Contents
1.1 Background
1.2 Purpose of the Manual
1.3 Organization and Structure of
the EM&A
1.4 Structure of the EM&A Manual
2 Cable
installation water quality monitoring
2.1 Sampling and Testing Methodology
2.2 Monitoring Locations
2.3 Sampling Procedures
2.4 Compliance / Action Event Plan
2.5 Reporting
4.1 Objectives and Approach
4.2 Monitoring Locations
4.3 Monitoring Methodology
4.4 Reporting
5 Compliance Audit Procedures
of Mitigation Measures
5.1 Site Inspections
1
Introduction
1.1
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.
It should be noted that Tseung Kwan O is
currently the landing site for a number of submarine cables. 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 Figure 1.1.
The 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 approval
letter on Application for Permission to Apply Directly for Environmental Permit
on 14th November 2011 (Ref: (18) in EP2/G/C/161). The assessment was based on information
compiled by the Project Proponent describing the expected construction
activities. Once installed, the
cable will not result in impacts to the environment during its operation.
During the cable installation works it has been
recommended that predicted environmental impacts are monitored and checked as
part of an Environmental Monitoring and Audit programme. The key aspects of Water Quality, Marine
Mammal (Finless Porpoise) and Coral Monitoring to be undertaken during cable
installation works are summarized as follows:
·
The forward speed of cable laying will be limited to a
maximum of 1 km hr-1 so that the amount of seabed sediment disturbed
and dispersed during the cable laying process can be kept to a minimum;
·
Good house-keeping practices for onshore activities at
the cable landing will serve to avoid impacts to water quality;
·
Silt curtain will be employed around the seawall area
to reduce the dispersion of sediments from the landing sites;
·
Water quality monitoring programme
will be conducted at Junk Bay, Tung Lung Chau, Tai
Long Pai to verify that adverse impacts do not occur
to water quality, marine ecology and fisheries due to the installation of the
cable;
·
A marine mammal exclusion zone within a radius of 250
m from the cable installation barge will be implemented during the cable
installation works to verify that the area is clear of marine mammals prior to
the commencement of works and to reduce any disturbance to them; and
·
A coral monitoring programme
will be conducted at Cape Collinson and Tai Long Pai as well as the control site Tung Lung Chau prior to, and after, the cable installation works to
verify that no adverse impacts occur to the corals that are in vicinity to the
cable alignment zone.
1.2
Purpose of the Manual
ERM-Hong
Kong, Limited (ERM) has been appointed by NTTCA to undertake the environmental
permitting and prepare the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual
(“the Manual”) for this Project.
This Manual is a supplementary document of the project entitled Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) – Tseung Kwan O (Application No.: DIR-217/2011) and is
required to be submitted to the Director of Environmental Protection for
approval prior to the application for an environmental permit as listed under
the Conditions Imposed under Section
5(12) of the EIA Ordinance for Permission to Apply Directly for Environmental
Permit.
The
EM&A Manual has been prepared to:
·
Monitor the effectiveness of the control measures
employed during the cable laying works;
·
Verify that the project works are not resulting in any
impacts to water quality at seawater intakes at Junk’s Bay and Siu Sai Wan, coral communities
and Fish Culture Zone at Tung Lung Chau, and coral
communities at Tai Long Pai, Fat Tong Chau, Sung Kong and Waglan
Island;
·
To ensure that any adverse impacts are detected during
the cable laying process and that appropriate action is undertaken in the event
that impacts are identified to sensitive receivers and are found to be
associated with the cable installation works;
·
Verify the project works are not carried out if marine
mammals (ie Finless Porpoise) are within a radius of
250 m from the cable alignment site, so to ensure they will not be disturbed by
the cable laying works; and
·
Carry out coral monitoring works at Impact stations
(Cape Collinson and Tai Long Pai)
which are in the vicinity of the alignment of cable and at Control station (Tung
Lung Chau) to ensure corals (ie
hard corals, octocorals and black corals) are not
affected by the cable laying works.
1.3
Organization and Structure of the EM&A
1.3.1
General
NTT
Com Asia Limited (NTTCA) will appoint an Environmental Team (ET) to conduct the
monitoring and auditing works and to provide specialist advice on the
undertaking and implementation of environmental responsibilities. The ET shall have previous experience
with managing similarly sized EM&A programmes and
the Environmental Team Leader (ET Leader) shall be a recognized environmental
professional, preferably with a minimum of 7 years relevant experience in
impact assessment and impact monitoring programmes.
To
maintain strict control of the EM&A process, NTTCA shall appoint an
independent environmental consultant to act as an “Independent Environmental
Checker” (IC(E)) to verify and validate the
environmental performance of the Contractor and his Environmental Team.
1.3.2
Project Organisation
The
roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the EM&A
process are further expanded in the following sections. The ET Leader will be responsible for,
and in charge of, the Environmental Team; and shall be the person responsible
for executing the EM&A requirements.
Contractor
Reporting
to NTTCA, the Contractor shall:
·
Work within the scope of the construction contract and
other tender conditions;
·
Provide assistance to the ET in conducting the
required environmental monitoring;
·
Participate in the site inspections undertaken by the
ET, as required, and undertake any corrective actions instructed by NTTCA;
·
Implement measures to reduce impact where Action and
Limit levels are exceeded; and
·
Take responsibility and strictly adhere to the
guidelines of the EM&A programme and
complementary protocols developed by their project staff.
NTTCA
NTTCA
will:
·
Employ an ET to undertake monitoring, laboratory
analysis and reporting of the EM&A requirements outlined in this Manual;
·
Employ an IC(E) to verify and validate the
environmental performance of the Contractor and his Environmental Team
·
Monitor the Contractor’s compliance with contract
specifications, including the effective implementation and operation of
environmental mitigation measures and other aspects of the EM&A programme;
·
Comply with the agreed Event and Action Plan in the
event of any exceedance; and
·
Instruct the Contractor to follow the agreed protocols
or those in the Contract Specifications in the event of exceedances
or complaints.
