Electricity Transmission Expansion and Supply Improvement Project
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Initial Environmental Examination Draft Report September 2011 Nepal: Electricity Transmission Expansion and Supply Improvement Project Prepared by Nepal Electricity Authority for the Asian Development Bank. The initial environmental examination report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary ········································································ 1 2.0 Policy, Legal, and Administrative Framework ····································· 4 3.0 Description of the Project ································································ 17 4.0 Description of the Environment ························································ 25 5.0 Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ·············· 71 6.0 Information Disclosure, Consultation, and Participation ···················· 86 7.0 Environmental Management Program ··············································· 88 8.0 Conclusions and Recommendations ··············································· 100 Appendices Appendix 1: Site Reconnaissance Summary …………………………………. 104 Appendix 2: Habitat range of species within the project area ……………… 113 Appendix 3: Summary of Donor Funded Activities for Ecological Preservation and Climate Change Activities ……. 126 i List of Figures Figure 2.1: Project Organization ····························································· 13 Figure 3.1: Routing Options ································································· 18 Figure 3.2: Power Development Map of Nepal ········································ 19 Figure 4.1: Project Location Map ·························································· 25 Figure 4.2: Location Map and Elevation Profile of the proposed T-K Alignment ··············································· 30 Figure 4.3: Soil Map ············································································ 31 Figure 4.4: Earthquake Magnitude Map ················································ 32 Figure 4.5: Monthly Temperatures ························································· 33 Figure 4.6: Monthly Rainfall ································································· 33 Figure 4.7: Monthly Wind Speed ··························································· 34 Figure 4.8: Monthly Extreme Discharge of Rivers ·································· 35 Figure 4.9: Habitat for Snow Leopard ···················································· 37 Figure 4.10: Gaurishankar Conservation Area ·········································· 53 Figure 4.11: Age Pyramid of Districts Traversed by the T-K Line ·································································· 60 Figure 4.12: Petrol Stations Shut Down in Kathmandu …………………………… 62 Figure 4.13: Project Site ...……………………………………………………………… 63 Figure 5.1: Schematic of Pollutant Sources, Pathways, and Receptors ····· 71 Figure 5.2: Tension Tower ···································································· 73 Figure 5.3: Suspension Tower ······························································ 73 Figure 6.1: Grievance Redress Mechanism Complaint Flow ····················· 87 List of Tables Table 2.1: Ambient Air Quality Standards ··············································· 14 Table 2.2: Generic Industrial Wastewater Standards ······························ 15 Table 3.1: Comparison of Alternative Alignments ·································· 26 Table 4.1: Administrative units traversed by the T-K Line ··························· 25 Table 4.2: Reforestation Requirements for the T-K Line ······························ 38 Table 4.3: Protected Plant Species and Forest Products (Pursuant to Section 70 of the Forest Act 1993) ········································· 39 Table 4.4: Protected Wildlife under NPWC Act 1973 including their status ··· 40 Table 4.5: Nepal's Flora Listed in the CITES Appendices ························· 42 ii Table 4.6: Nepal's Fauna Listed in CITES Appendices ······························· 43 Table 4.7: Non-endemic Threatened Plants included in IUCN Category ······· 46 Table 4.8: Nepal's Threatened Animals in the IUCN List, 1994 ···················· 48 Table 4.9: List of Protected Species in Gaurishankar Conservation Area ··· 54 Table 4.10: List of Important Bird Species in Gaurishankar Conservation Area ············································ 55 Table 4.11: Socio-economic Indicators ···················································· 59 Table 4.12: Population By 5 years Age Group in Project Area (Districts) ··························································· 59 Table 4.13: Carbon Offset by Hydro Electric Projects to Kathmandu ··············· 61 Table 4.14: Carbon Calculation for T-K Line ·············································· 62 Table 5.1: Potential Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures ···················· 77 Table 5.2: Compliance with ADB requirements for Sensitive Habitats ········ 82 Table 5.3: Greenhouse Gas Emissions ·················································· 85 Table 7.1: Minimum Provisions for Environmental Monitoring ·················· 90 Table 7.2: Preliminary Environmental Management Plan ·························· 91 Table 7.3: Preliminary Work Program ···················································· 96 Table 7.4: Preliminary EMP Cost Estimates ············································ 99 Abbreviations and Units ADB Asian Development Bank CFUG Community Forest Users Group DDC District Development Committee EA Executing Agency EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan EPA Environmental Protection Act EPR Environmental Protection Regulations ESSD Environmental and Social Services Department GCA Gaurishankar Conservation Area GON Government of Nepal GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism GWh Gigawatt hour ICIMOD International Council for Integrated Mountain Development iii IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature km kilometer kV kilovolt m meter MW megawatt NEA Nepal Electricity Authority NK-K New Khimti-Kathmandu NTNC National Trust for Nature Conservation PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl PIU Project Implementation Unit ROW Right-of-Way TA3HEP Tamakoshi 3 Hydroelectric Plant tCO2e ton carbon dioxide equivalent UTHEP Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Plant VDC Village Development Committee iv 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Introduction The proposed Energy Access and Efficiency Improvement II Project (the Project) will alleviate generation, transmission, and distribution constraints in the Nepal power system. The Project will expand on the ongoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) Energy Access and Efficiency Improvement Project1 (also referred to as “the Phase 1 project”) which has similar overall objectives. The Project comprises the following components: Part A: Transmission System Development i. Second circuit stringing of the Kohalpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV transmission line (the K-M line) ii. Construction of the 220kV/400kV Tamakoshi-Kathmandu transmission line (the T-K line) iii. Expansion of Chapali grid substation Part B: Energy Access Improvement i. Rehabilitation of 12 distribution substations and associated facilities Part C: Small Hydropower Plant Rehabilitation i. Rehabilitation of 2 small hydropower plants This report covers all subprojects except for the Kohalpur-Mahendranagar 132kV transmission line (the K-M line) which is covered in a separate report. This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) was prepared on behalf of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the Executing Agency (EA) for the Project, by eGen Consultants, Ltd. of Bangladesh (eGen) with support from Transcendergy, L.L.C. of the United States. Under the Nepal environmental regulatory framework, the project requires an environmental assessment consistent with ADB environment Category B requirements. This report complies with ADB Environmental Assessment Guidelines 2003 and Safeguard Policy Statement 2009. 1.2 Summary Findings The proposed Project comprises clearing of right-of-way, construction of a new 1 Asian Development Bank. 2009. Report and Recommendation of the President. Nepal: Energy Access and Efficiency Improvement Project. Project Number 40553, September 2009. Manila. v high-voltage transmission line, upgrade of an existing transmission line, construction of 2 new substations, expansion of an existing transmission substation, rehabilitation of 12 distribution substations, and rehabilitation of 2 small hydropower plants. Disturbance during construction will arise from temporary access road construction, clearing of vegetation, equipment staging, construction of substations, erection of transmission towers, stringing of conductors on the towers, decommissioning of equipment in distribution substations and small hydropower plants, and installation of new equipment in substations and small hydropower plants. The potential impacts will occur mainly during construction due to minor earthworks, equipment staging, and temporary construction camps. Potential impacts could also arise from improper disposal of decommissioned equipment. The anticipated impacts are mostly localized, minimal, temporary, and reversible. Any loss of trees and other vegetation will be directly offset by reforestation and indirectly offset by reduction in fossil fuel powered generator sets. The proposed Project is the best alternative with respect to economic, environmental, financial, and social criteria. Potential