EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

A1. The Project, Design, Build and Operate First Stage of Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant (TKODP), is a Designated Project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) (EIAO) and is currently governed by a Further Environmental Permit (EP No. FEP - 01/503/2015/A) for the construction and operation of the Project.

A2. In accordance with the Updated Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual for the Project, EM&A works for marine water quality, noise, waste management and ecology should be carried out by Environmental Team (ET), Acuity Sustainability Consulting Limited (ASCL), during the construction phase of the Project.

A3. This is the 11th Monthly EM&A Report, prepared by ASCL, for the Project summarizing the monitoring results and audit findings of the EM&A programme at and around Tseung Kwan O Area 137 (TKO 137) during the reporting period from 1 January 2021 to 31 January 2021.

A4. The EM&A programme for this contract has covered environmental monitoring on construction noise level at selected NSRs and Contractor’s environmental performance auditing in the aspects of construction dust, construction noise, water quality, waste management, Landscape and Visual and Ecology.

SUMMARY OF MAIN WORKS UNDERTAKEN & KEY MITIGATION MEASURES IMPLEMENTED

A5. Key activities carried out in this reporting period for the Project included the followings:

- Land Survey;

- Access Road Construction;

- 132kV substation internal finishing and E&M installation

- Construction of ActifDAFF perimeter wall and water tank

- Construction of RO/electrical building ground floor slab;

- Construction for Product Water Storage Tank perimeter wall

- Excavation and ELS installation for combine shaft;

- Admiration building pile load test and footing construction

- Construction of Main electrical and chiller plant building footing

- Construction of post treatment building footing

A6. The major environmental impacts brought by the above construction works include:

- Construction dust and noise generation from access road construction, construction works, excavation and ELS installation works

- Waste generation from the construction activities

A7. The key environmental mitigation measures implemented for the Project in this reporting period associated with the above construction works include:

- Dust suppression by regular wetting and water spraying for construction works

- Reduction of noise from equipment and machinery on-site

- Sorting and storage of general refuse and construction waste

SUMMARY OF EXCEEDANCE & INVESTIGATION & FOLLOW-UP

A8. No noise monitoring was conducted during the reporting period since there are no project- related construction activities undertaken within a radius of 300m from the monitoring locations. No project-related exceedance of the Action Level was recorded during the reporting period.

A9. No water quality monitoring was conducted in the reporting month since the commencement of marine construction and dredging activities for the Project are scheduled in March 2021 the earliest. No project-related exceedance of the Action Level was recorded during the reporting period.

A10. Weekly site inspections of the construction work by ET were carried out on 5, 12, 19 and 29 January 2021 to audit the mitigation measures implementation status. Bi-weekly joint site inspection was carried out on 12 & 29 January 2021 by ET and IEC. Observations were recorded in the site inspection checklists and provided to the contractors together with the appropriate follow-up actions where necessary.

COMPLAINT HANDLING AND PROSECUTION

A11. No project-related environmental complaint was received during the reporting period.

A12. Neither notifications of summons nor prosecution was received for the Project.

REPORTING CHANGE

A13. There was no change to be reported that may affect the on-going EM&A programme.

SUMMARY OF UPCOMING KEY ISSUES AND KEY MITIGATION MEASURES

A14. Key activities anticipated in the next reporting period for the Project will include the following:

- Land Survey;

- ELS installation and bulk excavation at combine shaft;

- 132kV substation internal finishing and E&M installation;

- Construction of ActifDAFF perimeter wall and water tank;

- Construction of RO/electrical building ground floor slab;

- Construction for Product Water Storage Tank perimeter wall and footing of electrical building;

- Construction of post treatment building footing;

- Admiration building pile load test and footing construction;

- Construction of Main electrical and chiller plant building footing

A15. The major environmental impacts brought by the above construction works will include:

- Construction dust and noise generation from ELS installation works and construction works

- Waste generation from construction activities

A16. The key environmental mitigation measures for the Project in the coming reporting period associated with the above construction works will include:

- Dust suppression by regular wetting and water spraying for construction works

- Reduction of noise from equipment and machinery on-site

- Sorting and storage of general refuse and construction waste

1. BASIC PROJECT INFORMATION

1.1. BACKGROUND

The Jardine Engineering Corporation, Limited, China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited and Acciona Agua, S.A. Trading As AJC Joint Venture (AJCJV) is contracted to carry out the Design, Build and Operate First Stage of Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant (DPTKO) under Contract No. 13/WSD/17 (the Project).

