Expansion of Hong Kong International Airport into a Three-Runway
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18. Environmental Monitoring and Audit
18.1
Introduction
18.1.1.1 This section describes the need for Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) during the
construction and operation phases of the project in accordance with the requirements as
stipulated in Annex 21 of the EIAO-TM.
18.1.1.2 The purpose of the EM&A programme is to ascertain and verify the assumptions implicit to, and
accuracy of, EIA study predictions. The EM&A programme includes the scope of the
environmental monitoring and audit requirements for the project to ensure compliance with the
EIA study recommendations, to assess the effectiveness of the recommended mitigation
measures and to identify any further need for additional mitigation measures or remedial action.
18.2
Project Organisation
18.2.1.1 A project organisation consisting of the project proponent (i.e., AAHK), the Project Manager (PM),
Independent Environmental Checker (IEC), Environmental Team (ET), and Contractor
will be established to take on the responsibilities for environmental protection for the project.
18.3
EM&A Manual and Implementation Schedule
18.3.1.1 EM&A is an important aspect in the EIA process which specifies the timeframe and
responsibilities for the implementation of environmental mitigation measures. The requirements
on environmental monitoring (including baseline and impact monitoring) is given in a stand-alone
EM&A Manual.
18.3.1.2 The EM&A Manual includes the following:
Organisation, hierarchy and responsibilities of AAHK, the Contractor, Engineer’s
Representative, ET and IEC with respect to the EM&A requirements during construction and
operational phases of the project;
Information on project organisation and programming of construction activities;
Requirements with respect to the construction schedule and necessary EM&A programme to
track the varying environmental impacts;
Details of methodologies to be adopted, including all field, laboratory and analytical
procedures, and details on quality assurance;
Procedure for undertaking on-site environmental audits;
Definition of Action and Limit Levels;
Establishment of Event and Action Plans;
Requirements of reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of
non-compliance of environmental criteria and complaints;
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Requirements for reviewing the implementation of mitigation measures, and effectiveness of
environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted; and
Presentation of requirements for EM&A data and appropriate reporting procedures.
18.3.1.3 An Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule (EMIS) has been prepared and included in
Chapter 20 and the EM&A Manual to summarise all the required mitigation measures that need
to be implemented during the construction and operational phases of the project. The
implementation responsibilities are also identified in the EMIS. The EM&A Manual also presents
the requirements for environmental monitoring and auditing (e.g. monitoring locations, monitoring
and audit frequency).
18.4
EM&A Programme
18.4.1.1 The following measurements and activities for each environmental aspect (where applicable) has
been identified:
Baseline monitoring;
Impact monitoring;
Compliance monitoring;
Remedial actions in accordance with the Event and Action Plan within the timeframe in case
the specified criteria in the EM&A Manual were exceeded;
Logging and keeping records of monitoring results; and
Preparation and submission of Monthly and Final EM&A Reports.
18.4.1.2 Detailed requirements of the EM&A programme will be described in the stand-alone EM&A
Manual.
18.5
Summary of Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements
18.5.1 Air Quality
Construction Phase
18.5.1.1 The project is anticipated to give rise to construction dust impacts. The key activities that would
potentially result in dust emissions include land formation works, construction works on the newly
formed land, on the existing airport island, concrete batching plants, asphalt batching plants,
crushing plant, barging points, haul roads, diversion of submarine fuel pipeline, diversion of
submarine 11 kV cable and modifications to existing outfall. Regular dust monitoring is
considered necessary during the construction phase of the project and regular site audits are also
required to ensure the dust control measures are properly implemented.
18.5.1.2 Monitoring and audit of daily RSP and daily FSP levels are not proposed. This is because even
under the hypothetical worst case Tier 1 mitigated scenario both daily RSP and daily FSP would
comply with the corresponding AQO at all ASR throughout the construction period, except the
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limited non-compliance with the AQO for daily RSP at up to three ASR in three of the nine
construction years. Hence no significant RSP or FSP impacts are anticipated. Therefore, only
hourly TSP will be monitored and audited at appropriate locations. Details of the EM&A
programme are presented in the stand-alone EM&A Manual.
Operation Phase
18.5.1.3 The current airport air quality monitoring stations should be maintained. No additional air quality
monitoring station is re quired.
18.5.2 Hazard to Human Life
18.5.2.1 Implementation of the recommended mitigation measures should be checked as part of the
environmental monitoring and audit procedures during the construction and operation phase.
