Press Releases and Statements
Dredging and dumping of mud from reclamation under control
In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said today (October 29) that measures have been put in place to ensure that the environmental impact of the dredging and dumping of mud from the Central Reclamation Phase III project (CRIII) was kept under control.
"The project had gone through the statutory environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. The public and the Advisory Council on the Environment were consulted on the EIA before endorsement," the spokesman said.
The EIA concluded that with the implementation of recommended mitigation measures, such as providing silt curtains around the dredging sites, controlling the dredging rate and using closed grab dredgers, the amount of contamination released from marine sediments during dredging should be minimal and not adversely impact the surrounding waters.
The Environmental Monitoring and Audit Programme of the project showed that the environmental impact resulting from the project was within acceptable levels, the spokesman said.
The composition of the dredged mud from the CRIII was described in the full EIA report for the project, which is available to the public on the EPD website, www.epd.gov.hk/eia/english/register/aeiara/all.html.
"We have never attempted to hide the fact that most of the mud was contaminated. However, our system can handle such mud," the spokesman said.
The dredged contaminated mud would be disposed of at the special seabed pits at East Sha Chau using the confined aquatic disposal method. Capping of the pit is practised to prevent dispersion of the contaminated mud from the pit.
A team from the Civil Engineering Department is stationed on site at East Sha Chau to ensure strict disposal procedures and depth filling levels are followed and observed.
"A long-term extensive environmental monitoring programme has been in place since 1992 when the East Sha Chau disposal site started operation. It consists of water quality, sediment and biota monitoring, together with a risk assessment on impacts to marine life and humans.
"No adverse environmental impact has bee detected," the spokesman said.
The report on the results of the monitoring programme was well received without dispute from participants of the Scientific Group Meeting of the International Maritime Organisation in May 2002.
Ends/Wednesday, October 29, 2003
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