Acuity Sustainability Consulting Limited (ASCL) is commissioned by AJCJV to undertake the Environmental Team (ET) services as required and/or implied, both explicitly and implicitly, in the Environmental Permit (EP), Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report) (Register No. AEIAR-192/2015) and Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual (EM&A Manual) for the Project; and to carry out the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme in fulfillment of the EIA Report’s EM&A requirements and Contract No. 13/WSD/17 Specification requirements.

Pursuant to the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), the Director of Environmental Protection granted the Environmental Permit (No. EP-01/503/2015) and Variation of Environmental Permit (No. EP-01/503/2015/A) to Water Supplies Department (WSD); and granted the Further Environmental Permit (No. FEP-01/503/2015/A) to AJCJV for the Project.

1.2. THE REPORTING SCOPE

This is the 11th Monthly EM&A Report for the Project which summarizes the key findings of the EM&A programme during the reporting period from 1 January to 31 January 2021.

1.3. PROJECT ORGANIZATION

The Project Organization structure for Construction Phase is presented in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1 Project Organization Chart

Contact details of the key personnel are presented in Table 1.1 below:

Table 1.1 Contact Details of Key Personnel

Party

Position

Name

Telephone no.

Project Proponent

SE/CM2

Benny Lam

2634-3573

Supervising Officer (Black & Veatch)

Project Manager

Christina Ko

2608-7302

Chief Resident Engineer

Roger Wu

6343-1002

The Jardine Engineering Corporation, Limited, China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited and Acciona Agua, S.A. Trading

Project Manager

Stephen Yeung

2807-4665

Environmental Monitoring Manager

Brian Kam

9456-9541

Acuity Sustainability Consulting Limited

Environmental Team Leader

Jacky Leung

2698-6833

ANewR Consulting Limited

Independent Environmental Checker (IEC)

Adi Lee

2618-2831

1.4. SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS

Details of the major construction activities undertaken in this reporting period are shown in below. The construction programme is presented in Appendix A.

Key activities carried out in this reporting period for the Project included the following:

- Land Survey;

- Access Road Construction;

- 132kV substation internal finishing and E&M installation

- Construction of ActifDAFF perimeter wall and water tank

- Construction of RO/electrical building ground floor slab;

- Construction for Product Water Storage Tank perimeter wall

- Excavation and ELS installation for combine shaft;

- Admiration building pile load test and footing construction

- Construction of Main electrical and chiller plant building footing

- Construction of post treatment building footing

1.5. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS

A summary of the valid permits, licences, and /or notifications on environmental protection for this Project is presented in Table 1.2.

Table 1.2 Summary of the Status of Valid Environmental Licence, Notification, Permit and Documentations

Permit/ Licenses/ Notification	Reference	Validity Period	Remarks
Environmental Permit	FEP - 01/503/2015/A	Throughout the Contract
Notification of Construction Works under the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation (Form NA)	Ref. No.: 451539	30/12/2019 - 30/03/2023
Wastewater Discharge Licence	WT00035775-2020	24/07/2020 - 31/07/2025
Chemical Waste Producer Registration	5213-839-A2987-01	Throughout the Contract
Construction Noise Permit (24 hours)	GW-RE0784-20	01/10/2020 - 31/03/2021
Billing Account for Disposal of Construction Waste	7036276	Throughout the Contract

The status for all environmental aspects is presented in Table 1.3.

Table 1.3 Summary of Status for Key Environmental Aspects under the Updated EM&A Manual

Parameters	Status
Water Quality
Baseline Monitoring under EM&A Manual	The baseline water quality monitoring was conducted between 12 May 2020 to 6 Jun 2020
Impact Monitoring	The impact water quality monitoring has been scheduled after the commencement of marine construction works
Noise
Baseline Monitoring	The baseline noise monitoring result has been reported in Baseline Monitoring Report and submitted to EPD under EP Condition 3.4
Impact Monitoring	On-going
Waste Management
Mitigation Measures in Waste Monitoring Plan	On-going
Environmental Audit
Site Inspection covering Measures of Air Quality, Noise Impact, Water Quality, Waste, Ecological Quality, Fisheries, Landscape and Visual	On-going

The impact monitoring schedule for the reporting month to be shown at Appendix D is intentionally left blank since no impact monitoring was conducted in the reporting month.

Other than the EM&A work by ET, environmental briefings, trainings and regular environmental management meetings were conducted, in order to enhance environmental awareness and closely monitor the environmental performance of the contractors.

The EM&A programme has been implemented in accordance with the recommendations presented in the approved EIA Report and the EM&A Manual. A summary of implementation status of the environmental mitigation measures for the construction phase of the Project during the reporting period is provided in Appendix C.

