Agreement No. CE 23/2012 (EP)

Environmental Monitoring and Audit
for Contaminated Mud Pits to the South of The Brothers and at East Sha Chau (2012-2017) - Investigation

43rd MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT FOR March 2016

1.1                                      Background

1.1.1                                Since early 1990s, contaminated sediment ([1]) arising from various construction works (e.g. dredging and reclamation projects) in Hong Kong has been disposed of at a series of seabed pits at East of Sha Chau (ESC).  In late 2008, a review indicated that the existing and planned facilities at ESC would not be able to meet the disposal demand after 2012.  In order to meet this demand, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) decided to implement a new contained aquatic disposal (CAD) ([2]) facility at the South of The Brothers (SB CMPs) which had been under consideration for a number of years.

1.1.2                                The environmental acceptability of the construction and operation of the Project had been confirmed by findings of the associated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study completed in 2005 under Agreement No. CE 12/2002(EP) ([3]).  The Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved this EIA report under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) (EIAO) in September 2005 (EIA Register No.: AEIAR-089/2005).

1.1.3                                In accordance with the EIA recommendation, prior to commencement of construction works for the SB CMPs, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) undertook a detailed review and update of the EIA findings for the SB site ([4]).  Findings of the EIA review undertaken in 2009/ 2010 confirmed that the construction and operation of the SB site had been predicted to be environmentally acceptable.

 

1.1.4                                Environmental Permits (EPs) (EP-312/2008/A and EP-427/2011A) were issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to the CEDD, the Permit Holder, on 28 November 2008 for ESC CMP V and on 23 December 2011 for SB CMPs, respectively.  Under the requirements of the EPs, an Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) programme as set out in the EM&A Manuals ([5]) ([6]) is required to be implemented for the CMPs.

1.1.5                                The present EM&A programme under Agreement No. CE 23/2012 (EP) covers the dredging, disposal and capping operations of the SB CMPs as well as ESC CMPs.  Detailed works schedule for both CMPs is shown in Figure 1.1.  In March 2016, the following works were being undertaken at the CMPs:

·       Disposal of contaminated mud at SB CMP 2 up to 21 March 2016;

·       Capping operation at ESC CMP Va up to 21 March 2016;

·       Disposal of contaminated mud at ESC CMP Vd since 22 March 2016; and

·       Capping operation at SB CMP 2 since 22 March 2016.

Figure 1.1       Works Schedule for ESC CMPs and SB CMPs

1.2                                      Reporting Period

1.2.1                                This 43rd Monthly Progress Report covers the EM&A activities for the reporting month of March 2016.

1.3                                      Details of Sampling and Laboratory Testing Activities

1.3.1                                The following monitoring activities have been undertaken for ESC CMPs in March 2016:

·       Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd was undertaken on 22 March 2016; and

·       Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of ESC CMP Vd was undertaken on 23 March 2016.

1.3.2                               The following monitoring activities have been undertaken for SB CMPs in March 2016:

·       Water Column Profiling of CMP 2 was undertaken on 2 March 2016; and

·       Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of CMP 2 was undertaken on 3 March 2016.

1.4                                      Details of Outstanding Sampling and/or Analysis

1.4.1                                No outstanding sampling remained for March 2016. 

1.4.2                                A summary of field activities conducted are presented in Annex A.  The following laboratory analyses were still in progress during the preparation of this monthly report and hence are not presented in this monthly report:

·       Laboratory analyses of sediment samples collected for Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of SB CMP 2 in March 2016; and

·       Laboratory analyses of sediment samples collected for Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of ESC CMP Vd in March 2016.

1.5                                      Brief Discussion of the Monitoring Results for ESC CMPs

1.5.1                                                                               Brief discussion of the monitoring results of the following activities for ESC CMPs is presented in this 43rd Monthly Progress Report:

·       Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd in March 2016

1.5.2                                                                                Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd – March 2016

1.5.3                                Water Column Profiling was undertaken at a total of two sampling stations (Upstream and Downstream stations) on 22 March 2016.  The monitoring results have been assessed for compliance with the Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) set by Environmental Protection Department (EPD).  This consists of a review of the EPD routine water quality monitoring data for the dry season period (November to March) of 2005 - 2014 from stations in the Northwestern Water Control Zone (WCZ), where the ESC CMPs are located ([7]).  For Salinity, the averaged value obtained from the Reference stations was used for the basis as the WQO.  Levels of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Turbidity were also assessed for compliance with the Action and Limit Levels (see Table B1 of Annex B for details).  

