The EIA Report for Airport Tung Chung Link Project (the ATCL Project)
(AEIAR-254/2023) was approved on 26 October 2023. The Environmental Permit (EP)
(AEР-630/2023) was issued on 26 October 2023. According to Clause 2.12 of the
EP, the Permit Holder shall submit a Construction Noise Management Plan (CNMP)
for implementing construction noise mitigation measures no later than 2 months
before the commencement of construction works of the Project to the Director of
Environmental Protection (DEP).
As stipulated in Clause 2.12 of the EP, 3 hard copies and 1 electronic
copy of the CNMP shall, no later than 2 months before the commencement of
construction works of the Project, be deposited with the DEP. If there is any
change to the construction noise mitigation measures and/or plant inventory
recommended in the submitted CNMP, 3 hard copies and 1 electronic copy of an
updated CNMP shall, no later than 1 month before the implementation of any such
change, be deposited with the DEP. The CNMP and updated CNMP shall identify the
noise source inventory and assess the effectiveness of construction noise
mitigation measures, including the use of quieter powered mechanical equipment,
quieter construction methods, noise barriers, enclosures and insulation fabric
as recommended in the approved EIA Report (Register No. AEIAR-254/2023) for
mitigating the construction noise impact of the Project. The CNMP and updated
CNMP shall include an implementation schedule in table form to clearly list out
the mitigation measures to be implemented, and the implementation party,
location, timing, and environmental performance required for implementation of
the mitigation measures. The CNMP and updated CNMP shall be prepared and
checked by a Certified Noise Modelling Professional as recognized by the Hong
Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals Limited or other
professional as agreed by the Director, certified by the ET Leader and verified
by the IEC as conforming to the relevant information and recommendations of the
approved EIA Report (Register No. AEIAR-254/2023). All mitigation measures
recommended and requirements specified in the CNMP and the updated CNMP shall
be fully implemented.
This CNMP will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect any changes
in construction work or site arrangements, ensuring continuous compliance. This
CNMP focused on the construction works conducted during Jan 2026 to May 2026
only and the remaining construction period is still under planning and subject
to change. The Contractor will submit other CNMP for the remaining construction
period once the details become available. If there is any update on the
construction works conducted from Jan 2026 to May 2026, a revised CNMP will be
submitted to the EPD.
The Noise Control Ordinance (NCO) (Cap. 400) provides the
statutory framework for noise control. The Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance (EIAO) (Cap. 499) provides the framework for assessment of the noise
impact for designated projects
Reference to the EIAO and the relevant technical memoranda has been made
for the assessment of noise impacts. Annexes 5 and 13 of the Technical
Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM) set out the
criteria and guidelines for evaluating noise impacts. Assessment procedures and
standards are set out in the following technical memoranda and Guidance Note:
- Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact
Assessment Process (EIAO-TM);
- Technical Memorandum on Noise from
Construction Work in Designated Areas (DA-TM);
- Technical Memorandum on Noise from
Construction Work other than Percussive Piling (GW-TM);
- Technical Memorandum on Noise from Percussive
Piling (PP-TM);
- EIAO Guidance Note - Preparation of
Construction Noise Impact Assessment under the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (GN9/2023).
The Technical
Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM) stipulates
criteria of 65 - 75dB(A) for daytime construction activities, as shown in Table
3.1.
Table 3.1
Noise standards for daytime construction activities
|
Use
|
Noise
Standards, Leq (30min) dB(A)
|
|
0700
- 1900 hours on any day not being a Sunday or general holiday
|
|
All domestic premises, Temporary housing accommodation, Hostels, Convalescent homes, and Homes for the aged
|
75
|
|
Places of public worship, Courts of law, and Hospitals and medical clinics
|
70
|
|
Educational
institutions (including kindergartens and nurseries)
|
70
65 (During
Examination)
|
Notes:
[1] The above standards apply to uses which rely on
opened windows for ventilation and are assessed at 1m from the external façade.