2. NOISE

2.1. MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

To ensure no adverse noise impact, noise monitoring is recommended to be carried out within 300m radius from the nearby noise sensitive receivers (NSRs), during construction phase. The NSRs selected as monitoring station are (i) NSR4 - Creative Secondary School, (ii) NSR24 - PLK Laws Foundation College, and (iii) NSR31 - School of Continuing and Professional Studies - CUHK respectively.

In accordance with the EM&A Manual, baseline noise level at the noise monitoring stations were established as presented in the Baseline Monitoring Report. Impact noise monitoring will be conducted once per week in the form of 30-minutes measurements Leq, L10 and L90 levels recorded at each monitoring station between 0700 and 1900 on normal weekdays.

Referring to EM&A manual Section 4.1.2, the impact noise monitoring should be carried out at all the designated monitoring stations when there are project-related construction activities undertaken within a radius of 300m from the monitoring stations.

No impact monitoring for noise impact was conducted in the reporting month due to the overly distant monitoring station from the works location, where they were farther than 1 km from the closet monitoring station NSR4 to the works location.

Impact noise monitoring will be conducted weekly in the reporting period between 0700-1900 on normal weekdays. No construction works were carried out during 1900-0700 in all days or any time on Sundays or general holidays during the reporting period.

Construction noise level measured in terms of the A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq). Leq 30min was used as the monitoring parameter for the time period between 0700 and 1900 on normal weekdays. Table 2.1 summarizes the monitoring parameters, frequency and duration of the impact noise monitoring.

Table 2.1 Noise Monitoring Parameters, Time, Frequency and Duration

Time

Duration

Interval

Parameters

Daytime: 0700-1900

Day time: 0700-1900

(during normal weekdays)

Continuously in

Leq 5min/Leq 30min (average of 6 consecutive Leq 5min)

Leq 30min

L10 30min & L90 30min

2.2. MONITORING LOCATIONS

According to the environmental findings detailed in the EIA report and Baseline Monitoring Report, the designated locations for the construction noise monitoring are listed in Table 2.2 below.

Table 2.2 Noise Sensitive Receivers

NSR ID	Noise Sensitive Receivers	Monitoring Location	Position
NSR 4	Creative Secondary School	Roof Floor	1 m from facade
NSR 24	PLK Laws Foundation College	Pedestrian Road on Ground Floor	Free-field
NSR 31	School of Continuing and Professional Studies - CUHK	Roof Floor	1 m from facade

The monitoring locations should normally be made at a point 1m from the exterior of the NSRs building façade and be at a position 1.2m above the ground. A correction of +3dB(A) should be made to the free-field measurements. Three noise monitoring locations for impact monitoring at the nearby sensitive receivers are shown in Figure 2.1-2.3.


	Figure 2.1 NSR4 Creative Secondary School


	Figure 2.2 NSR24 PLK Laws Foundation College


	Figure 2.3 NSR31 School of Continuing and Professional Studies - CUHK

2.3. IMPACT MONITORING METHODOLOGY

Integrated sound level meter shall be used for the noise monitoring. The meter shall be in compliance with the International Electrotechnical Commission Publications 651: 1979 (Type 1) and 804: 1985 (Type 1) specifications. Immediately prior to and following each noise measurement the accuracy of the sound level meter shall be checked using an acoustic calibrator generating a known sound pressure level at a known frequency. Measurements may be accepted as valid only if the calibration levels before and after the noise measurements agree to within 1.0 dB(A). Calibration certificates of the instruments used to be shown at Appendix F are intentionally left blank since no impact monitoring equipment was used in the reporting month.

Noise measurements shall not be made in the presence of fog, rain, wind with a steady speed exceeding 5 m/s or wind with gusts exceeding 10 m/s. The wind speed shall be checked with a portable wind speed meter capable of measuring the wind speed in m/s.

Table 2.3 Impact Noise Monitoring Equipment

Equipment	Brand and Model	Detection Limit
Sound Level Meter	Nti XL2	30-130 dB(A)
Sound Level Meter Calibrator	Rion NC-74	Nil
Pocket Wind Meter Anemometer	Kestrel 1000 Wind Meter	Nil

2.4. ACTION AND LIMIT LEVELS

The Action/Limit Levels are in line with the criteria of Practice Note for Professional Persons (ProPECC PN 2/93) “Noise from Construction Activities - Non-statutory Controls” and Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process issued by HKSAR Environmental Protection Department [“EPD”] under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, Cap 499, S.16 are presented in Table 2.4.