18.5.3 Noise
Aircraft Noise
18.5.3.1 In accordance with the requirements of the EIA Study Brief, an aircraft noise monitoring and audit
programme has been recommended and this shall include the following key elements as detailed
in the EM&A Manual:
An exercise to verify predictions on the effectiveness of measures to mitigate aircraft noise
impact and the preparation of a Prediction Verification Report;
Review Report, prepared on an annual basis, for detailing the compliance with noise
abatement procedures and unanticipated events, as well as any further necessary
investigation and/or remedial action(s);
Noise Contour Report, prepared in at least every five years, to compare actual airport
operation to forecast airport operation with respect to aircraft noise, taking into account data
collected on actual aircraft operational levels, fleet mix, runway and flight track utilizations; and
produce an updated noise contour using the most currently available and internationally
accepted noise modelling methodology
18.5.3.2 In additional to the above reporting requirements, AAHK shall continue to engage with the
neighbouring communities in the vicinity of HKIA, other stakeholders and interested parties on
aircraft noise issues associated with the operation of the project.
18.5.3.3 A clear EM&A framework has been established as presented in the EM&A Manual. Prior to
commencement of project operation, a detailed EM&A Plan should be submitted to EPD for
agreement.
Fixed Noise Sources
18.5.3.4 Prior to the operation phase of the project, as part of the design process, commissioning tests
should be conducted to ensure the operation noise from the fixed plant would comply with the
relevant EIAO-TM noise criteria. The commissioning test methodology statement shall be
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submitted by the Contractor to seek approval from AAHK and EPD. The test should be carried
out by a qualified person possessing at least seven years of noise control experience and a
corporate membership of Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics or equivalent. The noise
commissioning test report should be submitted to the ET Leader, IEC and PM for approval.
18.5.3.5 Noise commissioning tests are also required for noise enclosure of aircraft engine run-up
facilities. Details of the requirement of tests are presented in the stand-alone EM&A Manual. The
test should be carried out by a qualified person possessing at least seven years of noise control
experience and a corporate membership of Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics or equivalent. The
noise commissioning test report should be submitted to the ET Leader, IEC and PM for approval.
Construction Noise
18.5.3.6 Although no residual airborne noise impact is predicted during construction phase, an EM&A
programme is recommended to ensure that the nearby NSRs will not be subject to unacceptable
construction noise impact. Details of the EM&A programme is presented in the stand-alone
EM&A Manual. Recommended construction noise control and mitigation measures are proposed
in the EIA report. The Contractor should be responsible for the design and implementation of
these measures under the supervision of the PM and monitored by the ET.
Traffic Noise
18.5.3.7 No adverse road or marine traffic noise impacts are anticipated from operation of the project,
hence no environmental monitoring and audit is proposed.
18.5.4 Water Quality
Construction Phase
18.5.4.1 During construction phase, specific mitigation measures in the form of silt curtains will be
required, and other measures in the form of general good construction works practices have been
specified. An EM&A programme is recommended to check and review the effectiveness of these
mitigation measures during construction phase. A silt curtain efficiency pilot test is also
recommended to confirm the silt removal efficiency of the silt curtains. Details of the EM&A
requirements are specified in the EM&A Manual.
18.5.4.2 To ensure no adverse water quality impacts during construction activities, a water quality
monitoring programme as well as a specific DCM monitoring programme is recommended to be
implemented throughout construction phase, as part of the management and control programme
defined in the action plan of the EM&A Manual. Details of the water quality monitoring programme
are specified in the EM&A Manual.
Operation Phase
18.5.4.3 With the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, no adverse water quality
impacts are anticipated during operation phase, hence no specific environmental monitoring and
audit is required. However, water quality monitoring for the spent cooling water discharges will be
undertaken in accordance with the future WPCO license conditions. Water quality monitoring is
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also proposed for the greywater treatment facility during commissioning and operation to ensure
the treated effluent quality complies with the reuse standards as defined in the EIA.
18.5.5 Sewerage and Sewage Treatment
18.5.5.1 With the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, the existing public sewerage
system would be upgraded to cater for the maximum development flows arising from the project.
In order to monitor the sewage flow build-up for the project to ensure timely completion of the
mitigation works for the affected gravity sewer before the flow would exceed the sewer design
capacity, it is recommended to implement a regular sewage flow monitoring programme.
18.5.5.2 Moreover, in order to ensure the additional sewage generated from the 3RS project would not
impose adverse impacts in respect of sewage septicity and odour issues on the existing
sewerage networks including the public sewerage system, it is recommended to implement a
hydrogen sulphide (H2S) monitoring system for the sewerage system of the 3RS.
