EIA Final Report to HKCA 20140130 with ISBN - … · Table 6.1 – Summary of EIA Reports and Project Description of HKBCF, HKLR 68 and TMCLKL

Association of Engineering Professionals in Society Ltd

ReviewofEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)PracticesofMajorConstructionWorksinHongKong

TheNextStep

Final Report

September2013

Submittedby

AssociationofEngineeringProfessionalsinSocietyLtd.

incollaborationwith

TheHongKongPolytechnicUniversity

Fundedby

HongKongConstructionAssociation

CopyrightAll rights reserved.Nopartof thepublicationmaybe reproduced, stored ina retrieval systemortransmitted inany formorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopy, recording,orotherwise,withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionoftheauthorsISBN9789881764393

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Acknowledgement

In 2011, the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA) commissioned the Association ofEngineeringProfessionalsinSocietyLtd(AES)toundertaketheresearchstudyentitled:

Review of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Practices of MajorConstructionWorksinHongKongthenextstep

The study was funded by the HKCA Public Policy Research Fund 2011. The Hong KongPolytechnicUniversity (PolyU)was, in turn,appointed in July2012byAES to carryout thestudyinacollaborativeagreementbetweenAESandthePolyU.

The Project Teamwishes to express its gratitude to all the intervieweeswho have kindlycontributed their precious time for the interviews and offered their expert knowledge andvaluableadviceonthesubjectmatter. TheTeamalsowishestothankalltheparticipantsatthe Presentation Forum for sharing their experience and views, making constructivesuggestionsonthecurrentEIApractices inHongKongandcompletingquestionnairesattheForum.SincereappreciationistoberecordedfortheconsiderablecontributionmadebytheAES Task Force led by IrVictorLO Kingyin and to the PolyU Research Team led byIrDr.LindaFAN WONG Chining for the successful completion of this complex and yetimportantresearchstudy.IrDr.RaymondHOChungtaiProjectDirector/ChairmanofAES

ReviewofEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)PracticesofMajorConstructionWorksinHongKongthenextstep

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Thispageisintentionallyleftblank


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TableofContents

ExecutiveSummary viiChapter1Introduction 11.1 ObjectivesandScope 21.2 DetailsofWorkInvolved 21.3 StudyMethodology 3

1.3.1 Interviews 41.3.2 PanelDiscussionatPresentationForum 51.3.3 QuestionnaireSurveyatPresentationForum 51.3.4 MeetingswithGreenGroups 6

1.4 OutlineofSubsequentChapters 6Chapter2 OverviewofEnvironmental ImpactAssessmentPractices 7

inHongKong2.1 EIABackground 7

2.1.1 FactorsimpactingonEIAProcess 82.1.2 KeyFactorsforaSuccessfulEIASystem 9

2.2 EIASysteminHongKong 10

2.2.1 LegislativeFramework 102.2.2 EnforcementAgency 102.2.3 RolesandResponsibilitiesofPartiesInvolved 102.2.4 ApproachtoEnvironmentalProtection 112.2.5 StatutoryRequirements 112.2.6 ProceduresforEIAOperation 162.2.7 PublicParticipation 192.2.8 PublicAccesstoInformation 21

Chapter3TechnicalLiteratureSurveyonOverseasEIASystems 253.1 EIALegislativeFrameworkandEnforcementAgent 253.2 EIAProcess 283.3 PublicParticipation 343.4 PublicAccesstoInformation 36Chapter4ReviewoftheOperationoftheEIAOinHongKong 374.1 ReviewbyEnvironmentalProtectionDepartmentin1999 37


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4.2 FindingsfromInterviews 404.2.1 EIAPractice 404.2.2 PublicParticipation 464.2.3 PublicAccesstoInformation 474.2.4 FactorsimpactingontheEIAProcessinHongKong 484.2.5 FactorsforaSuccessfulEIASystem 49

4.3 FindingsfromQuestionnairesatthePresentationForum 49

4.3.1 FactorsaffectingEIAPracticeinHongKong 504.3.2 StatutoryTimeFrameandEIAPractices 524.3.3 PublicParticipation 534.3.4 ComparisonwithInterviewResults 54

4.4 FindingsfromMeetingswithGreenGroups 55

4.4.1 EIAPractice 554.4.2 PublicParticipation 564.4.3 PublicAccesstoInformation 57

Chapter5ReviewoftheAdvisoryCouncilontheEnvironment 595.1 MembershipoftheACE 595.2 TransparencyofACE 635.3 FindingsfromInterviews 645.4 FindingsfromMeetingswithGreenGroups 64Chapter6ReviewoftheHongKongZhuhaiMacauBridgeCase 676.1 DetailsofJudicialReviewCase 67

6.1.1 BackgroundoftheProject 676.1.2 ApprovalofEIAReportsandIssueofEnvironmentalPermits 706.1.3 DecisionsChallenged 716.1.4 LegalIssues 716.1.5 RulingoftheCourtofFirstInstance 736.1.6 AppealbyEPD 766.1.7 RulingoftheCourtofAppeal 766.1.8 CommencementofWorks 78

6.2 LessonsLearnt 78

6.2.1 MinimumPollution 816.2.2 BenefitsorLosses 81

6.3 FindingsfromInterviews 826.4 FindingsfromMeetingswithGreenGroups 826.5 OtherStudiesontheHKZMBJudicialReviewCase 83


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Chapter7Recommendations 857.1 ReviewoftheOperationoftheEIAO 85

7.1.1 EIAPractice 857.1.2 PublicParticipation 887.1.3 PublicAccesstoInformation 88

7.2 ReviewoftheAdvisoryCouncilonEnvironment. 887.2.1 RoleofACE 887.2.2 MembershipofACE 897.2.3 TransparencyofACE 89

Chapter8TheWayForward 91

References 93Abbreviations 95

Appendices 97Appendix1.1AsampleofInterviewQuestionsforEIAPractitioners 98Appendix1.2AsampleofForumQuestionnaire 104Appendix1.3AsampleofInterviewQuestionsforGreenGroups 106Appendix2.1DefinitionsofEnvironmentalImpactAssessment 110Appendix2.2ListofDesignatedProjects 112Appendix2.3RelevantClausesofEIAO 119Appendix2.4EIAReportSummaryofRequirements 121Appendix2.5ReferencesforMajorAssessmentCriteria 123Appendix2.6CircumstancesforFullEnvironmentalMonitoringandAuditing 126Appendix4.1SummaryofRatingsbasedonthePresentationForum 127

Questionnaires

FiguresFigure2.1TheStatutoryEIAProcess 13

TablesTable2.1 StatutoryTimeLimitsforEIAProcess 14Table3.1 LegislativeFrameworkofEIAforSelectedPlaces 25Table3.2 EIASteps(Screening,Scoping&Reporting)forSelectedPlaces 28Table3.3 EIASteps(Review,Decisionmaking&Monitoring) 31

forSelectedPlacesTable3.4 ComparisonofMainFeaturesofEIAProcessforSelectedPlaces 33Table3.5 PublicParticipationforSelectedPlaces 35Table3.6 InformationAvailableforSelectedPlaces 36Table4.1 InterviewRatingsofAdequacyofPublicParticipation 46Table4.2 InterviewRatingsofFactorsImpactingontheEIAProcess 48Table4.3 InterviewRatingsofFactorsforaSuccessfulEIASystem 49Table4.4 GroupsofRespondentsBasedontheRolesinEIAProjects 50


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Table4.5 PresentationForumRatingsofFactorsaffectingEIAPractice 51Table4.6 PresentationForumRatingsofAdequacyofStatutoryTimeLimits 52

andOpinionsofEIAPracticesTable4.7 PresentationForumRatingsofAdequacyofPublicParticipation 53Table4.8 ComparisonofRatingsbetweenPresentationForum 54

andInterviewsTable5.1 ListofACEmembersfortheTenuresfrom200506upto201314 59Table6.1 SummaryofEIAReportsandProjectDescriptionofHKBCF,HKLR 68

andTMCLKLProjectsTable6.2 SummaryofCFIKeyRejectionPoints 73


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ExecutiveSummary

Introduction

Inthecontextofmajorconstructionprojects,Environmental ImpactAssessment ( E IA ) isa series of procedures which aims to identify the possible environmental impacts of aproposed activity, to explore ways to minimise the environmental impacts, and todetermine whether or not the proposed activity should be allowed to proceed. SuchproceduresarepromulgatedlegallyintheHongKongSpecialAdministrativeRegion(HKSAR)under the Environmental ImpactAssessmentOrdinance (EIAO)whichwas enforced on 1April 1998. TheOrdinance, administrated by the Environmental Protection Department(EPD)of theHKSARGovernment,provides the regulatory framework forapplying theEIAprocess to major construction works in Hong Kong and implementation of agreedenvironmentalmeasures through environmental permits (EPs). The HongKongZhuhaiMacauBridge(HKZMB)isamajorconstructionprojectconsistingofaseriesofbridgesandtunnels connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau. EPD issued EPs in respect of theconstruction of the HKZMB project including the Hong Kong Link Road and Hong KongBoundaryCrossingFacilitiesinSeptember2009.Theworkswerescheduledtostartinlate2010forcompletionin2016.Thiswassubsequentlydelayedasaresultofajudicialreviewin January 2010 regarding the issue of the EPs. Consequently, a significant number ofinfrastructure projectswith applications pending for environmental approvalswere alsodelayed, awaiting the court ruling of the judicial review. Hence the study has beeninitiatedwiththefollowing4objectives:(1) Technical literature survey on the environmental impact assessment in overseas

jurisdictions, their statutory requirements, practices, the mechanisms of theirscreening,scoping,reporting,reviewingandenforcement;

(2) Review of the operation/implementation of the Environmental ImpactAssessmentOrdinanceinHongKongSARanditspracticalityonitsapproaches;

(3) ReviewoftheAdvisoryCouncilonEnvironment(ACE),itstechnicalityaswellashowandwhenthemembersarerecruitedandrenewed;and

(4) ReviewoftheHKZMBcase.

Thestudywascarriedoutintwostages.DuringStage1ofthestudy,asurveyandanalysisofthetechnicalliteratureontheEIApracticesinHongKongandvariousoverseascitiesandcountries,togetherwithadesktopstudyontheACEandtheHKZMBcasewerecarriedout.In order to achieve the objectives of the study (other than technical literature survey),interviewswithrelevantstakeholderswereconductedinordertoseektheiropinionsonthecurrent EIA practices in Hong Kong, the ACE and the HKZMB case. A set of interviewquestions was developed for data collection and a series of interviewswere conductedwith practitioners, including key Government bureau and departments, and selected


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consultants,contractors,academicsandprofessionalinstitutions.Theinitialfindingsofthestudywereincorporated inanInterim Report andpresentedataPresentationForumheldattheConstructionIndustryResourceCentreinKowloonBayon23March2013.TheForumwasattendedbyseniorgovernmentofficials,HKCAPresidentandmembers,practitionersofdifferent sectors of the construction industry, aswell as environmental concern groups.After the Presentation Forum, meetings with representatives of the Green GroupscontinuedtotakeplacetoseektheirviewsandopinionsontheEIApracticeinHongKong

DuringStage2ofthestudy,allthedatacollectedfromtheinterviews,PresentationForumandmeetingswiththeGreenGroupswerestudiedandanalysed. TheFinal Reportofthestudywasthenprepared.

