Summary Environmental Impact Assessment Gansu

SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

GANSU ROADS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

IN THE

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

July 2004

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 1 July 2004)

Currency Unit – yuan (CNY) CNY1.00 = $0.1208 1.00 = CNY8.2766

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB – Asian Development Bank AIDS – acquired immune deficiency syndrome COD – chemical oxygen demand CRO – county resettlement office EIA – environmental impact assessment EMP – environmental management plan EPB – environmental protection bureau ErPP – soil erosion prevention plan GCSO – general contract supervision office GPCD – Gansu Provincial Communications Department GPG – Gansu Provincial Government GWRB – Gansu Water Resource Bureau HIV – human immunodeficiency virus IEE – initial environmental examination I/M – inspection and maintenance KMNRMD – Kongtong Mountain Nature Reserve Management Department MOC – Ministry of Communications NH – national highway NR – nature reserve PMO – project management office PRC – People’s Republic of China PRO – project resettlement office RP – resettlement plan SEIA – summary environmental impact assessment SEPA – State Environmental Protection Administration STD – sexually transmitted disease TA – technical assistance TOR – terms of reference TSP – total suspended particles

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

dB(A) – decibels (measured in audible noise bands) ha – hectare km – kilometer m – meter m2 – square meter m3 – cubic meter mm – millimeter mte – medium truck equivalent pcu – passenger car unit pH – acidity t – ton

NOTE

In this report, "$" refers to US dollars. CONTENTS

MAPS I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 1 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 3

A. Physical Environment 3 B. Ecological Environment 7 C. Sociocultural Environment 8

IV. ALTERNATIVES 9 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 11

A. Soil Erosion and Flooding 15 B. Noise 17 C. Water 18 D. Air 19 E. Impact on Natural Preservation Area of Kongtong Mountain 20 F. Impact on Flora and Fauna 22 G. Transport of Hazardous and Toxic Materials 22 H. Vehicle Emissions 22 I. Cumulative Impacts on the Western Part of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 23 J. Industrial Development Induced by the Project 24 K. Local Road Environmental Impact 25 L. Environmental Impacts Due to Deviation of Alignment 25

VI. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT 25

A. Environmental Mitigation Costs 25 B. Environmental Benefits 26

VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 26 VIII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE 29 IX. CONCLUSION 31

APPENDIXES

1. Summary of Soil Erosion Prevention Plan 33 2. Mitigation Costs 38 3. Environmental Management Action Plan 40 4. Summary of Public Consultation Program 51 5. Summary Resettlement Plan 57

I. INTRODUCTION

1. This summary environmental impact assessment (SEIA) report is primarily based on information contained in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report1 for the Project’s expressway component, which was prepared by Tsinghua University; as well as the initial environmental examination (IEE) for the local road component prepared under technical assistance (TA).2 The SEIA report follows the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Environmental Policy and Environmental Assessment Guidelines. Additional information was obtained through a series of meetings with local environmental, socioeconomic, and resettlement specialists as well as with project planners, design engineers, and officers from the Gansu Provincial Communications Department (GPCD), which is the Executing Agency for the Project. Direct observations during site visits to the project area further improved understanding of the Project’s general setting and surrounding environmental conditions. The SEIA also draws on information from the resettlement plan3 (RP), the project feasibility study report,4 soil erosion prevention plan,5 and the work of the TA team. Data in the EIA and the other reports were updated, where appropriate, during the SEIA’s preparation, following ADB's safeguard policies and environmental assessment guidelines.

2. In March 2003, GPCD commissioned Tsinghua University to conduct the EIA. University staff visited field to prepare terms of reference (TOR) for GPCD in October 2003. The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) approved the TOR in January 2004. Based on the TOR, Tsinghua University completed the draft EIA in May 2004 on the alignment shown in the revised feasibility study report and preliminary design drawings, finalized the draft EIA, and submitted it to the Ministry of Communications (MOC) for review in July 2004. The EIA will be submitted to SEPA for approval.

3. The EIA report was prepared using methodologies and standards consistent with relevant guidelines established by SEPA and MOC of the People's Republic of China (PRC), as well as in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

4. The Project contains two main physical work components: (i) the construction of a 231- kilometer (km)-long four-lane controlled-access expressway from Luohandong to Dingxi, and (ii) upgrading of five local roads of about 460 km. In addition, the Project will acquire land and right- of-way required for this physical work. It will also include road safety improvement, construction supervision, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and human resources development. Key features of the Project are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. The location of the Project is shown in Map 1.

5. The main objectives of the Project are to (i) promote economic growth, (ii) reduce poverty in the eastern part of Gansu Province through better and safer traffic conditions and

1 Environmental Impact Assessment Department, Tsinghua University. 2004. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Luohandong-Dingxi Expressway. 2 ADB. 2003. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Gansu Roads Development Project. Manila. 3 Ningxia Poverty Reduction and Environmental Improvement Center. 2004. Resettlement Action Plan. 4 Gansu Provincial Communications Planning, Survey and Design Institute. Feasibility Study. Originally completed in May 2003 and revised in March 2004. 5 Beijing Water Resource Research Institute, Ministry of Water Resources. 2004. Soil Erosion Prevention Plan Report for the Luohandong-Dingxi Expressway. 2 provide access to poor rural areas, and (iii) contribute to regional development. The Project will accomplish the objectives by (i) alleviating congestion, reducing travel time and vehicle operating costs, and improving road safety; and (ii) improving the access of the poor rural population to market centers. While contributing to poverty reduction, the Project will also support reforms relating to road safety, vehicle emissions, and corporate governance.

Table 1: Key Features of the Expressway Componenta

Item Quantity Item Quantity Total Length (km) 257.4 Permanent Land Occupied (ha) 1,148.1 Design Speed (km/h) 80 and 100 Temporary Land Occupied (ha) 102.3 Road Surface width (m) 24.5 and 25.5 House Demolition (m2) 55,611.5 Auxiliary Road (km) 94 Total Earth Work (10 million m3) 36.0 No. of Interchanges 13 Total Stone Work (10 million m3) 4.1 No. of Grade-Separated 16 Cut (10 million m3) 22.3 Crossings No. of Culverts 652 Fill (10 million m3) 31.1 No. of Bridges 143 Borrow (10 million m3) 17.8 No. of Crossings 260 Spoil (10 million m3) 8.9 No. of Tunnels 6 Total Workforce (10 million person days ) 3.6 No. of Services Areas 5 No. of Crossings per km 1.4 Costs (CNY billion) 7,245 Construction Time (year) 5.0 a Including 26 km connecting road from Changqingqiao to Luohandong that will use domestic fund. ha=hectare, km=kilometer, km/h=kilometer per hour, m=meter, m2=square meter, m3=cubic meter. Source: Feasibility study report, environmental impact assessment, soil erosion prevention plan, and resettlement plan, 2004.

Table 2: Key Features of the Local Road Component

Length Improvement Costs Costs/km No. Start–Finish (km) From To (CNY million) (CNY ’000) 1. Pingliang–Gaozhai 40.0 IV III 24.1 602.0 2. Jiingyuan–Chankou 117.4 IV III 65.6 559.0 3. Guochengyi– 118.0 IV III 153.4 1,300.0 Houjiachuan 4. Pingfeng–Qinan 104.4 IV III 49.9 922.0 5. Dingxi–Longxi 80.0 III III 88.9 1,111.0 (paving only) Total 459.8 381.9 km=kilometer. Source: Gansu Provincial Communications Department.

6. The existing road between Lanzhou and Xi’an consists of a section of national highway (NH) 312 that stretches between Shanghai and Huoerguosi in the Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. It is a combination of Class I and Class II roads, and urban streets. The topography throughout the major part of NH312 in the project area is loess and mountains. Traffic congestion on some sections, especially during the rainy season is due mainly to landslides. Travel time from Lanzhou to Xi’an via NH312 is currently about 15 hours, and current average traffic volume is estimated at about 5,786 passenger car units (pcus) per day. Delays are frequent because of difficult road conditions, small radius curves, and low design speed. The incidence of accidents is also high. The project expressway will increase corridor capacity to about 55,000 pcus per day and reduce travel time to about 7 hours.

7. As part of the poverty reductions element of the Project, five county and village roads, about 460 km long, were identified for improvement. Of this, about 23 km will be new construction and the rest mainly rehabilitation and upgrading work that will not have significant negative environmental impacts. The roads were selected on the basis of community needs,

population served, and presence of poor and very poor families. The improvements are predicted to serve about 728,250 people and will cost CNY382 million.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

A. Physical Environment

1. Topography, Geology, and Soil

a. Expressway Area

8. The project expressway will pass though three major areas. The first is the Jing River Valley from Luohandong to Kongtong Mountain, which averages 1.4 km wide and possesses a floodplain and terraces. The terraces are 2–10 meters (m) higher than the wide and shallow riverbed, while the floodplain is only 60-80 cm higher than the riverbed. The second area is Kongtong gorge, which is the lower part of Liupanshan Mountain gorge. Jing River Valley in this area is deep with a tortuous river way and steep mountains on both sides. The third area runs from Siqiao to Dingxi and is mostly covered by thick loess. Here, loess tableland and massive V- shaped gullies are common.

9. The project expressway corridor consists of Quaternary, Tertiary, Cretaceous, Triassic, Carboniferous, Devonian, Ordovician, and Cambrian period gravels, sands, and loess silts. Table 3 summarizes the major geological and soil characteristics of the area.

10. Soil in and around the area includes grey cinnamon soil, loess soil, fluvo-aquic soil, sierozem, and laterite soil, the major one being loess. The Project will impact on virgin land surface totalling 2,017 ha, with total erosion amounting to 8.8 million tons (t). Current soil erosion intensity in the project area is 2,402 t/km2/year. It will increase to 13,055 t/km2/year at the early stage of construction but will decrease to 2,950 t/km2/year during the operation of the Project.

Table 3: Geological and Soil Characteristics Along the Preferred Alignment

Location Geological and Soil Characteristics K0–K1 Sandy clay of low liquid limit

K1–K6 Silty clay of low liquid limit

K6–K26 Sandy clay of low liquid limit

K26–K80 Using exit National Highway 312

K80–K127 Jing River valley is covered by alluvial loess of the Holocene Period, Quaternary System, with a thickness of 2–10 cm that is supported by cobble and whetstone accompanied by sands 5–12 cm deep. The bottom side is covered by mudstone from the Cretaceous Period. Sand liquefaction appears in a silt layer. Loess has the character of collapsing when groundwater is present. Farmlands in the valley of Jing River will be partly affected by the planned expressway.

Location Geological and Soil Characteristics K127–K136 In the low mountainous areas of Liupan Mountain range, the expressway enters Gorge of Kongtong Mountain, which possesses a deep valley, tortuous channels, and steep mountains on both sides. Silty clay and detritus appear on gentle mountain slopes. The naked base courses are mainly from the Triassic and Cretaceous Periods and are inelastic in character. Landslip and talus are distributed at K131+230-K131+800, which belong to the Experimental Zone of the Kongtong Mountain natural reserve (a provincial natural protection area of Gansu Povince).

K202–K334 This section is located on a loess plateau and consists of a loess ridge and hill and gullies. Alluvial loess, accompanied by cobble and gravel from the Holocene Period Quaternary System, is deposited there and is 20–30 m deep. Loess of the Pleistocene Period accumulated by wind is distributed on hillsides where bedrock is scattered including mudstone, sandstone, conglomerate, slate, phyllite, and limestone. The loess there is collapsible in character. There are loess sinks on both sides of the river valley with some landslide sections. Natural vegetation includes mainly sparse herbage, which is ecologically fragile. Source: Environmental impact assessment report, 2004.

b. Local Road Area

11. Pingliang-Gaozhai. This road is located in Pingliang District and Zhenyuan County. It passes over tableland between Zhenyuan and Pingliang, excluding sections that are located at the bottom of a mountain. Most of the landform is flat and the ground surface is covered for the most part by loess of the Upper Pleistocene Period (Quaternary System), with some loess from the Holocene Period. The soil in and around the project area includes grey cinnamon soil, loessial soil, sierozem, laterite and fluvo-aquic soil. The major soil type is loessial soil and sierozem.

12. Pingfeng-Qin’an, Jingyuan-Chankou, Dingxi-Longxi and Guochengyi-Houjiachuan. These roads are located on a loess plateau and consist of a loess ridge, hill, and gullies. Alluvial loess accompanied by cobble and gravel from the Holocene Period (Quaternary System) is deposited there and is about 20–30 m deep. Loess of the Pleistocene Period accumulated by wind is distributed on hillsides, which have scattered bedrock that includes mudstone, sandstone, conglomerate, slate, phyllite, and limestone. Loess is collapsible in character and there are loess sinks on both sides of the river valley that experience landslides. Natural vegetation consists mainly of sparse herbage. The soil in and around the project area includes grey cinnamon soil, loessial soil, sierozem, laterite, and fluvo-aquic soil. The major soil type is loessial soil, which accounts for 91% of the soil in Kongtong District and 62% in Jingchuan County.