18.5.5.3 Details of the above monitoring works are given in the EM&A Manual.
18.5.6 Waste Management
Construction Phase
18.5.6.1 It will be the contractor’s responsibilities to ensure that all wastes produced during the
construction phase of the project are handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with good
waste management practices and the relevant regulations and requirements. The recommended
mitigation measures shall form the basis of the Waste Management Plan to be developed by the
contractor in the construction phase.
18.5.6.2 During construction phase, regular site inspection as part of the EM&A procedures should be
carried out to check if various types of waste are being managed in accordance with approved
procedures and the Waste Management Plan. It should cover different aspects of waste
management including waste generation, storage, recycling, treatment, transport and disposal.
Operation Phase
18.5.6.3 During operation phase, weekly inspection should be carried out along the artificial seawall of the
expanded airport island to check for any entrapment or accumulation of floating refuse. Where an
appreciable amount of floating refuse is found on the artificial seawall during the weekly
inspection, the locations of such refuse will be recorded and arrangements with the contractor will
immediately be made to collect and clear the refuse from the seawall.
18.5.7 Land Contamination
18.5.7.1 In view of the desktop review results and the site reconnaissance findings, excavation of soil for
land remediation will be subject to the findings of site investigation (SI) to be conducted.
18.5.7.2 Further site reconnaissance would be conducted once inaccessible areas (i.e. fuel tank room
within Terminal 2 (T2) building, fuel tank room to the west of Civil Aviation Department (CAD)
antenna farm, seawater pump house and switching station, pumping station and fire training
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facility) are accessible in order to identify any land contamination concern for these areas.
Subject to the further site reconnaissance findings, a supplementary Contamination Assessment
Plan (CAP) for additional SI (if necessary) may be prepared and submitted to EPD for
endorsement prior to the commencement of SI at these areas.
18.5.7.3 After completion of the SI, Contamination Assessment Report (CAR) will be prepared and
submitted to EPD for approval prior to start of the proposed construction works at the golf course,
the underground and above-ground fuel storage tank areas, emergency power generation units,
airside petrol filling station and fuel tank room. Should remediation be required, Remediation
Action Plan (RAP) and Remediation Report (RR) will be prepared for EPD’s approval prior to
commencement of the proposed remediation and any construction works respectively.
18.5.7.4 During construction phase, EM&A is to be carried out in the form of regular site inspections. All
related procedures and facilities for handling or storage of chemicals and chemical wastes will be
audited regularly to ensure they are in order, intact and reported in the EM&A reports accordingly.
18.5.8 Terrestrial Ecology
18.5.8.1 Implementation of the recommended mitigation measures for Sha Chau egretry should be
checked and confirmed as part of the EM&A programme during the construction phase, the
details of which are presented in the stand alone EM&A Manual. In particular, a pre-construction
survey is recommended to update the latest boundary of the egretry during the breeding season
before commencement of the HDD drilling works to ensure the daylighting location can avoid
direct encroachment on the egretry. During the works period, monitoring shall be undertaken to
identify and evaluate any impacts with appropriate actions taken as required to address and
minimise any adverse impact found. Details of the pre-construction egretry survey are presented
in stand-alone EM&A Manual. Subject to the pre-construction survey findings, the daylighting
location/ works area will be adjusted to avoid the future egretry location.
18.5.8.2 No EM&A requirements are considered during the operation phase.
18.5.9 Marine Ecology
18.5.9.1 The EIA has predicted the project would lead to some ecological impacts and has recommended
a series of measures to avoid, minimise, and mitigate the impacts to an acceptable level. An
ecological monitoring and audit programme would be needed to ensure the recommended
measures are properly implemented. In addition, the EM&A programme also serves other
purposes, including but not limited to verify the accuracy of the ecological assessment study and
recommending action plans in response to unpredicted impacts or ineffective mitigation.
18.5.9.2 The monitoring and audit requirements specific for marine ecology are presented in the
Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual. It is proposed to conduct ecological monitoring
during the baseline, construction, post-construction and operation phases of the third runway
project, with the aims to monitor the effects on the CWDs over the construction period, including
the potential shift in the CWD travelling areas and habitat use, to determine the effectiveness of
the reduction in HSF speeds on the acoustic impacts and disturbance to the CWDs and also
determine the effectiveness of the mitigation (i.e. after the proposed Marine Park comes into
operation) on CWD numbers. The CWD monitoring will be conducted by the ET, led by a CWD
monitoring team leader with five years post-graduate experience in CWD monitoring.
