Executive
summary
This Quarterly EM&A Report
presents the monitoring works at Zone 2A conducted from 1 February 2021 to 30
April 2021.
The impact stage EM&A
programme for the Project includes air quality, noise, water quality, waste,
landscape and visual monitoring. The recommended environmental mitigation
measures were implemented on site and regular inspections were carried out to
ensure that the environmental conditions are acceptable.
The EM&A programme was
carried out by the ET in accordance with the EM&A Manual requirements. It
is concluded from the environmental monitoring and audit works that adequate
environmental mitigation measures have been implemented by the contractors
where appropriate in the reporting quarter.
Exceedance of Action and Limit Levels
There was no
breach of Action or Limit levels for Air Quality (1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP)
in the reporting quarter.
Two Action
Level exceedances (due to two noise complaints related to Zone 2A)
with no Limit Level exceedance of
construction noise were recorded in the reporting quarter.
Implementation of Mitigation Measures
Construction phase weekly site
inspections were carried out to confirm the implementation measures undertaken
by the Contractors in the reporting quarter. The status of implementation of
mitigation measures during the reporting quarter is shown in Appendix C.
Landscape and visual impact inspections were conducted as part of
the abovementioned weekly site inspections during the reporting quarter. No
adverse comment on landscape and visual aspects were made during these
inspections.
FEHD inspection was conducted on 15 March
2021. No adverse comment or prosecution was given by FEHD officer.
EPD inspection was conducted on 09
April 2021. No adverse comment in general.
Record of
Complaints
Three
environmental complaints were received during
the reporting quarter.
Record of Notifications of Summons and Successful Prosecutions
No notifications of summons and successful prosecutions were recorded
in the reporting quarter.
1.1
Background
Apex Testing & Certification Limited (Apex) was commissioned to
undertake the Environmental Team (ET) services (including environmental monitoring
and audit (EM&A)) for the construction activities in Zone 2A at WKCD,
consisting of Foundation, Excavation and Lateral Support Works for Integrated
Basement and Underground Road (Contract No.: GW/2020/05/073). The
construction works and EM&A programme for Zone 2A commenced on 3 October
2020.
The overall works for the
WKCD fall under two separate categories of Designated Project (DP) of the
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), namely an “engineering
feasibility study of urban development projects with a study area covering more
than 20 ha or involving a total population of more than 100 000” (Item 1 of
Schedule 3) and “an underpass more than 100m in length under the built areas”
(Item A.9, Part I, Schedule 2). An Environmental Permit No. EP-453/2013/B (EP)
was issued with respect to the “Underpass Road and Austin Road Flyover Serving
the West Kowloon Cultural District” which specifically includes the
abovementioned category of DP under Item A.9, Part I, Schedule 2 of the EIAO. The
captioned projects include part of the abovementioned underpass road located
within the site boundary falls under this same category.
The purpose of the development in
Zone 2A is to reserve for Integrated Basement (IB) and Underground Road (UR).
The Zone 2A construction activities involve the foundation, excavation and
lateral support (ELS) works, road works, drainage diversion works, and
temporary car parking.
The Quarterly EM&A Report is
prepared in accordance with the Clause 3.4 of the Environmental Permit No.
EP-453/2013/B. This Quarterly EM&A Report presents the monitoring works at
Zone 2A from 1 February
to 30 April 2021.
The purpose of this report is to summarise the findings in the EM&A of the
project over the reporting period.
The organisation chart and lines of
communication with respect to the on-site environmental management structure
together with the contact information of the key personnel are shown in Appendix A.
During the reporting period,
construction works at Zone 2A undertaken include:
Zone 2A-1
● Grouting Works (Trial 1)
–
Re-drill Grout Hole
–
Stage 2 Grouting
–
Post Drilling
● Grouting Works (Trial 2)
–
Post Drilling
–
Install Pump Wells
● Bored Pile Works
–
Bored Pile Construction
Zone 2A-2
● Bored Pile Works
– Predrill
– Additional
Bored Pile Construction
● ELS (Stage 1) – Grouting / Pipe Pile Works
–
Stage 1a & 1b Grouting
–
Pipe Pile Construction
–
King Post
The Construction Works Programme of the
Project is provided in Appendix B. A layout plan of the Project is provided in Figure 1.
In accordance with the EM&A Manual,
environmental parameters including air quality, noise, landscape and visual have
been monitored. The specific parameters, monitoring frequency and the
respective Action and Limit levels are given in Table 2.1. Locations of the monitoring stations are provided in Figure 1.
