EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The associated works for installation of the Submarine Cable for the Development of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 under the Further Environmental Permit (FEP-02/429/2012/B) commenced on 3 October 2023 and all construction works were completed on 20 December 2023. The EM&A for construction phase was completed on the same day. This is the 3^rd monthly Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) report presenting the EM&A works carried out during the period from 1 to 20 December 2023 in accordance with the approved Updated EM&A Manual and FEP-02/429/2012/B.

Summary of the construction activities undertaken during the reporting period

The major construction activities undertaken during the reporting period include:

Land-based Works

• Precast concrete trough cover up works

• Back Filling & Demobilization

Marine-based Works

• Hand Jetting

• Silt Curtain Setup

• Deployment of concrete mattress protection

Environmental Site Inspection

Joint weekly site inspections were conducted by representatives of the Contractor, CLP and Environmental Team (ET) on 1, 5, 12 and 19 December 2023. The representative of the IEC joined the site inspection on 1 December 2023. Details of the audit findings are presented in Section 2.1.

Water Quality Monitoring

Hand jetting works conducted by divers within the gazetted boundary of Upper Cheung Sha Beach (UCSB) was conducted during the reporting period. 7 sessions of water quality monitoring were conducted during the reporting period. Details of the monitoring results are presented in Section 2.3 and Appendix H.

Jetting works conducted by divers within the gazette boundary of the Upper Cheung Sha Beach was completed on 16 December 2023, and construction phase impact monitoring was completed on the same day.

Environmental Exceedance / Non-conformance / Complaint / Summons and Prosecution

No Project-related Action and Limit Level exceedances were recorded.

No non-compliance event was recorded during the reporting period.

There was one environmental complaint received during the reporting period. The date of complaint was 16 December 2023, and was referred to the ET by EPD on 18 December 2023. ET’s investigation has been completed, and the investigation report is included in Appendix K. The cumulative environmental complaint log is presented in Appendix K.

No summon/ successful prosecution was received during the reporting period.

reporting changes

There was no reporting change in the reporting period.

future key issues and Upcoming works for the next reporting period

All the construction works of the Project were completed on 20 December 2023. The EM&A during construction was terminated on the same day of completion.

Post-project water quality monitoring will commence on 8 January 2024 and target to be completed by 2 February 2024. The monitoring results will be reported in the Post-Project Monitoring Report upon completion of the monitoring in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual.

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) proposed to construct the Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF) Phase 1 on an artificial island near Shek Kwu Chau, south of Lantau Island for the purpose of treating municipal solid waste and generating electricity from the waste treatment process for its own use and export surplus electricity, if any, to the power grid.

The EIA Report (EIA-201/2011) was approved by the EPD on 17 January 2012 with the Environmental Permit (EP) of the Project issued on 19 January 2012 (EP-429/2012) and a variation of the EP on 14 October 2016 (EP-429/2012/A). A Further EP (FEP-01/429/2012/A) was granted to Keppel Seghers-Zhen Hua Joint Venture for the reclamation works and construction of the IWMF on 27 December 2017. Another latest Further EP (FEP-02/429/2012/B) was granted to CLP Power for the installation of the 132kV submarine cable circuits connecting Cheung Sha, South Lantau and Shek Kwu Chau Artificial Island on 25 May 2020. The proposed cable would land at the landing portal at Upper Cheung Sha Beach (UCSB). The alignment of the submarine cable route is shown in Appendix A. An Environmental Review Report (ERR) was prepared and approved to support the application of FEP-02/429/2012/B.

The Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme during the cable installation of the Project has been performed during the reporting period in accordance with the relevant EM&A requirements stipulated in the Updated EM&A Manual under FEP-02/429/2012/B. The construction of the Project commenced on 3 October 2023.

ERM-Hong Kong Limited (ERM) was appointed by the Permit Holder, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power) to undertake the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme during the installation and repair operation of the submarine cable for the Development of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 (hereafter referred as the “Project”).

All construction works of the Project were completed on 20 December 2023. The EM&A for construction phase was completed on the same day.

