2.                         SUMMARY OF EM&A REQUIREMENTS AND MONITORING RESULTS

2.1                       Monitoring Requirement

2.1.1                   The Quarterly EM&A programme was undertaken in accordance with the EM&A Manual. It should be noted that the air quality, noise, water quality and ecology monitoring works are covered by this contract.

Air quality Monitoring

2.1.2                   1-hour Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) levels should be measured at the designated air quality monitoring stations to ensure that any deteriorating air quality could be readily detected and timely action shall be undertaken to rectify such situation. Impact 1-hour TSP monitoring was conducted for at least three times every 6 days when the highest dust impact occurs.

Noise Monitoring

2.1.3                   Leq (30min) monitoring is conducted at least once a week when there are Project-related construction activities being undertaken within a radius of 300 m from the monitoring stations. The monitoring is conducted during the construction phase between 0700 and 1900 on normal weekdays at the designated monitoring locations.

Water quality Monitoring

2.1.4                   Turbidity (in NTU), pH, DO (in mg/L and % of saturation), Temperature (in °C), Salinity (in ppt) and Suspended Solids are conducted for three days per week at mid-flood and mid-ebb with sampling and measurement at the designated monitoring stations.

Ecology Monitoring

2.1.5                   Ardeid night roost monitoring was conducted once a month in areas within 100 m from the Project boundary to monitor the effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures and detect any unpredicted indirect ecological impacts arising from the Project.

2.1.6                   Ecological monitoring of birds was conducted monthly during the quarter at point count sites and transect routes along the wetland habitats in Fung Lok Wai and Nam Sang Wai as well as along Shan Pui River and Kam Tin River within 500m from the Project boundary.


 

2.2                       Monitoring Locations

2.2.1                   The air quality and noise monitoring are summarized in Table 2.1. The locations of the air quality and noise monitoring stations shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, respectively.

2.2.2                   The coordinates of water quality monitoring locations are summarized in Table 2.2. The locations of the water quality monitoring stations shown in Figure 4.

2.3                       Results and Observations

2.3.1                   Graphical presentation of the monitoring data in the reporting period is presented in Appendix D.

Air quality Monitoring

2.3.2                   1-hour TSP impact monitoring at AM1 and AM2 were carried out in the reporting period, the monitoring results are reported in the monthly EM&A Report prepared for this Contract.

2.3.3                   No Action and Limit Level exceedance was recorded for air quality monitoring in the reporting period.


 

Noise Monitoring

2.3.4                   Construction noise monitoring were carried out in the reporting period, the monitoring results for CM1, CM2 and CM3 are reported in the monthly EM&A Reports prepared for this Contract.

2.3.5                   No Action and Limit Level exceedance was recorded for construction noise monitoring in the reporting period.

2.3.6                   No raining and wind with speed over 5 m/s was observed during noise monitoring according to the onsite observation.

2.3.7                   During the noise monitoring period, at CM2, road traffic from the squatter house at the west of Yuen Long STW was observed, at CM3, road traffic from the Nam Sang Wai Road was observed. No effect that arose from the other special phenomena and work progress of the concerned site for CM1 was noted during the current monitoring period.

Water quality Monitoring

2.3.8                   Water quality monitoring were carried out in the reporting period, the monitoring results for M1, M2 and M3 are reported in the monthly EM&A Reports prepared for this Contract.

2.3.9                   During the reporting period, no Action and Limit Level exceedance was recorded for Dissolved Oxygen, no Action and Limit Level exceedance was recorded for Turbidity, and 3 Limit Level exceedances for Suspended Solids were recorded. Number of water quality exceedance recorded in the reporting period at each impact stations is summarized in Table 2.3.

2.3.10               Based on the finding from the investigation on the recorded case of exceedances, the cause was found not related to the project. The exceedances may be caused by influences in the vicinity of the station or changes of the ambient conditions. The details of Notification of Exceedance are reported in the monthly EM&A Report prepared for this Contract.


 

Ecology Monitoring

2.3.11               Ardeid night roost monitoring and ecological bird monitoring were carried out in the reporting period. The monitoring results are reported in the monthly EM&A Reports prepared for this Contract.

2.3.12               Results of the ardeid night roost monitoring showed that of the two confirmed ardeid night roosts (ANR 1 and ANR 2) during the pre-construction survey, only one (ANR 1) was observed to be active from July 2021 to September 2021. No Action / Limit Level exceedance at NMS1 and NMS2 was recorded during the reporting period.

2.3.13               Results of the ecological bird monitoring recorded two (2) exceedances in Action Level. These include the significant decline in species diversity of species with conservation importance (point count method) last July 2021; and significant decline in species abundance of all avifauna species (point count method) last September 2021. However, the exceedances were not project-related. The exceedance noted last July 2021 could be due to the dominance of Chinese Pond Heron in the community. On the other hand, the September 2021 exceedance could be due to the decrease in mudflat coverage within the monitoring area which could have decreased the foraging area of waterbirds and led to the decrease in abundance.

2.4                       Action and Limit Levels

2.4.1                   The Action and Limit Levels for air quality, noise, water quality and ecology monitoring have been set and are presented in Appendix C.

2.5                       Event and Action Plans

2.5.1                   The event and action plans for air quality, noise, water quality and ecology monitoring are presented in Appendix E.

2.6                       Mitigation Measures

2.6.1                   The Contractor had implemented environmental mitigation measures and requirements as stated in the EIA Report, the EP and EM&A Manual. The implementation status of the environmental mitigation measures during the reporting period is summarized in Appendix G.