Contents
1.1 Purpose of the Report
1.2 Structure of the Report
2.1 Background
2.2 Works Programme and Works Locations
2.3 Construction Activities
2.4 Status of Environmental Approval Documents
3.1 Cable Installation Water Quality Monitoring
3.2 Marine Mammal Observation
3.3 Coral Monitoring
3.4 Site Inspection and Audit
5 Environmental
Non-Conformance
5.1 Summary of Environmental Non-compliance
5.2 Summary of Environmental Complaint
5.3 Summary of Environmental Summon and successful
prosecution
6.1 Key Issues for the Next Reporting Period
6.2 Monitoring Schedule for the Next Reporting Period
LIST OF TABLES
Table
2.1 Summary
of Landing Point Construction Activities Undertaken during the Reporting Period
Table 2.2 Summary
of Current Environmental Licensing, Notification and Permit Status
Table 6.1 Construction
Works to Be Taken For the Next Reporting Week
LIST OF ANNEXES
Annex A Proposed ASE Submarine
Cable System (Layout Plan)
Annex B Location of ASE Landing
Point and Terrestrial Cable Route
Annex C Completed Site Inspection
Log
Annex D Photographic Records on Site
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
NTT Com Asia (NTTCA) proposes to install a telecommunication
cable (Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) cable) of approximately 7,200 km in
length, connecting Japan and Singapore with branches to the Philippines, Hong
Kong SAR (HKSAR) and Malaysia. A
Project Profile (PP-452/2011) which includes an assessment of the potential
environmental impacts associated with the installation of the submarine
telecommunications cable system was prepared and submitted to the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) under section 5.(1)(b) and
5.(11) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) for the
application for Permission to apply directly for Environmental Permit
(EP). The Environmental Protection
Department, subsequently issued an Environmental Permit (EP- 433/2011).
This
is the Second Weekly Site Inspection
Report that presents the findings of the site inspection and other EM&A activities undertaken during the period from 8 to 14 October 2012.
Environmental Site
Inspection
A
weekly joint environmental site inspection was carried out by the
representatives of the Contractor and the Environmental Team (ET). Environmental performance complied with
the environmental requirements and all necessary mitigation measures were
properly implemented.
Marine Mammal Observation
Daily
marine mammal exclusion zone monitoring was not carried out in the reporting
period as the cable installation works in Zone C and from C to the boundary of
HKSAR waters has not started.
Coral Monitoring
Impact monitoring for coral during cable installation
is not required under the Project.
When the cable installation barge passed the identified coral
communities/ significant coral habitats presented in the Baseline Coral Monitoring Survey Report, the nearest distances
between the barge and the coral habitats in Zone A and Zone B were 230m and
270m respectively, indicating the cable alignment of more than 180m away from
the corals as required in the Environmental Permit (EP- 433/2011).
Summary
of Breaches of Action/Limit Levels
Exceedances
in the Action and Limit Levels of bottom DO were recorded in the reporting
period. After a careful examination
of the monitoring data, it is considered that the observed low DO levels might
represent a natural fluctuation in the background levels rather than a result
of the Project.
Environmental Complaints,
Non-compliance & Summons
No
non-compliance with PP recommendations, EP conditions and other requirements
associated with the construction of the Project was recorded in the reporting
period.
No
environmental complaint was received in this reporting period.
No environmental summons
was received in this reporting period.
Upcoming Works for the Next
Reporting Period
Works
to be undertaken in the coming monitoring period include cable laying works in
Zone C and from C eastward to the boundary of HKSAR waters, seawall duct work,
land duct laying works, beach manhole construction and backfilling and
restatement.
Potential
environmental impacts arising from the above construction activities are mainly
associated with marine water quality, dust, construction noise and waste
management.
ERM-Hong Kong, Limited
(ERM) was appointed by NTT Com Asia (NTTCA) as the Environmental Team to
conduct regular site inspections and audit the implementation of all
environmental monitoring and mitigation measures recommended in the Project
Profile (PP) (Register No. PP – 452/2011) for the Proposed
Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) – Tseung Kwan O
(the Project).
This is the Second Weekly Site Inspection Report (the
Report), which summarises the inspection findings for the period from 8 October 2012 to 14 October 2012 and the implementation status of the EM&A
recommendations on environmental protection and pollution control mitigation
measures and monitoring.
The structure of the Report
is as follows:
Section 1
: Introduction
Details the scope and structure of the
Report.
Section
2 : Project
Information
Summarises background and scope of the Project, site description,
construction programme, the construction works undertaken and the status of
Environmental Permits/Licenses during the reporting period.
Section
3 : Environmental Monitoring
Summarises
the monitoring programmes as recommended in the PP and the monitoring
undertaken during the reporting period.
Section
4 : Site Inspection Results
Summarises the findings of the weekly
site inspection undertaken within the reporting period.
Section
5 : Environmental Non-conformance
Summarises any exceedances
of environmental performance standard, environmental complaints and
environmental summons received within the reporting period.
