Initial Environmental Examination Document Stage: Final Project Number: 54107-001 October 2020 NEPAL: Electricity Grid Modernization Project Part 2 Prepared by Nepal Electricity Authority, Government of Nepal for the Asian Development Bank. 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 judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 - Recommendation letter from line agencies 313 Appendix 2 - National ambient air, water, noise, and emission standards 317 Appendix 3 - Environmental audit report of existing facilities with CAP 322 Appendix 4 - Due diligence of associated facility 369 Appendix 5 - Alternative analysis summary 388 Appendix 6 - Water resources capacity details 394 Appendix 7 - Critical habitat assessment 409 Appendix 8 - Guidelines on COVID-19 preparedness measures 459 Appendix 9 - Public consultation details 462 Appendix 10 - EMP mitigation monitoring plans 521 Appendix 11 - Environmental monitoring report template 605 Appendix 12 – Forest tables 608 313 Appendix 1: Recommendation Letters from Line Agencies Appendix 1a: IEE Approval Letter for Dandakhet-Rahughat 132kV Transmission Line 314 Translation This Letter Dated October 3, 2019 with the subject related to acceptance of IEE by Department of Electricity Development. The proposed Dandakhet Rahughat 132kV Power Transmission Line Projects acceptance through Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation’s through Secretary Level Decision on September 29, 2016 under following conditions: 1. Proponent should mitigate identified as well as identified/anticipated adverse impacts of the IEE for the project during construction and operation on its own cost. 2. Internal Environmental Monitoring Report to be submitted to MoEWRI and DoED during the mid-construction and after completion of the project. This needs to be done in accordance to Approved IEE’s EMP. 3. In the project’s report final mitigation measures to be included in the detail design needs to be included. Also, the construction contractor’s mitigation measures responsibilities needs to be incorporated in the contract agreement and needs to be implemented. 4. If in the approved IEE report’s project related infrastructure, activities, place, design, structure or type needs major changes MoEWRI along with DoED needs to be notified and further study or investigation for this needs to be followed only after permission is granted. 315 Appendix 1b: Recommendation Letter from Chure Conservation and Development Committee 316 Translation: This acceptance letter dated February 19, 2019 is from Chure Board for NEA Ghorahi - Madichaur TL EIA. Based on Project Manager for this TL this letter is considered as the permission letter from the Board. The 9 conditions put forward by the Board are: • The EIA should have a detailed description of Chure Area • The Chure’s geological state, its fragility and environmental sensitivity needs to be considered while doing study. • Study to be done with minimization of adverse impact to biodiversity and forest land. • Minimize impact on Forest, Wetland and Environmentally Important Site also take permission from Government of Nepal to use Forest Land. • Include special provision for rare wildlife and forest vegetation in the EMP. • Structural design should include the possibility of massive sediment load that can occur from Chure Region. • Seismicity Related Study (Seismic Zone, Main Frontal Thrust and Main Boundary Thrust) needs to be done. • In areas where tower foundation land needs to be levelled specific standards needs to be incorporated for cut and fill process. • Chure Board Representative needs to be present in Public Hearing and EIA finalization presentation and above recommended measures needs to be incorporated. 317 Appendix 2 – National Ambient Air, Water, Noise, and Emission Standards TABLE 2.1: NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS (MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER) Averagin Ambient Concentration Parameters Test Methods g Time (maximum) g/m3 Annual - Total Suspended High Volume Sampling and Gravimetric Particulates 24-hoursa 230 Analysis High Volume Sampling Gravimetric Analysis, 24-hoursa 120 TOEM, Beta Attenuation PM10 Ultraviolet Fluorescence, west and Gaeke Annualb 50 Sulphur Dioxide Method 24-hoursa 70 Same as Annual Annual 40 Chemiluminisence Nitrogen Dioxide 24-hoursa 80 Same as Annual Non Dispersive Infrared Spectrophotometer Carbon Monoxide 8 hoursa 10,000 (NDIR) High Volume Sampling, followed by Atomic Lead Annualb 0.5 absorption spectrometry Benzene Annualb 5e