EIAPracticesinHongKong

TheEIAOand itssubsidiary legislationprovide the legislative framework in theHKSAR fortheconductofEIAstudiesonmajordevelopmentprojectswithpotentialadverseimpactontheenvironment.TheEnvironmentalProtectionDepartment(EPD)isthedesignatedagencytoenforce theEIAO. There isalsoan independentappealboardappointedby theChiefExecutive tohandleappealsagainstdecisionsof theDirectorofEnvironmentalProtection(DEP).TheappealboardsdecisionshaveabindingeffectontheDirector.Under theEIAO,proponentofadesignatedproject is required toobtainanEP fromDEPbefore commencementof theproject. Foradesignatedprojectwhichwill cause limitedimpactson theenvironment, theproponentcanapply toDEPdirect foranEP. Forotherdesignated projects, the project proponent is required to provide a description of theprojectprofilebasedonwhichDEPwilldrawupanEIAstudybrief(SB).DEPwillarrangefortheprojectprofiletobeexhibitedforcommentsbythepublicandtheAdvisoryCouncilontheEnvironment(ACE)atthesametime.DEPwilltakeintoaccountthecommentsontheprojectbriefwhendrawinguptheSBwhichsetsouttheissuesthattheprojectproponentisrequiredtoaddress intheEIAreport. TheprojectproponentwillprepareanEIAreport inaccordancewiththestudybriefandtherelatedTechnicalMemorandum(TM)issuedundertheOrdinance. OnceDEP issatisfiedthatanEIAreportmeetstherequirementssetout intheSBandTM,thereportwillbeexhibitedforpublicinspection.DEPwilltakeintoaccountthecommentsontheEIAreportinmakingadecisiononwhetherornottoapprovetheEIAreport. Statutory time limits are set for each step of the EIA process, including themaximumtimewithinwhichDEPmustmakeadecisiononanEIAreport,suchthattheEIAprocesscanbecompletedwithinareasonabletimeframe.


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In order to verify the environmental impact predictions or effectiveness of proposedmitigationmeasuresstated intheEIAreport,environmentalmonitoringandaudit(EM&A)requirementsmaybeimposedaspartoftheEPwithappropriateconditions.TheEM&Aarecarried out by an Environmental Team (ET) and supervised by an ET Leader. AnIndependentEnvironmentalChecker (IEC) isrequired tocheck, review,verifyandvalidatethe overall environmental performance of a project, including the implementation ofenvironmentalprotectionandmitigationmeasures,submissionsrelatingtoEM&A,andanyothersubmissionsrequiredundertheEPforaproject.EPDhassetupadedicatedwebsitetofacilitatepublicaccesstoandretrievalofinformationonvariousapplications,EIA reports,EPs,EM&Adataandguidancedocuments. ACyberEIAOHelp Bench has been set up to provide consistent advice, examples and resourcematerialsthroughtheEPDwebsitetohelpproponentsandconsultantsoncommon issuesor enquiries they often encounter during their preparation of project profiles and EIAreports.TheACEistheGovernment'sprincipaladvisorybodyonmattersrelatingtopollutioncontrol,environmentalprotectionandnatureconservation. IthasastatutoryresponsibilityundertheEIAOtoadvisetheDEPonEIAreportsfordesignatedprojects.AnEIASubcommitteeisestablishedundertheACEtoreceiveandstudyEIAreportsofmajordevelopmentprojectsandtoprovidereportsonitsdeliberationsandfindingsandmakerecommendationstotheACE. TheChairmanofACEand itsmembersareappointedby theChiefExecutive. Theycomefromdifferentsectorsofthesocietysuchasacademics(expertsinbiology,chemistry,geography as well as biological science), business (e.g. catering), Green Groups,professionals(includingarchitectural,engineering,townplanningandmedical)anddistrictcouncillors. The tenureofACEmembership is2years. Afterexpiryof the tenure,one issubject to reappointment and may serve for more than one period of tenure. ACEmemberswill serve asmembers of the EIA Subcommittee by selfnomination before orduringthebreakofthe1stmeetingofthenewtenure(usuallyinJanuary).

TechnicalLiteratureSurvey

A technical literature survey on the EIA practices in selected places, including ChinaMainland, Taiwan, Singapore, United States of America (US), Canada, Australia andUnitedKingdom(UK),wascarriedout. The UShasthe longesthistoryofEIAwiththeUSNational Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 coming into effect in January 1970.Canadawas the first to follow theUSNEPA, implementing the Canadian EnvironmentalAssessmentActin1973andAustraliathenfollowedsuit,adoptinganEIAsystemthroughitsEnvironmental Protection Act 1974 in 1975. The UK followed most of the EuropeanCommunitydirective to introduce theTownandCountryPlanning (Environmental Impact


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Assessment) Regulations in 1988. In Asia, China Mainland enacted the EnvironmentalProtection Law of the Peoples Republic of China (for Trial Implementation) in 1979,signifyingthebeginningofenvironmentallegislationinmodernChina.AnewEIAlaw,LawofPeoplesRepublicofChinaonEnvironmental ImpactAssessment,came into forceon1September 2003. Taiwan also enacted the Environmental Protection Act in 1979 andpromulgated theEnvironmental ImpactAssessmentAct in1994. HongKonghad itsEIAOenactedon4February1997andcomingintooperationon1April1998.Singaporedoesnothaveaspecific legislationmakingEIAmandatory formajordevelopmentprojects,butEIAmaybe implementedthroughtherequirementsstipulated in itsEnvironmentalProtectionControlActwhichcameintoforceon1April1999.

The six main steps in an EIA process, namely screening, scoping, reporting, reviewing,decisionmakingandmonitoring,varyconsiderablyamongtheselectedplaces.Thefindingsare summarisedbelow. The screeningprocessesadopted inHongKong,ChinaMainland,TaiwanandUKaresimilarintermsofusinglistsofdesignatedprojectsrequiringmandatoryEIA,whilethosefortheUSandAustraliarequireapreliminaryassessmenttodeterminetheneed for carrying out EIA. Scoping varies according to the legislation of the respectiveplacesandisoftendeterminedbytherelevantenvironmentalprotectionauthority,butwithinput from the public for places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, US, Canada and Australia. Inparticular, the SB for Hong Kong and written guidelines for Australia provide clearrequirementsorscopeoftheEIA.TheEIAreportorEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)is required to be prepared with content normally specified in the legislation or inaccordancewithspecificrequirements(suchasSB,TechnicalMemorandum,EISguidelines,etc.). The EIA processes of reporting, reviewing and decisionmaking vary among theselectedplaces inaccordancewith their respective legislation. Finally, theprovisions formonitoring environmental impacts are available in the legislation for Hong Kong, ChinaMainland,Taiwan,Singapore,CanadaandAustralia,butthereareinadequateprovisionsformonitoringinthelegislationforboththeUSandUK.For public participation in EIA, the legislation for Hong Kong, Taiwan, US, Canada andAustralia provides opportunities for public participation in the project screening/scopingphaseandreviewofthedraft/finalisedEIAreport.PublichearingsarenecessaryinTaiwanandChinaMainland,butonlyoptionallyfortheUS.Theselectedplaceslistedandsortedindecreasingorder, intermsoftheamountofEIA informationavailabletothepublicviatheinternet,areHongKong,Canada,Australia,Taiwan/ChinaMainlandandSingapore/UK.TheEPDwebsite forHongKongprovides thegreatestamountof informationavailable to thepublicwhile thewebsiteof theCanadianEnvironmentalAssessmentAgencyalsoprovidesconsiderable EIA information except reports on followup programmes (or monitoringreports). On the other hand, EIA information is not available from thewebsites of therelevantauthoritiesinSingaporeandUK.


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ReviewoftheOperationofEIAOinHongKong

The following comments received under the study and our recommendations, whereappropriate,inrespectofoperationoftheEIAOinHongKongarenoted:

(1)DesignatedprojectsBasedon thegeneralviewsof the interviews, it isconsidered that the listsofdesignatedprojectsgiven inSchedule2andSchedule3of theEIAOareadequate fordefiningmajorprojectswithpossibleadverseenvironmentalimpacts.ItisthereforenotrecommendedtorevisetheseschedulesoftheEIAOatthisstage.(2)StatutoryTimeFrameunderEIAOIngeneral the time framewasconsidered sufficient forvarious stakeholders,and theEIAsystem with statutory time limits was considered efficient. Nevertheless, as there arediverseviewsobtainedfromtheinterviewsontheadequacyofthestatutorytimeframe,itisnotrecommendedthatarevisionshouldbemadetotheEIAOfora longertime limitatthisstage.(3)EIAReportandExecutiveSummaryIt is agreed that the EIA report is generally not presented in laymans terms and theExecutive Summary inboth English andChinese is considered sufficient for thepublic tounderstand EIA reports. It is recommended to specify in the SB the requirement ofprovidinghyperlinks in theExecutive Summaries for linkingwith the relevantpartof themainEIAreportforeaseofreference.(4)GuidanceonCriteriaandApproachesinTechnicalMemorandumThe results of the Presentation Forum questionnaires reveal that the guidance on thecriteria and approaches in the TM is considered adequate on the average. As EPD hasgainedsomanyyearsofexperience,andgatheredanenormousamountofinformationanddata from numerous EIA projects, it is recommended that EPD should provide morepractical guidance on approaches for avoiding, minimising and mitigating adverseenvironmentalimpactsofaproject,andlessonslearnedfromsomekeyprojectsontheEPDwebsite.(5)PracticalityofPermitConditionsBasedonthegeneralviewsofthe interviews,conditions inEPsareconsideredeffectivetobind proponents to carry out the agreed mitigation measures to avoid or mitigateenvironmental impacts. Oneparticularcommentcollected from the interviewson theEPconditionsisthattheEPconditionsshouldtakeaccountoftheimplementationofaprojectunderanumberofphasesorcontracts.ThisdoesnotseemtoposeaproblemtoEPDwhichhasampleexperience in issuingEPs forprojectswithmultiphasesormulticontracts. Inaddition,there isasuggestion fromsome intervieweesthattheprojectproponentshould