2. Climate

13. The project area is in a temperate climatic zone possessing four seasons and a dry climate with low but centralized rainfall. Annual precipitation ranges from 414 millimeters (mm) in the arid Dingxi, Huining, and Jingning Counties to 692 mm in Pingliang City and Jingchuan County. Evaporation is high, ranging from 1,131 to 1,736 mm. There are snow deposits and ice for several months in the winter and spring.

5 3. Air Quality, Water Quality, and Noise Level

14. Air Quality. Except for the Pingliang Power Plant and Jinshun Brickfield in Huasuo township, there is no industrial air emission source along the expressway alignment. Existing area air emission comes from rural living and agricultural activities and traffic on rural roads. Air monitoring results in the EIA indicate that the NO2 concentration is far below the applicable standard. However, the daily total suspended particles (TSP) concentration in Wulipu is about twice the standard (Table 4). Since background TSP levels regularly rise above PRC standards, the generation of dust and the suspension of other particulates during quarrying, cement factory operations, or earthen roads construction and operation require monitoring and control.

Table 4: Air Quality in the Project Area (mg/m3)

Wulipu Kongtong Gorge Dongxi Reservoir

Date of Monitoring NO2 TSP NO2 TSP NO2 TSP 14 April 2004 0.029 0.601 0.011 0.129 0.036 0.126 15 April 2004 0.024 0.621 0.008 0.168 0.033 0.152 16 April 2004 0.023 0.528 0.007 0.102 0.026 0.104 Class II Standard (GB3095-1996) 0.12 0.3 0.12 0.3 0.12 0.3

NO2 = nitrogen dioxide, TSP = total suspended particles. Source: Environmental Impact Assessment report, 2004.

15. Water Quality. The road will pass through Liupanshan Mountain, which is the watershed of Wei River and Jing River systems. Wei River is a branch of the Yellow River. Tributaries of Wei River include Hulu River, Zuli River, and Jing River. These rivers are used mostly for irrigation except for Jing River, which is a water source. The expressway will pass by other water sources, including Dongxia Reservoir and the Class II water source protection area of Jingchuan County. There is no industrial wastewater discharge in the project area, and domestic sewage is the major source of water pollution.

16. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), acidity (pH), oil, NH3-N, and volatile phenols were measured in Zu River, Jing River, Hulu River, and Dongxia Reservoir. In Zu River, NH3-N is 11– 44 times the PRC limit of 2 mg/m3, and thus water quality has seriously deteriorated. The major reason for this high pollution is that monitoring is conducted during the dry season when there is only a small amount of water in the river, mostly wastewater from the county industry. In Dongxia Reservoir, except for the COD being 1.13–1.15 times the standard limit, factors are within the applicable standards. In Jing River, water quality is within the applicable Class III standard upstream, but exceeds this limit downstream and at sections of Jingchuan County. The major pollutants are NH3-N and volatile phenols (Table 5).

Table 5: Water Quality in the Project Area, 2004

COD Oil Applicable Current Site pH (mg/L) (mg/L) Standard Status Zu River Bridge 7.8–8.1 37–56 0–0.91 V >V Hulu River 8.6–8.9 10.6–22.4 — V >V Jing River 8.4–8.8 10.8–24.1 — III III–V Dongxia Reservoir 7.9–8.95 II II–III Standard (GB3838-2002) Class 6–9 15/20/40 0.05/0.05/1 II/III/V COD=chemical oxygen demand, mg/L=milligrams per liter, >V means worse than class V. Source: Environmental Impact Assessment report, 2004.

6 17. Noise. A total of 171 receptors along the expressway alignment, including the connector roads, have been identified as sensitive to increased noise because of their nature and proximity to the proposed expressway. There are 127 villages with a total of 16,767 households, 41 schools with 12,991 students and teachers, and 3 hospitals with 43 sickbeds along the expressway alignment. All facilities are within 200 m of the proposed expressway. Villages and other facilities beyond the 200 m range are considered less sensitive to noise from expressway traffic because noise intensity lessens in volume over distance.

18. A 1-day noise monitoring program was conducted at 33 noise-sensitive receptors near the expressway (one hospital, two villages, 30 schools) as part of the EIA. The results range from 45 to 53 dB(A) during the day and from 32 to 45 dB(A) during the night for villages from 49 to 63 dB(A) during the day for schools, and 54 dB(A) during the day and 42 dB(A) during the night for the hospital (Table 6). The noise levels were basically well below applicable national standards, although noise at the four schools was slightly higher than the standard. The monitoring results indicate good acoustic quality under existing conditions.

Table 6: Noise Levels in the Project Area

Daytime dB(A) Nighttime dB(A) Stake Observed Observed No. Monitoring Location Number Level Standard Level Standard 1 School of Goumenqian k7+000 51.6 60 42.6 — 2 School of Zijing k14+900 59.6 60 44.3 — 3 School of Leijiagou k17+550 62.9 60 50.0 — 4 School of Nanhe village k19+500 52.0 60 40.1 — 5 School of Tuqianao k22+950 55.7 60 43.8 — 6 School of Wangjiagou k29+400 58.6 60 44.5 — 7 Middle-school in Hot Spring k34+300 52.6 60 41.9 — Development Zone 8 School of Wulipu k44+550 58.1 60 44.0 — 9 School of Ershilipu k49+350 51.6 60 41.8 — 10 School of Xiangming k52+300 63.0 a 60 48.0 — 11 School of Wangcun k54+450 52.7 60 42.1 — 12 School of Baiquan k57+950 52.1 60 41.9 — 13 School of Duntai k61+350 54.1 60 43.4 — 14 School of Duangou K64+50 54.3 60 42.6 — 15 School of Huasuo k65+950 56.0 60 44.8 — 16 Middle-school of Jingchuan k66+150 62.4a 60 49.5 — 17 Hospital of Dongchuan K72+50 53.6 60 42.2 50 18 School of Mengzhai k72+700 54.0 60 41.6 — 19 Middle-school of Baishui k74+950 62.0 a 60 46.7 — 20 School of Malian k80+000 55.3 60 44.8 — 21 School of Wangzhai k81+350 54.3 60 44.7 — 22 School of Yanwu k108+300 53.4 60 41.0 — 23 School of Wangping k109+300 54.1 60 40.9 — 24 Xingguang School of Jiangjiagou k123+650 49.4 60 41.5 — 25 School of Xigou k128+050 46.2 60 40.3 — 26 Siqiao Village k202+600 53.3 70 44.6 55 27 Balipu Village k214+300 54.7 70 32.0 55 28 School of Dachuan K250+700 46.3 60 31.8 — 29 School of Niuping K261+500 46.3 60 31.8 — 30 School of Ji’er K293+500 54.4 60 52.7 — 31 Middle School of Ji’er K294+950 55.9 60 52.7 — 32 School of Xiawan K316+100 64.4a 60 57.7 — 33 School of Huacha K327+900 48.2 60 40.2 — dB(A)=decibels (measured in audible noise bands). a Exceeds the applicable standard. Source: Environmental impact assessment report, 2004.

7 B. Ecological Environment

19. The main agricultural resources in the project area are summarized in Table 7.

Table 7: Agricultural Resources of the Project Area

Item Quantity/Type Cultivated Land (ha) 482,734 (expressway area) Main Crops Rice, corn, sweet potato, bean, sugarcane, cassava, sesame, etc. Fruits Apples, pears, grapes, date, apricots, peaches Forest White poplar, acacia, paulownia, Chinese toon, Chinese pine, armand pine, arborvitae, trembling aspen, birch, red birch, tung oil, walnut, chestnut, etc. Livestock and Poultry Cattle, horses, mule, donkeys, camels, pig, sheep, goats, chicken, goose ha=hectare. Source: Environmental impact assessment report and Gansu Yearbook, 2004.

20. Vegetation in the project area consists mainly of species of grass because of climatic constraints. Jingchuan County has 9 genera and 430 species of foliage resources including medicinal plants. Pingliang City has 51 families, 84 genera, and 254 species of plants including over 100 species of marketable and medicinal plants. Natural vegetation in Jingning County comprises mainly sparse herbage. Vegetation in Huining Country includes natural vegetation and hybrid vegetation, with natural vegetation being mainly sparse herbage. Bred vegetation comprises planted trees and grass. Vegetation in Dingxi County includes both natural and hybrid vegetation.

21. The majority of wildlife in the project area is located mainly in Kongtong Mountain Nature Reserve, which has been designated by Gansu environmental protection bureau (EPB) as a provincially protected nature reserve (NR). The NR has about 1,000 species of foliage, 25 orders, 64 families, and 243 species of vertebrates. Foliage resources include 30 species of fern, 15 species of gymnosperm, 703 species of angiosperm, and 20 species of fungi, among which 4 species are under national Class III protection: yellow milfoil (Astragalus membranacens Bunge), wild soybean (Glycine soja sieb. Et Zucc.), walnut (Juglans mandshurica Maxim.) and purple peony (Paeonia rockii S.G.HAW et L.A. Lauener). Vertebrates include 6 species of fish, 6 species of amphibian, 11 species of reptiles, 5 species of arachnid, 41 species of mammals, and about 179 species of birds (Table 8).

Table 8: Major Fauna in Kongtong Nature Reserve Item Major Fauna Species (No.) Fish Herring, grass carp, chub, carp, bighead carp, loach 6 Amphibian Giant salamander (Megalobatracus davidianus, class II), frog, 6 hoptoad Reptile Gecko, tortoise, snakes, lizard, etc. 11 Mammal Leopard (Panthera pardus, class I), musk deer (Moschus 41 berezovskii, class II), wolf, fox, hare, squirrel, yellow weasel, myospalax, ermine, wild boar, deer, jackal, etc. Bird Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetas, class I), bustard (Otis tarda, About 179 class I), merlin (Falco subbuteo, class II), red feet kestrel (Falco vespertinus, class II), Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, class II), Falco neregrinus (class II), darwins pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha, class II), golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus, class II), common crane (Grus grus, class II), etc.

8 22. Because of the long history of intensive human activities along the project alignment, natural forests and wildlife activity in the immediate area are limited. There are no protected or endangered species in the experimental zone. Since the alignment is separated from the core zone by two gorges and one mountain, which are located 2 km away from the alignment at the nearest, endangered animal species are unlikely to move from the core zone to the experimental zone.

C. Sociocultural Environment

23. The key social and economic indicators by city/county for the project area are shown in Table 9.

Table 9: Key Social and Economic Indicators of Project Area Item Jingchuan Kongtong Jingninga Huininga Andinga Total Population (103) 340.1 485.8 471.8 584.6 475.9 Population Growth Rate (%) 6.2 6.1 6.8 7.5 6.7 Agricultural Population (103) 313.0 339.0 443.0 559.0 400.0 Non-agricultural Population (103) 30.0 150.0 30.0 30.0 80.0 GDP (CNY108) 9.8 28.2 8.5 8.7 8.9 Economic Growth Rate (%) 9.0 8.0 10.0 11.0 10.0 Per Capita Income of Rural HH 1,551.0 1,958.0 1,290.0 1,251.0 1,418.0 Per Capita Income of Urban 4,681.0 5,467.0 — 5,014.0 5,015.0 Rural Poverty Incidence (%) b 29.0 32.0 47.0 42.0 33.0 Urban Poverty Incidence (%) 5.0 13.0 4.0 11.0 13.0 Health Care Institutes (No.) 23.0 333.0 34.0 40.0 29.0 Hospital Beds/1,000 persons 2.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 Length of Roads (km) 294.0 402.0 429.0 1,096.0 934.0 Village with Pipe Water (%) 65.0. 550.0 12.0 2.0 5.0 HH Benefit from Pipe Water (%) 60.0 50.0 9.0 1.0 7.0 Village with Electricity Access (%) 99.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Village with Radio Access (%) 94.0 58.0 71.0 92.0 100.0 Village with Road Access (%) 99.0 98.0 100.0 97.0 — Village with TV Access (%) 96.0 92.0 87.0 77.0 100.0 No. of Schools 300.0 317.0 389.0 623.0 384.0 Adult Literacy Rate (%) 99.0 85.0 95.0 93.0 96.0 Total Area (ha) 140,900.0 193,600.0 219,300.0 643,900.0 363,900.0 Total Farming Land (ha) 53,920.0 65,207.0 98,387.0 150,567.0 114,653.0 Forestland (ha) 31,600.0 39,500.0 1,300.0 15,800.0 3,200.0 Grassland (ha) 6,520.0 7,400.0 72,300.0 215,800.O 112,500.0 Forest/Grass Cover (%) 34.9 24.2 22.8 18.8 20.1 Mineral Resource Petroleum and Coal, Quartzitic, Limestone, Andalusite, coal limestone, limestone, Glauber's salt, Well salt, etc. etc. coal Glauber's etc. salt, etc. Tourist Resource Communication 10 cultural Ancient silk Historic places Siwa Mt., Tomb center of Silk relics road, Qin of three army of Boyi and road, including dynasty great forces,Tiemu Shuqi, Qin Nanshikushi the national wall, Mt., Taohua Mt. dynasty great grotto is key scenery Liupanshan wall, Guiqing national zone Mt. Mt. protection cultural relic unit. ha=hectare, HH=households, Mt.=mountain. a National poverty county b Based on the CNY865 poverty line. Source: Soil erosion prevention plan, environmental impact assessment, and Gansu yearbook, 2003.

