ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF RECLAMATION WORKS CLOSE TO SENSITIVE HABITATS

摘要

Traditional methods for environmental management of marine reclamation works close to sensitive habitats have generally not provided the level of control necessary to ensure preservation of these habitats. Obtaining the level of control necessary to assure authorities and NGOs of compliance with environmental quality objectives, requires quantifiable compliance targets covering multiple temporal and spatial scales. Of equal importance are effective and rapid response mechanisms, to allow feedback of monitoring results into compliance targets and work methods. This paper describes the successful implementation of comprehensive Environmental Monitoring and Management Plans (EMMP), based upon such feedback principles, which allow reclamation activities to proceed in close proximity to Singapore's most important marine habitats under third party scrutiny.Specific focus is placed on describing the methods utilized to quantify compliance with daily spill budget targets and how such targets and compliances are assessed. To improve reliability, the spill budgets take into account specific habitat tolerance limits for varying magnitudes and durations of sediment loading. Refinements to sediment plume models were undertaken to enhance their ability to hindcast impacts from the contractors' complex reclamation schedules. Methods for segregation of impacts and assessment of cumulative impacts were also integrated into the hindcast procedures. Finally, the paper describes the updating of tolerance limits and confirmation of spill budgets via targeted habitat monitoring.To date, the EMMPs have been able to document compliance of the works to all pre-project environmental quality objectives at a level of reliability that cannot be refuted by third parties. This has minimized the developers' and contractors' exposure to public complaints and liabilities associated with environmental impacts. The EMMPs have thus allowed the reclamation activities to proceed in an efficient manner, whilst ensuring protection of the environment.