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beallowedtoseethedraftEPandexchangeviewspriortotheformalissueoftheEP.Thisneeds tobe carefully considered as it isnot theusualpractice and itmaybedifficult toensureafairandconsistentapproachinhandlingcommentsontheEP.(6)EnvironmentalMonitoringandAuditThededicatedEPDwebsiteenablesthepublictocompareEIApredictionwithresults,havereal timemonitoring and availabilityofdata, andmake comments and complaints aboutprojects. Althoughtherearesomeminorcommentscollected fromthe interviewsontheEM&Asystem,thewebbasedcyberenvironmentalmonitoringandauditingsysteminHongKongishighlycommendable.(7)RoleofEnvironmentalProtectionDepartmentTheEPDisthedesignatedenforcementagencytoenforcetheEIAOandplaysanimportantroleinenvironmentalprotection.ThedualroleofEPDasboththeregulatorandtheprojectproponent for certain designated projects may not be an issue as there are internalprocedureswithintheHKSARGovernmenttoavoidanypotentialconflictofinterest.(8)CrossboundaryProjectsThereisanimpactontheHongKongenvironmentforcrossboundaryprojects.SometimesitisnecessarytotakeintoaccountthedevelopmentprojectsundertakeninChinaMainland.It isrecommendedtodevelopamechanismforexchanging information,collectingdataonmajordevelopmentprojects(particularlycrossboundaryprojects) inChinaMainlandclosetoHongKongandanalysingtheimpacttoHongKong.(9)EcologicalImpactEcological impacthasbeen raisedasa focalpointofmanyprojectsrecently. Itwouldbebeneficialtohaveabiodiversitydatabaseregardingthebaselineofecological importance.Itisrecommendedtodeveloporestablishadatabaseforthebaselineecologicaldataandamonitoringprogrammeinthelongtermsothatrelevantstakeholderswillbeabletomakeuse of the database for evaluation of potential impacts of a designated project on theecologicalenvironment.TherearecommentsstatingthattherearenotmanyecologistsinHongKong.Inviewoftheshortageoflocalexpertsonecology,itisrecommendedfortheGovernmentandacademicinstitutions to work together to strengthen the training and development of specialistecologists.(10)NewAirQualityObjectivesNewairqualityobjectives(AQO)areproposedtobeadoptedin2014.Thereisapossibilitythat the existing environmental conditions at some places in Hong Kong have already


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exceeded the new AQO. Given the tightened AQO, it is recommended to review thefeasibilityofundertakingnewinfrastructureprojectsattheseplaces.(11)PublicParticipationIngeneral theEIApractitionersdonotconsider that there isa lackofpublicparticipationwhilst theacademicandprofessional institutions consider that there is insufficientpublicparticipation.Itisrecommendedtoenhancepublicparticipationbytheprojectproponentsby reaching out to relevant stakeholders and the public to engage them for offeringcommentsontheprojectattheearliestpossiblestageoftheEIAprocessandby includingthefeedbackfromtheconsultationinthepreparationoftheEIAreport.(12)PublicAccesstoInformationThe general view from the interviews on access to information is that the statutory EIAprocessisconsideredadequateandtransparentandthattheEPDwebsiteisveryusefulforfacilitatingpublicaccesstoandretrievalofinformationonvariousapplications,EIAreports,EPs,EM&Adataandguidancedocuments.Suchwebsiteforpublicaccesstoinformationishighlycommendableandisstandingoutfromthoseinmanyotherdevelopedcountriesthathave implemented EIA for years. However it is recommended to provide additionalinformationintheEPDwebsite,includingasummaryofcommentsreceivedfromthepublic,asummaryofenvironmentalmonitoringandauditreportsandnewapplicabletechnologyformonitoringandaudit.

ReviewoftheAdvisoryCouncilonEnvironment

The following comments received under the study and our recommendations, whereappropriate,inrespectofACEarenoted:

(1)RoleofACETheACEhasastatutoryresponsibilityundertheEIAOtoadvisetheDEPonEIAreportsfordesignatedprojects.AparticularsuggestionmadebytheGreenGroupsistoempowerACEto support or turn down a project. This will provide opportunities for individuals andstakeholdergroupstochallengetheGovernmentpolicies.Inviewoflikelysensitivenessofissue,reachingaconsensusonthesuggestionamongrelevantstakeholders isexpectedtobedifficult.

(2)MembershipofACEAlthoughEPDwilladviseACEmembersof thekey issuescoveredby theEIA reports, it isimportantforACEmemberstohavetheappropriatetechnicalbackgroundtoenhancetheirdegreeofunderstandingEIAreports.Basedontheviewscollectedfromtheinterviewsand


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meetingswiththeGreenGroups,itissuggestedtoappointsufficientACEmembersfromEIAexperts (particularlywithexperience inecology),academic institutions,GreenGroupsandthe engineering sector. This suggestion has more or less been implemented forappointmentofmembersforthecurrenttenure(201314)andthepast4tenures.Fortheperiodoftenure,thereisnostrongviewonincreasingtheperiodfrom2yearsto3years.ItisnotedthatmostACEmembershaveservedfor2to3tenuresbasedonananalysisofthemembers for the above 5 tenures. There is no particular comment arising from theinterviewsormeetingswiththeGreenGroupsinthisrespect.

(3)TransparencyofACEAtpresent,ACEmeetingsarenotopentothepublicexceptthatsomesessionsoftheACEandEIASubcommitteemeetingsareopentothepublicforthepresentationbytheprojectproponentsandduringtheirresponsestoquestionsfromthecouncilmembers.Toenhancethe transparency ofACE, it is recommended that after eachACEmeeting, theChairmanaccompanied by the Secretary shouldmeet themedia and brief them on the subjectsdiscussedatthemeeting,themainpointsraisedandtheconclusionsreached.SuchpracticeofprovidingabriefingtothemediaaftereachACEmeetingwasinfactadoptedinthepast.

ReviewoftheHKZMBCase

The HKZMB Judicial Review case has concluded that it is not necessary to carry out astandalone analysis of background air quality. However, the views collected from theinterviewsandmeetingswiththeGreenGroupsonsuchaconclusionarethatthemeaningof baseline in EIA is not clear and a standalone assessment should be conducted inaddition to the cumulativeeffectassessmentof theenvironmental impactsofprojects infuture. It isthereforerecommendedtoreviewwhethertherequirementforastandaloneassessmentshouldexplicitlybespecifiedinthestudybriefissuedbyEPD.

TheWayForward

Theway forward for improving thepracticesofEIA inHongKong and thequalityof thepresentEIAOisproposedasfollows: To specify in the SB the requirement of providing hyperlinks in the Executive

Summariesforlinkingwiththerelevantpartofthemainreportforeaseofreference. To enhance the EPD website by providing additional information, including more

practical guidance on approaches for avoiding, minimising and mitigating adverseenvironmental impacts of a project, lessons learned from some key projects, asummary of comments received from the public, a summary of environmentalmonitoring and audit reports and new applicable technology for monitoring and


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auditing. To develop a mechanism for exchanging information, collecting data on major

developmentprojects(particularlycrossboundaryprojects)inChinaMainlandclosetoHongKongandanalysingtheirimpacttoHongKong.

Todeveloporestablishadatabase for thebaselineecologicaldataandamonitoringprogrammeinthelongtermsothatrelevantstakeholderswillbeabletomakeuseofthe database for evaluation of potential impacts of a designated project on theecologicalenvironment.

Tocoordinatewithacademic institutionstostrengthenthetraininganddevelopmentoflocalspecialistecologists.

ToreviewthefeasibilityofundertakingnewinfrastructureprojectsatplaceswheretheexistingenvironmentalconditionshavealreadyexceededthenewAQO.

Toreviewwhethertherequirement forastandaloneassessmentshouldexplicitlybespecifiedinthestudybriefissuedbyEPD.

Toenhancepublicparticipationbytheprojectproponentsbyreachingouttorelevantstakeholdersandthepublictoengagethem forofferingcommentsontheprojectattheearliestpossiblestageoftheEIAprocessandby includingthefeedbackfromtheconsultationinthepreparationoftheEIAreport.

Toarrangeapressbriefingwith themediaaftereachACEmeeting to reporton thesubjectsdiscussedatthemeeting,themainpointsraisedandtheconclusionsreached.


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1

Chapter1

IntroductionEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)isaseriesofprocedureswhichaimstoidentifythepossible environmental impacts of a proposed activity, to exploreways tominimise theenvironmental impacts,and todeterminewhetherornot theproposedactivityshouldbeallowedtoproceed(LegislativeCouncilSecretariat,2004).Suchproceduresarepromulgatedlegally inHongKongunder theEnvironmental ImpactAssessmentOrdinance (EIAO),Cap.499. The EIAO was enacted on 4 February 1997 and enforced on 1 April 1998. TheOrdinance provides the regulatory framework for applying the EIA process to majorconstructionworks inHongKongand implementationofagreedenvironmentalmeasuresthrough environmental permits (EPs). It provides a systematic, clear and transparentframeworkforassessingtheenvironmentalimpactsarisingfrommajorconstructionworks.TheHongKongZhuhaiMacauBridge(HKZMB)isamajorconstructionprojectconsistingofaseriesofbridgesandtunnelsconnectingHongKong,Zhuhai,andMacau,threemajorcitiesinthePearlRiverDeltaRegion. TheGovernmentoftheHongKongSpecialAdministrativeRegion(HKSAR)ofthePeoplesRepublicofChinaisresponsiblefortheconstructionoftheHKZMBHongKongLinkRoad (HKLR)andHongKongBoundaryCrossingFacilities (HKBCF)whicharesituatedinHongKong.TheEPDissuedEPsinrespectofconstructionofthispartof theworks in September 2009. Theworkswere scheduled to start in late 2010 forcompletionin2016.ThiswassubsequentlydelayedasaresultofajudicialreviewinJanuary2010 regarding the issueof theEPs. Consequentlya significantnumberof infrastructureprojectswithapplicationspendingforenvironmentalapprovalswerealsodelayed,awaitingthecourt rulingof the judicial review. Hence thestudy, titledReviewofEnvironmentalImpactAssessment (EIA)PracticesofMajorConstructionWorks inHongKong thenextstep,was initiatedtoreviewtheEIApracticesofmajorconstructionworks inHongKongandtomakeaproposalonthenextstepforwardforimprovingthepracticesofEIAinHongKongandthequalityofthepresentEIAO.The study is funded by the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA) Public PolicyResearchFund2011. TheHongKongPolytechnicUniversity(PolyU)wascommissionedbythe Association of Engineering Professionals in Society Ltd (AES) in a collaborativeagreement,startingfrom23July2012,tocarryoutthestudy.


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1.1 ObjectivesandScope

Theobjectivesofthestudyareasfollows:(1) Technical literaturesurveyon theEIA inoverseas jurisdictions, theirstatutory

requirements,practices,themechanismsoftheirscreening,scoping,reporting,reviewingandenforcement;

(2) Review of the operation/implementation of the EIAO in Hong Kong and itspracticalityon itsapproaches,forexample, itspresentmechanism intermsofpublic participation during the consultation process, access to information,transmissionofcommentsandsoon;

(3) ReviewoftheAdvisoryCouncilonEnvironment(ACE),itstechnicalityaswellashowandwhenthemembersarerecruitedandrenewed;and

(4) ReviewoftheHKZMBcase.