1.2 Scope of the EM&A Report

This is the 3^rd EM&A report which summarises the key findings of the EM&A programme during the reporting period from 1 to 20 December 2023 for the construction works in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual and the requirements of FEP-02/429/2012/B.

1.3 Organisation Structure

The organization structure for the construction works under FEP-02/429/2012/B and contact details are shown in Appendix B.

1.4 Summary of Construction Programme and Activities

A summary of the construction programme is presented in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 summary of construction programme

Construction Works	Period
Pre-lay preparation works at Shek Kwu Chau and Upper Cheung Sha Beach	3 October 2023 – 7 November 2023
Marine works for cable installation / laying	14 November 2023 – 27 November 2023
Hand jetting works conducted by diver within the gazette boundary of Upper Cheung Sha Beach	1 December 2023 – 16 December 2023
Reinstatement of Upper Cheung Sha Beach	16 December 2023 – 20 December 2023

A summary of major construction activities undertaken during the reporting period include:

Land-based Works

• Precast concrete trough cover up works

• Back Filling & Demobilization

Marine-based Works

• Hand Jetting

• Silt Curtain Setup

• Deployment of concrete mattress protection

1.5 Summary of EM&A Programme Requirements

A summary of the status of EM&A Programme for all environmental aspects required under the Updated EM&A Manual and FEP-02/429/2012/B are presented in Table 1.2. The requirements of relevant environmental monitoring, including monitoring parameters, Action and Limit Levels, Event and Action Plan(s), environmental mitigation measures, etc. are presented in Section 2.

Table 1.2 Summary of status for the EM&A PRogramme under the Updated EM&A Manual and FEP-02/429/2012/B

EM&A Programme Requirements	Status
Environmental Site Inspection
Regular Site Inspection	Completed.
Water Quality
Baseline Monitoring	Completed. The Baseline Water Quality Monitoring Report was submitted on 24 August 2023 and EPD’s approval was obtained on 19 October 2023.
Construction Phase Monitoring	Completed. Construction Phase Impact Monitoring was carried out during submarine cable installation using hand jetting within the gazette boundary of the Upper Cheung Sha Beach in the reporting period. Hand jetting works conducted by divers within the gazette boundary of the Upper Cheung Sha Beach was completed on 16 December 2023, and construction phase impact monitoring was completed on the same day.
Post-Project Monitoring	To be conducted in January 2024
Ecology
Marine Mammal Exclusion Zone Monitoring	Completed. Submarine cable installation using vessel and jetting machine was completed on 27 November 2023, and Marine Mammal Exclusion Zone Monitoring ended on the same day.

1.6 Status of Other Statutory Environmental Requirements

A summary of the valid permits, licences, and/or notifications on environmental protection for the Project is presented in Table 1.3.

Table 1.3 Summary of the status of valid environmental licence, notification, permit and documentations

Permit/ Licences/ Notificaiton	Reference No.	Validity Period	Remarks
Environmental Permit	EP-429/2012/A	Throughout the Contract	Permit granted on 19 January 2012
Further Environmental Permit	FEP-02/429/2012/B	Throughout the Contract	Permit granted on 17 January 2020
Notification Construction Works under the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation	497060	Throughout the Contract	-
Construction Noise Permit	GW-RS0516-23	1 July 2023 – 31 December 2023	-
Billing Account for Disposal of Construction Waste	7045590	Throughout the Contract	-
Chemical Waste Producer Licence	WPN5213-933-C4619-02	Throughout the Contract	-
Chemical Waste Producer Licence – for Working Vessel – AI LAN YI HAO	WPN5213-931-C4619-03	Throughout the Contract	-

2. EM&A Results

2.1 Environmental Site Inspection

Joint weekly site inspections were conducted by representatives of the Contractor, CLP and ET on 1, 5, 12 and 19 December 2023 at the landing point at UCSB. The representative of Independent Environmental Checker (IEC) joined the site inspection on 1 December 2023. No non-compliance was recorded during the site inspections. Key findings and recommendations for the site inspections in this reporting month are summarised in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1 key findings and recommendations from site inspections and contractor’s follow-up actions

Site Inspection Date	Findings and recommendations	Contractor’s Follow-up Action(s) Taken
1 December 2023	NRMM Label shall be clearly displayed on machine Doosan & DX340LC.	NRMM Label was properly displayed. (Date of Rectification: 23 November 2023)
5 December 2023	There was no major observation during the site inspection.	N/A
12 December 2023	There was no major observation during the site inspection.	N/A
19 December 2023	There was no major observation during the site inspection.	N/A

All follow-up actions requested by ET during the site inspections were undertaken as reported by the Contractor.

