10           ENVIRONMENTAL SITE INSPECTION

Site Audits

10.1     Site audits were carried out by ET on weekly basis to monitor the timely implementation of proper environmental management practices and mitigation measures on the Contract site.  The summaries of site audits are presented in Table 10.1 and Appendix P.

Table 10.1   Summary of Site Audit

Environmental Site Inspection	Works Contracts
	ND/2019/01	ND/2019/02	ND/2019/03	ND/2019/04	ND/2019/05	ND/2019/06	ND/2019/07
Weekly site audit with representative of the Supervisor’s Representative and the Contractor	4, 12, 20 and 26 Apr 22	6, 14, 20 and 27 Apr 22	1, 8, 14, 19 and 29 Apr 22	7, 14, 21 and 25 Apr 22	4, 11, 21 and 25 Apr 22	7, 14, 21 and 28 Apr 22	1, 8, 14, 22 and 29 Apr 22
Joint Site Audit with representative of the Supervisor’s Representative, the Contractor and IEC	20 Apr 22	14 Apr 22	19 Apr 22	25 Apr 22	21 Apr 22	N/A	22 Apr 22

 

10.2     During site inspections in the reporting month, no non-conformance was identified. The observations and recommendations made during the audit sessions are summarised in Table 10.2.

 

 

Table 10.2       Observations and Recommendations during Site Audits

	Date	Observations and Recommendations	Follow-up
Contract No.: ND/2019/01
--	--	--	--
Contract No.: ND/2019/02
Water Quality	30/03/2022	Remove the stagnant water inside U-channel.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 6 April 2022.
Air Quality	06/04/2022	Dusty haul road shall be watered regularly.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 14 April 2022.
	14/04/2022	Cement or dry pulverized fuel ash (PFA) shall be covered on top and 3 sides.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 20 April 2022.
	27/04/2022	Dusty haul road shall be watered regularly.	Follow-up action is needed to be reported in the following month.
Waste / Chemical Management	14/04/2022	Drip tray shall be provided for chemical storage.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 20 April 2022.
	20/04/2022	Drip tray shall be provided for chemical storage.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 27 April 2022.
Contract No.: ND/2019/03
Waste / Chemical Management	01/04/2022	Drip tray should be provided for chemical storage.	Item was remarked as 220408- R01.
	08/04/2022	Drip tray should be provided for chemical storage.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 14 April 2022.
	19/04/2022	Oil spillage inside site area at Yin Kong Road should be cleared immediately.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 29 April 2022.
Contract No.: ND/2019/04
Water Quality	31/03/2022	To enhance the drainage system and the capacity of de-silting facility to prevent surface runoff.	Item was remarked as 220407- R01.
	07/04/2022	To enhance the drainage system and the capacity of de-silting facility to prevent surface runoff.	Item was remarked as 220414-R02.
	07/04/2022	To enhance water mitigation measure to prevent surface runoff to Ng Tung River.	Item was remarked as 220414-O01.
	14/04/2022	Muddy runoff was observed nearly overflow within the sandbag bund. The Contractor was reminded to enhance the water quality mitigation measures (e.g. heighten the sand bag bund, cover the exposed slopes nearby etc.) to minimize the muddy surface runoff generation and discharging to the river. (Discharging Point 3)	Item was remarked as 220421-O01.
	21/04/2022	Although the sandbag bund has been heighten, the muddy runoff was still observed nearly overflow within the bund. The Contractor was reminded to review and modify the implemented mitigation measures to avoid the muddy surface runoff discharging to the river.	Item was remarked as 220425-O01.
	25/04/2022	To review and modify the implemented mitigation measures to avoid the muddy surface runoff discharging to the river.	Follow-up action is needed to be reported in the following month.
	14/04/2022	To enhance the drainage system and increase the capacity of de-silting. (Portion H)	Item was remarked as 220421-R02.
	21/04/2022	To enhance the drainage system and increase the capacity of de-silting. (Portion H)	Item was remarked as 220425-R02.
	25/04/2022	To enhance the drainage system and increase the capacity of de-silting. (Portion H)	Follow-up action is needed to be reported in the following month.
	14/04/2022	To divert the surface runoff for treatment at near Ma Wat River especially during rainy day. (Portion H)	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 21 April 2022.
Ecology	21/04/2022	The silt curtain should be properly surrounding the works at near bridge F and ensure it is intact.	Item was remarked as 220425-R03.
	25/04/2022	The silt curtain should be properly surrounding the works at near bridge F and ensure it is intact.	Follow-up action is needed to be reported in the following month.
Noise	21/04/2022	The noise barrier along Siu Hang San Tsuen should be erected with no gap.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 25 April 2022.
Contract No.: ND/2019/05
Air Quality	28/03/2022	Site entrance should be kept clean and free from dust.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 4 April 2022.
	04/04/2022	Dusty stockpile should be covered entirely by impervious sheeting.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 11 April 2022.
	21/04/2022	Dusty stockpile shall be covered properly by impervious sheeting.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 25 April 2022.
	21/04/2022	Valid NRMM label shall be displayed on regulated machine.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 25 April 2022.
	25/04/2022	Dusty stockpile shall be covered properly by impervious sheeting.	Follow-up action is needed to be reported in the following month.
Water Quality	11/04/2022	Enhance water mitigation measure to prevent surface runoff.	Improvement/Rectification was observed during follow-up audit session on 21 April 2022.
Contract No.: ND/2019/06
--	--	--	--
Contract No.: ND/2019/07
--	--	--	--