24. The project area is classified predominantly as rural and has about 2.36 million people. The economy is driven primarily by agriculture and the production of cash crops such as wheat, corn, potato, and market-garden vegetables and fruit. Agriculture is the main employer and dominates the directly affected counties except Kongtong District. Three of the five counties in the direct project area are designated as national poverty counties. Residents experience water scarcity, serious erosion, limited infrastructure, and harsh climatic conditions. More than 70% of the area suffered flood and drought in 2002. The design of the project road is in accordance with the Technical Standards of Expressway Engineering and the Technical Standards of Expressway Drainage Design issued by MOC, which includes a 100-year return period for flood prevention. The drainage system will channel floodwaters to rivers so that the roadbed will not be washed out.

25. The project area has a long history of poverty mainly because of the extremely poor transportation access and prolonged drought conditions. Poverty has been reduced through road construction and the provision of irrigation and drinking water. However, about 34.8% of the population are still categorized as poor (per capita annual income below CNY865).

26. The Queen Mother’s Palace, also known as the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas, is about 1 km west of the town of Jingchuan near the confluence of Jing River and Na River. The Palace, which was built in the Beiwei dynasty and has a history of about 1,500 years, contains 1,000 Buddha statues. It is an important pilgrimage place for Daoists and has been designated as a provincial cultural site. The statues have been well preserved and are in good condition. The recommended alignment is about 400 m north of the Queen Mother’s Palace and therefore has no impact on the Palace.

IV. ALTERNATIVES

27. Minimum Action Alternative. Luohandong and Dingxi are currently linked by NH312. NH 312 is a Class II (with portions in Class I and III) road in fair condition that does not satisfy local traffic volumes or safety standards. It passes through many townships and villages without access control, and many buildings are adjacent to the roadway. As a result, traffic conditions are poor and congestion and traffic accidents are a problem. In 2002, 227 accidents on the Gansu section of NH312 resulted in 69 fatalities, 47 people injured, and CNY779,000 in economic losses. With traffic volume increasing yearly, the accident rate is also rising. Leaving existing conditions unchanged obviously would not help enhance economic development and reduce poverty. On the other hand, widening NH312 would cause significant relocation and incur high costs that are unacceptable to provincial and local authorities.

28. Road vs Railway. Currently, there are two railway lines for both passengers and cargo from Lanzhou to Xi’an. One is Lanzhou–Zhongwei (in Ningxia)–Guyuan (Ningxia)–Pingliang– Baoji (Shaanxi)–Xi’an. The other is Lanzhou–Dingxi–Tianshui–Baoji–Xi’an. In addition, another route from Baoji to Lanzhou is almost complete. The Ministry of Railway (MOR) is planning to construct a line exclusively for passengers from Lanzhou to Xi’an. Given this situation, it is not necessary to build more railways in the project area.

29. Road vs Airport. There is no plan to construct a new airport in the area because the very low income of people makes flying unaffordable to them. An airport in Qingyang City was abandoned due to lack of demand.

10 30. Alternative Corridors. From west to east are two corridors (G310 and G309) parallel to the project alignment (which essentially runs along NH312). G310 crosses the west part of Qinling Mountain and the Valley of Wei River and the topography is complex. The traffic volume for this route is 2,075 medium truck equivalent (mte)/day. Traffic volume for G309, is only 419 vehicles/day (in Huining County). Thus, the proposed alignment is the major route in the project area. It is part of the main national east-west expressway from Qingdao (Shandong Province) to Hongqilapu (Xinjiang Autonomous Region), and is one of the four major east-west trunk expressways in the Gansu road network. It is also an important route for connecting Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia.

31. Alternative Routes. The expressway alignment was selected after considering six alternative alignments. The selection process involved site inspection; geological and topographical surveys; terrain considerations; discussions with community representatives; and initial assessment of costs, benefits, and relative impacts. Table 10 summarizes the key differences among the six alternatives.

Table 10: Key Differences among Alternative Alignments

Alt 4 Selected Alt-1 Alt 2 Alt 3 Huining Alt 5 Alignment Jingchuan Pingliang Siqiao to County Taipingdian Item (Rank) Bypass Bypass Taipingdian Bypass to Zhaisuo Approximate Length (km) 257.426 (2) -0.38 +0.362 +2.68 -0.473 +0.412 Subgrade Volume (m3) 40.2X106 (3) -771 m3 -947 +5,042 +1,841 +751 Earth Disturbance Area (ha) 2,017(3) Less Less More More More Soil Erosion (1,000 t) 8,751(4) Less Less More Less More Bridge (m) 20,373 (5) -71.1 -4,898 -524 -682 -327 Tunnel (m) 9,900 (2) Same Same -1,810 Same Same Culvert (no.) 652 (1) +9 +8 +13 +10 Same Interchange (no.) 13 (2) -1 Same +1 Same Same House Removal (m2) 55,611 (3) +3179 -2,041 -1,962 +10,536 +7,580 Cultivated Land Affected (ha) 720 (5) -20 -45 -10 -156 +3 Woodland and Wasteland 409(5) -24 +24 -21 -52 -4 (ha) Water Sources 3 3 3 3 3 3 Cross River 9 (2) -2 Same +1 +2 Same Vegetation Disturbance (1) Same More More More More including Dongshan forest park Master Plan and Social Meet the Affect Conflict Affect Cross Affect Impact Master plans Queen with NH312, Martyr NH312 Mother master poor mausoleu Palace plan geology m Affected Schools (no.) 41 (2) +2 -1 +1 +6 2 Affected Villages (no.) 132 (2) +1 -3 +5 +6 3 Cost (CNY104) 724,579(4) -13,357 -15,531 +2,973 +810 -1,183 Conclusion First NR Second NR NR NR selection selection Alt=alternative, km=kilometer, m=meter, m2=square meter, m3=cubic meter, NR=not recommended. Source: Environmental impact assessment report, soil erosion prevention plan, feasibility study, and resettlement plan.

32. Table 10 shows that the selected option is the middle option in terms of soil erosion and cost. It meets the master plan of the local governments and avoids impacts on the Queen Mother’s Palace and Dongshan Forest Park and impacts less on both natural and human habitats. However, longer bridges and more house removal and land acquisition are needed.

11 While this route is not the best choice purely on environmental grounds, it is the optimum choice based on a balance among competing factors.

33. Key environmental, social, and engineering factors have been used in comparing alternatives, including the amount of soil erosion (related to earth disturbance area, earth/stone work, vegetation disturbance, etc.), house relocation, land acquisition, master plan, and impact on schools and villages. All these factors, including engineering and investment, are considered. The selected alignment is preferred on balance and thus was selected as the final alignment for the expressway.

V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

34. Table 11 summarizes the major impacts from pollution sources and the treatment options.

Table 11: Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures

Pollution Location of Polluting Pollutant Applicable Source and Pollution Mitigation Measures Activity Parameter Standards Period Source Soil erosion Throughout Legal As required by law, a ErPP n

o the project requirement project ErPP has been corridor prepared.

Before onstructi c

Disposal of Throughout Borrow pits will be earthworks the project redeveloped as per (excavation) corridor at all details found in the site materials construction operations plans, the

Loss of Topsoil sites SEIA, and within the

Soil Compaction of ErPP. Spoils may be soil dumped into the Haphazard abandoned borrow onstruction borrowing of rock areas, but must be Degradation of rehabilitated and borrow areas returned to productive

During c Soil erosion and farmland. siltation Contamination of soil by fuel and lubricants

Cut and fill, tree Kongtong Mt. Loss of Careful selection of National cutting, noise and precious alignment to minimize Nature vehicle ecology impact. Getting approval Reserve emissions, from the Gansu Forest Protection induced pollution Bureau, EPB and Law from tourism Kongtong Nature Reserve Management Office before construction. No borrow pit or spoil site is allowed in the experimental zone of

Before and during construction Kongtong Mt. Nature Encroachment on precious ecology Reserve.

Pollution Location of Polluting Pollutant Applicable Source and Pollution Mitigation Measures Activity Parameter Standards Period Source

Noise from Construction 70–75 dB in Low-noise, efficient GB12523-90 vehicles, plants, site daytime and machines should be and equipment 55 dB at night given priority. Noise from During the late night to

onstruction blasting early morning, such as operations from 22:00 to 6:00, noisy Erection of noise machinery will not attenuation operate. During c structures Noise

Traffic noise Along the line Varies Relocate facilities or Satisfy the erect sound barrier standard for based on monitoring functional

peration results, especially in the zones section from Taipingdian to Shibalipu where excessive noise impacts During o are anticipated. Loss of water Throughout Water level Any source of water RP sources the project (potable or otherwise) for requirement corridor, all the community, such as access wells and ponds roads, sites incidentally lost will be temporarily replaced immediately. acquired, and all borrow areas Flooding Project Varies Prevent temporary or FIDIC: 19.1(c) corridor, permanent flooding of FIDIC: 29.1 access the site or any adjacent and contract roads, sites area terms and

temporarily conditions acquired, and

borrow areas Revegetation to Entire project Varies Revegetation will be FIDIC: 19.1(c) uality q

onstruction prevent erosion corridor, all done immediately after PRC Law: and siltation access construction ceases at a 49-‘91 and Water ring c roads, and site, and no tree or Reg. No. 120

Du temporary vegetation other than sites those approved for removal by the Gansu Forestry Bureau will be cut. Alteration of Throughout Varies In sections along FIDIC: 19.1(c) drainage the project watercourses and areas corridor, all close to cross-drainage access channels, earth, stone, roads, sites or any other construction temporarily material will be properly acquired, and disposed of so as to not all borrow block the flow or areas drainage of water.

Pollution Location of Polluting Pollutant Applicable Source and Pollution Mitigation Measures Activity Parameter Standards Period Source Contamination of Throughout COD, BOD (i) All necessary FIDIC: 19.1 water from the project measures will be taken (c) construction Site corridor, to prevent contamination waste access by wastewater produced roads, sites in construction as temporarily directed by GEC. acquired, and (ii) Construction work FIDIC: 26.1 cut/borrow close to the streams or GB: 8978- sites water bodies will be 1996 avoided during rainy periods. (iii) The discharge standards promulgated under PRC regulation GB: 8978-1996 will be strictly adhered to.

Contamination Throughout COD, BOD, Waste petrochemicals FIDIC: 19.1 from project petroleum must be collected, (c) petrochemicals corridor and stored, and taken to FIDIC: 26.1 at associated approved disposal sites work sites in compliance with PRC guidelines Sanitation and Work sites, COD, BOD, Primary treatment if Good waste disposal in living sites petroleum, needed by larger camps engineering construction etc. practice camps

High density Entrances Mud and Sedimentation Recyclable wastewater and exits of sand after residue from tunnels sediment tunneling

Wastewater from Service Areas SS, COD, Oil-contaminated GB8978- service areas BOD, wastewater is filtered 1996 Grade petroleum, then recycled; domestic III standards etc. sewage is held in septic peration tanks then sent to urban treatment plants Wastewater from Toll stations SS, COD, Domestic sewage held GB8978- During o toll stations BOD in septic tanks then sent 1996 Grade to urban treatment plants III standards Emissions from Construction Increased Continuous Atmospheric

construction sites, access TSP, NO2, management measures environment vehicles, roads, and SO2, levels at to be imposed at will be equipment, and surrounding construction construction sites impacted to ollution

p machinery areas sites and some extent During

onstruction surrounding during Air c areas construction periods.

Pollution Location of Polluting Pollutant Applicable Source and Pollution Mitigation Measures Activity Parameter Standards Period Source Construction PM10 Sprinkling of road Atmospheric sites and regularly (2 times a day environment access roads at least) will be and Vehicles that carry soil, impacted to Generation of dust surrounding concrete, and lime some extent areas should be covered and during should not be construction

overloaded. periods. Atmospheric Along the Main Enhance road Good road pollution from road, service pollutants are management and management vehicles areas, and smoke, dust, maintenance Keeping the 2 x peration toll stations SO , NO , etc. Strictly perform the tail road in good gas-releasing standard condition. that is required by the During o government.

Vibration, vehicle Queen Loss of Careful selection of Cultural Relic emissions Mother’s historical alignment to minimize Protection Palace values impact Law truction Before cons historical areas Encroachment on Hazardous Whole Serious Careful planning and PRC materials alignment health/safety O&M, and competent Regulation to travelers emergency cleanup. JTJ3130-88 and Emergency response neighbors team with equipment

materials should be planned. and operation Spills of hazardous During construction

Whole Loss of Careful planning to PRC

alignment scenic values minimize and offset Regulation losses JTJ 005-96 Before aesthetics construction Environmental

Whole Without Competent monitoring SEPA

alignment monitoring, during construction management contractor is regulation for not likely to construction comply with project constraints. Construction During construction operations monitoring

Pollution Location of Polluting Pollutant Applicable Source and Pollution Mitigation Measures Activity Parameter Standards Period Source

Whole Without Competent post- EIA Law alignment monitoring, construction monitoring

contractor cannot assess project - adequacy of

Post project

Post construction design. operations monitoring

The border Without Close cooperation with EIA Law with Ningxia consideration relevant Ningxia and

Province of Gansu agencies to environmenta manage nature reserves l protection, in Ningxia and Gansu there may be critical damage to

Cumulative impact the nature reserve in Through the whole project Ningxia.