Section 6
: Upcoming Works for the next Reporting
Period
Summarises the impact
forecast and monitoring schedule for the next reporting week.
Section 7
: Conclusions
NTT
Com Asia (NTTCA) proposes to install a telecommunication cable (Asia
Submarine-cable Express (ASE) cable) of approximately 7,200 km in length,
connecting Japan and Singapore with branches to the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR
(HKSAR) and Malaysia. NTTCA is
responsible for securing the approval to land the ASE cable in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR). The proposed landing site will be at a
new Beach Manhole (BMH) and ultimately connect with a Data Centre in Tseung Kwan O (TKO) Industrial Estate which is scheduled
for completion in 2012. From Tseung Kwan O, the cable will extend eastward approaching
the Tathong Channel. Near to Cape Collinson,
the cable is approximately parallel to the Tathong
Channel until north of Waglan Island where the cable
travels eastward to the boundary of HKSAR waters where it enters the South
China Sea. The total length of
cable in Hong Kong SAR waters is approximately 33.5 km. A map of the proposed cable route is
presented in Annex A.
A
Project Profile (PP-452/2011) which includes an assessment of the potential
environmental impacts associated with the installation of the submarine
telecommunications cable system was prepared and submitted to the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) under section 5.(1)(b) and
5.(11) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) for the
application for Permission to apply directly for Environmental Permit
(EP). The Environmental Protection
Department, subsequently issued an Environmental Permit (EP- 433/2011).
Under the requirements of
Condition 2.4 of the EP, an EM&A programme as set out in the revised Environmental
Monitoring and Audit Manual (EM&A Manual) is required to be
implemented. The EM&A programme
includes water quality monitoring, marine mammal observation, coral monitoring
and weekly site inspection.
The location of the cable
installation works within the boundary of Hong Kong SAR waters is shown in Annex A, while the location of the landing point (ie new Beach Manhole (BMH) in TKO Industrial Estate) is
shown in Annex B.
The preliminary construction programme of the Project is given in Figure 2.1.
Figure
2.1 Preliminary Construction
Programme
Submarine
Cable Installation
The
submarine-cable installation works started on 8 October 2012. By the end of the reporting period (ie 14 October 2012), cable installation works in Zone A and
Zone B had been large finished.
Landing
Point Construction
The
construction works of the landing point commenced on 4 October 2012 and are
temporarily scheduled to be completed in early December of 2012. A summary of the major construction
activities undertaken on the landing point during the reporting period is shown
in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 Summary
of Landing Point Construction Activities Undertaken during the Reporting Period
|
Construction Activities Undertaken |
|
·
Levelling of base soil at
seawall ·
Excavation of base soil at
sea bed ·
Levelling of base soil at
sea bed ·
Installation of GI pipe at
seawall |
A summary of the relevant
permits, licences, and/or notifications on environmental protection for this
Project is presented in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2 Summary of Current
Environmental Licensing, Notification and Permit Status
|
Permit/
Licences/ Notification |
Reference |
Validity Period |
Remarks |
|
Environmental
Permit |
EP-433/2011 |
Throughout
the construction and operation of the Project |
Permit
granted on 20 December 2011 |
|
Construction
Noise Permit |
GW-RE0774-12 |
18 Sep 2012 – 31 Jan 2013 |
Permits
granted on using of registered powered mechanical equipment for 07:00-23:00 hrs on general holidays (including Sundays) and
19:00-23:00 hrs on any day not being a general
holiday for Sub-marine cable laying works of the Project |
Baseline
water quality monitoring was completed by the end of September 2012. Baseline Water Quality Monitoring
Reports for Zone A, Zone B and Zone C were submitted on 19 September 2012, 25
September 2012 and 1 October 2012, respectively.
Impact
water quality monitoring was conducted daily from 8 Oct 2012 to 14 Oct 2012 as
the cable installation works proceeded in Zone A and
Zone B. Exceedances in the Action and Limit
Levels of bottom DO were recorded in the reporting period. After a careful examination of the
monitoring data, it is considered that the observed low DO levels might
represent a natural fluctuation in the background levels rather than a result
of the Project. Relevant water quality monitoring results of
the reporting period and mitigation
measures to control water quality pollution as recommended in the PP will be
presented in the First Weekly Water
Quality Impact Monitoring Report within three days after the relevant
monitoring data are collected.
Daily
marine mammal exclusion zone monitoring is required to be conducted during the
cable installation works taking place in daylight hours along the section
outside Zone A to Zone B (ie Zone C and from C to the
boundary of HKSAR waters). This
monitoring was not carried out in the reporting period as the cable
installation works in Zone C and from C to the boundary of HKSAR waters has not
started.
Baseline
coral monitoring was completed in September 2012. The Baseline Coral Monitoring Survey
Report was submitted on 28 September 2012.