Environmental Team
The
duties of the Environmental Team (ET) and Environmental Team Leader (ET Leader)
are to:
·
Monitor the various environmental parameters as
required by this or subsequent revisions to the EM&A Manual;
·
Assess the EM&A data and review the success of the
EM&A programme determining the adequacy of the
mitigation measures implemented and the validity of the Project Profile
predictions as well as identify any adverse environmental impacts before they
arise;
·
Conduct regular site inspections and to investigate
and inspect the Contractor’s equipment and work methodologies with respect to
pollution control and environmental mitigation, monitor compliance with the
environmental issues that may require mitigation before the problem arises;
·
Audit environmental monitoring data and report the
status of the general site environmental conditions and the implementation of
mitigation measures resulting from site inspections;
·
Review Contractor’s working programme
and methodology, and comment as necessary;
·
Investigate and evaluate complaints, and identify
corrective measures;
·
Advice to the Contractor on environmental improvement,
awareness, enhancement matters, etc, on site;
·
Report on the environmental monitoring and audit results
and the wider environmental issues and conditions to the IC(E), Contractor,
NTTCA and the EPD; and
·
Adhere to the agreed protocols or those in the
Contract Specifications in the event of exceedances
or complaints.
The ET shall be led and
managed by the ET leader. The ET
leader shall have relevant education, training, knowledge, experience and
professional qualifications.
Suitably qualified staff shall be included in the ET, and ET should not
be in any way an associated body of the Contractor.
Independent
Environmental Checker
An Independent
Environmental Checker [IC(E)], independent from the
management of construction works, shall be appointed to audit and verify the
overall environmental performance of the works and to assess the effectiveness
of the ET in their duties. The main
objectives will be to:
·
Review and monitor the implementation of the EM&A programme and the overall level of environmental
performance being achieved;
·
Validate and confirm the accuracy of monitoring
results, monitoring equipment, monitoring locations, monitoring procedures and
locations of sensitive receivers, especially the distance between locations of
the major coral communities at Tai Long Pai and Cape Collinson and the alignment of cable;
·
Check complaint cases and the effectiveness of
corrective measures; and
·
Review EM&A report submitted by the ET leader and
feedback review results to ET by signing off relevant EM&A proformas.
The IC(E) should not be in any way an
associated body of the Contractor or ET.
1.4
Structure of the EM&A Manual
The remainder of the Manual
is set out as follows:
·
Section
2 details
the requirements for water quality baseline, impact and Post Project
monitoring, and lists relevant monitoring equipment, compliance and Event and
Action Plans (EAPs);
·
Section
3 describes the requirements for marine mammals (ie Finless Porpoise) monitoring and lists the relevant
actions needed to be taken;
·
Section
4 details
the requirements for Baseline and Post Project surveys of coral monitoring, and
lists relevant monitoring equipment, compliance and EAPs; and
·
Section 5 describes the scope and
frequency of site auditing; and
·
Section 6 describes the handling of
environmental complaints.
The EM&A Manual is an
evolving document that should be updated to maintain its relevance as the
Project progresses. It is suggested
that the first revision to the EM&A Manual takes place when:
a) the
monitoring locations have been agreed with NTTCA, Independent Environmental
Checker [IC(E)] and EPD; and
b) when the
proposed work processes and activities have been determined following any
supplementary environmental reviews which may be required.
The primary focus for these
reviews will be to ensure the impacts predicted and the recommended mitigation
measures remain consistent and appropriate to the manner in which the works are
to be carried out.
2
Cable
installation water quality monitoring
Potential impacts on water
quality associated with the construction of the Project have been identified in
the Project Profile. As recommended
in the Project Profile, mitigation measures will include limiting the speed of
the cable installation barge, employment of silt curtain and a water quality
monitoring programme.
The following Section
provides details of the water quality monitoring during the installation of the
submarine cable.
2.1
Sampling and Testing Methodology
2.1.1
Parameters Measured
The parameters to be
measured in situ are:
·
dissolved oxygen (DO) (% saturation and mgL-1)
·
temperature (°C)
·
turbidity (NTU)
·
salinity (‰ or ppt)
The only parameter to be
measured in the laboratory is:
·
suspended solids (SS) (mgL-1)
In addition to the water
quality parameters, other relevant data shall also be measured and recorded in
field logs, including the location of the sampling stations and cable burial
machine at the time of sampling, water depth, time, weather conditions, sea
conditions, tidal state, current direction and speed, special phenomena and
work activities undertaken around the monitoring and works area that may
influence the monitoring results.
2.1.2
Equipment
For water quality
monitoring, the following equipment shall be supplied and used by the
environmental contractor.
·
Dissolved
Oxygen and Temperature Measuring Equipment - The instrument shall be a
portable, weatherproof dissolved oxygen measuring instrument complete with
cable, sensor, comprehensive operation manuals, and shall be operable from a DC
power source. It shall be capable
of measuring: dissolved oxygen levels in the range of 0 – 20
mgL-1 and 0-200% saturation; and a temperature of 0-45
degrees Celsius.
It shall have a membrane electrode
with automatic temperature compensation complete with a cable of not less than
35 m in length. Sufficient stocks
of spare electrodes and cable shall be available for replacement where
necessary (for example, YSI model 59 meter, YSI 5739 probe, YSI 5795A
submersible stirrer with reel and cable or an approved similar instrument).
·
Turbidity
Measurement Equipment -
Turbidity should be measured from a split water sample from the SS sample. A suitable turbidity test kit should be
used to measure the turbidity level.
·
Salinity
Measurement Instrument
- A portable salinometer capable of measuring
salinity in the range of 0-40 ppt shall be provided for
measuring salinity of the water at each monitoring location.
·
Water
Depth Gauge
- No specific equipment is recommended for measuring the water depth. However, water depth gauge affixed to bottom of the
water quality monitoring vessel is preferred.