Whole Without EIAs Total pollutant emission EIA law

alignment for the quantity control policy induced should be followed. EIAs industries, for expansion of industry there may be or new industry should other be strictly conducted. from industry

Induced impact environmenta During operation l problems.

Bypass of Conflict with Careful selection of counties of local alignment to minimize Jingchuan, development impacts. Solicit Jingning, plan comments from local

Before Huining, and governments.

construction Pingliang Impact on the

local master plan City. BOD=biochemical oxygen demand, COD=chemical oxygen demand, dB=decibels, dB(A)=decibel acoustic, EIA=environmental impact assessment, EPB=environmental protection bureau, ErPP=soil erosion prevention plan, FIDIC=Fédération International des Ingenieurs-conseils, GB=guojia biaozhen (national standard),

GEC=Gansu Expressway Company, Grade III=effluent standard from sewage treatment plant, NO2=nitrogen dioxide, NOx=nitrogen oxides, O&M=operation and maintenance, PRC=People's Republic of China, RP=resettlement plan, SEIA=summary environmental impact assessment, SEPA=State Environmental Protection

Administration, SO2=sulfur dioxide, SS=suspended solids, TSP=total suspended particles.

A. Soil Erosion and Flooding

1. Before Construction

35. The provincial government's erosion protection program covers the area potentially affected by the project expressway. A soil erosion prevention plan (ErPP) has been prepared for the Project (Appendix 1). The ErPP and EIA include a series of mitigation measures and outline institutional mechanisms to implement them. The mitigation measures will be incorporated into the project design. The ErPP is based on engineering data from the feasibility study. It will be updated and complemented where necessary by the China Institute of Water Resources Research as the detailed engineering design stage progresses.

36. The geology, geomorphology, hydrology, and soil conditions vary greatly along the proposed expressway alignment, as do the natural angles of repose, rainfall, and drainage conditions. All these factors influence the stability of natural cut and embankment slopes, and necessitate slope stabilization measures.

37. Closely related to slope and drainage protection is the disposal of surplus materials left over from earthworks and tunneling works, and the restoration of borrow pits and quarries. If mitigation measures are not implemented, inadequate disposal of surplus materials and nonrestoration of quarry and borrow pits may result in significant environmental impacts, especially on agricultural land, rivers, and water quality. All temporary and permanent drains will be designed and constructed to ensure the flow of surface water to a water body without eroding natural or built slopes while preventing silt and other material from entering rivers and streams. Catch chambers or settlement ponds should be constructed wherever necessary to prevent material from reaching water bodies.

38. In addition to the drainage system proposed in the ErPP and the project feasibility study, the project design will consider flood prevention based on the PRC Technical Standard of Highway Engineering, including selection of location and height of bridges, culverts, etc., to meet the flood prevention requirement. The return period of anti-flood design is 300 years for extra- large bridges (span >1,000 m), 100 years for other bridges, culverts, and subgrade. The drainage system includes slop drainage, flood detention system, roadside drainage, culverts, drainage in borrow pits and spoil sites, etc. It can meet the requirements of flood prevention.

39. In addition to the design requirements for peak flood levels, the contractor, and as directed by Gansu Expressway Engineering Construction Headquarter, will adopt all measures necessary to prevent temporary or permanent flooding of the construction site or any adjacent area, including prevention of loss of use or access to any land or property resulting from flowing or stagnant water as a direct or indirect impact of construction.

2. During Construction

40. As shown in Table 3, soil characteristics in the area are problematic: (i) sand liquefaction in silt layers, (ii) loess soils that collapse when groundwater is present, and (iii) landslips and landslides. Also noted is the presence of ecologically fragile natural vegetation. Given this condition, construction will bring about soil erosion and silting. Without mitigation measures, soil erosion that will occur as a result of the Project is predicted to be about 8.75 million t. Of this, 8.66 million t can be prevented by implementing the following mitigation measures:

(i) Pay sufficient attention to drainage after land recovery to prevent water accumulation. Adopt appropriate construction techniques, such as sinking wells and cofferdams. (ii) Set up temporary sedimentation basins and place mud from riverbanks at lower sites. (iii) Make good use of existing water facilities and integrate drainage, channeling, and irrigation. (iv) To prevent soil and water loss and keep the ecosystem balance, protect slopes on both sides of bridges and culverts.

(v) Plant grass to protect slopes, especially on sandy soil and terraced slopes whose gradient is 1:1.5. First, tamp and flatten the slope face, and then plant fast- growing grass. 41. Sites for borrow pits and spoil disposal have not been selected for this Project. The principle of using local materials, using local soil, and refilling excavation sites should be followed when selecting excavation and fill sites in the next stage. Borrow pits should be located in barren mountains and hills and selected fill sites in barren valleys, lowlands, or low-yielding lands. A strict borrow site rehabilitation and restoration program will be implemented. Spoil may be dumped into abandoned borrow areas but must be rehabilitated and returned to productive farmland. This activity will sufficiently increase land value. Borrow pits and spoil disposal sites should be located away from environmentally sensitive spots, such as residential areas, schools, etc. Disposal sites must not be located in preservation sites for water resources and Kongtong Natural Preservation Area.

42. During construction, borrow pits should be graded. It is necessary to carry out site restoration after construction to restore the ecological balance. Borrow pit and spoil disposal site recovery should be contractually mandated. When converting borrow pit and spoil disposal sites into farmland, soil from the roadbed can be used as topsoil.

43. Based on the Soil Erosion Monitoring Technical Regulation, monitoring will be conducted by a qualified unit that will prepare a detailed monitoring plan. The monitoring results will be submitted to GPCD and the local water resource bureau and serve as a basis for completion appraisal.

B. Noise

1. During Construction

44. The most noticeable sources of noise will be construction machinery and transportation vehicles. According to Noise Threshold at Boundaries of Construction Sites, the noise threshold is 70–75 dB at daytime and 55 dB at nighttime. Construction machinery noise can meet the standard daytime threshold value if receptors are 40 meters away from the construction sites, and nighttime values if receptors are 200 m away. Most villages along the route are 40 m away from the planned expressway except at some isolated sections. Thus, construction machinery noise at daytime will not impact on the villages. Construction at nighttime may impact on local residents, especially along the section near the Chaijiatai and Zhangjiasi villages; therefore, prevention and treatment measures should be applied during construction.

45. The mitigation measures given below are therefore essential.

(i) Low-noise machinery should be given priority. Maintenance and proper use of machinery should be ensured for optimum operating conditions and minimum noise. Noise reduction devices can also be used for noisy machinery.

(ii) If there are schools nearby, the construction unit should come to an agreement with schools regarding large-scale machine work to avoid any confrontation.

(iii) Construction schedules should be properly arranged to reduce noise impacts. For example, high-noise machinery should not operate from 2200 to 0600 hours.

46. The Project will pass through loess soil area — Jing River valley and Liupan Mountain area. Building a tunnel in the Liupan Mountain area will entail blasting for the 3,000 m long tunnel construction. Mitigation measures are as follows:

(i) Blasting will be carried out only with the permission of the construction chief engineer, using a preestablished schedule. All the statutory laws, regulations, rules, etc., pertaining to acquisition, transport, storage, handling, and use of explosives will be strictly followed. Blasting will take place preferably during midday hours. The timing should be made known to all the people within 200–500 m of the blasting site in all directions, depending on the total charge used.

(ii) Blasting mats will be used to reduce noise levels during blasting.

2. During Operation Phase

47. In the EIA, traffic noise forecasts on both sides of the project road were carried out based on traffic volumes predicted in the feasibility study. The project road has noise impacts on 97 schools, 28 villages, and 1 clinic or center.

48. The EIA recommended noise mitigation measures based on the magnitude of impacts: establishing 57 ha green belts at 80 sections, setting up 16,000 m sound barriers at 37 places, double glazing windows for 40 households, and removing affected buildings of Xigou Primary School and Huacha Primary School. Road traffic noise will be monitored during operation of the expressway. Necessary mitigation measures should be discussed when noise exceeds established values.

C. Water

1. During Construction

49. During construction, impacts on water quality will be caused mainly by bridge construction and construction camp sewage. Mitigation measures be as follows:

(i) Construction wastewater will not be discharged into rivers directly. It will be properly treated before discharge. (ii) Oily sewage in construction machinery will be collected and not discharged into rivers. (iii) Construction materials containing harmful ingredients will not be placed near bodies of water. (iv) The construction camp will be 200 m away from any river. (v) Sewage and garbage from the construction camp will be disposed of systematically and feces may be used as fertilizer after composting.

2. During Operation

50. During operation, negative impacts on water quality will come mainly from wastewater from service areas, toll stations, and management areas. There should be a sewage system in service areas in Kongtong Mountain. There should also be a treatment system for wastewater from car wash areas and gas stations. Separation tanks should be set up for oily wastewater. Wastewater must not be directly discharged into rivers and should be discharged at lower

19 reaches of water head sites after meeting Class I discharge standards. Discharge of pavement runoff into waterways and reservoirs along conservation areas in water head sites is not permitted. Reasonable drainage techniques should be used in each section to discharge precipitation runoff at lower reaches.

D. Air

1. During Construction

51. The EIA measured present air quality conditions at three monitoring points: Wulipu (Jingchuan County), Kongtong gorge, and Dongxia reservoir (Jingning County). Air quality conditions along the alignment presently meet Class II standards or better, except the value of TSP measured in Wulipu.

52. The construction characteristics of the expressway, and analysis of the natural environment along the route suggest there will be impacts on the atmosphere, consisting mainly of dust and asphalt smoke.

53. During construction of the expressway, dust will be generated by roadbed excavation, pile driving, paving, transport of materials, loading, mixing, etc. Dust will occur mostly on the road from transportation vehicles and in areas of construction. According to related data, asphalt smoke will occur after asphalt is heated to over 180oC. Mobile asphalt agitators in the PRC are mostly from Germany and Singapore. The output of asphalt agitators ranges from 80 to 100 t per hour with secondary dust abatement facilities. There is a multi-aspirating equipment in German- made asphalt agitators. The production capacity of MAZY complete equipment made in Italy is 160 t per hour. In these agitators, steam is used to heat and smelt asphalt to a temperature of 160oC. In this way, little asphalt smoke is generated. Mitigation measures will include the following:

(i) The distance between asphalt-mixing stations and sensitive points (such as villages and schools) will be greater than 200 m to abate the pollution of 3,4- benzo-pyrane in asphalt smoke. (ii) Sprinkling of the road regularly (at least twice a day) (iii) Powdery materials will be bagged or canned. (iv) Vehicles that carry soil, concrete, and lime will be covered and will not be overloaded. (v) Pitch-mixing stations will not stand upwind of environmentally sensitive spots.

2. During Operation

54. To identify the negative impacts on air quality during the expressway’s operation, the EIA determined the diffusion of concentrations of CO and NO2 for 2009. The results indicate a large number of vehicles and low annual average wind speed in Jingchuan and Jingning counties. There will be short-term daily average concentrations of NO2, and receptors will need to be located 45–200 m away from the middle line of the expressway to meet standards. In the long term, with the increase in vehicles, the distance will be increased. Thus, pollution prevention measures will need to be adopted on both sides of the expressway.

E. Impact on Natural Preservation Area of Kongtong Mountain

55. Kongtong Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve is located in Pingliang District, and is a provincial protection area. The planned expressway passes through an experimental zone6 on the northern part of Kongtong Mountain. The core zone of this protection area is located beside Taitong Mountain to the south, which is separated from the proposed alignment by Back Gorge, Kongtong Mountain, and Front Gorge. This area is a national beauty spot, and is located north of Back Gorge of Kongtong Mountain. To protect the landscape and vegetation in Kongtong Mountain, a tunnel will pass under Qinggang Mountain and will have little impact on the landscape and vegetation. The expressway will be parallel with an existing class III road from Jingyuan to Pingliang. Because there are no nationally protected animal species in Xigou village, impact on animals in Kongtong Mountain is less.

56. The following mitigation measures will be implemented:

(i) No spoil site is allowed in the Kongtong Mountain area (K127 to K135). (ii) No borrow pit is allowed in Kongtong Mountain area (K127 to K135). (iii) No work camp is allowed between K127 and K135; (iv) Boundaries for construction activity will be restricted to the valley floor, and will include curtailing the movement of workers. The boundaries will be marked using yellow plastic tape, markers, and signs. The markings, to be entrusted to the Kongtong Mountain Nature Reserve Management Department (KMNRMD) staff, working closely with the General Contract Supervision Office (GCSO), will be installed before work begins. (v) A written code of conduct will be given to each person when hired for work in this area. Fines, according to Chinese poaching legislation, will be imposed for hunting, wild food harvesting, tree cutting for fuel, and wandering into off-limits areas without permission from the supervising engineer. All permissions and violations must be documented in writing and will be available for inspection by environmental inspectors and Gansu EPB officials. (vi) Clearing of any vegetation in this area will be prohibited. Exceptions will be made only for road safety considerations, and only if a clearing plan is approved by KMNRMD, GPCD will retain documentation of rationale, justification, and approvals on file. (vii) Traffic signs prohibiting the use of horns in the NR will be installed. (viii) Public awareness of the significance and the need to protect the Kongtong Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve will be increased. Three training workshops will be held to educate all the people involved, particularly construction managers and workers, and make them aware that any impacts on the NR must comply with the national and provincial regulations for protection of NRs, Wildlife Protection Law, Wild Plants Protection Law, and other applicable laws and regulations.