Thescopeofthestudycoversthefollowingwork: Tostudyrelevanttechnicalliterature; Tostudyandreviewtheoperation/implementationoftheEIAO inHongKong

anditspracticalityonitsapproaches; To study and review the ACE, its technicality aswell as how andwhen the

membersarerecruitedandrenewed; TostudyandreviewtheHKZMBcase; Toprepareinterviewquestions/questionnaires; Toconductinterviewswithrelevantstakeholdersfordatacollection; Toprepareinterviewreports; TopreparetheinterimreportforpresentationataPresentationForum; TopreparequestionnairesforthePresentationForum; TopresenttheinterimfindingsatthePresentationForum; ToconductfollowupmeetingswithGreenGroups; Tocarryoutdataanalysis;and TopreparetheFinalReportonthestudy

1.2 DetailsofWorkInvolved

Thestudywascarriedoutintwostages.DuringStage1ofthestudy,atechnicalliteraturesurveyontheEIApracticesinHongKongandvariousoverseas countriesandadesktop studyon theACEandHKZMBcasewerecarriedout. Inorder toachieve theobjectivesof thestudy (other thantechnicalliteraturesurvey),interviewswithrelevantstakeholderswereconductedin


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order to seek their opinions on the EIA practices inHong Kong, theACE and theHKZMBcase.Initial findings of the studywere presented at a Presentation Forum held at theConstruction Industry Resource Centre in Kowloon Bay on 23March 2013. TheForumwaswellattendedbymorethan180participantsfromdifferentsectorsintheengineeringandconstructionfields.IrDr.Raymond HOChungtai,the ChairmanofAES and the Project Director of the study gave a welcome speech. This wasfollowedby an openingspeechmadebyIrThomasHOOnsing,thePresidentoftheHKCAandakeynotespeechmadebyMs.AnissaWONGSeanyee, thePermanentSecretaryfortheEnvironment,EnvironmentBureau,theHKSARGovernment.

Then,apresentationon the initial findingsof thestudywasmadeby theProjectTeammembers, Ir LEE Pingkuen of AES and Ir Dr. Linda FANWONG Chining ofPolyU. Apart fromthestudybackgroundandobjectives,theypresentedanoutlineontheEIApracticesforvariousoverseascountriesincludingChinaMainland,Taiwan,Singapore,UnitedStatesofAmerica(US),Canada,AustraliaandUnitedKingdom(UK)and the preliminary findings on the current EIA practices in Hong Kong, the ACEmembership,andtheHKZMBcasecollectedfromtheinterviews.Paneldiscussionat thePresentationForumenabledan exchangeofviewsamongthe participants, facilitator and panelists. The participants at the PresentationForumwerealso invited to completequestionnaires toexpress theirviewson theEIA practices inHongKong. The Presentation Forum endedwith closing remarksdeliveredbyIrVictorLOKingyinofAES.During Stage 2 of the study, all the data collected from the interviews andPresentationForumwere studiedandanalysed. Followup meetings with the Green Groups were conducted. The Final Report of the study was thenprepared.

1.3 StudyMethodology

Themethodologyadoptedforthestudyincludes: TechnicalliteraturesurveyforreviewofEIApracticesfordifferentcountries Interviewsforseekingopinionsfromrelevantstakeholders; Panel discussion at a Presentation Forum for collecting views from the

participants; QuestionnairesurveyatthePresentationForum forcollectingviews fromthe

participantsonEIApractices;and


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MeetingswiththeGreenGroupsforcollectingtheirviewsonEIApractices.

1.3.1 Interviews

Inordertoachievetheobjectivesofthestudy,semistructured indepth interviewswereconductedwithvariousstakeholdersduringtheperiodfromDecember2012toFebruary2013.Thesestakeholdersincludethefollowinggroups:Practitioners(1)GovernmentBureauandDepartments DevelopmentBureau EnvironmentalProtectionDepartment HighwaysDepartment DrainageServicesDepartment CivilEngineeringandDevelopmentDepartment

(2)Consultants IrDrCHANHonfai,ManagingDirector,CinotechHongKongLimited Mr.FreemanCHEUNGChunming,RegionalManagingDirector,AECOMAsia

CoLtd Mr.EricM.K.CHING,PrincipalEnvironmentalConsultant,MottMacDonaldHK

Ltd Mr.DavidYEUNG,ManagingDirector,EnvironHongKongLimited Mr. TSANG Kamlam, General Manager of Environmental Management

Division,HongKongProductivityCouncil

(3)Contractor Dr.GaryCHOU,AssistantGeneralManger(Technical)andcolleaguesofChun

WoConstruction&EngineeringCoLtd

AcademicandProfessionalInstitutions Professor Peter HILLS, Programme Director of Corporate Environmental

GovernanceProgramme,TheUniversityofHongKong Dr.PaulKSSHIN,AssociateProfessorofDepartmentofBiologyandChemistry,

CityUniversityofHongKong(CityU) Mr. Henry LEUNG Hoyin, Chairman, The Hong Kong Institution of

EnvironmentalImpactAssessment Dr.PeterCooksonSMITH,PresidentofHongKongInstituteofPlanners IrKennyWONGSiuwai,ChairmanoftheEnvironmentalDivisionofTheHong

KongInstitutionofEngineers,andsomeothercommitteemembers


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Purposivesamplinghasbeenemployedinthisstudytoselectintervieweeswiththeknowledge and expertisewithin various groups of the stakeholders. Though thenumberof interviewees is limited (partlydue toadecline response torequests forinterviewsbyafewnumberofstakeholderswithinthegroups),theyareconsideredtobeacceptableandrepresentativeoftherelevantgroupsofthestakeholders.Theviewsofthe intervieweeswillbediscussed inChapters4to6,bearing inmindthatpurposivesamplingisaninherentlybiasedmethod.

TheinterviewshaveinvolvedtheuseofonesetofquestionsfortheEIAPractitioners,AcademicandProfessional Institutions. Asampleof thesequestions isattached inAppendix1.1and isgrouped into3parts. PartA isasetofstructuredquestions inwhich intervieweesare requested toselectpredeterminedanswers. PartsBandCare setsof semistructuredquestions inwhich intervieweesareallowed toexpresstheirownviewsinaqualitativeapproach.Thesequestionsweresentbyemailtoallintervieweesbeforetheinterviews.ForinterviewswiththeGovernmentbureauanddepartments,nospecificquestionshavebeenset,butdiscussionsweremadetoseektheirviewsonthecurrentEIApractices.Apart from the interviews, the Chairman of the ACE has also been consulted viawrittencorrespondencesonvariousissuesrelatedtoACE.

1.3.2 PanelDiscussionatPresentationForum

Apaneldiscussionwasheldto facilitateanexchangeofviewsamongtheexperts,the floorparticipants and interested parties. The panel comprisedMr. FreemanCHEUNG as the Facilitator andMr.Henry LEUNGHoyin and IrDr.CHANHonfaitogether with Project Team members, Ir LEE Pingkuen and Ir Dr. Linda FANWONGChiningasthePanelists. Afteran introductiongivenbytheFacilitatorandPanelistsonvariousaspectsoftheEIApracticesinHongKong,thefloorparticipantsfrom different sectors of the construction industrywere actively involved in theForumbysharingtheirexperienceandviewsandmakingsuggestionsonthecurrentEIApracticeinHongKong.

1.3.3 QuestionnaireSurveyatPresentationForum

During the Presentation Forum, the participants were invited to completequestionnairestoexpresstheirviewsontheEIApracticesinHongKong.AsampleofthequestionnaireisattachedinAppendix1.2.Thequestionnairecontainstwoparts:Part1withtwoquestionsrelatedtothebackground informationoftheparticipantandPart2with fivequestionsrelatedtothestudyobjectives. DetailedanalysisofthequestionnaireswillbediscussedinChapter4.


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1.3.4 MeetingswithGreenGroups

After thePresentationForum,variousGreenGroupswere invited to interviewsormeetingsforcollectingtheirviewsonEIApracticeinHongKong.WhilesomeoftheGreenGroupshaddeclinedtheinterviews,meetingswiththefollowingmembersoftheGreenGroupswere conducted inMay and June 2013 to seek their views oropinionsontheEIApracticeinHongKong: Dr.AlanLEUNG,ConservationManager,TerrestrialofWWFHongKong Mr.VincentLAW,CommunicationsManagerofWorldGreenOrganization

Thesetofquestions fortheGreenGroupsarebasedonthose interviewquestionsfor the EIA practitioners, Academic and Professional Institutions, but have beentailormade to include particular topics for the Green Groups. A sample of theinterviewquestionsisattachedinAppendix1.3.

1.4 OutlineofSubsequentChapters

ThisFinalReportofthestudy isstructured intoeightchapters. FollowingfromthisChapter1whichgives thebackground,objectives, scope,detailsofwork involvedandmethodologyofthestudy,Chapter2providesanoverviewontheexistingEIApractices inHongKong. Chapter3presents the EIApractices in variousoverseascountries, includingChinaMainland,Taiwan, Singapore,US,Canada,AustraliaandUK. An overview on the EIA legislation, procedures of the EIA process, publicparticipation and public access to information for these selected countries and acomparisonwithHongKongwillbemade in thischapter. Chapters4 to6coverareviewoftheEIAOoperationinHongKong,theACEandtheHKZMBCaseaccordingto the objectives of the study. In each of these chapters, the results of theinterviews,questionnairesurveyandmeetingswiththeGreenGroupsarepresented.Chapter7thenbringstogetherthefindingsfrompreviouschaptersandpresentstherecommendations.Chapter8,thefinalchapter,drawsthewayforward.Apartfromthelistofreferencesandabbreviations,asetofappendicesprovidesupplementaryinformationforthestudy.


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Chapter2

OverviewofEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentPracticesinHongKong

Environmentalimpactassessment(EIA)hasbeenadoptedforenvironmentalprotectionformanyyears.ThisChapterservestoprovidesomebackgroundtoEIAandanoverviewoftheEIApracticesinHongKong.

2.1 EIABackground

EIAisnowoneofthemostwidelypracticedenvironmentalmanagementtoolsintheworld. ItwasbelievedtobeoriginatedfromtheUSNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct (NEPA) of 1969 andwas initially conceived to ensure that the environmentalconsequences ofmajor development proposalswere considered during decisionmaking. Ithasbeen followedby thedevelopmentofmanyother formsof impactassessment,includingsocialimpactassessment,healthimpactassessment,strategicenvironmentalassessmentandsustainabilityassessment.(Bram,2010)Thereisnosingle,universallyaccepteddefinitionofEIA.AnumberofdefinitionsofEIAcanbefoundinAppendix2.1.The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), the leading globalauthorityontheuseandbestpracticeofimpactassessmentandtheUKInstituteofEnvironmentalAssessment(IEA)defineEIAas:(IAIA,1999)

The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating thebiophysical,socialandotherrelevanteffectsofdevelopmentproposalspriortomajordecisionsbeingtakenandcommitmentsmade.