The environmental contractor shall seek approval of their proposed
equipment with the client prior to deployment.
·
Current
Velocity and Direction
– No specific equipment is recommended for measuring the current velocity and
direction. However, the environmental
contractor shall seek approval of their proposed equipment with the client
prior to deployment.
·
Positioning
Device
- A Global Positioning System (GPS) shall be used during monitoring to ensure
the accurate recording of the position of the monitoring vessel before taking
measurements. The use of DGPS is preferred for positioning device,
which should be well calibrated at appropriate checkpoint (e.g. Quarry Bay
Survey Nail).
·
Water
Sampling Equipment
- A water sampler, consisting of a transparent PVC or glass cylinder of not
less than two litres, which can be effectively sealed with cups at both ends,
shall be used (Kahlsico Water Sampler 13SWB203 or an
approved similar instrument). The
water sampler shall have a positive latching system to keep it open and prevent
premature closure until released by a messenger when the sampler is at the
selected water depth.
2.1.3
Sampling / Testing
Protocols
All in situ monitoring instruments shall be checked, calibrated and
certified by a laboratory accredited under HOKLAS or any other international
accreditation scheme before use, and subsequently re-calibrated at-monthly
intervals throughout all stages of the water quality monitoring. Responses of sensors and electrodes
shall be checked with certified standard solutions before each use.
For the on-site calibration
of field equipment, the BS 1427: 1993, Guide to Field and On-Site Test Methods
for the Analysis of Waters shall be observed. Sufficient stocks of spare parts shall
be maintained for replacements when necessary. Backup monitoring equipment shall also
be made available so that monitoring can proceed uninterrupted even when
equipment is under maintenance, calibration etc.
Water samples for SS
measurements shall be collected in high density polythene bottles, packed in
ice (cooled to 4° C without being frozen),
and delivered to a HOKLAS laboratory as soon as possible after collection.
At least 2 replicate samples should be
collected from each of the monitoring events for in situ measurement and lab analysis.
2.1.4
Laboratory Analysis
All laboratory work shall
be carried out in a HOKLAS accredited laboratory. Water samples of about 1,000 mL shall be
collected at the monitoring and control stations for carrying out the
laboratory determinations. The
determination work shall start within the next working day after collection of
the water samples. The SS
laboratory measurements shall be provided to the client within 2 days of the
sampling event (48 hours). The
analyses shall follow the standard methods as described in APHA Standard
Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th Edition, unless
otherwise specified (APHA 2540D for SS).
The submitted information
should include pre-treatment procedures, instrument use, Quality
Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) details (such as blank, spike recovery,
number of duplicate samples per-batch etc), detection
limits and accuracy. The QA/QC
details shall be in accordance with requirements of HOKLAS or other
internationally accredited scheme (e.g. NATA of Australia and CNAS of China
which are under mutual recognition agreements with HOKLAS).
2.2
Monitoring Locations
The monitoring station
locations have been established to identify potential impacts to water and
ecological sensitive receivers.
Prior to, during, and after
the installation of the cable, water quality sampling will be undertaken at
stations situated around the cable laying works at Junk Bay and near to Tung
Lung Chau and Tai Long Pai. The monitoring at these stations is to
ensure the construction works of the Project do not affect the sensitive area
nearby (shown in Figure 2.1).
·
B1 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the Big Wave Bay Beach;
·
B2 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the Rocky Bay Beach;
·
B3 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the Shek O Beach;
·
E1 is an Impact Station to monitor impacts of cable
installation works on Cape d’Aguilar Marine Reserve;
·
E2 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the coral communities at Tung Lung Chau;
·
E4 is the Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the coral communities at the coast of Sung Kong;
·
E5 is the Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the coral communities at the coast of Waglan Island;
·
E6 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the coral communities at Tai Long Pai (the Gradient Station is not set due to the short
distance of this Impact Station to nearby proposed cable works which may affect
the cable laying works);
·
E7 is the Impact Station located at Fat Tong Chau to monitor the impacts of cable installation works on
the coral communities in the proximity;
·
E8 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the coral communities along Junk Bay – South West;
·
E9 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the coral communities at Cape Collison
(the Gradient Station is not set due to the short distance of this Impact
Station to nearby proposed cable works which may affect the cable laying
works);
·
F1 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the Tung Lung Chau Fish
Culture Zone;
·
S1 is an Impact Station situated at the WSD Seawater
Intake Point in Junk Bay. It is
located within 500 m north of the cable alignment at Junk Bay and set up to
monitor the effect of cable laying works in the area;
·
S2 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the WSD Seawater Intake at Siu
Sai Wan;
·
S3 is an Impact Station to monitor the impacts of
cable installation works on the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital Cooling Water Intake at Heng Fa Chuen;
·
G1 is a Gradient Station between S1 and the cable
alignment;
·
G2 is a Gradient Station between S2 and the cable
alignment;
·
G3 is a Gradient Station between F1 and the cable
alignment;
·
G4 is a Gradient Station between E2 and the cable
alignment;
·
G5 is the Gradient Station between E4 and the
alignment;
·
G6 is the Gradient Station between E5 and the
alignment;
·
G7 is a Gradient Station between E1 and the cable
alignment;
·
C1 is a Control Station (approximately 3 km from the
proposed cable alignment) for Zone A.
It is not supposed to be influenced by the cable laying works due to its
remoteness to the construction works;
·
C2 is a Control Station (approximately 3.4 km from the
proposed cable alignment) for Zone B.
It is not supposed to be influenced by the cable laying works due to its
remoteness to the construction works; AND
·
C3 is a Control Station (approximately 3 km from the
proposed cable alignment) for Zone C.
It is not supposed to be influenced by the cable laying works due to its
remoteness to the construction works.
The
monitoring works will be carried out at C1, S1, G1, E7, E8, S2, S3, G2, E9, F1
and G3 when the vessel moves inside Zone A (Figure 2.1).