2.2 Waste Management Status

The quantities of different types of waste generated are summarized in Table 2.2. The excavated sand material will be backfilled on site. No waste was generated during the reporting period. Detailed waste flow table is presented in Appendix C.

Table 2.2 Quantities of waste generated under FEP-02/429/2012/B

Reporting Period	Quantity
	Inert C&D Materials (in ‘000 kg)	Non-inert C&D Materials
		Chemical Waste (in ‘000 kg³	General Refuse (in ‘000 kg)	Recycled Materials
				Paper/ Cardboard Packaging (in ‘000 kg³)	Plastics (in ‘000 kg³)	Metals (in ‘000 kg³)
Dec 2023	0	0	0	0	0	0

2.3 Water quality monitoring

2.3.1 Monitoring Location

The proposed water quality monitoring location of the Project, as recommended on the approved Updated EM&A Manual, are listed in Table 2.3 and shown in Appendix D.

Table 2.3 Water Quality Monitoring locations

Station	Description	Easting	Northing
Regular Monitoring Stations
C1A	Control Station	812823	806300
C2A	Control Station	818869	806808
S1A	Submarine Cable Landing Site	813430	809962
S2A	Submarine Cable	814808	808515
S3A	Submarine Cable Landing Site	816203	805178
Beach Water Quality Monitoring Stations
I1	Impact Station within gazetted boundary of Upper Cheung Sha Beach – East of Diver Enclosed Silt Curtain	Varies	Varies
I2	Impact Station within gazetted boundary of Upper Cheung Sha Beach – West of Diver Enclosed Silt Curtain	Varies	Varies

2.3.2 Monitoring parameter and frequency

During marine works for cable installation/ laying (including by diver hand jetting near the northern end or by jetting machine for the rest of the cable alignment), monitoring shall be undertaken three days per week, at mid-flood and mid-ebb tides, with sampling / measurement at the designated monitoring stations as shown in Table 2.4. The interval between two sets of monitoring should not be less than 36 hours. A summary of the monitoring parameters is presented in Table 2.4.

Other relevant data should also be recorded, including monitoring location / position, time, water depth, sampling depth, tidal stages, weather conditions and any special phenomena or work underway around the monitoring and works area that may influence the monitoring results.

Table 2.4 Water Quality Monitoring Frequency and Parameters

Activities

Monitoring Stations

Depth

Key Parameters

Monitoring Frequency

During marine works for installation of submarine cables outside the gazetted boundary of UCSB

C1A, C2A, S1A, S2A, S3A,

3 water depths: 1 m below sea surface, mid-depth and 1 m above seabed.

If the water depth is less than 3 m, mid-depth sampling only.

If water depth is less than 6 m, mid-depth may be omitted.

· Temperature (°C)

· pH

· Salinity (ppt)

· Dissolved Oxygen (DO) (mg/L and % saturation)

· Turbidity (NTU)

· Suspended Solids (SS) (mg/L)

Three days per week, at mid-flood and mid-ebb tides

Two (2) replicates in-situ measurements and water samples

During hand jetting works conducted by diver within the gazetted boundary of UCSB

C1A, C2A, I1, I2

3 water depths: 1 m below sea surface, mid-depth and 1 m above seabed.

If the water depth is less than 3 m, mid-depth sampling only.

If water depth is less than 6 m, mid-depth may be omitted.

· Temperature (°C)

· pH

· Salinity (ppt)

· Dissolved Oxygen (DO) (mg/L and % saturation)

· Turbidity (NTU)

· Suspended Solids (SS) (mg/L)

Three days per week, at mid-flood and mid-ebb tides

Two (2) replicates in-situ measurements and water samples

2.3.3 Monitoring Methodology

Levels of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH value, salinity, temperature and turbidity were measured in situ whereas the level of suspended solids (SS) should be determined by a HOKLAS accredited laboratory. The detailed methodology is presented in the approved Updated EM&A Manual.

