Consultancy Agreement No. NOL/ERL-300 Environmental Impact Assessment of Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link MTR Corporation Limited Environmental Impact Assessment Report 3. ECOLOGICAL IMPACT Introduction 3.1 This section presents the results of assessment of potential ecological impacts resulting from the Project. The aim of the ecological impact assessment is to provide sufficient and accurate ecological data to allow complete and objective identification, prediction, and evaluation of the potential ecological impact. 3.2 The assessment was based on field surveys and a review of existing literature, including survey and assessment reports of the study area. Ecological sensitive receivers were identified, and the ecological importance of habitats / species potentially affected by the proposed works was evaluated. The scale of possible ecological impacts resulting from the proposed works was assessed, and necessary mitigation measures were identified. Residual ecological impacts were assessed, and ecological monitoring and audit requirements were identified. Environmental Legislation, Standards and Guidelines 3.3 Guidelines, standards, documents and ordinances / regulations listed in the following sections were referred to during the course of the ecological impact assessment. 3.4 The Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208) provides for the designation and management of country parks and special areas. Country parks are designated for the purpose of nature conservation, countryside recreation and outdoor education. Special Areas are created mainly for the purpose of nature conservation. 3.5 The Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96) prohibits felling, cutting, burning or destroying of trees and growing plants in forests and plantations on government land. Related subsidiary regulations prohibit the selling or possession of listed, restricted and protected plant species. 3.6 Under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170), designated wild animals are protected from being hunted, whilst their nests and eggs are protected from injury, destruction and removal. All birds and most mammals, including marine cetaceans, are protected under this Ordinance. 3.7 The amended Town Planning Ordinance (Cap. 131) provides for the designation of coastal protection areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Conservation Area, Country Park, Green Belt or other specified uses that promote conservation or protection of the environment. 3.8 Chapter 10 of the Hong Kong Planning Standard and Guidelines (HKPSG) covers planning considerations relevant to conservation. This chapter details the principles of conservation, the conservation of natural landscape and habitats, historic buildings, archaeological sites and other antiquities. It also describes enforcement issues. The appendices list the legislation and administrative controls for conservation, other conservation related measures in Hong Kong and government departments involved in conservation. 3.9 Annex 16 of the EIAO-TM sets out the general approach and methodology for assessment of ecological impacts arising from a project or proposal, to allow a complete and objective identification, prediction and evaluation of the potential ecological impacts. Annex 8 recommends the criteria that can be used for evaluating habitat and ecological impact. 3.10 EIAO Guidance Note No. 6/2002 clarifies the requirements of ecological assessments under the EIAO. 3.11 EIAO Guidance Note No. 7/2002 provides general guidelines for conducting ecological baseline surveys in order to fulfil requirements stipulated in the EIAO-TM. AECOM Environment 3-1 May 2009 EIA S3 Ecology.doc Consultancy Agreement No. NOL/ERL-300 Environmental Impact Assessment of Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link MTR Corporation Limited Environmental Impact Assessment Report 3.12 EIAO Guidance Note No. 10/2004 introduces some methodologies in conducting terrestrial and freshwater ecological baseline surveys in order to fulfil requirements stipulated in the EIAO-TM. 3.13 EIAO Guidance Note No. 11/2004 introduces some general methodologies for marine ecological baseline surveys in order to fulfil requirements stipulated in the EIAO-TM. 3.14 ETWB TCW No. 29/2004 Registration of Old and Valuable Trees, and Guidelines for their Preservation sets out the procedures for registration of old and valuable trees on unleased Government land within built-up areas and tourist attraction spots in village areas. Guidelines are also given for preservation and maintenance of the registered trees. 