Similarly, the monitoring works will be carried out at C2, F1, G3, B1, B2, B3, E2, G4, E6, G7, E1 and E9 when the vessel moves inside
Zones B (Figure 2.2).
Monitoring works will start at C3, G5, G6, E4 and E5 when the vessel
enters Zone C (Figure 2.3).
The suggested co-ordinates
of these monitoring stations are listed in Table
2.1 and the exact co-ordinates should be confirmed before commencement of
Baseline Monitoring.
The above monitoring
stations shall be sampled during Baseline Monitoring (prior to cable laying), Impact Monitoring (during any works related to the
cable installation) and Post Project Monitoring (after completion of the cable
installation).
Table 2.1 Co-ordinates
of Sampling Stations (HK Grid)
|
Station |
Nature |
Easting
|
Northing |
|
B1 |
Impact Station (Beach) |
843557 |
811853 |
|
B2 |
Impact Station (Beach) |
844062 |
810369 |
|
B3 |
Impact Station (Beach) |
843988 |
809902 |
|
E1 |
Impact
Station (Marine Reserve) |
845474 |
810605 |
|
E2 |
Impact
Station (Coral Communities) |
845203 |
815205 |
|
E4 |
Impact
Station (Coral Communities) |
843210 |
816322 |
|
E5 |
Impact
Station (Coral Communities) |
844627 |
813609 |
|
E6 |
Impact
Station (Coral Communities) |
845321 |
816718 |
|
E7 |
Impact
Station (Coral Communities) |
843779 |
814520 |
|
E8 |
Impact
Station (Coral Communities) |
843111 |
815126 |
|
E9 |
Impact
Station (Coral Communities) |
843557 |
811853 |
|
F1 |
Impact Station
(Fish Culture Zone) |
847196 |
811056 |
|
S1 |
Impact
Station (Seawater Intakes) |
847639 |
805900 |
|
S2 |
Impact
Station (Seawater Intakes) |
849587 |
805696 |
|
S3 |
Impact
Station (Seawater Intakes) |
845474 |
810605 |
|
G1 |
Gradient Station |
845297 |
816282 |
|
G2 |
Gradient Station |
844071 |
814784 |
|
G3 |
Gradient Station |
846099 |
812826 |
|
G4 |
Gradient Station |
846583 |
810809 |
|
G5 |
Gradient Station |
847795 |
806678 |
|
G6 |
Gradient Station |
849703 |
806636 |
|
G7 |
Gradient Station |
845946 |
808583 |
|
C1 |
Control Station |
842022 |
816547 |
|
C2 |
Control Station |
849603 |
811528 |
|
C3 |
Control Station |
848556 |
804750 |
Note:
The actual co-ordinates may be
fine-tuned on site subject to the water depth, site condition and the safety
distance required by the cable
installation barge during cable laying.
E3
represented coral communities along the coast of Ninepins (as presented in the
Project Profile) was not monitored due to the long distance (~4.7 km from the
proposed cable alignment) and unlikely to be affected by the works.
2.3
Sampling Procedures
2.3.1
Monitoring Frequency
Baseline
Monitoring
Baseline Monitoring will
comprise sampling on three occasions (days) prior to, but no more than six weeks before, cable laying work. The interval between two sets of
monitoring shall not be less than 36 hours. The monitoring will be undertaken at all
monitoring stations, as shown in Figures 2.1 to 2.3 and in Table 2.1. Samples will
be taken during mid flood and mid ebb tidal state on
each sampling occasion.
Impact Monitoring
Impact Monitoring at S1,
S2, S3, G1, G2, E7, E8, E9, C1, F1 and G3 will commence when the cable installation barge works are within Zone
A. The sampling works will cease
once the cable barge is outside Zone A or no cable laying works are being
undertaken.
Similarly, Impact
Monitoring at B1, B2, B3, E1, E2, E6, F1,G3, G4, G7,
C2 and E9 will commence when cable installation barge works move to within Zone B. The monitoring works will start at E4,
E5, G5, G6 and C3 when the vessel goes into Zone C. The sampling works will cease once the
cable laying works are outside Zones B and C or no cable laying works are
involved.
In-situ data and SS data will be
collected at monitoring stations (actual time interval subject to the sampling
vessel travelling time among stations) during the cable installation works for
each zone.
Post Project Monitoring
Post Project Monitoring will
comprise sampling on three occasions (days) within three weeks after completion of the cable installation works
at the same stations as Baseline Monitoring, during mid-flood and mid-ebb
tides. The interval between two
sets of monitoring shall not be less than 36 hours.
2.3.2
Timing
For Baseline and Post
Project Monitoring, water quality sampling will be undertaken within a 4 hour window of 2 hour before and 2 hour after mid flood and mid-ebb tides.
For Impact Monitoring, In-situ data and SS data will be collected
at 2-hour intervals (actual time interval subject to the sampling vessel
travelling time among stations) during the cable installation works for each
zone.
The environmental
contractor will be responsible for liaison with the engineering contractor to
ensure installation works are being undertaken during the water quality
sampling. Tidal range for flood and ebb tides should
not be less than 0.5 m for capturing representative tides.
2.3.3
Depths
Each station will be
sampled and measurements will be taken at three depths, 1 m below the sea
surface, mid-depth and 1 m above the seabed. For stations that are less than 3 m in
depth, only the mid depth sample shall be taken. For stations that are less than 6 m in
depth, only the surface and seabed sample shall be taken.
2.4
Compliance / Action Event Plan
Water quality monitoring
results will be evaluated against Action and Limit levels shown in Table 2.2.