Table 2.1: Summary
of Impact EM&A Requirements
|
Parameters
|
Descriptions
|
Locations
|
Frequencies
|
Action
level
|
Limit
level
|
|
Air Quality
|
24-Hour TSP
|
AM3 - The Victoria Towers Tower 1
|
At
least once every 6 days
|
152.4 μg/m3
|
260
μg/m3
|
|
1-Hour TSP
|
AM3 - The Victoria Towers Tower 1
|
At
least 3 times every 6 days
|
280.4 μg/m3
|
500
μg/m3
|
|
24-Hour
TSP
|
AM4
- Canton Road Government Primary School
|
At
least once every 6 days
|
152.6 μg/m3
|
260
μg/m3
|
|
1-Hour
TSP
|
AM4
- Canton Road Government Primary School
|
At
least 3 times every 6 days
|
278.5 μg/m3
|
500
μg/m3
|
|
24-Hour
TSP
|
AM5
- Topside Developments at West Kowloon Terminus Site
|
At
least once every 6 days
|
141.1 μg/m3
|
260
μg/m3
|
|
1-Hour
TSP
|
AM5
- Topside Developments at West Kowloon Terminus Site
|
At
least 3 times every 6 days
|
275.4 μg/m3
|
500
μg/m3
|
|
Noise
|
Leq,
30 minutes
|
NM2 - The Arch, Sun Tower
|
Weekly
|
When one documented complaint is received
from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
75
dB(A)
|
|
Leq,
30 minutes
|
NM3 - The Victoria Towers Tower 1
|
Weekly
|
When one documented complaint is received
from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
75
dB(A)
|
|
Leq,
30 minutes
|
NM4 - Canton Road Government Primary
School
|
Weekly
|
When one documented complaint is received
from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
70/65
dB(A)^
|
|
Leq,
30 minutes
|
NM5 -Development next to Austin Station
|
Weekly
|
When one documented complaint is received
from any one of the sensitive receivers
|
75
dB(A)
|
|
Landscape & Visual
|
Monitor implementation of proposed
mitigation measures during the construction stage
|
As described in Table 9.1 and 9.2 of the
EM&A Manual
|
Bi-weekly
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Note:
^70 dB(A) for schools
and 65 dB(A) during school examination periods.
The EM&A programme
for the Project require 5 air monitoring stations and 5 noise quality
monitoring stations located closest to the Project area. With regard to the
monitoring activities at M+ Museum and the Lyric Complex, three monitoring
stations had been considered, including AM1, AM2 for air monitoring, and NM1
for noise monitoring. In the context of the construction activities in Zone 2A,
all other monitoring locations including AM3, AM4, and AM5 for air monitoring;
and NM2, NM3, NM4 and NM5 for noise monitoring, have been taken into account.
However, access to all these originally designated monitoring stations was
declined. Therefore, alternative monitoring stations was identified and
proposed.
With regard to air monitoring, alternative
monitoring locations (AM3A, AM4A, and AM5A) were identified at ground floor at
the Northeast corner of West Kowloon Station’s station box, at ground floor at
the Southeast corner of West Kowloon Station’s station box, and at ground floor
at the North of West Kowloon Station’s station box respectively. AM3A, AM4A,
and AM5A were set in same direction to the area of major construction site
activities in Zone 2A. These alternative air monitoring locations (AM3A, AM4A,
and AM5A) were approved by EPD on 29 September 2020.
For noise monitoring, alternative noise monitoring
location (NM2A) was identified at the ground floor in front of The Arch - Sun
Tower, which is at the same location as stated in the EM&A Manual for
consistency. This alternative noise monitoring location was approved by EPD on
29 September 2020. Other alternative noise monitoring locations (NM3A, NM4A,
and NM5A) were identified at the ground floor in front of the Xiqu Centre, at the ground floor next to Tsim Sha Tsui Fire Station, and
at the Pedestrian road (ground floor) outside West Kowloon Station
respectively. NM3A, NM4A and NM5A were set closer to the construction site
boundary with more direct line sight to the major site activities and higher
exposure to the construction noise with no disturbance to the premises’
occupants during noise monitoring activities. These alternative noise
monitoring locations (NM3A, NM4A, and NM5A) were approved by EPD on 29
September 2020.
