Initial Environmental Examination
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SASEC Power Transmission and Distribution System Strengthening Project (RRP NEP 50059-003) Initial Environmental Examination February 2020 NEP: South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation Power Transmission and Distribution System Strengthening Project Prepared by Nepal Electricity Authority for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 7 August 2019) Currency Unit = Nepali rupee/s (Rs) NPR 1.00 = $0.00882 US$1.00 = Rs113.32000 ABBREVIATIONS ABC aerial bundled cable ADB Asian Development Bank AIS air insulated substation CBS Central Bureau of Statistics CE common era CO2 carbon dioxide COD chemical oxygen demand DHM Department of Hydrology and Meteorology DO dissolved oxygen EHS environment, health and safety EIA environmental impact assessment EMF electromagnetic field EMP environmental management plan EPI environmental performance index GIS gas insulated substation GRM grievance redress mechanism HDI human development index IEE Initial Environmental Examination IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer Inc. International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation ICNRP Protection IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature kV kilovolt LPG liquefied petroleum gas masl meters above sea level mm millimeter µg/m³ micro gram per cubic meter NEA Nepal Electricity Authority PM2.5 fine particulate matter below 2.5 micrometers PMD project management directorate Power Transmission and Distribution Efficiency PTDEEP Enhancement Project PTDSSP Power Transmission and Distribution System Strengthening Project ROW right of way SASEC South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation SF6 sulphur hexa fluoride SNNP Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park SPCC spill prevention control and countermeasures United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural UNESCO Organization WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ha (hectare) – Unit of area km (kilometer) – 1,000 meters kV – kilovolt (1,000 volts) kW – kilowatt (1,000 watts) kWh – kilowatt-hour MW – megawatt MU – million units NOTES In this report, "$" refers to US dollars unless otherwise stated. This initial environmental examination 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgements as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. TABLE OF CONTENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... x I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 2 A. Background and Rationale ............................................................................................. 2 B. Objective, Scope and Methodology of the IEE ................................................................ 3 C. Report Organization ....................................................................................................... 4 II. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................... 6 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ..............................................................................11 A. Project Type and Project Components ..........................................................................11 B. Nature, Size and Location of Project Facilities ...............................................................14 C. Design Principles and Construction Methods.................................................................17 D. Alternatives to the Project ..............................................................................................18 E. Cost and Implementation Schedule ...............................................................................19 F. Project Benefits .............................................................................................................19 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................20 A. Project Area...................................................................................................................20 B. Geography, Geology and Soil ........................................................................................20 C. Climatic and Meteorological Conditions .........................................................................26 D. Air Quality ......................................................................................................................30 E. Water Resources ...........................................................................................................32 F. Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................33 G. Biological Resources .....................................................................................................34 H. Socio-economic Conditions ...........................................................................................45 I. Proposed Project Sites ..................................................................................................48 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ..........49 A. Potential Impacts ...........................................................................................................49 A2. Watershed Drainage, Soil Erosion and Waterlogging ..................................................49 A3. Air Quality ....................................................................................................................50 A4. Noise ...........................................................................................................................51 A5. Water Quality ...............................................................................................................52 A6. Biodiversity ..................................................................................................................52 A7. Public Health ...............................................................................................................54 A8. Construction Camps and Storage ................................................................................54 A9. Occupational Hazard and Safety .................................................................................55 A10. Electric and Magnetic Field Effects ............................................................................55 A11. Religious, Historical and Archeological Sites .............................................................56 A12. Beneficial Impacts .....................................................................................................57 B. Mitigation Measures ......................................................................................................64 C. Cumulative and Induced Impacts ...................................................................................67 D. Enhancement Measures ................................................................................................70 VI. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION ..................72 A. Consultations and Participation .....................................................................................72 B. Information Disclosure ...................................................................................................75 VII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ........................................................................76 VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ..................................................................79 A. Proposed Monitoring Plan .............................................................................................79 B. Work Plan .................................................................................................................... 112 C. Responsibilities for Mitigation, Monitoring, Reporting and Review ............................... 113 D. Environmental Management Costs Estimates ............................................................. 119 B. Provision for Initial Environmental Examination/Environmental Management Plan ...... 119 IX. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................................................................ 120 ANNEXES .............................................................................................................................. 123 Annex 1 - Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist .......................................... 123 Annex 2 - Field Photographs and Maps .............................................................................. 128 Annex 3 - Record of Consultation and Information Disclosure for PTDSSP .................... 133 Annex 4 - Air and Water Quality Standards......................................................................... 189 Annex 5 - Outline of an Environmental Monitoring Report ................................................ 191 Annex 6 - Environmental Audit for Existing Facilities ........................................................ 194 Annex 7 - Health Impacts Associated with EMF ................................................................. 221 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Relevant