EIAisanorganisedmeansofgatheringinformationusedtoidentifyandunderstandtheeffectsofproposedprojectsonthebiophysicalenvironment(e.g.air,water,land,plants and animals) as well as the human environment (e.g. culture, health,community sustainability, employment, financial benefits) for people potentiallyaffected.Insimplestterms,EIAisanintegralcomponentofsounddecisionmaking,serving both an informationgathering and analytical component, used to informdecisionmakers concerning the impacts and management of proposeddevelopments.(Bram,2010)


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2.1.1 FactorsimpactingontheEIAProcess

Notwithstanding the diversity of EIA definitions, there are some common factorswhichmayimpactontheEIAprocess.ForevaluatingtheEIAprocessinHongKong,the seven key factors identified by Gibson et al. (2005) and an additional factoridentifiedbyMorrisonSaundersandRetief (2012) forEIAarestudied. The factorsarelistedbelow:SocioecologicalsystemintegrityBuildhumanecologicalrelationsthatestablishandmaintainthelongtermintegrityofsociobiophysicalsystemsandprotecttheirreplaceablelifesupportfunctionsuponwhichhumanaswellasecologicalwellbeingdepends.(Gibsonetal.,2005)LivelihoodsufficiencyandopportunityEnsure that everyonehas enough foradecent lifeandhas opportunities to seekimprovementswithoutcompromisingfuturegenerations.(Gibsonetal.,2005)IntraandIntergenerationalequityFavourpresentoptionsandactionsthataremost likelytopreserveorenhancetheopportunitiesandcapabilitiesoffuturegenerationstolivesustainably.(Gibsonetal.,2005)ResourcemaintenanceandefficiencyProvideabaseforensuringsustainable livelihoodsforallwhilereducingthreatstothe long term integrityof socioecological systemsby reducingextractivedamage,avoidingwasteandcuttingmaterialandenergyuseperunitofbenefit.(Gibsonetal.,2005)SocioecologicalcivilityanddemocraticgovernanceBuild the capacityandmotivationof individuals, communitiesandotherdecisionmakingbodiestoapplysustainabilityrequirements.(Gibsonetal.,2005)PrecautionandadaptationRespectuncertainty,avoidrisksofseriousorirreversibledamagetothefoundationsforsustainability,plantolearn,designforsurprise.(Gibsonetal.,2005)ImmediateandlongtermintegrationApplyallprinciplesof sustainabilityatonce, seekingmutually supportivebenefitsandmultiplegains.(Gibsonetal.,2005)


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ClearproceduralrequirementsThere are specific provisions for classic steps in an EIA process corresponding toscreening, scoping of key issues to address, preparation of environmental impactstatements, public consultation and review processes, decisionmaking andenforcement. A check is a need to ensure each step in the process has beenaddressed.(MorrisonSaundersandRetief,2012)

2.1.2 KeyFactorsforaSuccessfulEIASystem

ThefollowingfivekeyfactorshavebeenadoptedforevaluationofthesuccessoftheEIAsysteminHongKong:

TimingKennedy(2004)pointedouttheneedto integrateenvironmentalassessmentatanearlystageofprojectplanning. EIAcanbeusedtoprovidemitigationmeasuresatthe project design stagewith builtinmitigationswhich are designed tominimisenegativeeffectsandmaximisebenefits.PersonnelThe success of an EIA system is verymuch dependent on the individual or teamresponsibleforit.Inviewofthediversityofprojecttypes,itisdifficulttodetermineanidealprofileforpersonnelwhichwouldfiteverysituation.Indifferentsituations,it isnecessary that the termsofreferencebeprepared insuchawayas toensurethat individualpersonnelorconsultantshavesoundenvironmentalknowledgeandrelevantexperiencetotheproject.ScopingScoping is a procedure for carrying out environmental assessment to identify themost significant adverseenvironmental impacts associatedwith aproject and thereasonablealternativesavailableforconstructingtheproject inanenvironmentallysoundmanner. There is a need to determine the scope of the projectwith theprojectproponent,governmentofficials,environmentalexpertsandotherinterestedparties at the early stage of the project. The benefits can result in quicker, lessexpensiveandmoreefficientenvironmentalassessments.

InformationTheneedforreliabledataandinformationiscrucial.Itishelpfultoworkcloselywithuniversities, research centres and the affected public to obtain an insight intoexistingenvironmentalconditionstoensureanadequatedatabasewithoutmissinganyparticularitemsidentifiedduringthestageofscoping.


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MonitoringEnvironmentalmonitoringandauditrequirementsareimportantinanEIAprocessofa project. The auditing of a completed project is not only a soundmanagementmeasurebutalsoameansoftestingtheaccuracyoftheenvironmentalassessments.

2.2 EIASysteminHongKong

ThisSection isanoverviewoftheEIAsystem inHongKong,coveringthe legislativeframework, enforcement agency, roles and responsibilities of parties involved,approach toenvironmentalprotection, statutory requirements,procedures forEIAoperation,publicparticipationandpublicaccesstoinformation.Thekeyissueswillbeusedforcomparisonwithotherplacesasdetailedinthenextchapter.

2.2.1 LegislativeFramework

The EIAO and its subsidiary legislation provide the legislative framework in theHKSARfortheconductofEIAstudiesonmajordevelopmentprojectswithpotentialadverseimpactontheenvironment.Thesubsidiarylegislationincludesthefollowing(LegislativeCouncilSecretariat,2004andEPD,2011b): EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(AppealBoard)Regulations EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(Fees)Regulations TechnicalMemorandum(TM)onEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentProcess

Under the EIAO, proposed activities which are likely to have significant adverseimpacts on the environment are known as designated projects. Designatedprojectsareallprojects listed inSchedule2andSchedule3of theEIAOandmustcomply with the EIAO before they can be constructed or operated. A list ofdesignatedprojectsisattachedinAppendix2.2forreference.

2.2.2 EnforcementAgency

TheEnvironmentalProtectionDepartment(EPD)isthedesignatedagencytoenforcethe EIAO. There is also an independent appeal board appointed by the ChiefExecutive to handle appeals against decisions of the Director of EnvironmentalProtection(DEP).TheappealboardsdecisionshaveabindingeffectontheDirector.

2.2.3 RolesandResponsibilitiesofPartiesInvolved

EPDmanages the EIAprocess. It screens theproposed activities that require EIAreports,decides thescopeofEIA reports,andexaminesandapprovesEIA reports.


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EPDdecideswhetherornotaproposedactivityshouldbeallowedtoproceedandmonitorstheenvironmentalimpactsoftheproposedactivity.EPDalsocoordinatesall of the consultation works related to the proposed activity. The applicant isrequired to inform the public of the proposed activity and to prepare relevantreportsatthescopingandreviewingstagesoftheEIAprocess.

2.2.4 ApproachtoEnvironmentalProtection

ThehierarchyofenvironmentalprotectionforprojectsinHongKonghasadoptedathreelevelapproach(Wong,2013).The first level is the control of overall emissions by imposing variousemission/discharge limits and licenses under various environmental legislation,including,butnotlimitedto,thefollowing: AirPollutionControlOrdinance(Cap.311)enactedin1983 WasteDisposalOrdinance(Cap.354)enactedin1980 WaterPollutionControlOrdinance(Cap.358)enactedin1980 NoiseControlOrdinance(Cap.400)enactedin1988 OzoneLayerProtectionOrdinance(Cap.403)enactedin1989 DumpingatSeaOrdinance(Cap.466)enactedin1995

The second level is the avoidance and minimisation of environmental impactsthroughplanninganddesignconsiderationsofdesignatedprojectsundertheEIAO.ThethirdlevelisthemitigationofresidualimpactsfordesignatedprojectsundertheEIAO.

2.2.5 StatutoryRequirements

BeforeanEPforadesignatedprojectcanbeobtained,aprojectproponentplanningthedesignatedprojectisrequiredundersections5to8oftheEIAOto:(1) Apply foranEIA studybrief (SB),proceedwith theEIA study,and then seek

approvaloftheEIAreportundertheOrdinance;or(2) SeekpermissiontoapplydirectlyforanEPfromDEP(thisnormallyappliesto

designatedprojectswhichwillcauselimitedimpactsontheenvironment).

On the day following the lodging of the application with the DEP, the projectproponentwillberequiredundertheOrdinancetoadvertisetheavailabilityoftheprojectprofileinbothChineseandEnglishlanguagenewspapers.ThepublicandtheAdvisoryCouncilontheEnvironment(ACE)maycommentontheprojectprofileonenvironmentalissuescoveredbytheTMwithin14daysbeforeanEIASBisissued,or


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beforepermissionisgiventotheprojectproponenttoapplydirectlyforanEP.DEPwill take intoaccount thecommentson theprojectbriefwhendrawingup theSBwhichsetsouttheissuesthattheprojectproponentisrequiredtoaddressintheEIAreport.TheprojectproponentwillprepareanEIAreportinaccordancewiththeSBandtheTM.WhentheEIAreportisconsideredbyDEPtomeettherequirementsofthe SB and the TM, the project proponent will be required to advertise theavailabilityoftheEIAreportandmaketheEIAreportavailableatspecifiedlocationsforthepublictocommentonforaperiodof30days.Atthesametime,theprojectproponentwillbeadvisedonwhetherasubmissiontotheACEisrequired.TheACEmaygiveitscommentsontheEIAreporttotheDirectorwithinaperiodof60daysinparallel to the 30 days public exhibition period. DEPwill take into account thecommentsontheEIAreportinmakingadecisiononwhetherornottoapprovetheEIAreport.ThedecisionsoftheDEPareplacedinaregisterwhichcanbeinspectedbythepublicattheEIAOrdinanceRegisterOffice. Statutorytime limitsaresetforeach stepof theEIAprocess, including themaximum timewithinwhichDEPmustmakeadecisiononanEIAreport,suchthattheEIAprocesscanbecompletedwithinareasonabletimeframe.(EPD,2011b)

ThestatutoryEIAprocess isoutlined inFigure2.1(EPD,2011b)whilethestatutorytimelimitsaresummarisedinTable2.1(EPD,2003).RelevantclausesoftheEIAOforthestatutoryEIAprocessaregiveninAppendix2.3.DetailsoftherequirementsunderthestatutoryEIAprocessaregivenbelow:TechnicalMemorandum(TM)onEIAProcessFor the purpose of determiningwhether the environmental impact is likely to beadverse,theTMshallbeusedtodeterminetheenvironmentalimpactoftheproject.TheTMcomprises12sectionsand22Annexescoveringtheprinciples,procedures,guidelines,requirementsandcriteriafor: PreparingEIASBs Conductingassessments ReviewingEIAreports Preparinganenvironmentalmonitoringandaudit(EM&A)programme

Iftheenvironmentalimpactoftheprojectrequiresdetailedassessmenttoevaluateand confirm its acceptability, a detailed EIA study will be required to addressparticularissues.


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Figure2.1TheStatutoryEIAProcess


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Table2.1StatutoryTimeLimitsforEIAProcess

EIAProcessTimelimitforDEP

Timelimitforthepublic

TimelimitforACE

ApplicationforanEIASB

45daysofreceivingtheapplicationorfurtherinformation

14days ofplacingtheadvertisement

14daysofplacingtheadvertisement

ApplicationforpermissiontoapplydirectlyforanEP

45daysofreceivingtheapplicationorfurtherinformation



ReviewofEIAreport

60daysofreceivingofEIAreport

PublicinspectionofanEIAreport


60daysofreceivingtheEIAreport

ApprovalofanEIAreport

30daysoftheexpiryofpublicinspectionperiod,orthereceiptofcommentsfromACE,orreceiptoffurtherinformation

ApplicationofanEP

30daysofreceiptoftheapplication(thesametimelimitastheapprovalofEIAreportifthetwoapplicationsaresubmittedatthesametime)

ApplicationofafurtherEP

30daysofreceiptoftheapplication

ApplicationofvariationofanEP

30daysofreceiptoftheapplication


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ProjectProfileAprojectprofile is required tobesubmitted forapplicationofanEIASBandshallinclude the information specified in the TM. In the caseof specified informationwhich isnotapplicabletotheproposedproject,theprojectprofileshallcontainanexplicitstatementtothateffect.ThedescriptionsandstatementsofapplicabilityoftheitemsshouldbesufficientforEPDtoidentifywhatissuesarerelevantandwhatmattersshallbeaddressedbytheEIAstudy.