Table
2.2 Action and
Limit Level for Water Quality (based on the result of the Baseline Report)
|
Parameter |
Action Level (d) |
Limit Level (e) (d) |
|
SS in mgL-1 (Depth-averaged)
(a) (c) |
95%-ile of baseline data, or 20% exceedance of value at
any impact station compared with corresponding data from control station |
99%-ile of baseline data, and 30% exceedance of value at any impact station compared with
corresponding data from control
station |
|
DO in mgL-1
(b) |
Surface and Middle 5%-ile of baseline data for surface
and middle layer Bottom 5%-ile of baseline data for bottom layers |
Surface and Middle 5mg/L or 1%-ile of baseline for
surface and middle layer Bottom 2mg/L
or 1%-ile of baseline data for bottom layer |
|
Turbidity
in NTU (Depth-averaged) (c) |
95%-ile of baseline data, or 20% exceedance of value at
any impact station compared with corresponding data from control station |
99%-ile of baseline data, and 30%
exceedance of value at any impact station compared
with corresponding data from
control station |
|
Notes: a. “Depth-averaged”
is calculated by taking the arithmetic means of reading of all sampled
depths. b. For DO,
non-compliance of the water quality limits occurs when the monitoring result
is lower than the limits. c. For SS and
turbidity, non-compliance of the water quality limits occurs when monitoring
result is higher than the limits. d. Limit
level for DO was derived from the Water Quality Objectives (WQO) for Junk
Bay, Eastern Buffer, and Mirs Bay Water Control
Zones under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) Chapters 358L, 358Y,
and 358I respectively. |
||
The measures that will be
undertaken in the event that the Action or Limit Levels are exceeded are shown
in Table 2.3.
Table 2.3 Event Action Plan for Water Quality
|
Event |
Contractor |
|
Action Level Exceedance |
Step 1
- repeat sampling event. Step 2
– Inform EPD and AFCD and confirm notification of the non-compliance in
writing; Step 3
- discuss with cable installation contractor the most appropriate method of reducing
suspended solids during cable installation (e.g. reduce cable laying
speed/volume of water used during installation. Step 4
- repeat measurements after implementation of mitigation for confirmation of
compliance. Step 5
- if non compliance continues - increase measures
in Step 3 and repeat measurements in Step 3. If non compliance
occurs a third time, suspend cable laying operations. |
|
Limit
Level Exceedance |
Undertake
Steps 1-4 immediately, if further non compliance continues at the Limit Level, suspend
cable laying operations until an effective solution is identified. |
2.5
Reporting
Schedule for baseline and
impact monitoring should be submitted to the Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) at least 2 weeks before commencement of the monitoring works
for agreement.
The reports to be provided
shall include:
·
Baseline
Monitoring Report;
·
Weekly
Impact Monitoring Reports; and
·
Post
Project Monitoring Report.
The Baseline Monitoring
Report shall be provided no later than two weeks before the cable laying work
and the report should be submitted to EPD for agreement on the Action/Limit
Levels. The Impact Monitoring
Report will be provided weekly within three days after the relevant monitoring
data are collected or become available during the cable laying work. The Post Project Monitoring Report to
review the environmental status after the cable installation and compare with
the results as presented in the Baseline Monitoring Report shall be provided
within one month after completion of the marine works.
The Baseline Monitoring
Report shall include the following details:
·
brief
project background information;
·
drawings
showing locations of the baseline monitoring stations;
·
an
updated construction programme with milestones of environmental
protection/mitigation activities annotated;
·
monitoring
results together with the information including monitoring methodology,
parameters monitored, monitoring locations (and depth), monitoring date, time,
frequency and duration;
·
details
on influencing factors, including major activities, if any, being carried out
on the Site during the period, weather conditions during the period and other
factors which might affect the results;
·
determination
of the Action and Limit Levels (AL levels) for each monitoring parameter and
statistical analysis of the baseline data, the analysis shall conclude if there
is any significant difference between control and impact stations for the
parameters monitored; and
·
comments and conclusions.
The Weekly Impact
Monitoring shall include, but not limited to, the following details:
·
Basic
Project Information - construction programme with fine tuning of construction
activities showing the inter-relationship with environmental
protection/mitigation measures for the week and works undertaken during the
week;
·
Operating
practices of the cable burial machine during sampling (including: position,
speed, cable burial depth) and an interpretation of monitoring results; and
·
The
monitoring data should be provided graphically to show the relationship between
the Control and the Impact monitoring stations and compliance or non-compliance
with respect to the Action/Limit Levels.
The Post Project Monitoring
Report shall include the following details:
·
brief
project background information;
·
drawings
showing locations of the baseline monitoring stations;
·
full
construction programme with milestones of environmental protection/mitigation
activities annotated;
·
monitoring results together with the
information including monitoring methodology, parameters monitored, monitoring
locations (and depth), monitoring date, time, frequency and duration. The monitoring results should show the
relationship between the Control and the Impact monitoring stations and
compliance or non-compliance with respect to the Action/Limit Levels
·
review
the environmental status after the cable installation and compare with the
results as presented in the Baseline Monitoring Report;
·
comments and conclusions.
3
Marine Mammal
Observation
Cable installation works
may result in a minor and short term increase in underwater sound from marine
vessels. Given that Finless Porpoises use high
frequency ultrasonic clicks for foraging and communication, the low frequency
underwater sound associated with vessels, jetting and cable laying
would not be expected to interfere significantly with Finless Porpoises. No unacceptable adverse impacts to
Finless Porpoises from underwater sounds are expected to occur. The cable installation works will be
short-term and temporary, and be carried by one cable installation barge within
about 15 working days in Hong Kong waters.
The Finless Porpoises are hence not expected to be disturbed by the
cable laying vessel.
However, additional
precautionary measure will be instituted for marine mammals during the cable
installation works.
A marine mammal exclusion
zone within a radius of 250 m from the cable installation barge will be
implemented during the cable installation works taking place in daylight hours
along the section outside Zones A to B (ie Zone C and
from C to the boundary of HKSAR waters).
The marine mammal exclusion zone will be monitored by qualified
observer(s) ([1]) with an unobstructed,
elevated view of the area. The view
will be undertaken from the cable installation barge. The viewpoint will be agreed with the
Independent Environmental Checker.