[2] A Construction Noise Permit shall be required
for carrying out relevant construction work during restricted hours under the
Noise Control Ordinance. In case the applicant would like to evaluate whether
carrying out relevant construction works during restricted hours under the
Noise Control Ordinance is feasible or not in the context of programming
construction works, reference should be made to relevant technical memoranda
issued under the Noise Control Ordinance.
The assessment of
noise impacts from the construction (excluding percussive piling) of the
Project has been based on the methodology given in Annex 13 of the EIAO-TM. The
typical approach is summarized as follows:
- Formulate construction programme
and work sequences;
- Identify representative NSR that may be
affected by the construction of the Project;
- Establish the construction plant inventory;
- Assign Sound Power Level (SWL) for each piece of
PME based on the GW-TM and the list of Sound Power Level of other commonly
used PME;
- Calculate the correction factors based on the
distance between the NSR and the notional noise source positions at
different construction works areas;
- Apply noise corrections in the calculations
for distance, operation time, screening and façade correction, if any;
- Predict the construction noise levels at NSR
and compare against the noise criteria; and
- Determine mitigation measures, as necessary,
and assess any residual impacts.
The Contractor has
confirmed this scope of work, ensuring the noise assessment is focused and
accurate. No construction activities other than specified below are permitted
during this specific period.
The proposed construction works will be carried
out only between 07:00 and 19:00 hours on any day not being a Sunday or general
holiday. It is noted that
Marine Department Notices (MDN) is required for permission of entering the site
portion at sea area which will take usually 3-6 months for the issuance of MDN.
Hence, the commencement of construction works at sea area will be subject to change
and depend on the progress of obtaining MDN. The Contractor shall submit other
CNMP reports for the any changes in construction period. As advised by the
Contractor and broadly indicated in the construction programme
in Appendix 5.1, the major construction works of the Project during Jan
2026 to May 2026 include:
- Bored pile for Bridge Pier 1 - Pier 20
- Sea wall modification
- Tung Chung Central Station (TCCS) Construction
(Sheet Pile)
The Project
site is situated between Tung Chung town centre and
Hong Kong Port (HKP) Island. The location of the Project is shown in Figure
6.1.
The noise
sensitive receivers in the assessment area mainly comprise residential uses and
the government, institution or community uses at Tung Chung town centre. The assessment area for noise impact generally
include areas within 300m from the boundary of the Project and the works of the
Project. Noise Sensitive Receivers (NSRs) within a distance of 300m from the
boundary of the Project and the works of the Project have been identified. NSRs
located within the first layer from the Project site and having openable
windows for ventilation were selected as representative NSRs for assessment.
The
identified existing, committed and planned NSRs, if any, within the assessment
area are presented in Table 6.1 and their locations are shown in Figure
6.2.
Table 6.1
Noise Sensitive Receivers (NSRs) Identified
|
NSR ID
|
Description
|
Uses
|
Existing/ Planned
|
|
N01
|
Seaview Crescent
|
Residential
|
Existing
|
|
N03
|
Ling Liang Church E Wun Secondary School
|
School
|
Existing
|
|
N05
|
Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School
|
School
|
Existing
|
|
N06
|
Po On Commercial Association Wan Ho Kan Primary School
|
School
|
Existing
|
|
N08
|
Fu Tung Estate
|
Residential
|
Existing
|
|
N09
|
Tung Chung Crescent
|
Residential
|
Existing
|
|
N10 [3]
|
Priests’ Quarters of the Planned Visitation Church Development
|
Residential
|
Planned
|
Notes:
[1] The assessment will only include NSRs which
rely on opened windows for ventilation.
[2] Only the first
layer of NSRs has been selected for assessment.
[3] The tentative occupancy year of the planned NSR (N10) is 2028;
therefore, it is not included in the assessment in this CNMP, and will be
included in future CNMP as and when appropriate.
Prediction
and Evaluation of Construction Noise Impact (Unmitigated)
Potential source of noise impact arising from the
construction of the Project would be the use of Powered
Mechanical Equipment (PME) for
various construction activities. The percentage on-time for each PME has been
estimated individually for each construction activity to ensure practicality.