6 One category of protection zones is nature reserves. PRC nature reserves normally have three zones: core, buffer, and experimental. Clause 32 of the State Regulation governing nature reserves (issued in 1994) states: “Any construction project is not allowed in the core zone and buffer zone of a nature reserve. In the experimental zone, any construction project, which pollutes the environment, destroys resources and landscape, is not allowed; other projects are allowed if their pollutant emissions do not exceed the State and local pollutant emissions standards. For the constructed project, if its pollutants emissions exceed the State and local emissions standards, the pollution should be controlled within a given time; if damage has been caused, remedy measures should be taken for the damage.”

57. The Kongtong Mountain Scenery Spot is within the experimental zone of the Gansu Provincial Kongtong Mountain Nature Reserve. The road development project may increase the number of visitors to the spot, which is one of the objectives of the Pingliang tourist development strategy. In 2000, visitors numbered 440,000, which is predicted to increase to 700,000 by 2010. To meet the requirements of tourist development, Gansu Kongtong Mountain National Key Scenery Spot Infrastructure Construction Project has been funded by a central Government investment of CNY18.8 million and local government counterpart funding of CNY18.77 million in 2003. The project components include road improvement, a water supply and drainage system, power supply, signs, toilets, solar energy utilization, trash bins, trash transportation vehicles and treatment facility, fire prevention facilities, etc. The EIA is being conducted by the Gansu Environmental Research Institute and Environmental Management Department. An environmental monitoring plan is to be developed for project construction and operation. The tourist infrastructure construction project will enlarge the capacity for tourists and meet the need for the increasing number of visitors to be induced by expressway construction. Thus environmental impacts must be controlled to an acceptable level.

58. Approval should be obtained before tunnels are constructed. Environmental impacts of tunnel construction and mitigation their measures are as follows:

1. Environmental Impacts

(i) Vegetation in the portal areas (K129 and K132) and on the 600 m approach road and temporary construction road area may be damaged. (ii) Blasting vibration and noise might affect the villagers of Jiajiazuizi village and the tourist of Kongtong Scenery Spot as well as the animals within the NR. (iii) Improper tunnel waste disposal will cause debris flow and soil erosion. (iv) Workers will be exposed to dust pollution during concrete shooting. (v) There will be interference with the traffic and tourist on the existing county road.

2. Mitigation measures

(i) Based on the Chinese Nature Reserve Protection Regulation, no spoil site, borrow pit, or construction camp is allowed within the NR protection area. No borrow site, spoil site, or work camp is allowed between K127 to K135. (ii) According to the detail design, cut and fill and waste will be dumped at preselected areas and approved by the construction chief engineer. (iii) Blasting will be carried out only with permission of the chief construction engineer, using a preestablished schedule. Blasting mats will be used to reduce noise levels when blasting is carried out. (iv) Permits will be obtained for construction in Kongtong Mountain area. (v) No construction activity is allowed at nighttime in the Kongtong Mountain area. (vi) All works will be carried out so that damage or disruption to flora is minimized. Trees or shrubs will be removed only if they impinge directly on permanent works or necessary temporary works and with prior approval of the chief construction engineer and clearance from the Forest Department. (vii) Construction workers will be instructed to protect natural resources, fauna, and flora; no harvesting of wild foods will be allowed. (viii) KMNRMD will mark off the areas where construction work and workers movement can take place. A written code of conduct will be given to each person when hired for work in this area and serious fines imposed for noncompliance.

F. Impact on Flora and Fauna

59. There are no virgin forests and endangered tree species along the expressway. Species of wildlife along the expressway are few and include mostly livestock, fowl, and a few small wild animals. These animals are highly capable of adapting to human activities. Therefore, expressway construction will not impact on them adversely. The degradation of vegetation could be minimal through proper implementation of the mitigation measures described in the environmental management plan (EMP).

G. Transport of Hazardous and Toxic Materials

60. Explosion and fire caused by fatal traffic accidents could directly contaminate the environment and damage the expressway. PRC regulations control the transport of hazardous goods by motor vehicles. GPCD’s Environmental Protection Office has implemented a protocol for transport and handling of hazardous materials, including storing away from watercourses and providing retention areas to contain accidental spills of toxic, hazardous, and harmful construction materials. This protocol will be included in the construction contract’s general and specific conditions. If necessary, GCSO will apply step-by-step procedures.

61. Mitigation measures for negative impacts caused by the transport of hazardous and toxic materials will include the following.

(i) Dangerous goods will be inspected carefully. Transports agencies must be certified as “operators of dangerous goods transport.” (ii) “The rules for the management of chemically dangerous goods” and “the criterion for dangerous goods transportation” will be strictly adhered to. (iii) Drivers will take emergency measures to prevent the worsening of a situation, when fire, explosion, contamination, or poisoning happens during transport. (iv) Road management measures will be enhanced and an emergency response team will be established.

H. Vehicle Emissions

62. In recent years the vehicle population in the PRC has been increasing sharply, with much of the growth taking place in cities. Nationally, the annual growth of vehicles has averaged approximately 14%. Motorized vehicles in the PRC numbered about 96.5 million by the end of 2003, or a 21% growth compared with 2002. One result of this rapid growth has been the emergence of serious air pollution problems, especially in cities. Of the 10 most polluted cities in the world, 7 are in the PRC. The growth in vehicles in the PRC is expected to continue and perhaps even accelerate in the coming decades, increasing concerns regarding further environmental degradation. According to SEPA, vehicle emission will account for 79% of air pollution by the year 2005. There are measures to address vehicle emissions at national and provincial levels.

63. National Motor Vehicle Emission Control Programs. Key motor vehicle programs currently in force in the PRC include those in the areas of (i) national emissions standards for new vehicles, (ii) improvement of conventional fuels, (iii) alternative or cleaner fuels, (iv) inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs, and (v) retirement of obsolete vehicles.

64. Gansu Vehicle Emission Mitigation Strategy. Gansu has no local regulations for vehicle emission control. Vehicle emissions testing activity is conducted by local EPBs, with teams working mainly in the urban areas. For example, Lanzhou EPB conducts random spot checks on a specified number of target vehicles per year; emissions tests are not conducted on expressways but at entrance or exit plazas. Random spot checks that indicate noncompliance result in a CNY50–200 fine and the vehicle owner is given a time limit to make repairs to meet the emissions standard. The Gansu I/M system is mandatory for all motor vehicles registered in the province. Old vehicles are inspected twice a year, while all others are inspected annually. The test procedure is based on idling conditions and is unable to determine compliance with the Euro II or more stringent standards. At least 6 months before the expressway opens, the Gansu provincial government (GPG) will submit to the ADB the EPB emission standards and the penalties for infringement of such standards. GPG will ensure that GEPB, the Gansu PSB, and other relevant agencies comply with and enforce the GEPB emission standards as well as the national vehicle emission standards, and fulfill the requirements of the government strategies.

I. Cumulative Impacts on the Western Part of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

65. The project road will connect at Siqiao, the boundary with Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. On the section passing through Ningxia, construction of a connecting road to the Ningxia expressway at Dongshanpo, about 30 km long, is planned to start around 2007.

66. The connection point has been selected by both Gansu’s and Ningxia’s concerned agencies in consideration of environmental protection issues, e.g., avoiding core and buffer zones of Liupanshan Nature Reserve. The expressway will pass through the experimental zone, which is allowed by the PRC Nature Reserve Protection Law.

67. Cumulative effects are defined as the impacts on the environment that result from the incremental impact of an action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, regardless of the agency (central or noncentral) or person undertaking such other actions. Degradation of air quality, noise pollution, increasing traffic accidents, etc., from increasing traffic volumes could be predicted as a cumulative impact of the Project on the western part of Ningxia. However, given that the connecting road will be joined to the ADB- financed Ningxia expressway, the factors of negative impacts expected from the Ningxia expressway should also be considered to assess impacts properly.

68. Given the circumstances, it would be important to consider the following:

(i) To protect the precious natural environment, the connection point has been selected to avoid core and buffer zones. However, the route of the connecting road between Gansu and Ningxia expressways has not yet been decided. Core and buffer zones of Liupanshan NR will be avoided. (ii) The EIA for the connecting road between Gansu and Ningxia expressways should be conducted to assess environmental impacts and to prepare environmental mitigation measures. Generally speaking, the natural environment along the Liupanshan Mountain NR might be affected by the connecting road. In the EIA, close consultation with relevant NR management will be indispensable. (iii) The Gansu Road Project might promote development of industry along the expressway. In the case of new industries located at the boundary with Ningxia, an EIA should be carried out based on the PRC’s regulations and consultations with relevant NR management.

69. GPCD will start to discuss with Ningxia Communications Department (NCD) the EIA of the connecting road between the Gansu and Ningxia7 expressways.

70. To manage the cumulative environmental impacts, Ningxia and Gansu EPBs will study the EIAs of the Ningxia and Gansu expressways, and keep in close contact with each other to appropriately carry out environmental management during the construction and operation of the expressways, as well as during the implementation of the EIA for the connecting road. ADB will review this EIA from the viewpoint of cumulative impacts, as the road connects two expressways to be financed by ADB.

J. Industrial Development Induced by the Project

71. There are many metallic minerals such as copper, lead, and uranium, and non-metallic minerals such as coal, limestone, marble, etc. in the Project impact areas. With its long history and many cultural relics, the area has abundant tourism resources such as Kongtong Mountain; Southern Cave Temple, which is a nationally protected cultural relic; and Queen Mother's Palace Cave.

72. The closest major mine is a coal mine in Huating County, which is about 50 km away from the expressway. The opening of the expressway will promote the development of the mining industry. Consequently, environmental conditions along the alignment in terms of air quality and noise might deteriorate due to the increased number of trucks carrying mineral products. However, coal is generally transported via a special coal transport railway, so the expected impact of the expansion of coal mining will be slight. On the other hand, there will be positive impacts: (i) the better road surface of the expressway will reduce traffic noise and dust; (ii) a new PRC Communication Law will strengthen supervision of overloaded vehicles and thus reduce vehicle emissions and noise; (iii) requiring covered vehicles to road transport coal will reduce spillage; (iv) promoting the transport of high-quality (0.75% sulfur content and 9.68% ash content) Huating coal via the expressway to other provinces in the PRC will lead to replacement of low-grade coal and therefore reduce national air pollutant emissions; and (v) given that trucks will shift to the expressway, the environmental condition on local roads is expected to improve.

73. To minimize indirect impacts from induced industrial growth, the Total Pollutant Emission Quantity Control Policy will be strictly implemented and an EIA carried out for all industry projects, based on the EIA Law. With these mitigation measures, environmental impacts from new industrial growth induced by the Project can be controlled to an acceptable level.

74. The increasing number of visitors to areas along the expressway might cause negative impacts on cultural relics and the natural environment. However, by carefully putting into effect all the protection measures listed in this report, these negative impacts could be effectively controlled to an environmentally acceptable extent.

7 ADB. 2003. Summary Environmental Impact Assessment of the Ningxia Roads Development Project. Manila.

K. Local Road Environmental Impact

75. Air quality along existing local roads is very poor due to the unpaved road surface. The local roads project will reduce negative impacts from dust and erosion, and provide significant benefits to affected villagers by improving access to facilities such as clinics and schools.

76. Based on data from the county communication bureaus or expressway construction units and available project feasibility reports, the overall resettlement impact will be small, particularly if there is a little change in the alignment. For the 23 km of new construction from Jingning to Weirong, which is part of the Pingfeng to Qin’an road, the Project will help to create 133 ha of new land and protect another 120 ha of existing land, as Hulu River will be improved and the road will use the riverbank as its subgrade.

77. The proposed local roads to be improved will serve 41 townships, of which 21 are key poverty reduction townships identified by the GPG and 2 are Hui ethnic minority autonomous townships. The total population served by the local roads is 728,250, of whom 400,304 are poor.

78. During construction of the local roads, residents and schools will experience noise and air pollution impacts. The impacts will be limited during construction and can be minimized through proper arrangement of the construction schedule, i.e., high-noise machinery will not operate from 2200 to 0600 hours and heavy construction will be avoided during school hours.

L. Environmental Impacts Due to Deviation of Alignment

79. In case of a possible change in alignment, the following measures will be taken: (i) with a minor deviation in the alignment, the environmental design engineer will propose mitigation measures and incorporate them into the detail design drawings; (ii) with a major deviation in the alignment that may cause significant environmental impacts or affect additional people, GPCD will conduct additional environmental assessment, including public consultation. The revised EIA report will be submitted to MOC for review and then to SEPA for approval, following government procedures; and (iii) GPCD will determine whether the deviation is minor or major in consultation with ADB.

