July 2007 1-i 07387518 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Project Description .................................................................................................... 1-3 1.2.1 Project Rationale .......................................................................................... 1-3 1.2.2 Analysis of Route Alternatives ..................................................................... 1-4 1.2.3 Route Location and Description ................................................................... 1-4 1.2.4 Design Technical Aspects ............................................................................ 1-6 1.2.5 Project Implementation Phases .................................................................... 1-9 1.2.6 Project Schedule and Construction Costs ..................................................... 1-9 1.3 Environmental and Social Baseline ........................................................................... 1-9 1.3.1 Physical Component ................................................................................... 1-10 1.3.2 Biotic Component ...................................................................................... 1-12 1.3.3 Social, Economic and Cultural Components .............................................. 1-14 1.4 Legal and Judicial Framework ................................................................................ 1-16 1.5 Stakeholder Consultation ........................................................................................ 1-18 1.5.1 Design of the Participation Plan ................................................................. 1-18 1.5.2 Public Hearings Development .................................................................... 1-18 1.6 Impact Identification, Characterization and Assessment ........................................ 1-19 1.6.1 Impact Identification .................................................................................. 1-19 1.6.2 Impact Assessment ..................................................................................... 1-20 1.7 Environmental Management and Adaptation Program ........................................... 1-22 Golder Associates July 2007 1-ii 07387518 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.7.1 Environmental Management System .......................................................... 1-22 1.7.2 Program Structure ...................................................................................... 1-23 Golder Associates July 2007 1-iii 07387518 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont’d) TABLES TABLE 1-1 Vegetation Coverage and Landscape Units Present in the Study Area ....................... 1-12 TABLE 1-2 Public Hearings Summary ........................................................................................... 1-19 TABLE 1-3 Ranges of Values and Color Code .............................................................................. 1-20 TABLE 1-4 Impact Rating Matrix –Autopista del Coral Project .................................................... 1-21 TABLE 1-5 Environmental Programs and Sheets ........................................................................... 1-23 FIGURES FIGURE 1-1 Eastern Road Corridor ................................................................................................. 1-2 FIGURE 1-2 General Project Location .............................................................................................. 1-5 FIGURE 1-3 Typical Road Cross Section ......................................................................................... 1-7 FIGURE 1-4 Alignment Plan-Profile ................................................................................................ 1-8 FIGURE 1-5 Organization Chart of the Environmental Management System ............................... 1-23 FIGURE 1-6 EMAP’s (PMAA) Structure ....................................................................................... 1-25 Golder Associates July 2007 1-1 07387518 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Introduction The Secretariat of State for Public Works and Communications (SEOPC, in Spanish) is the promoter of the Autopista del Coral road infrastructure project that consists of constructing a new 70km motorway which will connect the cities of La Romana, Higüey and Punta Cana. In addition, it will provide connectivity and continuity to the “Eastern Road Corridor”, which starts in the city of Santo Domingo traverses the country’s Eastern Region (Figure 1-1). The SEOPC has selected the Moya – Odebrecht Consortium as the company responsible for developing the Detailed Engineering, Construction and Operation phases under a contracting scheme known as Public – Private Participation Scheme (PPP Participación Pública-Privada in Spanish). The Environmental Impact Assessment (EsIA) for the Project was conducted by Golder Associates Inc. in collaboration with RCMA GeoIngeniería CxA and other specialists according to the Terms of Reference provided by the Secretariat of State for Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARN) dated August 26, 2005 and renewed on March 21, 2007 according to Dossier Code No. 2336. Golder Associates Inc. is a consulting firm registered as an environmental services provider before the Sub-secretariat of Environmental Management of SEMARN with Register No. 07-156, as is RCMA GeoIngeniería CxA with Register No. 01-053. The Environmental Impact Assessment includes the perceptions, opinions and concerns gathered during a Citizen Participation process carried out during the EsIA. The EsIA also includes feedback from specialists from SEOPC and the Moya – Odebrecht Consortium. The Final EsIA Report is organized according to the requirements established by the Environmental Authority (SSGA - SEMARN) in the Terms of Reference (TOR), as described below: Section 1 Executive Summary Section 2 Project Description Section 3 Environmental and Social Baseline Section 4 Institutional and Legal Framework Section 5 Stakeholder Consultation Section 6 Environmental Impact Identification, Characterization and Assessment Section 7 Environmental Management and Adaptation Program The following sections present a summary of the EsIA content. Golder Associates July 2007 1-2 07387518 FIGURE 1-1 Eastern Road Corridor Golder Associates July 2007 1-3 07387518 1.2 Project Description 1.2.1 Project Rationale Justification of the Autopista del Coral project is explained below: • The Autopista del Coral represents the missing link in a 224km road corridor that will directly link the city of Santo Domingo with the tourist areas of La Romana, Bayahibe, Higüey, and Verón and with those areas in the so called “Deep East” that include Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana, Cortecito, Macao, and Uvero Alto. • The proposed road will provide visitors to the eastern tourist areas with easy access to the commercial, recreational and cultural activities in the city of Santo Domingo and other areas in the Eastern region of the Dominican Republic. • The proposed project will play a vital role in interconnecting the main ports, airports, marinas and tourist areas of the region by offering tourists a quick and safe access road. • With design speeds of 100 Km/h in all road sections, the East Corridor (including the Autopista del Coral Project section) will allow travel from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana International Airport in less than two hours. Currently, it takes about 4 hours to travel this route. • Tourism is the main source of economic growth in the Dominican Republic and the greatest generator of foreign currency income. Tourism contributes 40% to the national economy, represents 22% of GDP, and generates 19.2% of the country’s direct and indirect jobs. • The tourism sector in the Dominican Republic had the highest growth in Latin America, with 7.5 % in year 2005. • The tourist areas in the country’s eastern region (La Romana, Bayahibe, Dominicus, Punta Cana, Bávaro, Macao, and Uvero Alto) contain approximately 60% of the 60,000 t rooms that constitute the country’s hotel availability. This area had an 82% average occupancy rate in year 2005. An increase of 10,000 hotel rooms is projected for the next three years in the Bávaro, Punta Cana and Cap Cana zone. • The international airports located in the East Corridor (Las Américas, La Romana, Punta Cana) receive more than 75% of the foreign visitors to the Dominican Republic every year. Golder Associates July 2007 1-4 07387518 1.2.2 Analysis of Route Alternatives The route selection for the Autopista del Coral analyzed three alternative routes: Alternative 1: San Pedro de Macorís – Higüey - Verón Alternative 2: La Romana – La Cruz de los Rondones – Arena Gorda Alternative 3: La Romana – Higüey – Punta Cana The alternatives analysis determined that alternatives 1 and 2 would have lengths of 95 km and 80 km, respectively. The route for Alternative 1 would go through flat topography, while the route for Alternative 2 would cross undulating topography. Both routes were predicted to directly impact towns located within the proposed road corridors. In the case of Alternative 3, the estimated length of the route is 70 km, with the route crossing mostly flat areas with a few undulating zones. Alternative 3 is not projected to directly impact any community in its corridor. Finally, when comparing the three alternatives; alternative 3 has better