Qualified observer(s) will
stand on the open upper decks of the barge, allowing for observer eye heights
of 4 to 5 m above water level and relatively unobstructed forward visibility
between 270° and 90°. Vessel-based observation by the
observer(s) shall be conducted by searching the 180° swath in front of the
barge (270° to 90°) with appropriate marine
binoculars, scanning the same area with the naked eyes and occasional binocular
check.
Qualified observer(s) will
scan the 250 m exclusion zone for at least 30 minutes prior to the start of
cable installation. If cetaceans
are observed in the exclusion zone, cable installation works will be delayed
until they have left the area. This
measure will confirm that the area in the vicinity of the cable installation
work is clear of marine mammals prior to the commencement of works and will
serve to reduce any disturbance to marine mammals. As per previous practice in Hong Kong,
should cetaceans move into the works area during cable installation, it is
considered that cetaceans will have acclimatised themselves to the works therefore
cessation of cable installation is not required ([2]).
The marine mammal exclusion
zone monitoring will be required during periods when there are cable
installation works. Daily
monitoring will be conducted till the completion of cable installation works.
4
coral Monitoring
Coral communities at Cape Collinson and Tai Long Pai which
are in the vicinity of the cable alignment may have the potential to be
indirectly impacted through seabed disturbance resulting in increases in
suspended solids in the water column and sedimentation rate during cable-laying
works. However, no unacceptable
adverse indirect impacts on coral communities are expected to occur due to the
following reasons.
§
Firstly, the cable
installation works will be of small-scale, short-term and temporary
(approximately 15 working days for the whole cable installation while only
several workings hours for the sections near Cape Collinson
and Tai Long Pai).
§
Secondly, the sediment
plume calculation indicated that the maximum distance of transport for the
suspended sediments would be approximately 180 m, however the disturbed
sediments would have settled onto the seabed in less than 4 minutes before they
can travel to the coral communities at Cape Collinson
and Tai Long Pai.
Nevertheless, coral
monitoring is recommended to verify that the cable installation works are not
resulting in any adverse impacts to the coral communities at Cape Collinson and Tai Long Pai.
The following Section
provides details of the coral monitoring programme for the installation of the
submarine cable.
4.1
Objectives and Approach
The
objective of
the coral monitoring programme is to verify whether any adverse impacts to
coral communities at Cape Collinson and Tai Long Pai occur as a result of the cable installation works.
The coral monitoring
programme comprises the following two surveys:
1.
Baseline Survey will be conducted within one month
before jetting works for the cable installation commenced. The objective of the Baseline Survey is
to identify suitable coral monitoring locations and to collect baseline
monitoring data of corals at those locations for comparison with data collected
during the Post Project Survey.
2.
Post Project Survey will be conducted within one month
after completion of the jetting works.
During the Post Project Survey, data will be collected at the same
locations and using the same methodology as the Baseline Survey. The Post Project Survey data will be
used to compare with the baseline data in order to determine any detectable
changes in coral conditions after cable installation works.
Coral
monitoring will not be undertaken during jetting works as the works near Cape Collinson and Tai Long Pai will
only last for several hours which will not allow adequate time for completion
of the coral monitoring surveys at the monitoring locations.
Coral
monitoring data will be reviewed in conjunction with the water quality
monitoring data which will measure the levels of suspended solids generated
during jetting works.
4.2
Monitoring Locations
Coral
monitoring will be undertaken at Cape Collinson and
Tai Long Pai (Monitoring Station), and a Control
Station at Tung Lung Chau which is located more than
2 km from the cable alignment and thus unlikely to be impacted by the
works. The monitoring locations are
shown in Figure 4.1 and
detailed below:
Monitoring
Stations:
§
Zone A: Cape Collinson;
and
§
Zone B: Tai Long Pai.
Control Station:
§
Zone C: Tung Lung Chau.
At
each monitoring station, coral monitoring will be undertaken in two depth zones
(ie shallow water: -2 to -5 mCD
and deep water: -5 to -15 mCD). The depth ranges may be revised based on
observations of coral distribution during the Baseline Survey.
4.3
Monitoring Methodology
4.3.1
Monitoring Personnel
The
coral monitoring works should be undertaken by a qualified coral specialist
hired by the ET. The qualified
coral specialist should be a degree holder in marine sciences with at least
three years of post-graduate experience in the field of marine ecology and
undertaking coral surveys. The same
coral specialists should be used for each dive survey to maintain consistency
in the documentation of the coral condition and should be approved by AFCD in
advance of undertaking the monitoring work.
4.3.2
Survey Methodology
The
Baseline Survey comprises the following three components:
·
Qualitative
spot dive survey;
·
Semi-quantitative
Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) survey; and
·
Coral
Colony Monitoring.
The
Post Project Survey comprises the same components as the Baseline Survey,
except that the qualitative spot dive survey will not be undertaken. Survey methodology of the three
components is described below.
Qualitative
Spot Dive Survey
The qualitative spot dive survey will be undertaken as
part of the Baseline Survey only to identify suitable coral monitoring
locations at Cape Collinson, Tai Long Pai and Tung Lung Chau. During the survey, spot dive
reconnaissance checks will be conducted within the designated Monitoring and
Control Stations by SCUBA to collect qualitative information including coral
composition, abundance and distribution.
Based on the information collected, locations within which significant coral
habitats are found (defined as locations with relatively higher coral abundance
and specie/genus number for the purpose of this coral monitoring programme)
will be selected for the subsequent REA survey and coral colony monitoring
during the Baseline and Post Project Surveys. The depth range (shallow and deep) to be
monitored will also be finalised based on observed coral distribution.
Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) Survey Method
A
standardised semi-quantitative Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) survey
technique will be used to investigate the general conditions of the coral
communities (hard, soft and black corals) associated with subtidal
hard bottom habitats at the Monitoring and Control Stations. The collection of REA data during the
Baseline and Post-Project Surveys would allow for a comparison of coral
conditions before and after cable installation works in order to determine any
changes in conditions due to the works.