The proposed construction plant inventory is recommended by the Contractor and
provided in Appendix 7.2. The proposed construction plant inventory in Appendix
7.2 is considered technically feasible and confirmed by the Project
engineer as workable, and would represent a realistic worst-case scenario for
assessment purposes. The unmitigated construction noise impacts at the
identified NSRs have been predicted accordingly. Details of unmitigated
construction noise assessment are presented in Appendix 7.3 with the
results summarized in Table 7.1.
For worst-case scenario, the noise mitigation
criteria for schools were set to 65dB(A) for all months. As shown in Table
7.1, the construction noise levels at the identified representative
construction NSRs would range from 69 to 77dB(A) for residential use
and 68 to 70dB(A) for schools under the unmitigated scenario. The predicted
construction noise levels would comply the relevant noise criteria except Tung Chung Crescent (N09) and schools during
examination period (N03, N05,
N06). Noise mitigation measures are therefore required to alleviate the
construction noise impact on the affected NSRs.
Table 7.1
Predicted Construction Noise Levels under Unmitigated Scenario
|
NSR ID
|
Description
|
Uses
|
Predicted Construction Noise
Level, Unmitigated, Leq (30mins), dB(A)
|
Noise Standards, dB(A)
|
Noise exceedance, dB(A)
|
|
N01
|
Seaview Crescent
|
Residential
|
74-75
|
75
|
0
|
|
N03
|
Ling Liang Church E Wun Secondary School
|
School
|
68-69
|
65
|
4
|
|
N05
|
Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School
|
School
|
68-69
|
65
|
4
|
|
N06
|
Po On Commercial Association Wan Ho Kan Primary School
|
School
|
68-70
|
65
|
5
|
|
N08
|
Fu Tung Estate
|
Residential
|
69-70
|
75
|
0
|
|
N09
|
Tung Chung Crescent
|
Residential
|
75-77
|
75
|
2
|
Note:
[1] Cumulative noise level of other concurrent
projects had been considered in the most affected NSR N09 Tung Chung Crescent.
Concurrent
Project and Cumulative Impact
The Railway Development Strategy 2014 (RDS-2014)
announced by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
included the conceptual scheme of Tung Chung West (TCW) Extension and a
possible Tung Chung East (TCE) Station. The works areas and construction programme of Tung Chung Line Extension have been reviewed
based on latest available information. The location of the concurrent project
is shown in Figure 6.1. According to Construction Noise Management Plan
(Nov 2024) for Works Contract 1201, their latest works areas and works sites
are within of 300m of the one of the NSRs (Tung Chung Crescent) of this Project
(Appendix 7.7 refers). It is noted that the representative NSR at Tung
Chung Crescent in this CNMP is facing away from the construction site of Tung
Chung Line Extension, a conservative construction noise level from the
construction site of Tung Chung Line Extension at Tung Chung Crescent in
Construction Noise Management Plan (Nov 2024) for Works Contract 1201 had been
adopted in cumulative assessment for conservative approach. The cumulative
construction noise impact from construction of Tung Chung Line Extension is
presented in calculation Appendix 7.3.
It is noted that the sewage upgrade work of three
runway system (3RS) would be constructed near TCCS and commenced no earlier
than 2027, the relevant information of the sewage upgrading work of 3RS EIA
report will be included in the future CNMP as and when available.
Use of
Quieter PME and Quality Powered Mechanical Equipment (QPME)
Taking into account the latest construction programme
and PME inventory provided by the Contractor, quieter PME for mobile crane, air compressor and generator are proposed as listed in Table 7.2. However, if the exact model
specified in the references/QPME labels of the listed quieter PME are not
available, or the QPME label has expired during the construction period, the
model with SWL not higher than the listed SWL shall be adopted.
