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 Thirteenth Weekly Site Inspection Report that presents the findings of the site inspection and other EM&A activities undertaken during the period from 22 February 2013 to 28 February 2013.

Environmental Site Inspection

A weekly environmental site inspection was carried out by the representative of the Environmental Team (ET). Environmental performance complied with the environmental requirements and all necessary mitigation measures were properly implemented.

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

The remaining works at the cable landing point are the construction of protection fences for the new beach manholes. Potential environmental impacts arising from these activities are mainly associated with dust and waste management.

1 Introduction

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).

1.1 Purpose of the Report

This is the Thirteenth Weekly Site Inspection Report (the Report), which summarises the inspection findings for the period from 22 February 2013 to 28 February 2013 and the implementation status of the EM&A recommendations on environmental protection and pollution control mitigation measures and monitoring.

1.2 Structure of the Report

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

2 Project Information

2.1 Background

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.

2.2 Works Programme and Works Locations

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.

2.3 Construction Activities

Submarine Cable Installation

Starting from 8 October 2012, the submarine-cable laying works in Zone A, Zone B and Zone C have been largely finished and the installation barge reached the boundary of Hong Kong marine waters on 24 October 2012. All marine works associated with the Project were finished in late January 2013.

Landing Point Construction

The construction works of the landing point, which included the beach manholes and the land duct, commenced on 4 October 2012, and were completed in late December of 2012. During the reporting period, dismantlement of the site hoarding fences were conducted at the landing point on 22 – 26 February 2013.

2.4 Status of Environmental Approval Documents

A summary of the relevant permits, licences, and/or notifications on environmental protection for this Project is presented in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1 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

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

3 Environmental Monitoring

3.1 Cable Installation Water Quality Monitoring

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.

Daily impact water quality monitoring was conducted in the reporting period as all jetting works associated with the Project were completed on 29 December 2012.

As all marine works of the Protect were finished in late January 2013, post project water quality monitoring in Zone A, Zone B and Zone C was conducted in February 2013. Post Project Water Quality Monitoring Reporting summarizing the findings of the water quality monitoring in the three zones were submitted on 28 February 2013.

3.2 Marine Mammal Observation (MMO)

Daily marine mammal exclusion zone monitoring is required to be conducted during the cable installation works taking place in daylight hours along the sections 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 were completed on 24 October 2012.

3.3 Coral Monitoring

Baseline coral monitoring was completed in September 2012. The Baseline Coral Monitoring Survey Report was submitted on 28 September 2012. Impact monitoring for coral during cable installation works is not required under the Project.

In the week of 8 October 2012 when the cable installation barge passed the identified coral communities as presented in the Baseline Coral Monitoring Survey Report, the nearest distances between the barge and the identified coral communities in Zone A and Zone B were 230m and 270m respectively, indicating the cable alignment of more than 180m away from the identified coral communities as required in the Environmental Permit (EP- 433/2011).

Post-project coral monitoring was conducted within one month after completion of the marine works of the Project in late January. The Post-Project Coral Monitoring Survey Report was submitted to EPD and AFCD on 28 February 2013.

3.4 Site Inspection and Audit

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.

4 Site Inspection Results

The weekly site inspection is required to be carried out by the representative of 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 28 February 2013. Construction works for both the new beach manhole and land duct at the cable landing point have been largely completed. The site hording fences for both the new beach manholes area and the land duct area have been dismantled (Annex D Photos Nos. 1 and 2). Areas within and in vicinity of the construction site have been reinstated to their original status (Annex D Photos Nos. 3 and 4). There was no non-compliance recorded during the site audit.

5 Environmental Non-Conformance

5.1 Summary of Environmental Non-compliance

No non-compliance of PP/ EM&A/ EP/ legislative requirements was recorded during the reporting period.

5.2 Summary of Environmental Complaint

No complaint was received during the reporting period.

5.3 Summary of Environmental Summon and successful prosecution

No summons was received during the reporting period.

6 Future Key Issues

6.1 Key Issues for the Next 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 Period

Work to be taken
· *Construction of the New Beach Manhole Fence*

Potential environmental impacts arising from the above activities are mainly associated with dust and waste management.

6.2 Monitoring Schedule for the Next Reporting Period

Next weekly site inspection will be conducted in the week when the construction of the new beach manhole fence is carried out.

7 Conclusions

This Thirteenth Weekly Site Inspection Report presents the findings of the site inspection and other EM&A activities undertaken during the period from 22 February 2013 to 28 February 2013, in accordance with the PP (Register No. PP – 452/2011), revised EM&A Manual and the requirements of Environmental Permit (EP- 433/2011).

No impact water quality monitoring was carried out in the reporting week and neither was the daily marine mammal exclusion zone monitoring, as all marine works associated with the Project were completed in late January 2013.

A weekly environmental site inspection was conducted on 28 February 2013 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.