 

In-situ Measurements

1.5.4                                Analyses of results for March 2016 indicated that levels of Salinity, DO and pH generally complied with the WQOs at both Downstream and Upstream stations (Table B2 of Annex B).  In addition, DO and Turbidity at all stations complied with the Action and Limit Levels (Table B2 of Annex B).

Laboratory Measurements for Suspended Solids (SS)

1.5.5                                Analyses of results for March 2016 indicated that the SS levels complied with the WQO at Downstream stations.  Both Upstream and Downstream stations complied with the Action and Limit Levels (Table B2 of Annex B).

Overall, the monitoring results indicated that the mud disposal operation at ESC CMP Vd did not appear to cause any deterioration in water quality during this reporting period.

1.6                                      Brief Discussion of the Monitoring Results for SB CMPs

1.6.1                                Brief discussion of the monitoring results of the following activities for SB CMPs is presented in this 43rd Monthly Progress Report:

·       Water Column Profiling of CMP 2 in 2 March 2016

1.6.2                                Water Column Profiling of CMP 2 – March 2016

1.6.3                                Water Column Profiling was undertaken at a total of two sampling stations (Upstream and Downstream stations) on 2 March 2016.  The monitoring results have been assessed for compliance with the WQOs (see Section 1.5.3 for details).   Levels of DO and Turbidity were also assessed for compliance with the Action and Limit Levels (see Table B3 of Annex B for details).

In-situ Measurements

1.6.4                                Analyses of results for March 2016 indicated that levels of Salinity, DO and pH complied with the WQOs at both Downstream and Upstream stations (Table B4 of Annex B).  In addition, DO and Turbidity at all stations complied with the Action and Limit Levels (Table B4 of Annex B).

Laboratory Measurements for SS

1.6.5                                Analyses of results for March 2016 indicated that the SS levels complied with the WQO at Downstream stations.  Both Upstream and Downstream stations complied with the Action and Limit Levels (Table B4 of Annex B).

1.6.6                                Overall, the monitoring results indicated that the mud disposal operation at CMP 2 did not appear to cause any deterioration in water quality during this reporting period.

 

1.7                                      Activities Scheduled for the Next Month

1.7.1                               No monitoring activities will be scheduled in the next monthly period of April 2016 for SB CMPs.

1.7.2                               The following monitoring activities will be conducted in the next monthly period of April 2016 for ESC CMPs:

·       Routine Water Quality Monitoring of ESC CMP Vd;

·       Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of ESC CMP Vd; and

·       Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd.

1.7.3                                The sampling schedule is presented in Annex A.

1.8                                      Study Programme

1.8.1                                A summary of the Study programme is presented in Annex C.

 
 

([1])       According to the Management Framework of Dredged/ Excavated Sediment of ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002, contaminated sediment in general shall mean those sediment requiring Type 2 – Confined Marine Disposal as determined according to this TC(W).

([2])        CAD options may involve use of excavated borrow pits, or may involve purpose-built excavated pits.  CAD sites are those which involve filling a seabed pit with contaminated mud and capping it with uncontaminated material such that the original seabed level is restored and the contaminated material is isolated from the surrounding marine environment.7

([3])       Detailed Site Selection Study for a Proposed Contaminated Mud Disposal Facility within the Airport East/ East of Sha Chau Area (Agreement No. CE 12/2002(EP))

([4])       Under the CEDD study Contaminated Sediment Disposal Facility to the South of The Brothers (Agreement No. FM 2/2009)

([5])          ERM (2012) Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual. Final First Review.  Environmental Monitoring and Audit for Contaminated Mud Pits to the South of the Brothers and at East Sha Chau (2012-2017) – Investigation.  Agreement No. CE 23/2012(EP). Submitted to EPD in November 2012.

([6])         ERM (2010) Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual. Final Second Review.  Environmental Monitoring and Audit for Contaminated Mud Pit at Sha Chau (2009-2013) – Investigation.  Agreement No. CE 4/2009(EP). Submitted to EPD in November 2010.

([7])        http://epic.epd.gov.hk/EPICRIVER/marine/?lang=en