EIAStudyBriefAnEIASBoftheProjectissuedbyEPDsetsoutthefollowing:(1) ThepurposesandobjectivesoftheEIAstudy,(2) Environmentalissuesrelatingtothecombinedimpactsoftheentireprojector

thecumulativeimpactsoftheexisting,committedandplanneddevelopmentsin the vicinityof theproject (such issues shallbe limited to those thatmayhaveabearingontheenvironmentalacceptabilityoftheprojectwhichshallbeaddressed),

(3) Detailed requirements that the EIA study shall need to comply with, theguidelinesorcriteria laiddown in theTM,and thenecessaryproceduralandreporting requirements. EIA reports and executive summaries shall beapproved by EPD. It shall also be exhibited for public inspection, relevantDistrictBoardsorothergovernmentconsultativebodiesandreviewedbytheACE.

EIAReportAnEIAreportshallcompriseadocumentorseriesofdocumentsprovidingadetailedassessmentinquantitativeterms,whereverpossible,andinqualitativetermsofthelikely environmental impacts and environmental benefits of the project. TherequirementsfortheEIAreportshallbesetoutinaccordancewiththeTM.TheEIAreportshallbeproducedinaccordancewiththeEIASBissuedbytheDirectortotheapplicant. Asummaryof theEIA report requirements, reviewandapprovalofEIAreportsisgiveninAppendix2.4.

EIAAssessmentCriteriaThe9assessmentobjectivesincludeairqualityimpact,noiseimpact,waterpollution,ecological impact, waste management implications, fisheries impact, visual andlandscapeimpact,impactonsitesofculturalheritage,andhazardtolife.Referencesfor themajor assessment criteria, including ordinances, guidelines and guidancenotesare summarised inAppendix2.5. Inassessing these impacts, theDEP shalltakeadvicefromthefollowingauthoritiesonthemattersprescribedbelow: Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation on nature conservation,

ecologicalassessment,agriculture,animalandplanthealth,andfisheries


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DirectorofPlanningonvisualandlandscapingaspects DirectorofMarineonmarinematters DirectorofElectrical&MechanicalServicesonhazardsassociatedwithfuelgas

dangerousgoods,andelectromagneticfield DirectorofHealthonhumanhealthmatters DirectorofFoodandEnvironmentalHygieneoncollectionofdomesticwaste

andpubliccleansing DirectorofFireServicesontransport,handlingandstorageofdangerousgoods ExecutiveSecretary(AntiquitiesandMonuments),LeisureandCultureServices

Departmentonantiquitiesandmonuments DirectorofDrainageServicesondrainagematters DirectorGeneralofCivilAviationoncivilaviationmatters DirectorofWaterSuppliesondevelopmentsorworkswithinwatergathering

groundsorinthevicinityofwaterworksinstallations CommissionerforTransportontrafficandtransportmatters

EnvironmentalPermitWhenallofthepotentialenvironmental impactsduetotheprojectareconsideredto be adequately assessed, and these comply with the relevant guidelines andcriteria,andprovisionof sufficientmitigationmeasuresare satisfied in theProjectProfile,EPDwillpermit theapplicant toproceeddirectly toapply foranEP. Thisprocedure issimilarforamaterialchangetoanexemptedproject. However, iftheenvironmental impact cannot be determined or if there are serious doubts oruncertaintiesonwhetherthemitigationmeasurescanreducethe impactstomeetthecriteriaorguidelines,anEIAstudyshallberequiredtoparticularlyaddresssuchissues.EnvironmentalMonitoringandAudit(EM&A)RequirementsInordertoverifytheenvironmentalimpactpredictionsoreffectivenessofproposedmitigationmeasuresstated intheEIAreport,EM&Arequirementsmaybe imposedas part of the EP with appropriate conditions. The requirements of an EM&Aprogrammearegiven inAnnex21of theTM. Generally, implementationofa fullEM&AprogrammeshallberequiredunderthecircumstancesgiveninAppendix2.6.

2.2.6 ProceduresforEIAOperation

In general, the procedures for implementing EIA comprise the following steps:(LegislativeCouncilSecretariat,2004)


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ScreeningIt is a procedure to determinewhich proposed activity should be subject to EIA.Screening is theprocessofdecidingonwhetheranEIA is requiredbydeterminingwhethertheproposedactivityisadesignatedproject.DesignatedprojectisdefinedinSchedule1oftheEIAOandalistofdesignatedprojectsisgiveninSchedules2and3oftheEIAO(seeAppendix2.2).

ScopingItisaproceduretodecidethecoverageofandrequirementsforanEIAreport.TheprojectproponentshallapplyforanEIASBfortheEIAreportbysubmittingaprojectprofile with sufficient information and background of the project and providingmajorenvironmentalconcerns forEPDsconsiderationandapproval. TheEIAshallbecarriedoutataveryearlystageof theproject topinpointandallowmitigatingdesignchangesbeforethedetaileddesignphase isbeingcarriedouttoreducetheunnecessary redundantworkand costexpenditure. Inaddition, it isnecessary toensure that thedetailedpredictionwork iscarriedoutonly forkeyenvironmentalissues.

ReportingIt isaprocedure todocument, interalia, findingsof theenvironmental impactsoftheproposed activity and themitigationmeasures for the adverseenvironmentalimpacts. For the EIA report, several major design options are required to beconsidered and selected to achieve an optimum designwith appropriate balancebetween key aspects, such as economic viability, engineering practicality andenvironmentalimpact.Itiscriticaltodeterminetheviabilityoftheprojectbasedonrealistic and affordablemitigatingmeasures for the selected design option afterjustificationbeforegoingintoamoredetailedenvironmentalassessment.

Once the preferred option is selected, it is required to assess the potentialenvironmental impacts to a required levelunder the EIAOTM andother relevantguidelines. Awide variety of technical specialistswill be involved during this EIAprocess. Major environmental aspects include air quality, noise, water quality,ecology (terrestrialandmarine),culturalheritage, landscapeandvisualandhazardto life. Afterquantificationof keyenvironmental impacts,practicaland sufficientmitigationmeasures are required to be introduced in order to avoid, prevent orminimiseanyidentifiedadverseimpactstoacceptablevalues/levels.

Therearekeyelements thatneed tobeclearly identified,assessed,evaluatedandmitigatedinanEIAreport.Thesekeyelementsaregivenbelow: Impact Identification Depending on the project characteristics, potential

environmentalimpactstothesensitivereceiversarerequiredtobeidentified.


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Inaddition,baselinedatafortheenvironmentalparametersarerequiredtobeidentifiedandquantifiedforimpactassessment.

Impact Assessment This involves the detailed data analysis of potentialimpacts in order to determine theirmagnitude and significance. Differenttechnicalmethodsof impactassessment forpotential impactpredictionsareused,suchasmathematicalcalculation,modelprediction, laboratoryanalysis,etc.

ImpactEvaluationWhenimpactshavebeenpredicted,theimpactsarethenevaluated for acceptability. The evaluation method is to compare thepredicted changes in the area with the standards, objectives or guidelinevalues, and to determine whether they are likely to be exceeded at anylocation, after taking into account the existing and predicted baselineconditions.

ImpactMitigation Effectivemitigationmeasures are envisaged in order toavoid,reduceand, ifpossible,remedysignificantadverseeffects. Monitoringshould be continued after completion since numerical prediction modelsusuallycontainuncertainties.Continuedmonitoring isnecessarytoassesstheeffectiveness of anymitigationmeasures proposed in an EIA report and toensurethattheidentifiedimpactshavebeenminimisedormitigated.

ReviewItisaproceduretodeterminewhetherornottheEIAreportprovidesasatisfactoryassessmentoftheproposedactivityandmeetsallthenecessaryrequirements.DecisionmakingIt is a procedure to formally approve, or approve with conditions, or reject theproposedactivity.MonitoringIt isaprocedure toauditandmonitor theenvironmental impactof theproposedactivity. There is an implementation schedule to aid the project proponent tocompletelyfulfilandeffectivelymanagetheprojectfortheconstructionphaseandoperation phase stated in the EIA report. The project proponent shall follow allconditions required by the EP conditions. EPD can grant an EP with specialconditions for particular concerns in addition to the recommended mitigationmeasuresstatedintheEIAreports. The purpose of environmental monitoring is to compare predicted and actualenvironmental impacts,particularly if the impactsareeithervery importantor thescaleoftheimpactcannotbeveryaccuratelypredicted.Theresultofenvironmental


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monitoringwill determinewhether recommendations and requirementsmade bytheearlierEIAstepswereincorporatedsuccessfullyintoprojectimplementation. TheEM&AarecarriedoutbyanEnvironmentalTeam(ET)andsupervisedbyanETLeader. It canprovide earlywarning signals so that early action can be taken toavoidcausingdamagetotheenvironment. In fact,themonitoringdatacanrevealtheeffectivenessandaccuracyof thepredictionmodelduring theEIA stage. Themonitoring data may become useful tools for further EIAs. An IndependentEnvironmental Checker (IEC) is required to check, review, verify and validate theoverall environmental performance of a project, including the implementation ofenvironmentalprotectionandmitigationmeasures, submissions relating toEM&A,and any other submissions required under the EP for a project. The IEC shouldreview the validity of themonitoring data and provide comments if there is anylesson learnt from the project during construction and operation phases of theproject. ThiscangreatlyassistthepresentprojectandfutureEIAstominimiseanyforeseeableenvironmentalimpacts.

2.2.7 PublicParticipation

TheACEistheGovernment'sprincipaladvisorybodyonmattersrelatingtopollutioncontrol,environmentalprotectionandnatureconservation.Itisconsultedonawiderange of issues including new legislative proposals and the implementation ofexisting pollution control and conservationmeasures. Major policy initiatives arealsoreferredtoACEforadvicebeforetheyareadoptedbytheGovernment.UnderEIAO, the DEP is required to take into account comments of ACE, if any, on EIAreports.ThetermsofreferenceofACEareasfollows:(1) TokeepunderreviewthestateoftheenvironmentinHongKong;and(2) To advise the Government, through the Secretary for the Environment, on

appropriatemeasureswhichmightbe taken tocombatpollutionofallkinds,andtoprotectandsustaintheenvironment.

The ACE has a statutory responsibility under the EIAO to advise the DEP on EIAreports for designated projects. The ACE, the former Environmental PollutionAdvisoryCommittee,wasformed in1994toprovideadviceonpollutioncontrolforsustainabilityoftheenvironment(EPD,2003).The EIA Subcommittee was established under the ACE in 1994 and its terms ofreferenceareasfollows(ACESecretariat,2001): toreceiveandstudyEIAreportsofmajordevelopmentprojectsand toprovidereportsonitsdeliberationsandfindingsandmake

recommendationstotheACE.