3.15 ETWB TCW No. 5/2005 Protection of Natural Streams / Rivers from Adverse Impacts arising from Construction Works provides an administrative framework to better protect all natural streams / rivers from the impacts of construction works. The procedures promulgated under this Circular aim to clarify and strengthen existing measures for protection of natural streams / rivers from government projects and private developments. 3.16 ETWB TCW No. 3/2006 Tree Preservation sets out the policy on tree preservation, and the procedures for control of tree felling, transplanting and pruning in Government projects. 3.17 DSD Practice Note No. 1/2005 Guidelines on Environmental Consideration for River Channel Design presents the environmental considerations that should be taken into account and incorporated whenever practicable in design of river channels. 3.18 DSD Technical Circular No. 2/2004 Protection of Natural Rivers and Streams from Adverse Impacts Arising from Construction Works provide guidelines for the planning and execution of construction works and for the vetting of public and private development proposals that affect natural rivers and streams, i.e. including those not classified as environmentally sensitive. 3.19 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those taxa that are facing a higher risk of global extinction. The IUCN Red List also includes information on taxa that are either close to meeting the threatened thresholds or that would be threatened were it not for an ongoing taxon-specific conservation programme. 3.20 The Key Protected Wildlife Species List details Category I and Category II protected animal species under the PRC’s Wild Animal Protection Law. Assessment Methodology Project Area 3.21 The Project contains the following key elements: x Approximately 26 km of underground railway running from the terminus in West Kowloon to the boundary at Huanggang; x A terminus in West Kowloon, and its associated building elements such as a ventilation building, ventilation shafts, traction sub-station, and seawater cooling system; x Seven tunnel ventilation buildings at Mai Po, Ngau Tam Mei, Pat Heung, Shing Mun, Kwai Chung, Nam Cheong and Mong Kok West, and an EAP at Tai Kong Po; x Stabling sidings and maintenance facilities located at Shek Kong (Shek Kong Stabling Sidings (SSS)) to provide for temporary stabling, minor maintenance and cleaning; and x An emergency rescue station (ERS) located next to the SSS. AECOM Environment 3-2 May 2009 EIA S3 Ecology.doc Consultancy Agreement No. NOL/ERL-300 Environmental Impact Assessment of Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link MTR Corporation Limited Environmental Impact Assessment Report 3.22 Apart from the above key elements, site explosive magazines, nursery sites, barging facilities, base yards, and access roads will be required to support the construction of the Project. 3.23 The overall alignment of the Project is shown in Figure No. NOL/ERL/300/C/XRL/ENS/M50/001 and NOL/ERL/300/C/XRL/ENS/M50/002, and a summary of the Project alignment is provided in Table 3.1. Details of the key Project elements proposed under the Project are discussed in Section 2. Table 3.1 Summary of Key Construction Elements along the Project Alignment Section Area Works Element (1) Length of Construction Nature of Works Tunnel / Method Extent of Works Northern Mai Po (1) Tunnels between Horizontal Bored Underground Section Boundary to Mai Po length: 1.5 km Tunnelling (Level: -31 to -26 Ventilation Building mPD, approximately 25 to 34 m below local ground) (2) Mai Po Shaft (2) Maximum Cut and cover Underground and (Temporary use: Launching height of Aboveground of TBM; Permanent use: Mai ventilation Po Ventilation Building and building: 14 m Emergency Access Point) Ngau (1) Tunnels between Mai Po Horizontal Bored Underground Tam and Ngau Tam Mei length: 2.3 km Tunnelling (Level: -26 to -19 Mei Ventilation Building mPD, approximately 25 to 60 m below local ground) (2) Ngau Tam Mei Shaft (2) Maximum Cut and cover Underground and (Temporary use: Retrieval of height of Aboveground TBM and drive drill and blast ventilation tunnel; Permanent use: building: 21 m Ngau Tam Mei Ventilation Building and Emergency Access Point) Kai Tunnels between Ngau Tam Horizontal Drill and Blast Underground Kung Mei Ventilation Building and length: 2.8 km (Level: -20 to -16 Leng Tai Kong Po Emergency mPD, Access Point approximately 60 to 30 m below local ground) Tai Tai Kong Po Shaft (2) Height of Cut and cover Underground and Kong Po (Temporary use: Retrieval of building: 8 m Aboveground TBM and drive drill and blast tunnel; Permanent use: Tai Kong Po Emergency Access