VI. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

A. Environmental Mitigation Costs

80. The total cost of the expressway and local roads project is estimated at CNY7.6 billion. Environmental costs during design and construction are estimated at CNY2.6 million, and CNY144.1 million, respectively. The costs during the 20-year operation of the Project will be around CNY12.5 million. Therefore, environmental mitigation and monitoring costs total CNY159.3 million or about 2.1% of total investment. Details of the environmental mitigation, monitoring, and management costs are in Appendix 2.

Table 12: Environmental Mitigation Costs

Cost Elements Estimated Cost (CNY million) Design Phase EIA and ErPP 2.6 Construction Phase Sediment Tank, Sewage Treatment Facilities, Septic 60.3 Tanks, etc. Erosion Protection 83.9 Operation Phase EP monitoring and management etc. 12.5 Total 159.3 EIA=environmental impact assessment, ErPP= soil erosion prevention plan. Source: Environmental impact assessment report, 2004.

B. Environmental Benefits

81. The EIA included an economic analysis of the environmental impacts of the Project. Qualitatively, the only tangible environmental benefit from the Project will be a marginal net reduction in the total emissions into Gansu’s airshed, dropping along NH312 and increasing steeply along the expressway. Noise will decrease along NH312 and will be barely detectable; whereas on the project road, noise level will significantly increase. Therefore, the environmental benefits gained from the Project will, within the first 10 years of expressway operation, be mostly related to a net reduction in vehicle emissions. The benefits gained from the recommended construction and operation-related environmental expenditures are large. Without such expenditures, the Project might generate large environmental impacts, causing the biophysical environment in the area to deteriorate and indirectly depressing the economies of local communities.

VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

82. The mitigation measures are defined in the EIA. Appendix 3 gives summary of such measures and the environmental management action plan including impact mitigation, an EMP, recommended responsible parties, etc. An organizational chart for environmental management has been developed for this Project and involves the following: (i) GPCD, (ii) GEPB, (iii) Overseas Funds Administration Office of GPCD, (iv) design institutes for the expressway and various environmental control facilities, (v) local environmental supervision organizations, and (vi) construction supervision companies and contractors.

83. The environmental responsibilities of agencies at various stages of the Project are defined in Table 13.

Table 13: Environmental Responsibilities

Responsible Agencies/ Responsibilities Project Stage Organizations Design Design engineers Optimize alignment, incorporate mitigation measures into engineering design

Design EIA/soil erosion teams, EIA, mitigation planning, develop monitoring plan, survey Gansu cultural relic bureau cultural relics

Tendering Contractors Include environmental management programs in the bids

Construction Contractors Implement mitigation measures and environmental management plan

Construction GPCD, EPBs, EMS, Environmental monitoring and environmental inspection construction supervision and supervision companies

Operation Expressway company to be Environmental management and environmental established, EMS, Public monitoring, implement accident prevention plan security EMS=Environmental management system, EPB=environmental protection bureau, GPCD=Gansu Provincial Communication Department. Source: Environmental impact assessment report, 2004.

84. There will be environmental staff in the project construction office of GPCD for environmental management during construction, and their duties will be transferred to the expressway company to be established at the operation stage. Environmental monitoring will be carried out by Gansu environmental monitoring stations during construction and operation. Technical staff as well as some management staff will be trained for environmental monitoring, interpretating monitoring results, planning mitigation, environmental policy making, and other environmental management techniques, to enhance environmental management and assist with capacity building.

85. In the project feasibility and design stages, environmental supervision engineers will ensure that environmental protection guides the design and selection of the alignment. Environmental supervision engineers will be engaged for environmental supervision of the project design and construction, and to supervise the implementation of all mitigation measures the EIA and SEIA require. The major task of the environmental supervision engineers will be during construction when they will be on site full-time. They will (i) supervise the contractors' execution of the environmental protection and impact mitigation measures, (ii) supervise construction activities to ensure minimum impacts on the surrounding natural and socioeconomic environments, (iii) assist in monitoring the impacts of construction work and prepare remedial actions as necessary, and (iv) supervise implementation of the reclamation plan.

86. Table 14 presents the environmental monitoring plan.

28 Table 14: Environmental Monitoring Plan

Construction Stage Operation Stage Item Air Monitoring Locations Pug mills, dusty roads, schools, and Residential area near tunnel portal residential areas

Parameters TSP NO2 Frequency Once a quarter and random sampling Once a year in winter Monitoring time 1 day 1-2 days (24 hour continuous or 4 times per day) Implementing Gansu environmental monitoring stations Local environmental monitoring stations Institutions Responsible Agency Project Commanding Office Project Commanding Office Review Agency Gansu EPB Gansu EPB or Local EPBs Location Schools at K17+550, K52+300, K65+950, Wulipu primary school (K44+550), Xigou K74+950, K108+300, K250+700, K261+500, village, Dongxia reservoir K294+950, K327+900 Noise Monitoring Locations Residential areas and schools within 100 m Residential areas and schools of the construction sites Parameters Construction noise Traffic noise Frequency Once a quarter Twice a year Monitoring Time Twice a day Twice a day Implementing Gansu monitoring station Local monitoring station Agency Responsible Agency Project Commanding Office GPCD or the expressway company Review Agency Gansu EPB Gansu EPB or local EPBs Sites Schools at K17+550, K29+400, K44+550, Schools at K17+550, K29+400, K44+550, K52+300, K65+950, K74+950, K108+300, K52+300, K65+950, K74+950, K108+300, K250+700, K261+500, K294+950, K327+900 K250+700, K261+500, K294+950, K327+900 and Balipu village (K214+950) and Balipu village (K214+950) Water Quality Monitoring Locations Bridge construction sites and effluent point At same point where baseline data in the EIA from construction camps were collected Parameters COD, SS, petroleum oil, pH SS, pH, COD, BOD, petroleum oil Frequency Once a quarter Twice a year (dry and rainy seasons) Monitoring Time 1 day 2 days Monitoring Party Gansu monitoring station Local monitoring stations Responsible Agency Project Commanding Office GPCD or the expressway company Review Agency GPCD EPB Local EPBs Sites Zu River: Zuli Large Bridge, Dongxia Zu River: Zuli Large Bridge, Dongxia Reservoir Reservoir Jing River: Kongtongxiakou, Jingchuan Jing River: Kongtongxiakou, Jingchuan Shuiquansi (No. 3 pump station), Luohandong Shuiquansi (No. 3 pump station), Luohandong BOD=biochemical oxygen demand, COD=chemical oxygen demand, EPB=environmental protection bureau,

GPCD=Gansu Provincial Communications Department, m=meter, NO2=nitrogen dioxide, TSP=total suspended particles. Source: Environmental impact assessment report, 2004.

87. Environmental monitoring results during both construction and operational stages will be submitted first to the responsible organizations: the project management office (PMO) during construction, and GPCD and the expressway company during operation. The PMO and the expressway company will review the monitoring results and, if necessary, decide on further mitigation actions during the construction and operational stages. All results, including additional mitigation actions taken and action results, will also be copied to the EPBs of each county or city involved, as well as Gansu EPB and ADB. These agencies may also request that appropriate actions for environmental mitigation be taken that they consider necessary.

88. GPCD as Executing Agency will submit semiannual reports on the implementation of EMPs. ADB will review the environmental aspects during the course of project implementation.

VIII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE

89. The first round of the public participation program for the expressway consisted of a series of interviews, household visits, and an opinion survey via a questionnaire and meetings in September 2003 and April 2004 when 124 copies of the questionnaire were distributed. Public consultation focused on people who will be directly impacted by project construction and operation: farmers, township and village heads, doctors, teachers, and vendors in communities along both sides of the proposed expressway alignment. Other stakeholders—including local governments and agencies responsible for environmental protection, agriculture, forest, water conservation, etc.—have also been consulted regarding expressway impacts and for inputs in environmental management and impact mitigation.

90. During the period March–May 2004, the TA consultants together with local EIA, social analysis (SA), RAP, and GPCD staff conducted another round of public consultation involving household interviews, visits to project-affected farmers, and other members of the local communities. Comments on the recommended environmental mitigation measures and monitoring plan in the draft EIA report were used in finalizing the EIA. After approval, the EIA will be made available for public review at the GPCD, the Gansu EPB, local EPBs, and public libraries. The local EPBs maintain hotlines for environmental complaints. Besides environmental concerns, the second round of consultation also covered public opinion on social issues and project resettlement impacts and compensation practices.

91. In addition, many rounds of consultation with government agencies, local governments, various organizations, and other project stakeholders discussed expressway alignments, location of the interchanges and entrance or exits, environmental and socioeconomic concerns ,and environmental management and mitigation plans. A detailed summary of all public participation programs is in Appendix 4.

92. From the results of the household visits and interviews and completed questionnaires, major public opinion and concerns regarding the Project can be summarized as follows:

(i) Of the people who responded to the questionnaire, 93.4% indicated support for the Project and considered it a necessity. (ii) Eighty-five percent agree on the route selection while 10% disagree. (iii) The expressway will improve traffic conditions according to 96%. (iv) About 97.6% thought the expressway Project necessary to promote economic development. (v) About 59% of the respondents considered the environmental mitigation measures adequate to reduce the negative environmental impacts, while 41% thought the measures needed improvement. (vi) Respondents thought that the main pollution impacts would be noise 61.6%, air pollution 25.8%, solid waste 8.6%, and wastewater 4%. (vii) Of the respondents, 51% agreed to have their land taken or house removed if needed; 51% of the respondents did not fully agree; and 9% were indifferent. (viii) The land acquisition and compensation policy for expressway construction is not familiar to 60%.

(ix) Eighty percent of the respondents will follow government arrangements, 12% will not, while the rest (8%) were indifferent. (x) Affected farmers demanded that acquisition of cultivated andl be minimized. Bridges and culverts will be constructed to minimize soil erosion and disruption of the local irrigation system. (xi) The vast majority expressed their willingness to accept land acquisition and resettlement plans so as to provide the required land for the expressway. However, those who would be affected wanted the compensation and land acquisition costs to be fair and in compliance with relevant state and provincial policies, and to be being paid on time and in full to the heads of households that will actually be relocated. (xii) The primary environmental concern, as expressed by the public is noise, followed by motor vehicle emissions and dust. Traffic safety is also a concern and local rural residents have requested that adequate crossings be constructed over the expressway for convenience in everyday life and agricultural activities and to minimize safety risks from attempts to cross over fences. (xiii) Locations and design of interchanges should comply with the city plans of the counties and townships so that local communities can best utilize the expressway and local economic development such as the mining and tourism industries, can be promoted.

93. Public involvement was also extensive during the preparation of the RP.

94. The issues and concerns raised by the public through the public participation program are mostly related to resettlement and compensation. Further consideration has been given to these issues and mitigation measures are presented in the RP (Appendix 5). The RP provides for the participation of affected people and communities throughout the whole process of resettlement planning and implementation (including house reconstruction, production rehabilitation, and compensation and project construction). The Project Resettlement Office (PRO) of GPCD will distribute a detailed resettlement information booklet to the village committees and people in the affected areas to increase knowledge of the RP and compensation regulations and standards. The booklet will cover the resettlement plan, compensation standards and resettlement policy, and entitlement and grievance procedures. The PRO has made plans to publicize the road construction plan and national laws and policies on land requisition to people via consultation, radio, TV, and other media. Concerning the compensation rate, the PRO has fully discussed the issue with the County Resettlement Office (CRO) and reached an agreement after consultation with affected villages and enterprises or institutions.

95. The land compensation fee and resettlement subsidy will be paid by PRO to CRO, and CRO will distribute the funds to affected villages, village groups, and affected individuals.

96. To ensure rehabilitation and improvement of the affected persons’ production and livelihood, PRO will set up a mechanism to provide affected persons with opportunities to voice grievances and to solve problems quickly.

97. To reduce noise and air pollution impacts on villagers and students, specific mitigation measures include stopping construction from 2200 to 0600 hours in village areas, the proper use of heavy construction equipment near schools after consulting with school teachers, and setting bitumen and concrete mixing plants more than 300 m downwind of villages.

98. During the detailed design period, consultation concerning the siting of pedestrian underpasses, and relocation or restoration of irrigation ditches should be discussed with local communities.

99. All the issues and concerns of affected persons have been or will be addressed by implementing the mitigation measures.

100. For the local roads, meetings were held with the Baiyin Municipal Communication Department, Pingliang Municipal Communication Department, and the county or district communication departments of Kongtong, Jingchuan, Lingtai, Chongxin, Huating, Huining, as well as with officials from the county government and other agencies. Issues discussed focused on the selection of local roads in terms of social impacts, environmental impacts,and resettlement impacts. Villagers were also consulted, and all officials that the TA consultants met with support the local roads project.

IX. CONCLUSION

101. The proposed Luohandong-Dingxi expressway, part of the National Trunk Highway from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Lianyungang in Jiansu Province, is an expressway project of national significance. It will also be an important new component of the Gansu provincial highway network. The view is that the construction of the expressway and the complementary local road program will be highly instrumental in accelerating economic growth and poverty reduction in the area. The proposed alignment has, insofar as possible, purposely avoided populated areas, arable lands, historic landmarks, and cultural sites, and will thus cause minimal disruption. Nevertheless, as evaluated by the EIA, the Project will create some adverse environmental impacts, which can be minimized to an acceptable level when mitigation measures and monitoring actions are implemented. A balance can then be reached between environmental protection and the need for economic development. With the total environmental costs accounting for about 2% of the total project costs, the Project is considered feasible environmentally as well as economically.