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TheEIASubcommitteemeetsmonthlyandmakes itsrecommendationstotheACEfor consideration at meetings at the last week of the same month. TheSubcommitteenormallyconsidersnomorethanthreeEIAreportsateachmeeting.EIA reports are issued to the Subcommittee three weeks before the scheduledmeetingdate.TofacilitatetheSubcommittee'sdeliberationontheEIAreports,EPDpreparespapershighlightingthesalientpointsontheEIAstudies.Oneweekbeforethe scheduled meeting date, members will be asked to indicate whether it isnecessaryfortheproponentoftheprojectconcernedtomakeapresentationtotheSubcommitteeanddiscussthereportwiththem.Shouldapresentationberequired,theprojectproponentwillattendthescheduledmeeting and present to the Subcommittee the major conclusions andrecommendations of the EIAs. This will be followed by a QuestionandAnswersession.ApaperontherecommendationsoftheSubcommitteeisthensubmittedtotheensuingmeetingoftheACEforconsideration.TheDEP,DirectorofAgriculture, Fisheries andConservation,DirectorofPlanning,Director of Health, and Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene or theirrepresentativesareinpermanentattendanceoftheACE.A review of theACE, its technicality, aswell as how andwhen themembers arerecruitedandrenewedisclearlyimportantandwillbediscussedinChapter5.ThekeypurposeofanEIA istominimisepotential impactstothoseenvironmentalsensitive receiversdirectlyor indirectlyaffected. Tobettercommunicatewith thepublic, it is important tounderstand thepublicneeds though surveys,workshops,small groupmeetings and interviewswith relevant stakeholders. During variousstagesof adesignatedproject, theprojectproponentmay consult thepublic andrelevantstakeholders.Suchconsultationsmayberequiredbystatuteorastheneedarises.Examplesoftheseareoutlinedasfollows.Althoughthisisnotastatutoryrequirement,uponrequestoftheprojectproponent,an Environmental StudyManagementGroupmay be set up. The EnvironmentalStudyManagement Groupmeetingsmay be convened by the DEP to provide aforumforliaisonwiththeprojectproponentandhis/herconsultantsduringtheEIAstudy.RelevantauthoritieswithintheGovernment,particularlyDistrictOffices,maybe invited toattend. Suchmeetings, ifconvenedbefore the formalsubmissionofEIAreportsundertheEIAO,aretobeconductedonlyonanadministrative,advisorybasis. Theprojectproponentmayreceivecomments from thepublicduring thesemeetings.


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All submissions are required to be submitted to EPD and relevantAuthorities forcommentsduringtheentirestatutoryEIAprocess.ThepublicandACEareinvolvedduringtheapplicationforapprovalofprojectprofileorEIAreport. Thetwopublicinvolvementstagesareasfollows: Ataveryearlystage:within14daysforboththepublicandACEtocomment

onthescopeoftheEIAreportsduringthesubmissionoftheprojectprofileforapplicationofanEIASBfortheEIAstudy;

At a second stage:within30days for thepublic and60days for theACE tocommentontheEIAreportswhentheyarepublished.

The public can provide their comments by post, fax or email. Public commentsreceivedbyEPDwillbeconsideredundertheEIAO.Thestatutorytime limitsandpublic involvementare importantelementsoftheEIAprocess,whichwillbestudiedandreviewedinChapter4.

2.2.8 PublicAccesstoInformation

Section15oftheEIAOrequirestheDEPtosetupandmaintainaregistercontainingprojectprofiles,EIASBs,EIAreports,EPsandotherkeydecisionsmadebyDEP.Theregister is kept at the EIAO Register Office at 27th floor, Southern Centre, 130HennessyRoad,WanChai,HongKongandisopenforinspectionbythepublicduringnormalofficehours.InadditiontotheEIAORegisterOffice,theprojectprofilesandEIAreportscanalsobeinspectedatthefollowingplaces: WanChaiEnvironmentalResourceCentreat221Queen'sRoadEast,WanChai,

HongKong; TsuenWanEnvironmentalResourceCentreatTakWahPark,TakWahStreet,

TsuenWan,NewTerritories; FanlingEnvironmentalResourceCentreat2ndfloor,Government

Accommodations,GrandRegentville,9WoMunStreet,LuenWoHui,Fanling,NewTerritories;

RelevantDistrictOfficesinthosedistrictswherethedesignatedprojectwillbelocated.

ExceptforEIAreportsandotherbulkydocuments,thepubliccanaccessdocumentsand information relating to thestatutoryEIAprocess through theEPDwebsite i.e.http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia.Apartfromtheaboveinformationundertheregister,theEPDwebsitehasprovidedalotofusefulinformation.Someexamplesaregivenbelowforreference:


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Since2001/2002,aCyberHelpBenchwasmountedontheEPDwebsite. TheHelpBenchincludesthemostupdatedGuidanceNotesonEIAprocesstofacilitatevariousEIApractitionerstofollowtherequirementsundertheEIAO.FurthertotheprovisionsundertheEIAOanditsTM,theseGuidanceNotesweretofurtherelaborateonthestandardizedprocesswithclearguidelinestoassistvariousstakeholders to follow the process. As at July 2013, the promulgated GuidanceNotes(EPD,2011a)include:

AGuidetotheEIAOrdinance AGuidetotheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(AppealBoard)Regulation GuidanceNoteonAdvertisementAndPublicInspectionofDocuments ModusOperandi of the Environmental Impact Assessment Subcommittee of

theACE GeneralNotes for Applications under the Environmental Impact Assessment

Ordinance(Chapter499) Assessment of Impact on Sites of CulturalHeritage in Environmental Impact

AssessmentStudies BasicPrinciplesofEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentProcess[GN1/2010] The Role and Operation of Environmental Study Management Group [GN

2/2010] Flexibility and Enforceability of Mitigation Measures Proposed in an

EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReport[GN3/2010] TheRoleofIndependentEnvironmentalChecker[GN4/2010] Implementation Schedule for Mitigation Measures arising from the

EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentProcess[GN5/2010] SomeObservationsonEcologicalAssessmentFromtheEnvironmental Impact

AssessmentOrdinancePerspective[GN6/2010] EcologicalBaselineSurveyforEcologicalAssessment[GN7/2010] Preparation of Landscape And Visual Impact Assessment Under the

EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentOrdinance[GN8/2010] PreparationofConstructionNoiseImpactAssessmentUndertheEnvironmental

ImpactAssessmentOrdinance[GN9/2010] Methodologies forTerrestrialandFreshwaterEcologicalBaselineSurveys [GN

10/2010] MethodologiesforMarineEcologicalBaselineSurveys[GN11/2010] Road Traffic Noise Impact Assessment under the Environmental Impact

AssessmentOrdinance[GN12/2010] AdvertisementandPublicInspectionofDocuments[GN13/2010] FeesandSubmissionsforEIAOApplications[GN14/2010]


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ApartfromGuidanceNotes,theHelpBenchalsoincludessomeexamplesinthepasttomaketheknowledgeofgooddesigns,considerationofalternativesandmitigationmeasurestobeshared.InformationavailableforpublicaccessisanotheraspectoftheEIAprocesswhichwillbestudiedandreviewedinChapter4.


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Chapter3

TechnicalLiteratureSurveyonOverseasEIASystemsEIA iswidelyused inmanycountries forpreventingandminimising thepotentialadverseimpacts of development projects. Currently over 100 countries have set up their EIAsystems. TheEIAsystemsmayvary fromcountry tocountry,dependingon their internaladministrative or statutory system, historical and present sociocultural and economiccondition,aswellastheirinternalpoliticalstability.ThisChapterservestoprovideatechnicalliteraturesurveyontheEIAsystemsforoverseascountries.PlacessuchasChinaMainland,TaiwanandSingaporehavebeenselectedforthestudy because of their similar society background and their locations in Asia. OtherdevelopedcountriessuchastheUnitedStatesofAmerica(US),CanadaandAustraliahavealsobeenselectedforthestudybecausetheirEIApracticeshavebeendevelopedforsometime. Anotherdevelopedcountry,UnitedKingdom(UK), inEuropehasalsobeenselectedfor the study. Abriefoverviewon the EIA legislation,mechanismof EIAprocess,publicparticipationandpublicaccesstoinformationfortheseselectedcountrieswillbediscussedandacomparisonwiththoseforHongKongwillbemadeinthisChapter.

3.1 EIALegislativeFrameworkandEnforcementAgent

A summaryof the legislative frameworkandenforcementagency for the selectedplaces, including Hong Kong, China Mainland, Taiwan, Singapore, US, Canada,AustraliaandUK,isshowninTable3.1.

Table3.1LegislativeFrameworkforSelectedPlaces

PlaceEIALaw/Regulations

DateofImplementation

DesignatedEnforcementAgency

Website

HongKong EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentOrdinance,Cap.499(EIAO)

1April1998

EnvironmentalProtectionDepartment

www.epd.gov.hkhttp://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_pdf.nsf/6799165D2FEE3FA94825755E0033E532/A8B306559DA312BC482575EF000FB2F4/$FILE/CAP_499_e_b5.pdf


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Website

ChinaMainland

EnvironmentalProtectionLawofthePeoplesRepublicofChina(forTrialImplementation)(implementedin1979)

(),supersededbyLawofthePeoplesRepublicofChinaonEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIAL)(implementedon1September2003)

1979(latestversionofEIAL1September2003)

MinistryofEnvironmentalProtectionoftheGovernmentofthePeoplesRepublicofChina(establishedin2008)

www.mep.gov.cn,www.cecc.gov/resources/legalprovisions/peoplesrepublicofchinaenvironmentalimpactassessmentlaw2003#bodychinese,http://big5.gov.cn/gate/big5/www.gov.cn/fwxx/content_2265096.htm

Taiwan

EnvironmentalProtectionAct(implementedin1979),EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentAct(EIAA)(implementedon30December1994)

1979(latestversionofEIAAJanuary2003)

EnvironmentalProtectionAdministrationofTaiwan(establishedin1987)

www.epa.gov.tw,http://law.epa.gov.tw/en/laws/379692190.html,http://ivy5.epa.gov.tw/epalaw/search/LordiDispFull.aspx?ltype=03&lname=0010

Singapore

EnvironmentalProtectionandManagementAct(Cap.94A)(EMPA)

1April1999(latestversion31December2002)

NationalEnvironmentalAgency(NEA)(establishedin2002)

www.nea.gov.sg,http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=CompId%3A5d6d08974fd94870b95d9d3b5832449e;rec=0;whole=yes

US TheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)of1969,CouncilonEnvironmentalQualitysRegulationsforImplementingtheProceduralProvisionsoftheNEPA,i.e.40CFRParts15001508(CEQR)

NEPA January1970(latestversionDecember2000)CEQR1978(latestversion2005)

United StatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA)(establishedin1970)

www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/index.html,http://energy.gov/nepa/downloads/nationalenvironmentalpolicyact1969http://energy.gov/nepa/downloads/regulationsimplementingproceduralprovisionsnepa


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Website

Canada CanadianEnvironmentalAssessmentAct(CEAA)

1973(latestversionDecember2012)

CanadianEnvironmentalAssessmentAgency(CEAAgency)(establishedin1994)

www.ceaa.gc.ca,http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C15.2/index.html

