Agreement No. CE 63/2016
(EP)
Environmental Monitoring and Audit
for Disposal Facility to the East of Sha Chau (2017-2020) - Investigation
MONTHLY EM&A REPORT FOR April 2017
1.1
Background
1.1.1
The Civil
Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) is managing a number of marine
disposal facilities in Hong Kong waters, including the Contaminated Mud Pits
(CMPs) to the South of The Brothers (SB) and to the East of Sha Chau (ESC) for
the disposal of contaminated sediment, and open-sea disposal grounds located to
the South of Cheung Chau (SCC), East of Tung Lung Chau (ETLC) and East of
Ninepins (ENP) for the disposal of uncontaminated sediment. Two Environmental Permits (EPs),
EP-312/2008/A and EP-427/2011/A, were issued by the Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) to the CEDD, the Permit Holder, on 28 November 2008 and 23
December 2011 for the Dredging, Management and Capping of Contaminated Sediment
Disposal Facilities at ESC CMP V and SB CMPs, respectively.
1.1.2
Under the requirements of the two EPs for ESC CMP V and SB CMPs, EM&A programmes which
encompass water and sediment chemistry, fisheries assessment, tissue and whole
body analysis, sediment toxicity and benthic recolonisation studies as set out
in the EM&A Manuals are required to be implemented. EM&A programmes
have been continuously carried out during the operation of the CMPs at ESC and
SB. A review of the
collection and analysis of such environmental data from the monitoring
programme demonstrated that there had not been any adverse environmental
impacts resulting from disposal activities ([1])([2])([3])([4])([5]). The current programme
will assess the impacts resulting from dredging, disposal and capping operations
of CMP V as well as capping operations of SB CMPs.
1.1.3
The present EM&A programme under Agreement
No. CE 63/2016 (EP) covers the dredging, disposal and
capping operations of the ESC CMP V as well as the capping operations of the SB CMPs
(see Annex A for the
EM&A programme). Detailed works schedule for ESC CMP V and
SB CMPs is shown in Figure 1.1. In April 2017,
the following works were being undertaken:
· Disposal of contaminated mud at
ESC CMP Vd.
Figure 1.1 Works Schedule
for ESC CMP V and SB CMPs
1.2
Reporting Period
1.2.1
This Monthly EM&A Report for
April 2017 covers the EM&A
activities for the reporting month of April 2017.
1.3
Details of Sampling and
Laboratory Testing Activities
1.3.1
The following monitoring activities were
undertaken for ESC CMP V in April 2017:
·
Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd was undertaken on 11 April 2017;
·
Routine Water Quality Monitoring of ESC CMP V was undertaken on 12 April 2017; and
·
Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of ESC CMP Vd was undertaken on 13 April 2017.
1.3.2
No monitoring activities were scheduled
to be undertaken for SB CMPs in April 2017.
1.4
Details of Outstanding
Sampling and/or Analysis
1.4.1
No outstanding sampling and analysis remained for April 2017.
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 Monthly EM&A Report for April 2017:
·
Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd in April 2017;
·
Routine Water Quality
Monitoring of ESC CMP V in April 2017; and
·
Pit Specific
Sediment Chemistry of ESC CMP Vd
in April 2017.
1.5.2
Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd – April 2017
1.5.3
Water Column
Profiling was undertaken at
a total of two sampling stations (Upstream and Downstream stations) on 11 April
2017. 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 wet season period (April to October) of 2006 - 2015 from stations in
the Northwestern Water Control Zone (WCZ), where the ESC CMPs are located ([6]). For Salinity, the averaged value
obtained from the Reference
(Upstream) station 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 April 2017
indicated that levels of DO and pH 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 (Tables B1 and B2 of Annex B).
Laboratory Measurements for Suspended Solids (SS)
1.5.5
Analyses of results for April 2017 indicated
that the SS levels complied with the WQO and the Action and Limit Levels at
both Upstream and Downstream stations (Tables B1 and B2 of Annex B).
1.5.6
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.
1.5.7
Routine Water Quality Monitoring of ESC CMP V
– April 2017
1.5.8
Routine Water Quality Monitoring of ESC CMP V was undertaken on 12 April 2017. The monitoring results have been assessed for compliance with the WQOs (see Section 1.5.3 for details).
The monitoring
results are shown in Tables B3 and B4 of Annex B and Figures 1 - 10 of Annex C.