102. The present status of the environment near the poject road is satisfactory. The land to be acquired includes irrigated fields, dryland, ponds, and forests. Construction of the road will cause certain economic losses in agriculture, but will not result in significant negative impacts on lands and plants. The ErPP was prepared. Mitigation measures and monitoring activities based on the EMP and ErPP will be carried out.

103. An environmental issue identified is the proposed expressway is passing through the experimental zone of Kongtong Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve. The EIA team investigated and evaluated the issue and reported no endangered or protected species in the experimental zone. In addition, between the expressway alignment and the buffer zone and core zone of the NR, lie Kongtong gorge and Jign River valley, which are about 200 m deep and provide a natural defense for the wildlife in the core zone. To minimize the impacts to the ecosystem during construction and operation, mitigation measures will be implemented. Therefore, the proposed road will not cause any significant adverse impacts on the NR's natural ecosystem or threaten the survival and long-term productivity of protected species. Other affected wildlife are all widely distributed species and the change or even the loss of some of their habitats in the experimental zone will not be an issue in resource conservation.

104. In terms of NO2 and TSP air quality in the area is good because there are no large air pollution sources. The EIA predicts that even with NO2 emission, air quality even at the operation stage will meet environmental standards. Construction machinery noise at daytime will not impact significantly on the atmosphere. During operation, the project road might have significant impacts on schools, hospitals, and villages. The impacts can be reduced to acceptable levels with the mitigation measures proposed, including planting tree belts, erecting noise barriers, double-glazing windows, and relocating of affected buildings. Generally, water quality meets standards except for Zu River. Impacts on water quality will be mainly from bridge construction and construction camp sewage during construction mainly from wastewater from service areas, toll stations, and management areas during operation.

105. The required environmental mitigation measures and structures as well as implementation requirements will be included in civil works contract documents. To ensure compliance with EIA and EMP requirements during construction, an adequate monitoring and evaluation system will be developed and implemented under the supervision of the provincial EPB. Monitoring of environmental impacts during expressway operation will be the responsibility of the expressway company in collaboration with the provincial environmental agencies concerned.

106. The selected expressway alignment is considered adequate as it was based on a comparison of alternative alignments from the viewpoint of key environmental, social, and engineering factors, including the amount of soil erosion, house relocation, land acquisition, master plan concepts, and impacts on schools and villages.

Appendix 1 33 SUMMARY OF SOIL EROSION PREVENTION PLAN

A. General

1. Land Acquisition

1. Land to be permanently acquired for the Luoding expressway is about 1,150 hectares (ha) in area. Land to be temporarily acquired is about 325 ha, and is spread throughout the five counties and districts along the route in Jingchuan County, Kongtong District, Jingning County, Huining County, and Anding District.

2. Balance between Cut-and-Fill Work

2. According to the project feasibility study report, a balance between cutting and filling needs to be achieved in constructing the road. This is because there are many steep slopes and deep ditches along the route. Note that the total excavation volume is 22.3 million cubic meters (m3) and total cut volume 31.1 million m3, and it is hard to achieve complete balance between the two. Field surveys indicate that, 47 borrow pits and 33 spoil sites have been selected to meet the need for 17.8 million m3 of earth, 5.6 million m3 of waste earth, and 3.35 million m3 of waste stone.

B. Current Status of Erosion

3. Table A1.1 gives the status of erosion in the project area.

Table A1.1: Intensity of Erosion in Project Area

County/District Stake No. Average Erosion Erosion Intensity in Category Intensity (t/km2) Project Area (t/km2) Jingchuan K0+000-K92+407 2,000–10,000 1,000–2,000 Light Kongtong K92+407-K136+550 2,000–10,000 1,000–2,500 Light Jingning K202+560-K256+850 3,000–8,000 2,500–3,500 Medium Huining K256+850-K309+500 2,000–6,000 2,000–3,000 Medium Anding K309+500-K334+000 2,000–7,000 2,000–4,000 Medium t/km2=ton per square kilometer. Source: Soil erosion prevention plan.

C. Predicted Amount of Erosion

4. During construction, the Project will impact on virgin land surface totaling 2,017 ha, with total erosion amounting to 8.75 million tons (t). Current average soil erosion intensity is 2,402 t/km2 and will increase to 13,055 t/km2 during the early phases of construction. Erosion intensity will then decline to 4,670 t/km2 in the later stages of construction and then to 2,950 t/km2 during operation of the project road.

D. Mitigation Measures

5. The soil erosion prevention plan (ErPP) report assesses the soil erosion protection function of major engineering works, including subgrade, pavement, and tunnel works. Supplemental actions are proposed for borrow pits, spoil sites, and temporary land use.

34 Appendix 1 1. Spoil Sites Protection

6. Mitigation measures will be adopted for the selected 33 spoil sites along the alignment.

(i) Before dumping spoilage, construct a retaining wall to prevent waste from entering downstream. (ii) Construct an intercepting ditch and chute to prevent outside water from entering spoil sites. The water should be channelled to an existing drainage or pond. (iii) Piled spoilage in steps that are less than 8 meters (m) high and 2 m wide with a slope less than 1:1.5. (iv) Cover spoilage with topsoil and plant trees or grass or rehabilitate it into farmland.

2. Borrow Pits Protection

7. Mitigation measures will be adopted for the 47 selected borrow pits.

(i) Before borrowing earth, construct an intercepting ditch and chute to reduce the erosion of borrow pits from rainfall. (ii) After borrowing earth, grade the side slope and create a 2 m wide platform 8 m high. Construct a drainage ditch at the inside of the platform and connect it with the chute and natural ditches. (iii) Flatten the earth surface, plant trees or grass or rehabilitate into farmland.

3. Engineering Actions

8. Engineering measures will protect physical structures.

(i) To protect side slopes build retaining walls, prevent landslides, secure anchorage, and carry out greening. (ii) To protect the subgrade from erosion, construct a drainage system including intercepting ditches, drainage ditches, chutes, and culverts, to channel runoff to culverts and rivers. (iii) Bridges and tunnels: sand sediment pools, retaining walls, drainage (iv) Level off landform at the interchange area.

4. Greening

9. Greening will be carried out at the roadside, central separator, side slopes, interchange areas, service areas, management areas, and borrow sites and spoil sites not suitable for agricultural use. The soil erosion prevention report suggests the species of tree and grass to use and analyse water demand.

5. Temporary Land Rehabilitation

10. Drainage systems for temporary construction roads and construction sites should be built. After project completion, the land for these structures should be rehabilitated.

E. Schedule

11. Table A1.2 gives the schedule for mitigation measures from 2005 to 2012.

Appendix 1 35 Table A1.2: Implementation Schedule for Mitigation Measures

Initial Stages of Construction Later Stages of Initial Stage of Mitigation measures Construction Operation 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010–2012 Subgrade Engineering Road Surface Engineering Mitigation Measures Implementation Schedule Drainage Side Slope Civil Works Protection Temporary Protection Greening Retaining Dam Retaining Wall Intercepting Ditch Spoil Sites Berm Place Topsoil on Spoil Sites Greening Intercepting Ditch Berm Lessen Slope Steepness Borrow Pits Restore Topsoil to Borrow Pits Enclosure Protection Greening Temporary Restore Topsoil Construction and Effect Greening

Tree Nursery Note: The project will start in January 2005; the soil erosion prevention plan will be postponed if the civil work of the project is delayed.

Expressway project

Mitigation measures

F. Monitoring

12. The monitoring schedule is in Table A1.3.

Table A1.3: Monitoring Schedule

Construction Site Content Measures Phase Operation Phase Monitor Location Actually Rainfall Measured Value Rainstorm Rainstorm at Hydrographic Station After Quantity of Erosion Spile Method After Rainstorm B2(K31) Spoil site Rainstorm B14(K227) Retaining Wall Twice (before and Field Survey B32(K328) Maintenance after flood) Vegetation Survival Standard Ground Once a Year Rate Method Impact on Watercourse Field Survey Once a Year After Flood 36 Appendix 1

After Quantity of Erosion Spile Method After Rainstorm A10(K48) Borrow rainstorm pit A36 (K271) Vegetation Survival Standard Ground Once a Year A45(K319) and Coverage Rate Method Slope Stability Field Survey Once a Year Quantity of Erosion Spile Method Once after Once a Year During flood the Flood Period Road Cutting Subrade slope A24(K206+500) Vegetation survival rate Standard Ground Once a Year Method Embankment (K108) Maintenance Field Survey Once a Year During the Flood Period Interchange Vegetation Survival Field Survey Once a Year Huining Interchange and Coverage Rate Bridge Pier Field Survey P=10% After Pile at (K126) Rainstorm Total Monitoring Sites 10

G. Assurance

1. Design

13. During preliminary and detailed design, the mitigation measures proposed in the approved ErPP report by the Gansu Provincial Water Resource Bureau (GWRB) should be incorporated. The design should be submitted to GWRB. Any revision of the ErPP and project design should be reported to GWRB and its permission obtained beforehand.

2. Responsibility for Construction

14. Civil works contract documents will include specific requirements on soil erosion prevention. The responsibilities of a contractor regarding soil erosion prevention will be defined. The responsibilities of quarry owners regarding soil erosion prevention will be defined.

3. Supervision

15. Professional and certified erosion prevention supervisors should be recruited to supervise the implementation of mitigation measures proposed in the ErPP. Appraisal of the mitigation measures at completion should be conducted to ensure that all measures have been properly implemented.

4. Monitoring

16. Based on the Soil Erosion Monitoring Technical Regulation, a qualified monitoring unit should carry out monitoring. The monitoring unit should prepare a detailed monitoring plan and conduct monitoring based on that plan. The monitoring results should be submitted to the executing agency and the local water resource bureau and serve as the basis for completion appraisal.

5. Inspection and Management

17. An Erosion Prevention Implementation Unit should be established with technical staff to manage implementation of mitigation measures under the direction and inspection of local water resource bureaus. The erosion prevention implementation unit will determine the entities to be responsible for each measure and define the requirements and methodology for implementation, supervision, and completion appraisal of the mitigation measures. The mitigation measures should be carried out by contractors under the supervision of a local water resource bureau.

Appendix 1 37 18. Table A1.4 summarizes the characteristics of the ErPP.

Table A1.4: Summary Characteristics of the Soil Erosion Prevention Plan

Construction site Gansu

Province The Project includes a 231 km expressway from Luohandong to Dingxi. Category Large-scale The alignment is basically along the existing NH312. The road will be Yellow constructed by cut and fill, with fill construction being more prevalent. River basin River basin The construction is planned to start in July 2005 and will last for 4.5 years. The whole project will be finished and opened to traffic by the Total cost 7.245 components beginning of 2010. billion CNY

Summary of project Construction period 5 years Protection scope 2,212.8 ha Damage area of erosion prevention 817.76 ha Project construction area 1,556.2 ha facilities Impact area of the 2212.8 ha Direct affected area 656.6 ha earth-surface Predicted total 875.1×104t Erosion quantity 865.5×104t erosion quantity reduction Control percentage of 95.9% Control percentage of 98.9% impact earth surface erosion quantity Topography Loess plateau tableland area, Jing River valley, Kongtong Mt. valley, loess drought hilly area Gansu government Major erosion control area bulletin Erosion 1,573.92 ha Erosion prevention 99.1% prevention area percentage 2 Current erosion intensity 2,402 t/km The mitigation measures for construction roads, Target erosion intensity 1,863t/km2 Mitigation borrow pits, and spoil sites will consist mainly of engineering measures and will be supplemented by Allowable erosion measures intensity in the Project 1,000 t/km2

Objective 559.72 ha of greening. There will also be 12 interchanges and 4 water pools. area Erosion prevention ratio 1.86 Spoil retaining ratio 99.2% There will be18 earth retaining dams and 15 stone Area suitable for 572.64 ha Borrow pits and retaining walls with a drainage system for the disposal of 895.3×104m3 of spoil. Quarries providing greening spoil sites sand and stone will be responsible for erosion Project greening area 560.89 ha prevention in quarry areas. Project greening ratio 97.9% Greening coverage ratio 25.35% 58.58

Total 111.32 million Protection cost

million Included in 27.47 million Compensation 7.55 million engineering cost Increased cost 83.86 million Monitoring cost 0.927 Increased cost (CNY) Cost (CNY) million Per ton erosion 12.86 per ton Supervision cost 1.465 prevention cost million ha=hectare, km=kilometer, NH= national highway, t=ton, t/km2=tons per square kilometer. MITIGATION COST S 38

Amount Source of

Item Unit Number (CNY10,000) Budget Responsibility Remarks Appendix 2 Design Stage EIA set 1 158.0 Environment Tsinghua University ErPP set 1 100.0 Environment CRIWR Subtotal 258.0