Table 7.2 Quality PME Proposed for
Adoption during Construction Phase
|
PME
|
Reference
|
SWL,
dB(A)
|
|
Crane, mobile
|
QPME:
EPD-10143
|
100
|
|
Air
Compressor
|
QPME:
EPD-11726
|
100
|
|
Generator
|
QPME:
EPD-12349
|
90
|
Note:
[1] The SWL is prescribed in Quality Powered
Mechanical Equipment (QPME) in EPD website.
Quieter
Construction Methods
The below quieter construction methods have been
considered and assumed to be applied in all construction works areas in the EIA
Report (AEIAR-254/2023). As advised by the Contractor, the methods shall be
applied construction works whenever applicable.
- Hydraulic concrete crusher can be used for
rock breaking activities during site establishment, instead of traditional
hydraulic breaker. The operation principle of hydraulic breaker is by
percussive striking actions of its chisels, while hydraulic concrete
crusher is by clamping action. According to EPD website, the sound
pressure level at 7m from the equipment is 67-69 dB(A). The Contractor
advised that there are no rock breaking in the construction works of
entire construction period, therefore, this method is not applicable.
Nevertheless, if there are any updates in the construction works that are
relevant to the specific quieter construction method, the method shall be
re-considered whenever applicable.
- Non-explosive chemical expansion agent can be used for concrete breaking activities
during site establishment, instead of traditional hydraulic breaker. The agent is a slow-acting chemical compound
and expand, and cracks the structure. Significant
noise, ground vibration, fly rock, gas, dust or any other environmental
pollution would not be generated during the process. The Contractor
advised that only road surface breaking is involved in the construction
works of entire construction period, no concrete breaking activities are
anticipated, therefore, this method is not applicable. Nevertheless, if
there are any updates in the construction works that are relevant to the
specific quieter construction method, the method shall be
re-considered whenever applicable.
- Quieter type saw (e.g. diamond wire saw,
diamond blade saw) is a flexible sawing technique that can be applied
under various situations with excellent cutting performance. It will be used instead of
excavator-mounted breaker for site formation and road works as far as
practicable, subject to actual site conditions. According to the EPD
website, the sound pressure level at 7 meters from the quieter type saw is 76-81 dB(A). As conversative approach, both
quieter type saw and excavator-mounted breaker have been included in the
construction noise calculation.
- Self-compacting concrete can be used for
concreting works, instead of traditional vibratory poker. Self-compacting
concrete is highly fluid and non-segregate, which can spread into place,
fill the formwork, and encapsulate the steel bar reinforcement without
using vibratory poker or other PME. The Contractor advised that the use of
self-compacting concrete in bore piles poses significant challenges in
quality control due to the risk of segregation (separation of components)
or bleeding (water rising to the surface), therefore, this method is not
applicable.
- Silent piling by Press-in Method (Press-in
piling) can be used for sheet piling works, instead of traditional massive
augering and piling machines (e.g.: Piling,
vibrating hammer). Press-in method is a pile penetration method which
accurately installs pre-formed piles through static loading piling. The
construction work can also be completed in shorter duration so that the
noise impact to nearby NSRs can also be further alleviated. According to
the EPD website, the sound pressure level at 7 meters from the equipment
is 69 dB(A). The Press-in method would be applied during sheet piling
works at TCCS.
- Use of pre-casting and prefabrication
technology, such as precast concrete blocks will be applied in seawall
construction to reduce on-site construction work.
Use of Noise
Barrier, Noise Enclosure and Noise Insulating Fabric
Proprietary noise barriers will be used for
screening noise to NSRs and could achieve an insertion loss of 22 dB(A). The
height of the proprietary noise barriers can be up to 7m can applied as close
to the PME, this proprietary noise barriers will be
capable to shield the PME from the NSR completely. The
catalogue and schematic drawing of noise barrier is shown in Appendix 7.4.
