Planning Department Agreement No. CE 60/2005 (TP) Land Use Planning for the Closed Area – Feasibility Study Final Report 7 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT To examine the future use of areas to be released from the existing Closed Area and put them under planning control, Strategic Environmental Assessment Study (the SEA Study) is conducted to provide strategic and regional environmental information and suggestions to address any potential environmental conditions, so as to achieve sustainable development in the Study Area. The SEA study is not intended to be a project-based study. The purpose of this Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Report is to evaluate at strategic level the potential landuse environmental impacts, the cumulative environmental impacts and environmental sustainability implications of the planning framework of the Recommended Development Plan (RDP) formulated under the Main Study. Major environmental issues in relation to air quality, noise, water quality, hazard, landfill, waste, ecology and cultural heritage have been evaluated. Environmental mitigation measures to address the impacts and follow-up investigations requirements are recommended together with the policy and institutional framework arrangements, where applicable. Innovative ideas and new technologies that provide an alternative to resolve the existing and potential future environmental problems are also examined. It should also be noted that this Study is a broad brush assessment only and when individual project is implemented, detailed studies and/or assessments shall be carried out by the respective project proponent(s) to evaluate and confirm adequacy and technical feasibility of the recommended environmental mitigation measures and infrastructure facilities. Some of these environmental mitigation measures and infrastructure facilities should also be implemented as recommended prior to population intake of the proposed developments. 7.1 Air Quality Impact 7.1.1 Introduction This section presents the assessment of potential air quality impacts to all existing, committed, planned and proposed air sensitive uses in areas from which developments are proposed under the landuse planning. It evaluates the potential air quality implications of the proposed landuse framework, including the identification and assessment of the pollution emission sources of the proposed developments on the existing, committed, planned and proposed sensitive receivers, as well as identification and assessment of potential air quality impacts arising from existing and planned polluting sources on future sensitive uses of the proposed development areas. Potential air quality impacts on the representative Air Sensitive Receivers (ASRs) have been assessed in accordance with the requirements of Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG), Annex 4 and Annex 12 of the TM-EIAO as well as the requirements set out under Clause 4.13 of the Study Brief. Proposals of mitigation measures required to reduce the cumulative air pollution impacts have been recommended. 7.1.2 Overview of Potential Air Quality Implications of the Landuse Framework The RDP is illustrated in Figures 4.11, 4.27, 4.43, 4.59, 4.75 and 4.91. Different landuse proposals and proposed developments of the RDP will have the potential to affect the existing and planned sensitive uses in the Study Area. There are also various existing and planned polluting uses in and near the Study Area which will potentially pose environmental impacts on the future sensitive use of the proposed development areas such as Kong Nga Po Comprehensive Development Area, Eco-lodge at Ma Tso Lung, village expansion, adaptive reuse of the existing schools for holiday camps, etc. The potential air quality implications of the landuse proposals are discussed in the following sections. G:\Document\25100\25112 Closed Area\Report\041 Draft Final Page 295 Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd Report\041-02 Final Report\041-02 Final Report.doc July 2010 Planning Department Agreement No. CE 60/2005 (TP) Land Use Planning for the Closed Area – Feasibility Study Final Report 7.1.2.1 Potential air pollution sources of the landuse proposals (1) Road improvement works Figure 6.2.1 shows the road improvement network for the Closed Area. Before the opening up of the FCA and its village roads to the general public, road improvement / upgrading is required. It is assumed that road improvement works as well as all other proposed developments are expected to be completed by Year 2020. With more traffic flow induced upon opening up of the FCA, a corresponding increase in vehicular emissions generated from the induced traffic are to be expected, and thus the potential air quality impacts on the existing, planned and proposed sensitive uses. (2) Proposed