 

Implementation Status of Environmental Mitigation Measures

10.3     According to the EIA Report, EPs and the Updated EM&A Manual, the mitigation measures detailed in the documents are recommended to be implemented during the construction phase. An updated summary of the Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule is provided in Appendix Q. The photographic records of measures as stipulated in EP to mitigate environmental impacts in the reporting month are presented in Table 10.3.

Table 10.3   Photographic Records and Implementation Status of Measures

EP No.	Condition	Photographic Record	Implementation Status
EP-466/2013	2.9	To minimise adverse impacts on habitats of ecological imprtance in the vicinity of the Project, 2m high solid dull green site barrier fences shall be erected around all active works areas.	^[1]
EP-468/2013/A	2.11	To minimise adverse impacts on habitats of ecological importance in the vicinity of the Project, 2m high solid dull green site barrier fences shall be erected around all active works areas.	^[1]
EP-469/2013	2.7	To minimise adverse impacts on habitats of ecological importance in the vicinity of the Project, 2m high solid dull green site barrier fences shall be erected around all active works areas.	^[1]
EP-473/2013/A	2.13	To minimise adverse impacts on habitats of ecological importance in the vicinity of the Project, 2m high solid dull green site barrier fences shall be erected around all active works areas.	^[1]
EP-475/2013/A	2.7	To minimise adverse impacts on habitats of ecological importance in the vicinity of the Project, 2m high solid dull green site barrier fences shall be erected around all active works areas.	^[1]
Implementation status:		^         Mitigation measure was fully implemented *         Observation/reminder was made during site audit but improved/rectified by the contractor #         Observation/reminder was made during site audit but not yet improved/ rectified by the            contractor X        Non-compliance of mitigation measure ·         Non-compliance but rectified by the contractor N/A   Not Applicable at this stage as no such site activities were conducted in the reporting            period

[1]:       Barrier fences might be subjected to change according to phasing plan designed at detailed design stage

 

10.4     Under EP-467/2013/A (Condition 2.9), to minimise adverse impacts on habitats of ecological importance in the vicinity of the Project, 2m high solid dull green site barrier fences shall be erected around all active works areas. As the Works programme under above EPs were still under preparation work and the barrier fences erection was still progressing in the Reporting Month, 2m high solid dull green site barrier fences will be checked once in place. The Hoarding Plan of the above EPs refer to EP submission.

Implementation Status of Air Quality and Noise Mitigation Measures

10.5     According to the EIA Report and the Updated EM&A Manual, the Air quality and Noise mitigation measures detailed in the documents are recommended to be implemented during the construction phase. Air quality and Noise mitigation measures implemented by the contractors were closely monitored to prevent water pollution, especially during dry season. An updated summary of the Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule is provided in Appendix Q. Specific Air quality and Noise mitigation measures for major construction works in the reporting month are presented in Table 10.4.