2.3.4 Monitoring Equipment

All in situ monitoring equipment for the measurement of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH value, salinity, temperature and turbidity were checked, calibrated and certified by a laboratory accredited under HOKLAS before use, and subsequently re-calibrated at 3 monthly intervals throughout all stages of water quality monitoring programme. In situ checking for the monitoring equipment, including responses of sensors and electrodes, were performed with certified standard solutions before each use. Wet bulb calibration for a dissolved oxygen meter should be carried out before commencement of monitoring and after completion of all measurements each day.

2.3.5 Action and limit levels

The action and limit levels have been established based on the baseline monitoring results in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual are summarised in Table 2.5. The Event / Action Plan for water quality monitoring is presented in Appendix E.

Table 2.5 Action and Limit Levels for water quality

Parameters	Action Level	Limit Level
Construction Phase Impact Monitoring
DO in mg/L	≤ 2.1	≤ 1.5
SS in mg/L	≥ 6 or 120% of control station’s SS at the same tide of the same day of measurement	≥ 8 or 130% of control station’s SS at the same tide of the same day of measurement
Turbidity in NTU	≥ 10.7 or 120% of control station’s turbidity at the same tide of the same day of measurement	≥ 13.1 or 130% of control station’s turbidity at the same tide of the same day of measurement

Note:

^a For DO, non-compliance of the water quality limits occurs when monitoring result is lower than the limits.

^b For SS and turbidity, non-compliance of the water quality limits occurs when monitoring result is higher than the limits.

^c In view of the relatively low measured DO level in the baseline monitoring exercise, the pre-determined limit level of 4 mg/L is not applicable. The first percentile (1 %-ile) value of baseline data (i.e. 1.5 mg/L) is adopted as the limit level for DO.

2.3.6 Monitoring Schedule

The schedule for marine water quality monitoring for the reporting period is provided in Appendix F.

2.3.7 Results of Water Quality Monitoring

A total of 7 monitoring events for construction phase water quality monitoring were conducted as presented in Table 2.6.

Table 2.6 details of the marine water quality monitoring

No.	Date	Active Works Activities	Monitoring Location
1	1 December 2023	Hand jetting works conducted by divers within the gazetted boundary of UCSB	C1A, C2A, I1 and I2 for mid-flood tide
2	4 December 2023		C1A, C2A, I1 and I2 for mid-flood tide
3	6 December 2023		C1A, C2A, I1 and I2 for mid-ebb tide
4	8 December 2023		C1A, C2A, I1 and I2 for both mid-ebb and mid-flood tides
5	11 December 2023		C1A, C2A, I1 and I2 for both mid-ebb and mid-flood tides
6	13 December 2023		C1A, C2A, I1 and I2 for mid-ebb tide
7	15 December 2023		C1A, C2A, I1 and I2 for both mid-ebb and mid-flood tides

Note:

^a Hand jetting works conducted by divers within the gazetted boundary of Upper Cheung Sha Beach were conducted from 0900 to 1700 hours from Monday to Saturday and the silt curtain was deployed before the commencement of the jetting works and retrieved after the completion of works each day. In this connection, the impact water quality monitoring was only scheduled during the mid tide which cover the hand jetting works period (0900 to 1700).

The equipment used in construction phase water quality monitoring is presented in Table 2.7. Copies of the calibration certificates for the monitoring equipment are provided in Appendix G

Table 2.7 Water quality monitoring equipmemnt

Equipment	Brand and Model
Water Sampling Equipment	Wildlife Supply Company Horizontal Alpha™ Bottles
Positioning Device	Garmin 20X Personal Navigator
Water Depth Gauge	Xyorca XY-453
Multiparameter Meter (measurement of DO, Temperature, Turbidity, pH and Salinity)	YSI ProDSS (S/N: 16H104233; 21K101469)

The monitoring results and graphical presentation are provided in Appendix H. Acton Level and Limit Level exceedances were recorded for water quality monitoring in the reporting period. Investigations on the exceedance were conducted and summarized in Table 2.8.