The
REA technique allows semi-quantitative information on the ecological attributes
of the subtidal habitat to be obtained in a
relatively simple way without compromising scientific rigour. This technique is the standard practices
for EIA marine baseline surveys in Hong Kong and has been modified from the
standardised REA survey technique established for the assessment of coral
communities on the Great Barrier Reef ([3])
for marine environment of Hong Kong ([4]).
A
series of REA surveys will be conducted by qualified coral ecologists by SCUBA
at the Monitoring stations (Cape Collinson and Tai
Long Pai; Figure 4.1) and Control Station (Tung Lung Chau; Figure
4.1) with the aim to record the condition of substratum, estimate the
diversity and relative abundance of coral assemblages (ie
hard corals, octocorals and black corals) and with
all hard coral colonies identified to species level while octocorals
and black corals recorded to genus level.
The survey will be undertaken on REA transects laid onto the seabed,
each of which measure 100 m in length, at the following two depth zones of each
station:
·
Shallow
depth region: -2 to -5 m CD (typically the depth range of hard coral colonies
associated with subtidal hard bottom habitat); and
·
Deep
depth region: -5 to -15 m CD.
The
location of the REA transects as well as the depth ranges of the monitored
depth zones will be determined based on findings from the qualitative spot dive
survey. A total of three (3) REA
transects will be monitored at each depth region of Cape Collinson
and Tung Lung Chau, while two (2) transects will be
monitored at each depth region of Tai Long Pai due to
limited survey area at this Monitoring Station.
Following
the laying of the transect line, the coral specialist will swim along the transect slowly and conduct the REA survey. The REA methodology will encompass an
assessment of the benthic cover (Tier I) and taxon abundance (Tier II)
undertaken in a swathe ~ 4 m wide, 2 m either side of each transect. The belt transect width was dependent on
underwater visibility and might be adjusted to a swathe ~ 2 m wide, 1 m either
side of each transect in case of reduced visibility. An explanation of the two assessment
categories (Tiers) used in the survey is presented below.
Tier
I – Categorisation of Benthic Cover
Upon
the completion of each survey transect, five ecological and seven substratum
attributes will be assigned to one of seven standard ranked (ordinal)
categories (Table 4.1 and 4.2).
Table 4.1 Categories
used in the REA Surveys – Benthic Attributes
|
Ecological |
Substratum |
|
Hard coral |
Hard Substratum |
|
Dead standing coral |
Continuous pavement |
|
Soft coral |
Bedrock |
|
Black coral |
Rubble |
|
Macroalgae |
Sand |
|
Turf Algae |
Silt |
|
|
Large boulders (>50 cm) |
|
|
Small boulders (<50 cm) |
|
|
Rocks (<26 cm) |
Table 4.2 Categories
used in the REA Surveys – Ordinal Ranks of Percentage Cover
|
Rank |
Percentage
Cover (%) |
|
0 |
None recorded |
|
1 |
1-5 |
|
2 |
6-10 |
|
3 |
11-30 |
|
4 |
31-50 |
|
5 |
51-75 |
|
6 |
76-100 |
Tier II – Taxonomic
Inventories to Define Types of Benthic Communities
An inventory of benthic
taxa will be compiled for each transect.
Taxa will be identified in situ
to the following levels:
§
Scleractinian
(hard) corals to species wherever possible;
§
Soft corals, gorgonians, black corals,
anemones and conspicuous macroalgae recorded
according to morphological features and to genus level where possible; and
§
Other benthos (including sponges, zoanthids, ascidians and bryozoans) recorded to genus level
wherever possible but more typically to phylum plus growth form.
Following
the completion of each transect survey, each taxon in the
inventory will be ranked in terms of abundance in the community (Table
4.3). These broad categories rank
taxa in terms of relative abundance of individuals, rather than the
contribution to benthic cover along each transect. The ranks are subjective assessments of
abundance, rather than quantitative counts of each taxon.
Table 4.3 Ordinal
Ranks of Taxon Abundance
|
Rank |
Abundance |
|
0 |
Absent |
|
1 |
Rare (a) |
|
2 |
Uncommon |
|
3 |
Common |
|
4 |
Abundant |
|
5 |
Dominant |
|
Note: (a) The classification of “rare”
abundance refers to low abundance (small quantity) on the
transect, rather than in terms of distribution in Hong Kong waters. |
|
A set of environmental site descriptors will be recorded
for each REA transect as follows:
(A)
The
degree of exposure to prevailing wave energy is ranked from 1 – 4, where:
1 = sheltered (highly protected by topographic features from prevailing waves);
2 = semi-sheltered (moderately
protected);
3 = semi-exposed (only partly
protected); and
4 = exposed (experiences the full
force of prevailing wave energy).
(B)
Sediment
deposition on the reef substratum (particle sizes ranging from very fine to
moderately coarse) rated on a four point scale, from 0 -3, where:
0 = no sediment;
1 = minor (thin layer) sediment deposition;
2 = moderate sediment deposition
(thick layer), but substrate can be cleaned by fanning off the sediment; and
3 = major sediment deposition (thick,
deep layer), and substrate cannot be cleaned by fanning.
A suite of representative
photographs will be taken for each REA transect. All field data will be checked upon
completion of each REA transect and a dive survey proforma
sheet will be completed at the end of the fieldwork day. Photographs will be compiled for each
REA transect which will then be reviewed and REA data be verified. Verified REA data will be presented in
terms of:
§
Site (transect)
information (Tier I and II data), depth and environmental descriptors; and
§
Species abundance data
for each transect.
§
Species lists, species
richness and mean values for ecological and substratum types will be
compiled. The rank abundance values
will be converted to a mid-value percentage cover.