Table 2.4 Action and Limit Levels for Noise per Updated EM&A Manual

Time Period

Action

Limit (dB(A))

0700-1900

weekdays

normal

When one documented complaint is received from any one of the noise sensitive receivers

• 70 dB(A) for school and

• 65 dB(A) during examination period

Notes: Limits specified in the GW-TM and IND-TM for construction and operation noise, respectively.

If exceedances were found during noise monitoring, the actions in accordance with the Event and Action Plan shall be carried out according to Appendix E.

3. WATER QUALITY

In accordance with the recommendations of the EIA, water quality EM&A is required during dredging for the submarine pipelines and, during operation phase. In addition, baseline water quality monitoring will be required prior to the commencement of marine construction activities. The following Section provides details of the water quality monitoring to be undertaken by the Environmental Team (ET) to verify the distance of sediment and brine plume dispersion and to identify whether the potential exists for any indirect impacts to occur to ecological sensitive receivers. The water quality monitoring programme will be carried out to allow any deteriorating water quality to be readily detected and timely action taken to rectify the situation. The status and locations of water quality sensitive receivers and the marine works location may change after issuing this Document. If required, the ET in consultation with IEC will propose updated monitoring locations and seek approval from EPD.

Water quality monitoring for the Project can be divided into the following stages:

- Dredging activities during construction phase;

- Discharge of effluent from main disinfection during construction phase;

- Operation phase - first year upon commissioning; and,

- Continuous monitoring of effluent quality.

In addition, the marine works contractor is required to complete a silt curtain efficiency test for the combined use of floating silt curtain type and cage type silt curtain for dredging at seawater intake to confirm the silt curtain reduction efficiency assumptions of the assessment. The details of testing plan together with the silt curtain deployment plan shall be submitted by the ET to seek approval from the IEC and EPD.

3.1. IMPACT MONITORING METHODOLOGY

3.1.1. WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS

The parameters that have been selected for measurement in situ and in the laboratory are those that were either determined in the EIA to be those with the most potential to be affected by the construction works or are a standard check on water quality conditions. Parameters to be measured in the baseline monitoring are listed in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Parameters measured in the baseline marine water quality monitoring

Parameters

Unit

Abbreviation

In-situ measurements

Dissolved oxygen

mg/L

Temperature

Turbidity

NTU

Salinity

0/00

Total Residual Chlorine NOTE1

mg/L

TRC

Laboratory measurements

Suspended Solids

mg/L

Iron-Soluble NOTE2

mg/L

Anti-scalant as Reactive Phosphorus NOTE2

mg/L

PO4 as P-

NOTE 1: Monitoring of TRC will be conducted when cleaning and sterilization of the new freshwater main is carried out.

NOTE 2: The testing methods shall be submitted to EPD for approval prior to the commencement of monitoring programme

In addition to the water quality parameters, other relevant data will also be measured and recorded in Water Quality Monitoring Logs, including the location of the sampling stations, water depth, time, weather conditions, sea conditions, tidal stage, current direction and velocity, special phenomena and work activities undertaken around the monitoring and works area that may influence the monitoring results.

3.1.2. MONITORING EQUIPMENT

For water quality monitoring, the following equipment will be used:

Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature Measuring Equipment - The instrument will be a portable, weatherproof dissolved oxygen measuring instrument complete with cable, sensor, comprehensive operation manuals, and will be operable from a DC power source. It will be capable of measuring: dissolved oxygen levels in the range of 0 - 20 mg/L 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 cables shall be available for replacement where necessary (e.g. YSI model 59 DO meter, YSI 5739 probe, YSI 5795A submersible stirrer with reel and cable or an approved similar instrument).

Turbidity Measurement Equipment - The instrument will be a portable, weatherproof turbidity- measuring unit complete with cable, sensor and comprehensive operation manuals. The equipment will be operated from a DC power source, it will have a photoelectric sensor capable of measuring turbidity between 0 - 1000 NTU and will be complete with a cable with at least 35 m in length (for example Hach 2100P or an approved similar instrument).

Salinity Measurement Instrument - A portable salinometer capable of measuring salinity in the range of 0 - 40 ppt will be provided for measuring salinity of the water at each monitoring location.

Water Depth Gauge - A portable, battery-operated echo sounder (for example Seafarer 700 or a similar approved instrument) will be used for the determination of water depth at each designated monitoring station. This unit will preferably be affixed to the bottom of the work boat if the same vessel is to be used throughout the monitoring programme. The echo sounder should be suitably calibrated. The ET shall seek approval for 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. 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 allow accurate recording of the position of the monitoring vessel before taking measurements. The Differential GPS, or equivalent instrument, should be suitably calibrated at appropriate checkpoint

(e.g. Quarry Bay Survey Nail) to verify that the monitoring station is at the correct position before the water quality monitoring commence.

