EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.              This Baseline Environmental Monitoring Report is prepared by Cinotech Consultants Ltd. for the project “Contract No. HY/2011/09 – Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road – Section between HKSAR Boundary and Scenic Hill” (hereinafter called the “Contract”).

 

2.              According to the Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual for Hong Kong Link Road (EM&A Manual), the baseline air quality, noise, water quality and ecological (Chinese White Dolphin Monitoring) monitoring at the designated monitoring stations as required in EM&A Manual have already been conducted in 2011, under Agreement No. CE 35/2011 (EP) – Baseline Environmental Monitoring for Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge Hong Kong Bridge Hong Kong Projects – Investigation prior to the commencement of Contract.

 

3.              There are a total of two air quality monitoring stations, two noise monitoring station and fourteen water quality monitoring stations and one survey area (West Lantau) for line transect monitoring for the Contract. As these environmental monitoring locations (except water quality monitoring station, SRA) were also covered in the baseline environmental monitoring in 2011. The baseline monitoring data in 2011 are considered suitable to be adopted for the Contract.

 

4.              In addition, the baseline for underwater noise and dolphin north-south movement were conducted for the Contract in accordance with the EM&A Manual. Baseline for dolphin acoustic behaviour monitoring was also conducted. Baseline water quality monitoring at additional monitoring station (SRA) was carried out according to Supporting Document for Variations of EP (EP-352/2009).

 

5.              Therefore, this report presents the baseline environmental monitoring works conducted in 2011, baseline monitoring results for underwater noise, dolphin north-south movement, dolphin acoustic behaviour and baseline water quality monitoring results at SRA.

 

6.              The baseline environmental monitoring works for the parameters of 1-hour and 24-hour Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), noise, water quality conducted at each monitoring stations and ecology (Chinese White Dolphin Monitoring) under the Contract are presented in Table I to Table IV and the baseline environmental monitoring works for underwater noise, dolphin north-south movement and dolphin acoustic behaviour are presented in Section 11 to 13.


Air Quality

Table I              Baseline Air Quality Monitoring Period

Designated Monitoring Stations under Contract

Baseline Monitoring Period

AMS 1 -  Sha Lo Wan

18/10/2011 – 31/10/2011

AMS 4 -  San Tau

18/10/2011 – 31/10/2011

 

7.              During the monitoring, there was no major dust generating activities undertaken in the vicinity of the monitoring stations.  Data collected was reviewed and analyzed to determine the Action and Limit Levels for air quality during impact monitoring throughout the construction of the Contract.  Details of the methodology, locations and results are presented in the report.

Noise

Table II             Baseline Noise Monitoring Period

Designated Monitoring Stations under Contract

Baseline Monitoring Period

NMS 1 - Sha Lo Wan

18/10/2011 – 1/11/2011

NMS 4 - San Tau

18/10/2011 – 1/11/2011

 

8.              Monitoring data collected was reviewed and analyzed.  Details of the locations and results are presented in this report. The baseline noise monitoring data was processed according to the following periods:

 

·               Daytime: 0700-1900 hrs on normal weekdays

·               Evening-time: 1900-2300 hrs

·               Holiday-time: 0700-1900 hrs on holidays

·               Night-time: 2300-0700 hrs of next day

 


 Water Quality

Table III           Baseline Water Quality Monitoring Period

Designated Monitoring Stations under Contract

Parameters, unit

Baseline Monitoring Period

14 monitoring stations:

IS1, IS2, IS3, IS4, SR1, SR2, SR3, SR6, *SRA, CS1, CS2, ST1, ST2, ST3

 

 

 

·         Temperature(°C)

·         pH(pH unit)

·         turbidity (NTU)

·         water depth (m)

·         salinity (ppt)

·         dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/L and % of saturation)

·         suspended solids (SS) (mg/L)

6/10/2011 – 31/10/2011

 

*SRA: 2/11/2012 – 2/12/2012

 

(3 days per week, at mid-flood and mid-ebb tides, for a period of  4 weeks prior to the commencement of the marine works)

* Additional monitoring points from EM&A Manual

 

9.              The data was processed, reviewed and analyzed to establish the Action and Limit Levels for dissolved oxygen, turbidity and suspended solids for impact monitoring throughout the construction of the Contract.

Dolphin Monitoring (Line-transect Vessel Surveys)

Table IV           Baseline Dolphin Monitoring Period

Date of Baseline Dolphin Monitoring

Survey Area

1

05/09/2011

W LANTAU + NW LANTAU

2

07/09/2011

NW LANTAU + NE LANTAU

3

16/09/2011

NW LANTAU + NE LANTAU

4

23/09/2011

W LANTAU + NW LANTAU

5

06/10/2011

NE LANTAU + NW LANTAU

6

10/10/2011

NW LANTAU + NE LANTAU

7

13/10/2011

NE LANTAU

8

17/10/2011

W LANTAU + NW LANTAU

9

28/10/2011

NW LANTAU + W LANTAU

10

01/11/2011

NW LANTAU + NE LANTAU

11

02/11/2011

W LANTAU + NW LANTAU

12

05/11/2011

NW LANTAU + NE LANTAU

13

06/11/2011

NE LANTAU

14

07/11/2011

NW LANTAU + W LANTAU

* NW Lantau = Northwest Lantau Survey Area, NE Lantau = Northeast Lantau Survey Area, W Lantau = West Lantau

 

10.          Summary of findings are presented in Section 6 and details of the methodology, locations and results can be referred to the Baseline Monitoring Report for HY/2010/02 Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities – Reclamation Works (HKBCF).

Underwater Noise Monitoring

11.          Baseline underwater noise monitoring was conducted from 24th November 2012 to 22nd December 2012 for 28 continuous days at a monitoring station near one of the first three bored piling sites. Summary of findings are presented in Section 6 and details of the methodology, locations and results can be referred to the Baseline Underwater Noise Monitoring Report in Appendix E.

 

Dolphin North-South Movement Monitoring

12.          Baseline land-based dolphin behaviour and movement monitoring was conducted from 29th December 2012 to 30th January 2013 using theodolite tracking technique at Sham Wat station. Summary of findings are presented in Section 7 and details of the methodology, locations and results can be referred to the Baseline Land-based Dolphin Behaviour and Movement Monitoring Report in Appendix F.

Dolphin Acoustic Behaviour Monitoring

13.          Baseline dolphin acoustic behaviour monitoring was conducted from 15th January to 22nd February 2013. The dolphin acoustic activities measured using both acoustic survey and passive acoustic monitoring methods. Summary of findings are presented in Section 8 and details of the methodology, locations and results can be referred to the Baseline Dolphin Acoustic Behaviour Monitoring Report in Appendix H.