Coral
Colony Monitoring
Coral colony monitoring will be undertaken during the
Baseline and Post Project Surveys to identify any evidence of sediment stress
to corals before and after cable installation works. At each coral monitoring station, a
total of fifteen (15) hard coral colonies and fifteen (15) octocoral/black
coral colonies will be selected for monitoring. Priority will be given to selecting
colonies of horizontal plate-like and massive growth forms which present large
stable surfaces for the interception and retention of settling solids. Each of the selected corals will be
identified to species or genus levels and photographed. The following data will be collected:
§
Maximum diameter of the
identified hard coral and soft coral colonies;
§
Maximum height and
width of the identified gorgonians and black corals;
§
Percentage
of sediment cover on the identified colonies and the colouration,
texture and approximate thickness of sediment on the coral colonies and
adjacent substrate. Any contiguous
patches of sediment cover >10 % were recorded;
§
Percentage of bleached
area on the identified colonies of which two categories were recorded: a.
blanched (ie pale) and b. bleached (ie whitened);
§
Percentage of colony
area showing partiality mortality; and
§
Physical damage to
colonies, tissue distension, mucous production and any other factors relevant
will be noted in the field.
Other information such as the survey date, time, weather,
sea and tidal conditions should also be recorded. The coral colony monitoring exercise
will be undertaken to ensure colonies of similar growth forms and size will be
selected for the Baseline and Post Project Monitoring. Although coral tagging is a common
practice for repeated monitoring of individual colony, this technique will not
be employed in this monitoring programme due to difficulties in locating the
tagged corals given the generally low visibility in the area and low light
conditions in deep water.
4.4
Reporting
Schedule for Baseline and Post Project Survey should be
submitted to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) at least one week
before commencement of the monitoring works for agreement.
The reports to be provided should include the Baseline
Monitoring Report and Post Project Monitoring Report.
The Baseline Monitoring Survey Report should be submitted
within two weeks after the completion of the baseline monitoring and the report
should include the following details:
·
Brief
project background information;
·
Monitoring
results together with the information including monitoring methodology,
parameters monitored, monitoring locations (and depth), monitoring date, time,
frequency and duration; and
·
Comments
and conclusions.
Post Project Survey Report should be submitted within one
month after completion of the marine works and the report should include, but
not limited to, the following details:
·
Basic
project information;
·
Review
of the coral conditions at the monitoring stations and the health status of the
corals after the cable installation and compare with the results as presented
in Baseline Monitoring Report; and
·
Discussion
of any detected adverse impacts to coral communities as a result of the cable
installation works.
5
Compliance
Audit Procedures of Mitigation Measures
5.1
Site Inspections
The site inspection will be undertaken at the landing
point (ie new Beach Manhole (BMH) in Tseung Kwan O (TKO) Industrial Estate) to ensure that
appropriate environmental protection and pollution control mitigation measures
are properly implemented in accordance with the Project Profile
(PP-452/2011). In addition, the ET
Leader will be responsible for defining the scope of the inspections (Annex A), detailing any
deficiencies that are identified, and reporting any necessary action or
additional mitigation measures that were implemented as a result of the
inspection.
A weekly site inspection will be carried out at the
proposed BMH in TKO Industrial Estate until the completion of construction
works at the landing point. The
areas of inspection will not be limited to the site area and should also
include the environmental conditions outside the site which are likely to be
affected, directly or indirectly, by the site activities. The ET will make reference to the
following information while conducting the inspections:
·
the
Project Profile and EM&A recommendations on environmental protection and pollution
control mitigation measures;
·
ongoing results of the EM&A programme;
·
works
progress and programme;
·
the
relevant environmental protection and pollution control laws; and
·
previous site inspection results
and the results of Environmental Performance Reviews undertaken by the IC(E).
The Contractor(s) will update the ET with relevant
information on the construction works prior to carrying out the site
inspections. The site inspection
results will be submitted to NTTCA and the Contractor(s) within 72 hours. Should actions be necessary, the ET will
follow up with recommendations on improvements to the environmental protection
and pollution control works and will submit these recommendations in a timely
manner to NTTCA and the Contractor(s). They will also be presented, along with
the remedial actions taken, in the EM&A report. The Contractor(s) will follow the
procedures and time frame stipulated in the environmental site inspection for
the implementation of mitigation proposal and the resolution of deficiencies. An action reporting system shall be
formulated and implemented to report on any remedial measures implemented
subsequent to the site inspections.
6
Environmental
Complaints
The ET will undertake the following procedures (Figure 6.1) upon receipt of
a complaint:
(i) log
complaint and date of receipt into the complaint database;
(ii) investigate
the complaint and discuss with the Contractor(s) and NTTCA to determine its
validity and to assess whether the source of the issue is due to works
activities;
(iii) if a
complaint is considered valid due to the works , the ET will identify
mitigation measures in consultation with the Contractor(s) and NTTCA;
(iv) if
mitigation measures are required, the ET will advise the Contractor(s)
accordingly;
(v) review
the Contractor(s)'s response on the identified mitigation measures and the
updated situation;
(vi) if
the complaint is transferred from EPD, an interim report will be submitted to
EPD on the status of the complaint investigation and follow-up action within
the time frame assigned by EPD;
(vii) undertake
additional monitoring and audit to verify the situation if necessary and ensure
that any valid reason for complaint does not recur;
(viii) report the
investigation results and the subsequent actions on the source of the complaint
for responding to complainant. If
the source of complaint is EPD, the results should be reported within the time
frame assigned by EPD; and
(ix) record
the complaint, investigation, the subsequent actions and the results in the
EM&A report.
During the complaint investigation work, the
Contractor(s) and NTTCA will cooperate with the ET in providing the necessary
information and assistance for completion of the investigation. If mitigation measures are identified in
the investigation, the Contractor(s) will promptly carry out the mitigation
measures. NTTCA will approve the
proposed mitigation measures and the ET will check that the measures have been
carried out by the Contractor(s).