Table 2.8 Summary of exceedance for water quality monitoing

Date	Tide	Monitoring Station	Parameter	Level of Exceedance	Investigation
1 Dec 2023	Mid-flood	I1	SS	Limit	Exceedance of Limit Level for SS was identified at Control Station C1A and C2A during mid-flood tide monitoring. Therefore, the exceedances were not considered as caused by the construction of the Project.
1 Dec 2023	Mid-flood	I2	SS	Limit
6 Dec 2023	Mid-ebb	I1	SS	Limit	Silt curtain was deployed to enclose the hand jetting works and no sediment plume was observed nearby the water quality monitoring station during sampling. Therefore, the exceedances were not considered as caused by the construction of the Project.
6 Dec 2023	Mid-ebb	I2	SS	Limit

Based on the investigation results above, the exceedances were not Project-related. Nevertheless, the Contractor was reminded to ensure mitigation measures are fully and properly implemented in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual.

2.4 Review of Operating Speeds of Working Vessels

The operating speeds of working vessels for construction works under FEP-02/429/2012/B within the reporting period were checked and reviewed. 1 Working vessel, a self-propelled tugboat (JINXIN 708), was used for the works under FEP-02/429/2012/B during the reporting period between 5 and 6 December 2023. The self-propelled work vessel was operated at a speed lower than 10 knots when moving within the works areas. No non-compliance on the operating speeds of working vessels was identified. Records of operating speeds of the self-propelled working vessel(s) for the construction works provided by the Contractor are presented in Appendix I.

2.5 Implementation Status of the Environmental Protection Requirements

The Contractor has implemented all the environmental mitigation measures and requirements as stated in the approved EIA Report, ERR, approved Updated EM&A Manual and FEP-02/429/2012/B. The implementation status of the environmental mitigation measures during the reporting period is summarized in Appendix J. The status of the required submission under FEP-02/429/2012/B during this reporting period is presented in Table 2.9.

Table 2.9 Status of required submission under FEP-02/429/2012/B during the reporting period

EP Condition	Submission	Submission Date
3.4	Monthly EM&A Report (for November 2023)	14 December 2023

2.6 Summary of exceedance of the Environmental Quality Performance Limit

There were no Project-related Action and Limit Level exceedances for marine water quality monitoring in the reporting period.

Cumulative statistics on exceedance is provided in Appendix K.

2.7 Summary of Environmental Non-compliance, environmental complaint, Notification of summons and successful prosecution

No non-compliance event was recorded during the reporting period.

The cumulative environmental complaint log is presented in Appendix K.

No summons/ successful prosecution was received during the reporting period. The cumulative summon/ prosecution log is presented in Appendix K.

3. Upcoming works for the next reporting period

3.1 Construction activities for the next reporting period

All the construction works of the Project were completed on 20 December 2023.

3.2 monitoring schedule for the next reporting period

4. Conclusion

This is the 3^rd Monthly EM&A Report presenting the key findings of the EM&A works undertaken during the reporting period from 1 to 20 December 2023 in accordance with the approved Updated EM&A Manual and the requirements of Further Environmental Permit FEP-02/429/2012/B. Weekly environmental site inspections of the construction works and audit of the implementation of environmental mitigation measures were conducted by the ET during the reporting period.

Marine water quality monitoring was conducted during the reporting period in accordance with the Updated EM&A Manual. Exceedances were recorded on 1 and 6 December 2023 and subsequent investigations were conducted. The exceedances were not considered as caused by the construction of the construction of the Project. No Project-related Action and Limit Level exceedances were recorded.

There was one environmental complaint received during the reporting period. ET’s investigation has been completed and it was considered that there is no non-compliance due to the work activities carried out on-site.

There were no non-compliance event and summon/ successful prosecution recorded during the reporting period.

The Contractor has implemented possible and feasible mitigation measures to mitigate the potential environmental impacts. The ET did continue to keep track of the EM&A programme to ensure compliance of environmental requirements and the proper implementation of all necessary mitigation measures.