A total of sixteen (16) monitoring stations were sampled in April 2017 as shown in Figure 1.2.
In-situ Measurements
1.5.9
Graphical presentation of the monitoring
results (Temperature, DO, pH, Salinity and Turbidity) is shown in Figures 1 - 6 of Annex C. Analyses of results for April 2017 indicated that the levels of pH, Salinity and DO complied with
the WQOs at all stations (Impact, Intermediate, Reference and Ma Wan stations)
in April 2017 (Table B3 of Annex B; Figures 1, 3 and 5 of Annex C).
1.5.10
The levels of DO and Turbidity complied
with the Action and Limit Levels at all stations (Table B3 of Annex B; Figures 3 and 6 of Annex C).
1.5.11
Overall, in-situ measurement
results of the Routine Water Quality Monitoring
indicated that the disposal
operation at ESC CMP Vd did not appear to cause any unacceptable impacts in water quality in April 2017.
Laboratory Measurements
1.5.12
Laboratory analysis of April 2017 results
indicated that concentrations of Cadmium, Silver and Mercury were below their
limit of reporting at all stations.
Arsenic, Chromium, Nickel, Lead, Copper and Zinc were
detected in April 2017 samples and the concentrations of these metals and metalloids were similar amongst stations (Table B4 of Annex B; Figure 7 of Annex C).
1.5.13
For nutrients, concentrations of Total
Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN) at all stations in April 2017 were higher than the WQO (0.5 mg/L) (Table B4 of Annex B; Figure 8 of Annex C).
It should be noted that due to the effect of Pearl River, the North
Western WCZ has historically experienced higher levels of TIN ([7]). Therefore, the
exceedances of TIN WQO at these stations are unlikely to be caused by the
disposal operation at ESC CMP Vd. Concentrations
of Ammonia Nitrogen (NH3-N) were relatively similar amongst all
stations in April 2017 (Table B4 of Annex B; Figure 8 of Annex C).
Levels of 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) were
relatively similar amongst all stations in April 2017 (Table B4 of Annex B; Figure 9 of Annex C).
1.5.14
Analyses of results for April 2017 indicated that the SS levels were higher than the WQO (11.0 mg/L for wet season) at Impact and
Intermediate stations. However, the
SS levels complied with the
Action and Limit Levels at all stations (Tables B1 and B4 of Annex B; Figure 10 of Annex C).
1.5.15
Overall, results of the Routine Water Quality Monitoring indicated that the disposal operation at ESC CMP Vd
did not appear to cause any unacceptable deterioration in water quality in April
2017. Detailed statistical analysis
will be presented in the Quarterly Report to investigate any spatial and
temporal trends of potential concern.
1.5.16
Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of ESC CMP Vd – April 2017
1.5.17
Monitoring locations for Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry for ESC CMP Vd are shown in Figure 1.3.
A total of six (6) monitoring stations were sampled in April 2017.
1.5.18
The concentrations of all inorganic contaminants were lower than the Lower Chemical Exceedance Level (LCEL) at all
stations in April 2017 (Figures 11 and 12 of Annex C).
1.5.19
For organic contaminants, the
concentrations of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) were similar amongst the stations in April 2017 (Figure 13 of Annex C). The
concentrations of Tributyltin (TBT)
were higher at Active Pit station ESC-NPAA in April 2017 (Figure 14 of Annex C).
Low and High Molecular Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs),
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Total dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and
4,4’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) concentrations were below the limit
of reporting at all stations in April 2017.
1.5.20
Overall, there is no evidence indicating
any unacceptable environmental impacts to sediment quality as a result of the
contaminated mud disposal operations at ESC CMP Vd in April 2017. Statistical analysis will be undertaken
and presented in the corresponding quarterly report to investigate whether there
are any unacceptable impacts in the area caused by the contaminated mud
disposal.
1.6
Activities Scheduled for the
Next Month
1.6.1
The following monitoring activities will be conducted
in the next monthly period of May 2017 for ESC CMP V (see Annex A for the sampling schedule):
·
Water Column Profiling of ESC CMP Vd;
·
Routine Water Quality Monitoring of ESC CMP V; and.
·
Pit Specific Sediment Chemistry of ESC CMP Vd.
1.6.2
The following monitoring activities will be conducted
in the next monthly period of May 2017 for SB CMPs (see Annex A for the sampling schedule):
·
Water Quality Monitoring During
Capping of SB CMPs.