THE Department of Environment’s 56 conditions for the approval of Penang’s Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) cover matters of the project’s earthworks, water, air, noise and vibration quality controls, waste management, and risk assessment and control measures.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow disclosed the conditions today, acceding to the demands of Penang Forum, Consumers Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia that the details of the conditions be made public.

Chow said an environmental management plan (EMP), which must be approved by the DOE before work begins, is among the conditions.

All environmental mainstreaming tools also must be implemented, and an environmental audit by a registered auditor must be ongoing for the full duration of the project.

An earthworks and construction audit must be conducted every four months or when the DOE deems it necessary. At the operation level, an audit is required once a year or when the DOE demands.

An environmental quality report must be submitted to the DOE every three months.

A competent environmental officer must also be appointed to oversee environmental management and mitigation measures.

The DOE’s conditions are to be enforced for two years beginning April 10, the date approval for the PIL1 environmental impact assessment (EIA) report was granted.

The 19.5km toll-free highway will link the northern part of the island at Persiaran Gurney and the south at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway near the Bayan Lepas free industrial zone 4 area.

Civil society groups in Penang have opposed the RM7 billion project, which comes with 7.6km of viaduct sections, four hill tunnel sections measuring 10.1km, embankment sections of 1.8km and six interchanges.  Some parts of the road, its tunnels or bridge will cross slopes of 35 degrees or more. 

Construction is expected to begin mid-next year with completion scheduled in 2026.

Other conditions imposed by the DOE in the contractor include compliance with the land disturbing pollution prevention and mitigation measures for proper maintenance and control of surface runoff, erosion and sedimentation.

Best management practices (BMPs) for erosion and sedimentation controls must be prepared for all areas at risk, including exposed areas that are not for development

The contractors must also coordinate and conduct earthworks in stages to reduce erosion and siltation. Each phase of the project must be reported to the DOE three months before work starts.

Contractors must also get the local council’s approval for disposal of construction waste, including “overburden and slurry”. This must also be detailed in the EMP

The contractor may not change the flow or course of rivers or streams except with permission from relevant agencies.

For air quality control, all drilling equipment must come with dust control system.

Rock-blasting activities must be approved by the Minerals and Geosciences Department, and be conducted with controls to prevent vibration and flying debris.

Conditions for noise and vibration control include not exceeding 60dB(A) from 10pm to 7am

If the PIL1 project does not take off within two years of the date of the DOE’s approval, the approval becomes null and void. 

The project owner may also be required to comply with additional orders and conditions the DOE deems appropriate from time to time, states the DOE document signed off by the director-general of the department, Dr Ahmad Kamarulnajuib Che Ibrahim. – April 16, 2019.