Australia

EnvironmentProtectionAct1974(implementedin1975)supersededbyEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct(EPBCA)1999

1975,(latestversionofEnvironmentalProtectionandBiodiversityConservationActdated29June2013)

DepartmentofSustainability,Environment,Water,PopulationandCommunities(establishedin2010)

www.environment.gov.au/epbc/index.html,www.austlii.edu.au/cgibin/download.cgi/au/legis/cth/consol_act/epabca1999588

UK TheTownandCountryPlanning(EnvironmentalImpactAssessment)Regulations(TCPEIAR)

1988(latestversion24August2011)

DepartmentofEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs(establishedin2001)

www.defra.gov.uk,www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1824/contents/made

TheUShasthelongesthistoryofEIAwiththeUSNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA) of 1969 coming into effect in January 1970. TheAct establishes nationalenvironmentalpolicyandgoalsfortheprotection,maintenance,andenhancementoftheenvironmentandisimplementedbypromulgationofregulations40CFRParts15001508byUSsCouncilonEnvironmentalQuality in1978. CanadawasthefirsttofollowtheUSNEPA,implementingtheCanadianEnvironmentalAssessmentActin1973. With the latest version in December 2012, this Act and its regulationsestablishthelegislativebasisforthefederalpracticeofenvironmentalassessmentinmost regions of Canada. Australia then followed suit, adopting an EIA systemthroughitsEnvironmentalProtectionAct1974in1975.TheEnvironmentProtectionAct 1974 was superseded by the Environment Protection and BiodiversityConservationAct1999(EPBC)which isthecurrentcentralpieceforEIA inAustraliaonaCommonwealth(Federal)levelandhasbeenamendedtothecurrentversionof29 June 2013. In 1985, a European Community (EC) directive 85/337/ECCaccelerated its application of EIA in European Union Member States. The UKfollowedmost of the EC directive to introduce the Town and Country PlanningRegulations1988whichhavebeenamended throughout theyears toarriveat thecurrent version of 2012 and covermost of the EIA in theUK (other specific EIAregulations for Scotland, highways, land drainage improvement works, forestry,agriculture,electricityworks,etc.willnotbe included inthisstudy). InAsia,China


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Mainland enacted the EnvironmentalProtection Law (for Trial Implementation) in1979,signifyingthebeginningofenvironmentallegislationinmodernChina.Furtheramendments to the lawandguidelinesweremade in1981,1986and1998andanewEIAlaw,LawofPeoplesRepublicofChinaonEnvironmentalImpactAssessment,came into force on 1 September 2003. Taiwan also enacted the EnvironmentalProtectionAct in1979andpromulgatedtheEnvironmental ImpactAssessmentActin 1994. Hong Kong had its EIAO enacted on 4 February 1997 and coming intooperationon1April1998.It isnoted thatallselectedcountrieshaveastatutorysystem forcarryingoutEIA,except Singapore. Singapore does not have specific legislation making EIAmandatory formajordevelopmentprojects,butEIAmaybe implemented throughthe requirements stipulated in their Environmental Protection Control Actwhichcameintoforceon1April1999(amendedandrenamedasEnvironmentalProtectionandManagementActinJune2007).

3.2 EIAProcess

The EIA process can be considered under the sixmain steps, namely screening,scoping, reporting, reviewing, decisionmaking and monitoring (for details, seeSection2.2.6).AnoverviewofthesedifferentstepsintheEIAprocessimplementedfortheselectedplacesisgiveninTable3.2andTable3.3.Inaddition,acomparisonofthemainfeaturesoftheEIAprocessfortheselectedplacesisgiveninTable3.4.Table3.2EIASteps(Screening,Scoping&Reporting)forSelectedPlaces

Place Screening Scoping ReportingHongKongEIAO

DesignatedprojectsspecifiedinSchedule2andSchedule3totheEIAO

ScopedefinedbySBissuedbyEPD(Section6(1)oftheEIAO)

EIA report complying withthe requirements of the SBandTM (Section6(3)of theEIAO)

ChinaMainlandEIAL

Acataloguefortheclassifiedcontrolofconstructionprojectenvironmentalprotection(compiledandpublishedbytheadministrativecompetentdepartmentofenvironmentalprotectionundertheStateCouncil)isusedtoprovidetheEIArequirementsfordifferentextentofenvironmentalimpactsasfollows:(i)anenvironmentalimpactstatementforaprojectcausingmajorimpactstotheenvironment;(ii)an

ScopesetbytheadministrativecompetentdepartmentofenvironmentalprotectionundertheStateCouncilinaccordancewithArticle17oftheEIAL

Environmental impactstatement(EIS)withcontentspecified in Article 17 ofEIAL.The project proponentshould, before submittingthe EIS for approval, holdappraisal meetings, publichearing or other forms ofconsultation to solicit theopinions on the draft EISfrom relevantunits,expertsand the public, and includeintheEISanexplanationon


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Place Screening Scoping Reportingenvironmentalimpactformforaprojectcausinglightimpactsontheenvironment;and(iii)anenvironmentalregistrationformforaprojectwithminimalimpactsontheenvironment.(Article16oftheEIAL)

whetherornottoadopttheopinion (Article 21 of theEIAL).

TaiwanEIAA)

11developmentactivitieswhicharelikelytocauseadverseimpactsontheenvironmentarerequiredtoconductEIAwithoutexemptionasdefinedinArticle5ofEIAA(e.g.developmentofroads,railways,harbours,airports,waterstorage,watersupply,floodcontrolordrainageprojects,etc.).ThedeveloperisrequiredtoconductaphaseIenvironmentalassessmentandprepareanenvironmentalimpactstatementwhichprovidesaninitialassessmentoftheenvironmentalimpactoftheproposedactivity.Ifrelevantauthoritydeterminesthattheproposedactivityislikelytocausesignificantadverseimpactsontheenvironment,thedeveloperisrequiredtoconductaphaseIIenvironmentalassessmentandprepareanEIAreport(Articles6&8ofEIAA).

IfanEIAreportisrequired,relevantauthorityshallorganiseascopingmeetingandinviteallpartiesconcernedincludingmembersofthepublictodefinethescopeofassessment(Article10ofEIAA).

EIA report with contentspecified in Article 11 ofEIAA.AftersubmissionofthedraftEIAreporttorelevantdepartment,thedepartmentshallinviteexperts,scholars,localgroupsandlocalresidents,togetherwithrelevantauthorityandmembersoftheEIACommittee,toconductanonsiteinspectionandholdapublichearingwithin30daysafterreceiptoftheEIAreport.Thedepartmentshallsubmittheonsiteinspectionrecords,publichearingrecordsanddraftEIAreporttotheresponsibleauthorityforreview(Article12ofEIAA).

SingaporeEPMA

WrittenpermissionrequiredforworksonscheduledpremisesintheFirstScheduleofEPMA(Section6ofEPMA)

Nospecificrequirement Nospecificrequirement

USNEPA,CEQR

Preliminaryenvironmentalassessmentonaproposedactiontodeterminewhetherthereisaneedforanenvironmentalimpactstatement(EIS).Theassessmentwillresultin3levelsofrequirements:preparationofacategoricalexclusion,preparationofanenvironmentalassessmentandfindingofnosignificantimpactorpreparationanddraftingofanEIS(Section102ofNEPA,Section1501.4ofCEQR).

ScopingcommenceswhenanoticeofintentforaprojectrequiringEISispublishedbytheagencyintheFederalRegister.IssuestobeaddressedinthedraftEISrequiretobeagreedbyconsultation,frequentlyatameetingatwhichvariousinterestedpartiesarerepresented(Section1501.7ofCEQR).

EISfollowsastandardformatspecifiedinSection1502.10ofCEQRandSection102(2)(C)ofNEPA.


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Place Screening Scoping ReportingCanadaCEAA

ItismandatoryfortheprojectproponenttoprovideadescriptionofhisproposedprojecttotheCEAAgencywhohas45days,includinga20dayperiodforpubliccomments,todeterminewhetherafederalenvironmentalassessmentisrequiredifitiscapturedbyregulationsoutliningprojectslikelytorequirefederalenvironmentalassessment(paragraphs8to10ofCEAA).

Scopeoftheenvironmentalassessmentshallbedeterminedbytheresponsibleauthorityforthefactorsspecifiedinparagraph19(2)oftheCEAA.

EIAreportwithcontentspecifiedinparagraph19(1)oftheCEAA.

AustraliaEPBCA

TheproponentproposingtotakeanactionmayrefertheproposaltotheMinistertoconfirmwhethertheactionisacontrolledactionbysubmittingareferralfortheproposedactionusingaprescribedform(Sections68&72ofEPBCA).ForcontrolledactiondefinedinSection67ofEPBCA,theMinistermayrequireassessmentbyenvironmentalimpactstatement(EIS)underDivision6ofEPBCA(otherassessmentmethodswillnotbepresentedinthisreport).

TheMinistershallprovidetheproponentoftheactionwithEISguidelinesforthepreparationofadraftEISabouttherelevantimpactsoftheaction(Section101A(1)ofEPBCA).

EIS complying with the EISguidelines.

UKTCPEIAR

ProjectsinSchedule1oftheRegulationsrequiremandatoryEIA.AprojectinSchedule2oftheRegulationswillrequireanenvironmentalimpactassessmentwhentheprojectislikelytocauseasignificantenvironmentalimpact,duetothecharacteristicsofthedevelopment,thelocationofthedevelopmentorthecharacteristicsofthepotentialimpact.Theapplicantmayrequestthelocalplanningauthority(LPA)toadoptascreeningopinioninaccordancewithpara.5oftheRegulations.

TheapplicantmayrequestaformalscopingopinionfromLPA,regardingtheinformationtobeincludedinanenvironmentalstatement(ES)inaccordancewithpara.13oftheRegulations.

Environmentalstatement(ES)includingatleasttheinformationasspecifiedinPart1andPart2ofSchedule4oftheRegulations


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Table3.3EIASteps(Review,Decisionmaking&Monitoring)forSelectedPlaces

Place Review Decisionmaking MonitoringHongKongEIAO

Itislegallyrequiredtoconsultpublicauthorities,EIAadvisorycommitteeandthepublic(Section7(5)oftheEIAO).

EPDisrequiredtomakethedecisionwithin60daysofreceivingtheEIAreport(Section8(3)oftheEIAO).

ThereareprovisionsintheEIAOtoimposeEM&ArequirementsasconditionsinEP(Section16(1)(j)oftheEIAO).

ChinaMainlandEIAL

Nospecificrequirement. TheadministrativecompetentdepartmentofenvironmentalprotectionundertheStateCouncilshallmakethedecisionofexaminationandapprovalandinformtheprojectproponentinwritingwithin60daysstartingfromthedateofreceivingtheEIS(Article22oftheEIAL).

Theprojectproponentisrequiredtoimplementtheenvironmentalprotectionstrategyandmeasures(includingenvironmentalmonitoring)intheEIS(Articles17&26oftheEIAL).

TaiwanEIAA

Theresponsibleauthorityshallcompleteareviewconclusionandsendthereviewconclusiontothedepartmentanddeveloperwithin60days(Arti