 

 

Table 10.4       Specific Air Quality and Noise Mitigation Measures for Major Construction Works in the Reporting Month

Works Contracts	Photographic Records
ND/2019/01	Hard paved exposed slope surface	Dusty haul road watered regularly
ND/2019/02	Hard paved exposed haul road	Hard paved exposed slope surface
ND/2019/03	Deployment of noise barriers between construction site and NSRs	Regulated machines display with Non-road Mobile Machinery labels
ND/2019/04	Haul road watered regularly	Deployment of noise barriers between construction site and NSRs
ND/2019/05	Covering dusty stockpile	Access road watered regularly
ND/2019/06	Dull green hoarding erected around site	Hard paved exposed haul road
ND/2019/07	Covering exposed slope surface with tarpaulin	Access road watered regularly

Solid and Liquid Waste Management Status

10.6     Waste generated from Contract No. ND/2019/01, ND/2019/02, ND/2019/03, ND/2019/04, ND/2019/05, ND/2019/06 and ND/2019/07 include inert construction and demolition (C&D) materials and non-inert C&D wastes in the Reporting Month.

10.7     The amount of wastes generated by the construction works of the Contract No. ND/2019/01, ND/2019/02, ND/2019/03, ND/2019/04, ND/2019/05, ND/2019/06 and ND/2019/07 during the reporting month are shown in Appendix R.

10.8     The Contractors are advised to minimize the wastes generated through recycling or reusing. All mitigation measures stipulated in the Updated EM&A Manual and waste management plans shall be fully implemented. The status of implementation of waste management and reduction measures are summited in Appendix Q.

 

Ecological Mitigation Measures – Creation of Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP)

10.9     From the findings of EIA Report, the area of Long Valley has been assessed as of high to very high ecological value and is the largest contiguous area of freshwater wetland habitats in Hong Kong. To safeguard the ecological value of Long Valley, about 37 hectares of land in Long Valley has been proposed to develop into Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP) for conserving and enhancing the ecologically important environment as well as for compensation of the wetland loss due to the NDA development.

10.10  LVNP is developed according to approved Habitat Creation and Management Plan (HCMP) submitted under EP-468/2013/A. The HCMP provides a framework and specifications for development and management of the LVNP and guides the development to maintain and enhance the 37ha of low-lying wetland habitats.

10.11 Regarding to the design, the zoning of land use in the LVNP is intended to maintain the existing mosaic pattern of wet and dry agriculture, while controlling the activities that could potentially disturb target habitats and species. The LVNP will divide into three broad zones of land use as below:

•       Biodiversity Zone of about 21 hectares largely designated for biodiversity conservation through cultivation of specified crops and habitat management.

•       Agricultural Zone of about 11 hectares designated for commercially focuses crop production and eco-friendly agricultural practice for farming.

•       Visitor Zone of about 5 hectares designed to accommodate visitors as well as storage and other facilities and for educational purposes.

10.12 The construction of the LVNP started in late 2019 and is expected to be completed in 2023. During construction period, the progress of construction and wetland enhancement works are under observation by different stakeholders including AFCD and green groups. Close communication between AFCD and CEDD are conducted to exchange views on conservation, restoration and management of habitats as well as on the planning and design of the park. Also, advices from green groups, Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) and The Conservancy Association (CA), are taken on habitat management of Long Valley and potential effects on habitat and wildlife of each individual work conducted in Long Valley. Regular meeting are held monthly to share the progress of LVNP with different stakeholders, including CEDD, AFCD, CA, HKBWS, Contractor, ET, IEC and farmers. However, meeting in April was canceled due to pandemic outbreak.

10.13 Proposals on wetland creation and restoration, dry agricultural land creation, pond creation, water treatment wetland and design of irrigation channel are submitted by the Contractor to achieve the objectives stated in HCMP and accepted by the Engineer with consent from AFCD before implementation. The Contractor will consult with the stakeholders for recommendations and suggestions on mitigation measures to minimise the environmental impacts arising from construction works. The progress of works will be arranged to minimise impacts to avifauna and maintain the habitat for avifauna. The photographic records of site activities in LVNP are presented in Table 10.5.

 

 

Table 10.5       Photographic Records of Site Activities in LVNP

Agricultural practice are continued in existing farmland to maintain habitats in Long Valley
Open water Habitat	Open water Habitat		Chinese arrowhead pond
Creation of wetland with designated habitat for biodiversity conservation
Planting of paddy rice to provide foraging ground for Yellow-breasted Bunting
Retention of washing bay for amphibians breeding		Enhancement of irrigation channel to provide reliable water source for farmland in Long Valley
Provision of bird island (hidden area)		Restoring of water flea pond to provide food source to water birds
Construction of storage sheds for farmers		A Calidris acuminata was recorded
Wet agricultural land		Provision of noise barrier for noisy works in Long Valley