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18.5.9.3 An overarching goal of these surveys is to provide a dataset that can be compatible with the
AFCD long term monitoring, be stratified in such a way as to allow the calculation of density and
abundance for the various different phases listed above and to facilitate the calculation of trends
from these estimates, providing some assessment of how the project may be impacting the
CWDs. Further details on the survey methodologies are provided in the standalone EM&A
Manual.
18.5.9.4 Three major types of field work have been proposed as follows:
a) Focussed vessel line transect surveys and also to collect individual CWD identification
photos for examination of ranging patterns. As part of this vessel-based work, focal follows
of individual CWD groups provide information on movements and travel patterns;
b) Land-based theodolite tracking of movements provides information on swimming and
movement patterns of dolphin groups, and responses to vessels and other potential
stressors; and
c) Autonomous passive acoustic monitoring (PAM or equivalent) of the dolphins and their
environment (especially vessel and marine-construction noise), providing information on
CWD presence and vocal activity, as well as noise levels in CWD habitat.
18.5.9.5 The vessel based monitoring surveys and CWD focal follows have been proposed over a period
of at least 6 months for the baseline phase, on-going for the duration of the construction works,
12 month post construction monitoring and at least 12 months during operational stage to test the
effectiveness of the mitigation measures, so that all four seasons are represented and seasonal
differences can be examined.
18.5.9.6 In addition to the proposed vessel transect monitoring, some additional monitoring in the form of
underwater acoustic monitoring and land-based theodolite tracking for CWD monitoring will be
undertaken during the baseline and construction works. In all cases, the scope, locations and
frequency of the monitoring will be further defined at the detailed design phase in agreement with
AFCD and EPD. The main aim for these two monitoring types is to supplement the vessel
transect survey findings detailed above and to help verifying the predictions in the EIA but not for
monitor the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. The need for further land-based theodolite
and underwater acoustic surveys will be subject to a review of the above findings.
18.5.9.7 In conjunction with the monitoring efforts, given the uncertainty on the growth of HSF traffic from
SkyPier / the ITT in future years, the EM&A will monitor actual numbers of HSFs operating from
SkyPier after the HZMB and HKBCF commence operations by obtaining HSF movement data
from the SkyPier operators.
18.5.9.8 A pre-construction coral dive survey is also proposed at the artificial seawall at northern and
northeastern airport island, and the daylighting locations at Shau Chau to check the status of
Balanophyllia sp. and other coral species and review the feasibility of translocation. A preconstruction coral dive survey plan and report will be prepared for agreement with the Authority.
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18.5.10 Fisheries
18.5.10.1 With the implementation of the recommended water quality mitigation measures during
construction and operation phases as well as the proposed establishment of new Marine Park to
compensate the permanent loss of fisheries habitats (and resources), no adverse residual impact
on fisheries is anticipated.
18.5.10.2 The implementation of the water quality mitigation measures should be checked as part of the
environmental monitoring and audit procedures during the construction period as presented in the
Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual. Apart from water quality mitigation
measures, the consideration of alternative construction methods e.g. use of non-dredge ground
improvement methods by DCM would also reduce the potential release of contaminant to the
water column and reduce the indirect impact on fisheries resources. Water quality monitoring and
audit has been proposed at locations covering sites of fisheries importance during construction
and operation phases to monitor the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures, thus
fisheries specific monitoring is considered not necessary.
18.5.11 Landscape and Visual
Construction Phase
Monitoring of Design, Construction and Establishment Works
18.5.11.1 The design, implementation and maintenance of landscape and visual mitigation measures
should be checked to ensure that they are fully realised and that any potential conflicts between
the proposed landscape measures and any other project works and operational requirements are
resolved at the earliest possible date and without compromise to the intention of the mitigation
measures.
Design of Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures
18.5.11.2 The detailed design of the landscape and visual mitigation measures should be undertaken so as
to ensure compliance with the recommended measures.
Site Supervision of Landscape Works
18.5.11.3 The implementation of the landscape works during the construction phase and establishment
works should be inspected through the site audit program.
Operation Phase
Monitoring of Landscape Establishment
18.5.11.4 All landscape and visual mitigation measures shall be monitored during the landscape
establishment period to check that intended mitigation effects are realised.
18.5.12 Cultural Heritage
18.5.12.1 No EM&A is required for marine archaeology or terrestrial cultural heritage.
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18.5.13 Health
18.5.13.1 No specific EM&A is required for health impacts related to aircraft emissions and noise.
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