Therefore, 3 air quality monitoring stations and 4
noise impact monitoring station were confirmed for the impact monitoring for
construction activities in Zone 2A.
2.2
Environmental Mitigation Measures
Environmental mitigation measures have been recommended in the
EM&A Manual. Summary of implementation status of the environmental
mitigation measures is provided in Appendix C.
In accordance with the EM&A Manual, impact
monitoring has been conducted in the reporting quarter. Meteorological data for
the reporting quarter have been extracted from Hong Kong Observatory and
presented in Appendix D.
Monitoring data with graphical presentation for the reporting quarter are shown
in Appendix E.
A summary on the monitoring results are presented in Table 3.1.
Table 3.1: Summary
of Monitoring Data
|
Parameter
|
Monitoring Location
|
Minimum
|
Maximum
|
Average
|
|
Air Quality
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
hour
TSP
|
AM3A
|
30
|
84
|
55
|
|
1
hour
TSP
|
AM4A
|
31
|
83
|
56
|
|
1
hour
TSP
|
AM5A
|
32
|
88
|
56
|
|
24
hour
TSP
|
AM3A
|
31
|
73
|
51
|
|
24
hour
TSP
|
AM4A
|
31
|
74
|
51
|
|
24
hour
TSP
|
AM5A
|
33
|
76
|
51
|
|
Construction Noise
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM2A
|
58
|
65
|
62
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM3A
|
65
|
74
|
71
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM4A
|
64
|
70
|
68
|
|
Leq(30min)
|
NM5A
|
63
|
67
|
65
|
Summary of the exceedances in the reporting
quarter is tabulated in Table 3.2.
Table 3.2: Summary
of Exceedances
|
Monitoring
Station
|
Parameter
|
No. of Exceedance
|
Action Taken
|
|
Action
Level
|
Limit
Level
|
|
Air
Quality
|
|
|
|
|
|
AM3A
|
1
hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
24
hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
AM4A
|
1
hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
24
hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
AM5A
|
1
hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
24
hour TSP
|
0
|
0
|
N/A
|
|
Construction
Noise
|
|
|
|
|
|
NM2A
|
Leq(30min)
|
2 exceedances
due to two complaints
|
0
|
Strengthen the implementation of
noise mitigation measures
|
|
NM3A
|
Leq(30min)
|
0
|
|
NM4A
|
Leq(30min)
|
0
|
|
NM5A
|
Leq(30min)
|
0
|
All 1-hour TSP monitoring was conducted as scheduled in the
reporting quarter. No Action/ Limit Level exceedance was recorded.
All 24-hour TSP monitoring was conducted as scheduled in the
reporting quarter. No exceedance of Action Level of 24-hour TSP for Air Quality
was recorded, while there was no Limit Level exceedance.
All construction noise monitoring was
conducted as scheduled in the reporting quarter. Two Action Level exceedances (due to two noise complaints related to
Zone 2A) with no Limit Level exceedance of Noise was recorded in the reporting quarter.
All landscape and visual impact inspections were conducted as
scheduled in the reporting quarter. No adverse comment on landscape and visual
aspects were recorded.
As advised by the Contractor, 411.28
tonnes, 17257.88 tonnes of
inert C&D material were disposed
of as public fill to Tseung Kwan O Area 137 Public Fill, and Tuen
Mun Area 38 respectively in the reporting quarter, while 51.19 tonnes of general refuse were disposed of at SENT
landfill. 75.57 tonnes
of metals, 0.0 tonne of paper/cardboard packaging, 0.0 tonne of plastic and 0.0
tonne of timber were collected by recycling contractors in the reporting
quarter. 0.0 tonne of inert C&D materials were reused on site. 0.0 tonne of
fill materials were imported for use at site and 1449.45 tonnes of inert
C&D materials was reused in other projects. 0.0 tonne of inert C&D
materials was disposed to sorting facility and 0.6 tonnes of chemical
wastes was collected by licensed contractors in the reporting quarter.
The actual amounts of different
types of waste generated by the activities of construction works at Zone 2A in
the reporting quarter are shown in Appendix
F.
No exceedance of Action Level for Air
Quality was recorded at monitoring station, while there was no breach of Limit
Level for Air Quality in the reporting quarter.
Two Action
Level exceedances (due to two noise complaints related to Zone 2A) with no
Limit Level exceedance of Noise was recorded in the reporting quarter.