Water Sampling Equipment - A water sampler, consisting of a PVC or glass cylinder of not less than two litres, which can be effectively sealed with cups at both ends, will be used (e.g. Kahlsico Water Sampler 13SWB203 or an approved similar instrument). The water sampler will 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.

Total Residual Chlorine for Discharge of Sterilization Water - Total residual chlorine (TRC) shall be measured in-situ using a handheld colorimeter with its testing toolkits.

3.1.3. SAMPLING / TESTING PROTOCOLS

All in situ monitoring instruments will 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 the stages of the water quality monitoring. Responses of sensors and electrodes will be checked with certified standard solutions before each use.

On-site calibration of field equipment shall follow the “Guide to On-Site Test Methods for the Analysis of Waters”, BS 1427: 2009. 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.

3.1.4. LABORATORY MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS

All laboratory work shall be carried out in a HOKLAS accredited laboratory. Sufficient volume of each water sample shall be collected at the monitoring stations for carrying out the laboratory analyses. Using chain of custody forms, collected water samples will be transferred to an HOKLAS accredited laboratory for immediate processing. The determination work shall start within the next working day after collection of the water samples. The laboratory measurements shall be provided to the client within 5 working days of the sampling event. Analytical methodology and sample preservation of other parameters will be based on the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Waste and Wastewater published by APHA, AWWA and WPCF and methods by USEPA, or suitable method in accordance with requirements of HOKLAS or another internationally accredited scheme. 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 another internationally accredited scheme.

Parameters for laboratory measurements, their standard methods and their detection limits are presented in Table 3.2.

Table 3.2 Laboratory measurements, standard methods and corresponding detection limits of marine water quality monitoring

Parameters

Standard Methods

Detection Limit

Reporting Limit

Precision

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L)

Instrumental, CTD

0.1

+-25%

Temperature (oC)

Instrumental, CTD

0.1

+-25%

Instrumental, CTD

0.1

+-25%

Turbidity (NTU)

Instrumental, CTD

0.1

+-25%

Salinity (0/00)

Instrumental, CTD

0.1

+-25%

Suspended Solids (mg/L)

APHA 17th Ed 2540D

1.0

2.0

+-17%

Total Residual Chlorine (mg/L)

APHA 21st Ed 4500

- Cl G NOTE1

0.1NOTE1

0.2NOTE1

+-10% NOTE1

Iron-soluble

USEPA 6010C NOTE 1

0.2NOTE1

+-25%NOTE1

Anti-scalant as Reactive phosphorus

APHA 4500P: B&F

NOTE1

0.01NOTE1

+-25%NOTE1

NOTE1: The testing methods, Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) details, detection limits and accuracy shall be submitted to EPD for approval prior to the commencement of monitoring

programme.

If exceedances were found during water monitoring, the actions in accordance with the Event and Action Plan shall be carried out according to Appendix G.

3.1.5. MONITORING LOCATION

The water quality monitoring locations for baseline in accordance to the EM&A Manual and Contract Specification are shown in Figure 3.1 and Figure 4.1 respectively, and detailed in Table 3.3 below. A schedule for water quality monitoring shall be prepared by the ET and approved by IEC and EPD prior to the commencement of the monitoring.

Table 3.3 Location of Baseline Water Quality Monitoring Station

Station

Easting

Northing

Description

843550

815243

Upstream control station at ebb tide

846843

810193

Upstream control station at flood tide

WSR1

846864

812014

Ecological sensitive receiver at Tung Lung Chau

WSR2

847645

812993

Fisheries sensitive receiver at Tung Lung Chau

WSR3

848023

813262

Ecological sensitive receiver at Tung Lung Chau

WSR4

847886

814154

Ecological sensitive receiver at Tai Miu Wan

WSR16

845039

815287

Ecological sensitive receiver at Fat Tong Chau

WSR33

847159

814488

Ecological sensitive receiver at Tai Miu Wan

WSR36

846878

814081

Ecological sensitive receiver at Kwun Tsai

WSR37

846655

813810

Ecological sensitive receiver at Tit Cham Chau

NF1

846542

813614

Edge of mixing zone, ~ 200m west of outfall diffuser

NF2

846942

813614

Edge of mixing zone, ~ 200m east of outfall diffuser

NF3

846742

813414

Edge of mixing zone, ~ 200m south of outfall diffuser

CONTENTS