Post-project coral monitoring will be conducted within one month after
completion of the jetting works, with the Post-project Coral Monitoring Survey
Report to be submitted within one month after completion of the marine
works. Impact monitoring for coral
during cable installation works is not required under the Project.
When
the cable installation barge passed the identified coral communities/
significant coral habitats presented in the Baseline
Coral Monitoring Survey Report, the nearest distances between the barge and
the coral habitats in Zone A and Zone B were 230m and 270m respectively,
indicating the cable alignment of more than 180m away from the corals as
required in the Environmental Permit (EP-
433/2011).
In
accordance with the revised EM&A Manual, a weekly site inspection should be
undertaken at the landing point (ie new Beach Manhole
(BMH) in TKO Industrial Estate) to ensure that the appropriate environmental
protection and pollution control mitigation measures are properly implemented
in accordance with the Project Profile (PP-452/2011). Results of the site inspection in the
reporting period are provided in Section
4.
The weekly site inspection
is required to be carried out by the representatives of the Contractor and the
Environmental Team (ET). A Site
Inspection Log is completed by the ET representative to record
whether the Contractor is compliant with environmental regulations in terms of
noise, water quality and housekeeping etc (Annex C).
During the reporting
period, the site inspection was conducted on 12 October 2012 by the
representatives of the Contractor and the ET. There was no non-compliance recorded
during the site audit. Major
findings and recommendations are summarised as follows:
(i)
A copy of EP was displayed
conspicuously at the vehicular site entrance in accordance with the requirement
of Condition 1.5 of the EP.
(ii)
A
silt curtain was employed around the seawall area in order to reduce the
dispersion of sediments from the landing site (Annex D Photo No. 1).
(iii)
During
the site inspection, rubbish bins could not be found within the construction
site. The Contractor was reminded
to provide rubbish bins on site and to educate the workers to dispose rubbish
properly. Follow-up actions were
conducted in the next day by the Contractor and a rubbish bin was placed on
site (Annex D Photo No. 2).
(iv)
Tarpaulin
sheets, which should be used to cover unpaved slopes and dusty stockpiles to
prevent dust generation or erosion, were observed to be missing on the
construction site (Annex D Photo No. 3). The
Contractor was recommended to cover the stockpiles properly to prevent
excessive dust generation.
Corrective action was conducted by the Contractor in the following day (Annex D Photo No. 4).
(v)
The
Contractor was nevertheless advised to spray water to all exposed earth
surfaces within the construction site regularly for the purpose of dust
suppression.
No non-compliance of PP/
EM&A/ EP/ legislative requirements was recorded during the reporting
period.
No complaint was received
during the reporting period.
No summons was received
during the reporting period.
Works to be taken for the
next reporting period are summarised in Table 6.1.
Table 6.1 Construction
Works to Be Taken For the Next Reporting Week
|
Work to be taken |
|
Submarine Cable Installation ·
Cable laying works in Zone C and from C
eastward to the boundary of HKSAR waters Landing Point
Construction ·
Seawall duct work ·
Land duct laying works ·
Beach manhole construction ·
Backfilling and reinstatement |
Potential environmental
impacts arising from the above construction activities are mainly associated
with marine water quality, dust, construction noise and waste management.
Daily impact water quality monitoring
will be continued in next week until the completion of the cable installation
works in Zone C. The results will
be summarised in the Second Weekly Water
Quality Impact Monitoring Report after the relevant monitoring data become
available.
Next weekly site inspection
is temporarily scheduled on 19 October 2012.
This Second Weekly Site Inspection Report presents the findings of the
site inspection and other EM&A activities
undertaken during the period from 8
to 14 October 2012, in accordance
with the PP (Register No. PP – 452/2011), revised EM&A
Manual and the requirements of Environmental
Permit (EP- 433/2011).
Submarine-cable
installation works/ jetting works were conducted in Zone A and Zone B during
the reporting period. Impact
water quality monitoring was hence carried out daily from 8 Oct 2012 to 14 Oct
2012 as the cable installation works proceeded. Exceedances in the Action and Limit
Levels of bottom DO were recorded, but it is considered that the observed low
DO levels might represent a natural fluctuation in the background levels rather
than a result of the Project.
When
the cable installation barge passed the identified coral communities/
significant coral habitats presented in the Baseline
Coral Monitoring Survey Report, the nearest distances between the barge and
the coral habitats in Zone A and Zone B were 230m and 270m respectively,
indicating the cable alignment of more than 180m away from the corals as
required in the Environmental Permit (EP-
433/2011).
A
weekly joint environmental site inspection was conducted on 12 October 2012
during the reporting period. It
confirmed that the environmental mitigation measures recommended in the PP were
properly implemented by the Contractor.
No
non-compliance event was recorded during the reporting period.
No complaint and
summons/prosecution was received during the reporting period.
The ET will keep track on
the construction works to confirm compliance of environmental requirements and
the proper implementation of all necessary mitigation measures.