The noise barrier will be placed as close to the PME as possible and a location
intercepting the line of sight between NSRs and PME. Gaps and openings at
joints in the barrier material should be avoided. The barrier should also be
long enough to minimize the degradation caused by the diffraction along the
short edges. With reference to EIAO Guidance Note No.9/2023, noise reduction of
5dB(A) and 10dB(A) can be achieved by noise barriers for movable and stationary
plant respectively. Following the assumptions in the Approved ATCL EIA Report,
it is anticipated that suitably designed movable barriers/acoustic sheet
barriers could achieve at least 5 to 10 dB(A) reduction. For a conservative
assessment, only a reduction of 5 dB(A) is assumed.
Other noise mitigations such as noise enclosure and
noise insulating fabric shall be considered if necessary.
Use of
Soundproof Hammer Bracket for Hydraulic Breaker
Soundproof hammer bracket
will be installed to reduce the noise from hydraulic breaker.
According to the Best
Practice Guide for Environmental Protection on Construction Sites, hammer bracket can achieve
10dB(A) noise reduction. The mitigation will include tuned mass dampers
installed on the breaker head; tailored breaker cloth wrapped around the
breaker head (minimum 7kg/m2 surface density); and noise mitigating
plastic skirt wrapped around the chisel tip of the breaker.
Prediction
and Evaluation of Construction Noise Impact (Mitigated)
The implementation schedule of proposed mitigation
measures is showed in Appendix 7.6. With the
implementation of noise mitigations, the predicted construction noise levels at
representative construction NSRs have been predicted and presented in Appendix
7.5 with the results summarized in Table 7.3. The relevant
construction plant inventory could be referred to Appendix
7.2.
Table 7.3 Predicted Construction Noise
Levels under Mitigated Scenario
|
NSR ID
|
Description
|
Uses
|
Predicted Construction Noise
Level, Mitigated,
Leq (30mins), dB(A)
|
Noise Standards, dB(A)
|
Noise exceedance, dB(A)
|
|
N01
|
Seaview Crescent
|
Residential
|
68-70
|
75
|
0
|
|
N03
|
Ling Liang Church E Wun Secondary School
|
School
|
62-64
|
65
|
0
|
|
N05
|
Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School
|
School
|
63-65
|
65
|
0
|
|
N06
|
Po On Commercial Association Wan Ho Kan Primary School
|
School
|
63-65
|
65
|
0
|
|
N08
|
Fu Tung Estate
|
Residential
|
64-66
|
75
|
0
|
|
N09
|
Tung Chung Crescent
|
Residential
|
73-75
|
75
|
0
|
With the implementation of proposed noise mitigations,
the predicted construction noise level would comply with the relevant noise
criteria, adverse construction noise impact would not be anticipated.
In addition to the mitigation measures listed above, there are also some
good site practices that can further reduce the noise levels at NSRs. However,
they are non-quantifiable and thus not included in the assessment. These
include:
- Only well-maintained plant
should be operated on-site and plants should be
serviced regularly during the construction period;
- Mobile plant, if any, should be sited as far
from NSRs as possible;
- Plant known to emit noise strongly in one
direction should, wherever possible, be properly orientated so that the
noise is directed away from the nearby NSRs;
- Use of site hoarding as a noise barrier to
screen noise at low level NSRs;
- Machines and plant
that may be used intermittently should be shut down between works periods
or should be throttled down to a minimum;
- Any material stockpiles and other structures
should be effectively utilized, wherever practicable, to screen the noise
from on-site construction activities; and
This CNMP has identified the noise source inventory
and assess the necessity of construction noise mitigation
measures, including the use of quality powered mechanical equipment, noise
barriers and noise enclosures for works at ATCL project. With the
implementation of the proposed noise mitigations and recommended good
practices, noise impacts during construction phases are expected to achieve
full compliance of relevant noise criteria.
This CNMP
focused on the construction works conducted during Jan 2026 to May 2026 only
and the remaining construction period is subject to change. The Contractor will
submit other CNMP reports for the remaining construction period once the
details become available. If there is any update on the construction works
conducted from Jan 2026 to May 2026, a revised CNMP will be submitted to the
EPD.
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