Three
complaints (of which, one is not related to Zone 2A) were received in the
reporting quarter. No notifications of summons and successful
prosecutions were received in the reporting quarter.
The first complaint was referred by EPD. On 28 March 2021, EPD received
a complaint from nearby resident that the WKCD construction site next to the
West Kowloon Station generates some annoying noise in the morning,
especially the piling machine. Investigation result revealed that the noise source could be attributable to WKCD Zone 2A-2
construction site. However, no piling works were carried out on 28
March 2021. From 22 to 27 March 2021, most of morning works were carried out after 9:00 a.m. as much as practicable in Zone
2A-2 site to reduce the noise. Subsequent to the complaint,
prompt actions have been taken to enhance the noise control measures. Moreover, existing noise control measures have been
properly maintained on site (through trainings, noise barrier erection, noise
measurement and monitoring with no exceedance, and promotional activities).
However, the Contractor is recommended to maintain good practices for site
management and continual improvement of noise control measures in order to
minimize disturbance to site neighbors.
The second environmental
complaint was referred by Home Affair Bureau (HAB) on the noise disturbance at
WKCD construction site was received on 12 April 2021. The complainant claimed that construction
noise was heard at the construction site close to Xiqu
Centre after 20:00. After investigation, it is deemed that the noise source could be from the
RCD machine and associated power pack set on Zone 2A-2 site. Thus, the complaint could be
attributable to Zone 2A site. During the construction works at night (i.e. 19:00 to 22:00) on 7 to
10 April and 12 April, one single group process was used and all work process complied with the
permitted time (19:00 - 23:00). Prompt actions have been taken to enhance the
noise control measures after reception of the complaint. Moreover, existing
noise control measures have been properly maintained on site (through
trainings, noise barrier erection, noise measurement and monitoring with no
exceedance). However, the Contractor is recommended to maintain good practices
for site management and continual improvement of noise control measures in
order to minimize disturbance to site neighbours.
The third environmental complaint was referred
by EPD. On 18 April 2021, EPD has received a complaint from a resident of The
Arch relating to WKCD construction site activities. The complainant claimed
that there was a noise from construction site of Zone 2A, including the engine
of lorry after 00:00 hrs on 15 and 16 April 2021. Investigation result revealed only RCD works had been found out and
conducted in night from 19:00 to 22:00 within the Zone 2A site on 15 and 16
April 2021. Construction activity, material transportation / delivery or lorry
traffic could not be found out after midnight (after 00:00) within the Zone 2A
site on 15 and 16 April 2021. Thereby,
the complaint could not be attributable to Zone 2A
site. However, the
Contractor has been reminded to properly maintain noise mitigation measures on
site to avoid disturbance to nearby residents.
The cumulative statistics
on complaints, notifications of summons and successful prosecutions were
provided in Appendix G.
Based on the observations made during site audits and landscape
inspections, and construction dust and noise monitoring results, no
non-compliances and exceedances of air quality limits were recorded, Two action
level exceedances (due to two
noise complaints related to Zone 2A) with no limit level
exceedance of noise was recorded in the reporting quarter.
Reviewing the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures
in the EM&A Manual, it was observed that they were effective and efficient
in controlling the potential impacts due to construction of the project during
the reporting period. Review of the effectiveness and efficiency of the
EM&A programme will continue, and recommendations will be provided to
remediate any potential impacts due to the project and to improve the EM&A
programme if deficiencies of the existing EM&A programme are identified.
The EM&A programme as recommended in the EM&A Manual has
been undertaken since the construction works of Zone 2A commenced on 3 October 2020.
Monitoring of air quality and noise with respect to the
Project is underway. In particular, the 1-hour TSP, 24-hour TSP, noise level
(as Leq, 30 minutes) under monitoring have been
checked against established Action and Limit levels. No exceedance of Action
Level for Air Quality was recorded, while there was no breach of Limit Level
for Air Quality (1-hour TSP and 24-hour TSP) in the reporting quarter. Two Action Level exceedances (due to two noise complaints related to
Zone 2A) with no Limit Level exceedance of Noise was recorded in the reporting quarter.
Three complaints were received in the
reporting quarter. No notifications of
summons and successful prosecutions were received during the reporting quarter.
Weekly
construction phase site inspections and bi-weekly landscape and visual impact
inspections were conducted during the reporting quarter as required. It was
observed that the Contractor had implemented all possible and feasible
mitigation measures to mitigate the potential environmental impacts during
construction phase works.