Gas Chromatographic Technique PM2.5 24-hoursa 40 PM2.5 sampling gravimetric analysis Ozone 8 hoursa 157 UV spectrophotometer Notes: a 24 hourly values shall be met 95% of the time in a year. 18 days per calendar year the standard may be exceeded but not on two consecutive days b In any specified place twice in one week continuously for 24 hours and in a week data taken for a minimum of 104 times yearly average is considered s above. TABLE 2.2: GENERIC STANDARD: TOLERANCE LIMIT FOR INDUSTRIAL (WASTEWATER) EFFLUENTS DISCHARGED INTO INLAND SURFACE WATERS AND PUBLIC SEWERS Wastewater into inland S Industrial waste into Industrial Effluents Parameters Surface Waters from N Inland Surface Waters into Public Sewers* CWTP* 1 TSS, mg/l 30-200 50 600 Shall pass 850-micron Shall pass 850-micron Sieve 2 Particle size of TSS Sieve 3 pH Value 5.5 to 9.0 5.5 to 9.0 5.5 to 9.0 o 1 4 Temperature C <40 <40 45 5 TDS, mg/L, max 2100 6 Color and Odor BOD for 5 days at 20 30-100 50 400 7 degree C, mg/L Max Oils and grease, 10 10 50 8 mg/L, Max, Max Phenolic compounds, m1 1 10 9 mg/ 1 Cyanides (as CN), 0.2 0.2 2 0 mg/L, Max 1 Sulfides (as S), mg/L, 2 2 2 1 Max 318 Wastewater into inland S Industrial waste into Industrial Effluents Parameters Surface Waters from N Inland Surface Waters into Public Sewers* CWTP* Sulphates (SO4), 500 mg/L, Max Radioactive materials: 1 a. Alpha emitters, 10−7 10−7 2 c/ml, Max b. Beta emitters, c/ml, 10−8 10−8 Max 1 Absent Absent Absent Insecticides 3 1 Total residual 1 1 1000 as chlorides 4 chlorine, mg/L 1 Fluorides (as F), 2 2 10 5 mg/L, Max 1 Arsenic (as AS), 0.2 0.2 1 6 mg/L, Max 1 Cadmium (as, Cd), 2 2 2 7 mg/L, Max 1 Hexavalent chromium 0.1 0.1 2 8 (as Cr), mg/L, Max 1 Copper (as Cu), mg/L, 3 3 3 9 Max 2 Lead (as Pb), mg/L, 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 Max 2 Mercury (as Hg), 0.01 0.01 0.01 1 mg/L, Max 2 Nickel (as Ni), mg/L, 3 3 3 2 Max 2 Selenium (as Se), 0.05 0.05 0.05 3 mg/L, Max 2 Zinc (as Zn), mg/L, 5 5 5 4 Max 2 Sodium, %, max 5 2 Ammoniacal nitrogen, 50 50 50 6 mg/L, Max 2 250 250 1000 COD, mg/L, Max 7 2 0.1 0.1 0.1 Silver, mg/L, Max 8 2 Mineral Oils, mg/L, 10 9 Max Inhibition of <50% 3 nitrification test at 0 200ml/l Source: MOEN, 2010 Notes: CWTP= Combined Waste Water Treatment Plant; Under enforcement since BS 2058/1/17 (30 April 2001); *Under enforcement since BS 2060/3/9 (23 June 2003); 1 Shall not exceed 40oC in any section within 15 m downstream from the effluent outlet 319 Table 2.3: Nepal Noise Standards Leq (dB) Area Day Night Remarks a Industrial 75 70 Passenger car at 65 miles per hour at 25 feet registers 77 dB Commercial 65 55 50 dB(A) is typical of conversation in a restaurant or office Urban Residential 55 50 50 dB(A) is typical of conversation at home, large electrical transformers at 100 feet Rural Residential Area 45 40 Mixed Residential Area 63 55 Peaceful Area 50 40 Water Pump Max: 65 dB Diesel Generator Max: 90 dB Entertainment Means Max: 70 dB Note a: http://www.industrialnoisecontrol.com/comparative-noise-examples.htm Table 2.4 Currently Operational Diesel Generator Emission Standards Category (kW) CO HC NOx PM kW<8 8 1.3 9.2 1.0 8<19 6.6 1.3 9.2 0.85 19<37 6.5 1.3 9.2 0.85 37<75 6.5 1.3 9.2 0.85 75<130 5 1.3 9.2 0.7 130<560 5 1.3 9.2 0.54 Table 2.5 Imported Diesel Generator Emission Standards Category (kW) CO HC+NOx PM kW<8 8 7.5 0.8 8<19 6.6 7.5 0.8 19<37 5.5 7.5 0.6 37<75 5 4.7 0.4 75<130 5 4 0.3 130<560 3.5 4 0.2 Table 2.6 Light and Over 2.5 Ton Commercial Vehicle Emission Standards Limit Values, Grams per Kilometer Type of Vehicle Mass of CO Mass of HC Mass of NOx L CV (RM=<1305 Kg) 2.3 0.2 0.15 L CV (1305>RM< or =1760 Kg) 4.17 0.25 0.18 L CV (RM > 1760 Kg) 5.22 0.29 0.21 Table 2.7: Emission Standards for Over 3.5 Tons Passenger Heavy Vehicle Limit Values, Grams per Kilowatt hour per meter Mass of CO Mass of HC Mass of NOx Mass of PM Smoke 2.1 0.66 5 0.1 0.8 320 Table 2.8: Parameters of National Drinking Water Quality Standards applicable for Rural Surface Water Supply Systems Maximum Category Parameter Unit Concentration Limits Remarks Physical Turbidity NTU 5(10) pH 6.5-8.5* Color TCU 5(15) Taste & Odor Non objectionable Electrical Conductivity µS/cm 1500 Chemical Iron mg/l 0.3(3) Manganese mg/l 0.2 Chromium mg/l 0.05 Fluoride mg/l 0.5-1.5* Ammonia mg/l 1.5 Nitrate mg/l 50 Total Hardness mg/l 500 Calcium mg/l 200 In systems using Residual Chlorine mg/l 0.1-0.2* chlorination MPN /100 Microbiological E-Coli ml 0 MPN /100 Total Coliform ml 0 in 95% samples * These values represent minimum and maximum concentration limits.