction of +3dB(A) was made to the free field measurement at monitoring
station NM1A.
2. No examination has taken place during this reporting period.
Should
non-compliance of the environmental quality criteria occur, remedial actions
will be
triggered according to the Event and Action Plan (refer to Monthly
EM&A Report No. 49).
Data Management and Data QA/QC Control
All monitoring data will be handled by the ET’s in-house data recording and management system. The monitoring data recorded in the equipment will be downloaded directly from the equipment at the end of each monitoring day. The downloaded monitoring data will be inputted into a computerized database properly maintained by the ET.
Suspension of impact monitoring for noise was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021. Therefore, the last weekly noise monitoring event was conducted on 30 June 2021, while no impact monitoring for noise was conducted during the reporting period.
As required under the Section 8.3.2 of the approved EM&A Manual, the implementation of ecological mitigation measures as detailed in the Section 15 of the EIA report and Appendix C of the approved EM&A Manual shall be routinely audited during the routine environmental audit; and any observations and recommendations shall be reported in periodic EM&A reports.
Among those mitigation measures recommended to avoid or minimize the disturbance to any plants of conservation interest (EM&A reference 8.3.1.1), nested ardeids (EM&A reference 8.3.1.2) and roosted short-nosed fruit bat (EM&A reference 8.3.1.3), the required inspection has already been undertaken in August / September 2014 with the results presented in the submitted respective baseline report. Therefore, the following sections only address those applicable to this stage of the project, i.e., Section 8.3.2 of the approved EM&A Manual.
Monitoring of Plants of Conservation Interest (Platycondon grandiflorus)
According to Condition 2.6 of Environmental Permit No. EP-487/2014, the Detailed Vegetation Survey Report has located two groups of the protected Platycodon grandiflorus and recommended that the plants should be protected with temporary protective fencing to avoid potential impact from construction activities (such as material storage), and monitor the identified Platycodon grandiflorus on a monthly basis throughout the construction phase to ensure they are not affected by the construction works of the Project. Accordingly, the following monitoring parameters will be undertaken on a monthly basis during the construction period:
● Effective implementation of the protection measures as recommended in the Section 4.1 of the Detailed Vegetation Survey Report
● Monitoring of the two groups of Platycodon grandiflorus identified during the detailed vegetation survey to ensure they are not affected by the construction works
Monitoring of Nesting Activities of Ardeids in Breeding Season
The project area should be checked monthly in breeding season (April to July) for any potential breeding and nesting activities, and if required, suitably sized buffer area will be recommended to avoid human or machinery disturbance until the nest is abandoned.
Monitoring of Roosting Activities of Ardeids in Peak Wintering Season
The existing ardeid night roost within the project area should be monitored monthly during peak wintering season (November to March) during the construction phase by direct observation from a vantage point (i.e., point count method) in the evening from an hour before sunset to nightfall.
Compensation for Ardeid Roosting Site
An enhancement area proposed as an alternative roosting site for ardeids should be developed during the first phase of the construction.
Compensation of Woodland Habitat
Mitigation measures recommended in the approved Woodland Compensation Plan should be fully and properly implemented, including but not limited to the creation of 0.84 ha woodland compensation on-site and 0.78 ha on-site woodland reinstatement, to mitigate for permanent loss of woodland habitat.
The ecological inspection has been suspended in this reporting period as the construction phase environmental monitoring has been suspended by end of June 2021 in view of the remaining construction activities being merely related to minor defect and cleaning works. There were no ecological impacts from the construction activities, therefore, the monitoring of plants of conservation interest, nesting activities of ardeids in breeding season and roosting activities of ardeids in peak wintering season were no longer applicable. Tree planting for the Ecological Enhancement Area as the compensation of ardeid roosting site has been completed in this reporting period.
Compensation for Ardeid Roosting Site
The site of proposed Ecological Enhancement Area was prepared in the first phase of construction in early 2020. In accordance with the approved Ecological Enhancement Plan, the tree planting within the Ecological Enhancement Area was being implemented and completed in the reporting month. Monitoring of the compensation at the Ecological Enhancement Area will be implemented during the operation phase.
Compensation of Woodland Habitat
To be implemented.
Landscape and visual mitigation measures for the construction phase are listed in the Approved EM&A Manual Table 9.1.
The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual mitigation measures shall be checked bi-weekly to ensure that they are fully realized during the construction phase. The scope of the site audit during construction shall include the following:
● The extent of the agreed works areas should be regularly checked. No construction activities or storage shall be undertaken outside the limit of the works;
● The progress of the engineering works should be regularly reviewed on site to identify the earliest practical opportunities for the landscape works to be undertaken;
● All landscaping works are carried out in accordance with the specifications; and
● All new plantings are carried out properly and during the right season.
Any potential conflicts between the proposed landscape and visual mitigation measures and any other project works or operational requirements shall be recorded for the Contractor to resolve in an early stage, without compromising the intention of the mitigation measures.
In the Reporting Period, the bi-weekly landscape and visual site inspection has been ceased as the construction phase environmental site audit has been suspended by end of June 2021 in view of completion of construction activities with only minor defect and cleaning works remaining.
According to the approved EM&A Manual, the environmental site inspection shall be formulated by the ET Leader. Weekly environmental site inspections should be carried out to confirm the environmental performance.
As construction activities that have the potential to cause significant environmental impacts have already been completed, proposal to suspend environmental site inspection was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021. Therefore, the last weekly environmental site inspection was conducted on 29 June 2021 while no site inspection was undertaken in the Reporting Period.
No environmental complaint, summons and prosecution were received in the Reporting Period.
The statistical summary for environmental complaints is presented in Table 9.
Table 7: Statistics for complaints, notifications of summons and successful prosecutions
Reporting Period |
Cumulative Statistics |
|
|
|
Complaints |
Notifications of summons |
Successful prosecutions |
This report month |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The environmental mitigation measures that were recommended in the Implementation Schedule for Environmental Mitigation Measures in the approved EM&A Manual covered the issues of dust, noise, water and waste and are presented in Appendix C.
The Project shall be implementing the required environmental mitigation measures according to the approved EM&A Manual as subject to the site condition. Good site management was generally implemented by the Contractor carrying out the remaining defect works in this Reporting Month.
There would not be any construction activities to be undertaken for the Project in the coming month except some minor defect and cleaning works.
The construction activities that have the potential to cause significant environmental impacts have already been completed. There are no future key issues concerned.
Construction activities that have the potential to cause significant environmental impacts have already been completed, while the remaining site activities were merely related to minor defect and cleaning works. For the EM&A programme, the proposal for suspension of the construction phase environmental monitoring by end of June 2021 was justified by the ET Leader and verified by the IEC on 23 June 2021, approved by EPD on 6 July 2021 and implemented on 6 July 2021. Therefore, no weekly environmental site audits or impact monitoring for noise were carried out during the reporting period.