Crematorium at Sandy Ridge The location of the proposed crematorium is indicated in Figure 4.111. There will be three proposed cremators. The design and operation of the proposed crematorium is assumed similar to that of Diamond Hill Crematorium. It is noted that FEHD is intended to use cleaner and more environmental-friendly fuel (e.g. town gas) in new government crematoria. Nevertheless, use of light diesel fuel similar to Diamond Hill Crematorium has been assumed for conservative assessment purpose in this study. Major air pollutant emissions of concern from the cremation process are odour, particulates, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, total organic carbon, mercury and dioxins. Exhaust emissions from cremators design should need to comply with the BPM 12/2 (06) – “A Guidance Note on the Best Practicable Means for Incinerators (Crematoria)” and other environmental requirements. The potential air quality impacts arising from the proposed crematorium on the existing, planned and proposed sensitive uses is to be addressed. (3) Man Kam To Development Corridor The southern side of Man Kam To Road has been identified as having the potential to accommodate commercial and logistic type uses. It is assumed that the area would provide for high quality logistics, warehousing and distribution as well as gateway commercial facilities. There are no industrial emission sources associated with these facilities and air quality implications are not expected. 7.1.2.2 Potential odour emission of the landuse proposals As a worst-case planning scenario for environmental assessment, a horse-riding school will be sited in the planned recreational area near Pak Fu Shan. Potential odour impacts on the nearby sensitive receivers are to be assessed. 7.1.2.3 Potential air quality implication of the existing and planned polluting sources All future sensitive uses of the proposed development areas including the village zone, adaptive uses of the existing public schools for holiday camp, proposed Eco-lodge, Kong Nga Po Comprehensive Development Area, Man Kam To Development Corridor, Hung Lung Hang Residential Area, and planned recreational area near Fung Wong Wu, Pak Fu Shan and Tong To Ping Tsuen will be exposed to vehicular emission impact from open road. Some of them will also be impacted by air pollution sources including the existing and planned BCPs and cumulative impacts from other concurrent projects. (1) Existing Open Road Potential vehicular emission impact arising from open roads on the planned sensitive uses is anticipated. Major roads encroaching and in the vicinity of the Study Area include San Tin Highway, Fanling Highway, Castle Peak Road, Lok Ma Chau Road, Man Kam To Road, Sha Tau Kok Road and Kwu Tung Road. Local roads with light traffic volume include Ma Tso Lung Road, Lin Ma Hang Road, Lo Wu Station Road, Ping Che Road and Wo Keng Shan Road, etc. Small access roads connecting villages are also common in the Study G:\Document\25100\25112 Closed Area\Report\041 Draft Final Page 296 Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd Report\041-02 Final Report\041-02 Final Report.doc July 2010 Planning Department Agreement No. CE 60/2005 (TP) Land Use Planning for the Closed Area – Feasibility Study Final Report Area. Road improvement / upgrading work is also required before opening up of the FCA to the general public. Change in traffic flow pattern upon opening of the closed area would cause potential vehicular emission impact on the existing, planned and proposed sensitive uses. (2) Existing Boundary Control Points Figures 7.1.1, 7.1.3 and 7.1.6 illustrate the locations of the Lok Ma Chau boundary control point (BCP), Man Kam To BCP and Sha Tau Kok BCP respectively. Potential vehicular emission impact arising from idling vehicles at the kiosks and loading/unloading bay within the BCPs on existing, planned and proposed sensitive receivers is anticipated. Since the Vehicle Holding Area (VHA) is only designed for emergency purposes such as computer system breakdown, it will not be included in the assessment. (3) Planned NENT New Development Areas (NDAs) Figure 1.1 illustrates the locations of the planned NENT NDAs. In order to meet long-term housing demand and to accommodate additional population and create associated jobs, three NDAs were identified, including Kwu Tung North NDA, Fanling North NDA, and Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling NDA, as having potential development opportunities. According to Project Profile (PP-337/2007), Kwu Tung North and Fanling North NDAs comprise residential development with associated employment and community facilities. Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling NDA provides a „reception area‟ for open storage and rural industries that are affected by the development clearance for the other