Construction Stage Sediment Tank place 80 64.0 Civil works Contractor CNY8,000/unit Geo-Textile Defense and Rain Protection place 50 15.0 Civil works Contractor Construction Field Sprinkling vehicle 8 480.0 Equipment Contractor CNY400/vehicle/day Covers and Rails in Transportation and spot 30 50.0 Civil works Contractor CNY16,600/spot Stacking Septic Tanks at Construction Site unit 40 20.0 Civil works Contractor (1 for each section) Trash Bins, Trash Pits Around Construction spot 40 40.0 Civil works Contractor Camps. Clearing of Trash Local Road Protection and Rebuilding km 120 360.0 Civil works Contractor Clearing, Loss, and Reclamation of Temporary ha 267 120.0 Civil works Contractor Land Greening Works within Alignment km 200 3,000.0 Civil works Contractor Erosion Protection (detailed unit costs can be referred in the ErPP) - Borrow Pit Construction set 1 569.3 Civil works Local gov. or contractor - Spoil Site Construction set 1 4872.1 Civil works Local gov. or contractor - Borrow Pit Rehabilitation set 1 123.9 Civil works Local gov. or contractor - Soil Site Rehabilitation set 1 180.7 Civil works Local gov. or contractor - Interchange Greening set 1 127.6 Civil works Local gov. or contractor - Others (management, supervision, set 1 2511.9 Civil works GPCD & supervision co. monitoring, etc) Sub-total 8,385.6

Recovery of Vegetation on Temporary Land ha 53 96.0 Civil works Supervision company (20% of total) Planting of Anti-Noise Greening Belt ha 51.7 116.3 Environment Supervision company CNY 22,500/ha Noise Barrier m 16,000 960.0 Environment Supervision company CNY600/m Double Glazing of Windows household 40 2.0 Environment Supervision company CNY500/household Resettlement due to Noise 30.0 Environment Supervision company (Xigou and Huacha Primary School)

CNY=Chinese yuan, CRIWR=Chinese Research Institute of Water Resources, EIA=environmental impact assessment, ErPP=soil erosion prevention plan, GPCD= Gansu Provincial Communication Department ha=hectare, km=kilometer, m=meter. Amount Source of Item Unit Number (CNY10,000) Budget Responsibility Remarks Sewage Treatment Facilities in Service spot 5 250.0 Ancillary facility Supervision company CNY500,000/spot Septic Tanks at Administration Buildings, Toll place 15 30.0 Ancillary facility Supervision company CNY20,000/spot Gates, and Maintenance Area Trash Bins or Trash Pits around Service spot 30 45.0 Ancillary facility Supervision company CNY15,000/spot Areas, Toll Gates, etc. Environmental Supervision during year 5 250.0 Consulting Supervision company CNY100,000/year Construction (20 people) services Environmental Monitoring during Construction year 5 50.0 Environment Supervision company CNY100,000/year EP Management during Construction year 5 50.0 Environment GSO & site office CNY100,000/year Subtotal 14,413.8

Operation Stage Anti-Noise Measures that may be Needed 100.0 Environment HAB & Contractor after Year 2016 Emergency Measures for Accidents 100.0 Equipment HAB & Contractor (ambulance and sterilizing agent) EP Monitoring during Operation year 20 200.0 Environment HAB EP Management during Operation year 20 200.0 Environment HAB Operation and Maintenance of EP Facilities year 20 600.0 Environment HAB Personnel Training 50.0 Training GPCD 30 person/month Subtotal 1,250.0 Total 15,921.8 CRIWR=Chinese Research Institute of Water Resources, GPCD= Gansu Provincial Communication Department, GSO=general supervision office, HAB=Highway Administration Bureau, EP=environmental protection.

Appendix 2

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN 40

References Responsibility Environmental Time Appendix 3 Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Document 1. Pre-Construction a. Soil Erosion As required by law, a project ErPP has been prepared. Legal Throughout Before Design GPCD, Protection and Mitigation measures will be incorporated into the requirement the project construction institutes, GEECH, and Conservation engineering design. No borrow site, spoil site, and corridor starts GPCD, and Gansu WRB construction camp is allowed in the nature reserve. GEECH KMNRMD b. Removal of Before any groundbreaking, selected contractors must Legal ROW about Before Contractors in GEECH and Trees prepare a vegetation replanting layout on a topographic requirement 50 m ground- consultation with GCSO map of the site (e.g., detailed design base map), showing breaking for county forestry replanting areas, type of planting, and maintenance construction department and program to be undertaken. Use the ErPP as a guide. local communities c. Taking of Land Information dissemination and community consultation RP and The ROW as Before County-level GPCD and and Property about the entitlements will be based on the Land project defined in the construction communication GEECH Administration Law. All relocation and resettlement activities requirement RP starts on department must be reasonably completed before construction activity any contract on any road subsection starts. Compensation will be given as per the RP. d. Utility All utilities will be relocated with prior approval of the Contract Refer to utility Before County GPCD and Relocation concerned agencies. Relocation will be reasonably specifications relocation construction communications GEECH complete before construction starts on any section of the drawings starts department and project road. contractors e. Removal of All community utilities such as community water source RP Any water Before County GPCD and Community pipes will be replaced at appropriate and suitable locations. requirements source within construction communications GEECH and Utilities Replacements will be reasonably complete before construction starts department and local construction starts. zone contractors communities f. Relocation of The relocation of any canals will be discussed and agreed Contract Any irrigation Before County GPCD and Irrigation upon with village committees and county WRBs prior to terms and system within construction communications GEECH and Systems commencement of the works. conditions construction starts and department. and local and RP zone or before contractors communica- affected by irrigation tions and the season county WRB construction starts g. Access To avoid loss of access to farm ing fields, neighbors, and Contract Along the Detailed GEECH and GEECH Restriction local villages, pedestrian underpasses need to be included specifications entire design GPCD in in the design, with exact locations based on discussions alignment stage cooperation with with local village committees. contractor h. Environmental (i) In case of slight deviation of alignment, mitigation EIA law Along the An y time the Environmental GPCD, Impact due to measures should be proposed and incorporated into the entire alignment design engineer; Gansu EPB References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Document Impact due to measures should be proposed and incorporated into the entire alignment design engineer; Gansu EPB Deviation of detailed design drawings by the environmental design alignment deviates GPCD SEPA Alignment engineer. (ii) In case of substantial deviation of alignment that may cause substantial environmental impacts or involve additional affected people, GPCD should form an EIA team to conduct additional environmental assessment. There should be public consultation. The revised EIA report should be submitted to MOC for review and then to SEPA for approval. (iii) To determine whether the deviation is slight or substantial, GPCD should consult with ADB. 2. Construction a. Soil i. Disposal of (a) Cut and fill according to the detailed design. Design Throughout During Contractor CCE GEC Earthworks (b) Waste will be dumped at preselected areas and requirement the project construction assisted by (excavation) approved by the construction chief engineer (CCE). and contract corridor at all the WRB. Materials Residual spoils will be used according to the ErPP. specifications construction KMNRMD (c) No spoil site is allowed in the Kongtong Mt. area (K127 sites to K135) ii. Loss of Topsoil (a) In agricultural areas, or in any other productive soil area, Soil Erosion Throughout During Contractor CSE, , the topsoil from all areas to be permanently covered will be Protection the project construction GEECH, stripped to a specified depth (based on provincial Law, No.49- corridor and with agriculture bureau specifications) and stored in stockpiles ’91 and Reg. all borrow and assistance of not exceeding 2 m high. Maintenance of the stockpiles will No. 120 of spoil areas GWRB, be in accordance with the ErPP or according to Agriculture PRC GEPB Bureau requirements. (b) Topsoil will be returned to disturbed areas and cut slopes, and any excess will be distributed to local communities, free of charge. (c) Topsoil to be minimally handled to prevent loss. iii. Compaction of (a) Construction vehicles, machinery, and equipment will Contract Throughout During Contractor CCE of GEC

Soil move or be stationed in designated areas. specifications project construction with Appendix 3 (b) Ensure that the method of stockpiling materials, use of corridor and assistance plants, and siting of temporary buildings or structures do not Contract all tem porarily from WRB adversely affect the stability of excavations or fills. specifications used areas; at all cut-and-fill sites 41 iv. Haphazard (a) Borrowing within the ROW is prohibited under this Contract Throughout During Contractor GEC with Borrowing of contract. specifications project Construction assistance

Rock corridor and from GEPB 42 References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location

Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Appendix 3 Document Rock (b) The contractor will facilitate inspection of all borrow PRC Law: 49- corridor and from GEPB areas by GEPB and WRB and satisfy GPCD’s GEC ‘91 and Reg. all and WRB compliance with ErPP and MEMP. No. 120 construction sites v. Degradation of (a) Borrow pits will be redeveloped as per details found in FIDIC 13.1, All borrow During Contractor GEECH and Borrow Areas the site operations plans, the SEIA, and the ErPP. Spoils 26.1 areas construction GWRB, may be dumped into the abandoned borrow areas, but must PRC Law: 49- KMNRMD be rehabilitated and returned to productive farmland. ‘91 and Reg. (b) No borrow pit is allowed in Kongtong Mt. area (K127 to No. 120 K135) vi. Soil Erosion (a) On road embankment slopes, slopes of all cuts, etc., Design Within During Contractor GEC with and Siltation shrubs and grass will be planted according to the ErPP. requirement construction construction assistance (b) To control soil erosion and siltation stemming from corridor and from GEPB earthwork operations, the following well-known measures PRC Law: 49- all and WRB should be applied: berms, dikes, sediment basins, fiber ‘91 and Reg. construction mats, mulches, grasses, and slope drains. No. 120 sites; all borrow and spoil areas; service roads and equipment storage sites, etc. vii. Contamination (a) Vehicle, machinery, and equipment maintenance and Contract Throughout During Contractor GEC in of Soil by Fuel refueling will be carried out so that spilled materials do not terms and project construction cooperation and Lubricants seep into the soil. conditions corridors, all with GEPB (b) Fuel storage and refilling areas will be located at least access roads, 300 m from drainage structures and important water bodies. FIDIC: 19.1(c) sites (c) Fuel storage and refueling areas, if located in agricultural temporarily land or areas supporting vegetation, will have topsoil acquired, and stripped, stockpiled, and returned after completion of all borrow refueling activities. areas (d) Oil traps will be provided for service areas, toll station areas, parking areas, and within drainage systems for bridges. b. Water Quality i. Loss of Water The No. 4 well of Jingchuan’s water head and any other RP Throughout Whenever Contractor GEC and Sources sources of water (potable or otherwise) lost will be replaced requirement project encountered county WRB immediately. corridor, all during References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Document immediately. corridor, all during access roads, construction sites temporarily acquired, and all borrow areas ii. Flooding (a) PRC Technical Standard of Highway Engineering (JTG JTG B01- Project During Contractor GPCD and B01-2003) should be strictly followed to prevent flooding. 2003 corridor, construction GEC (b) In addition to the design requirements for peak flood FIDIC: 19.1(c) access roads, and the levels, the contractor, and as directed by GEECH, will take FIDIC: 29.1 sites defects all steps necessary to prevent temporary or permanent and contract temporarily liability flooding of the site or any adjacent area , including terms and acquired, and period prevention of loss of use or access to any land or property conditions borrow areas resulting from flowing or stagnant water as direct or indirect PRC impact of construction. Regulation JTG B01- 2003 iii. Revegetation Revegetation will be done immediately after completion of FIDIC: 19.1(c) Entire project During Construction GEECH to Prevent construction at a site and no tree or vegetation other than PRC Law: 49- corridor, all construction contractor and assisted by Erosion and those approved for removal by the Gansu Forestry Bureau ‘91 and Reg. access roads local unit county Siltation will be cut. No. 120 and retained to do forestry temporary replanting bureau sites iv. Alteration of (a) In sections along watercourses, and areas close to FIDIC: 19.1(c) Throughout During Contractor, GEECH with Drainage cross-drainage channels, earth, stone, or any other project construction working with the assistance construction materials will be properly disposed of so as not corridor, all CSE from GEPB, to block the flow or drainage water. access roads, or county (b) All necessary measures will be taken to prevent sites EPB construction activities from impeding cross-drainage at temporarily rivers, streams, water canals, and existing irrigation and acquired and drainage systems. all borrow (c) Temporary irrigation and drainage systems should be areas Appendix 3 built before the permanent drainage systems are blocked or removed as part of construction. v. Contamination (a) All measures will be taken to prevent contamination by FIDIC: 19.1 Throughout During Contractor with GEC with of Water from the wastewater produced in construction, as directed by (c) project construction monitoring assistance Construction GEC. FIDIC: 26.1 corridor, assistance from from GEPB Wastes (b) Construction work close to the streams or water bodies GB: 8978- access roads, GEMS 43 will be avoided during rainy periods. 1996 sites

44 References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Frame Implementation Supervision Contract Appendix 3 Document (c) The discharge standards promulgated under PRC temporarily regulation GB: 8978-1996 will be strictly adhered to. acquired, and cut or borrow sites vi. Contamination Waste petrochemicals must be collected, stored, and taken FIDIC: 19.1 Throughout During Contractor GEC with from Petro- to approved disposal sites in compliance with PRC (c) FIDIC: project construction assistance chemicals guidelines. 26.1 corridor and from GEPB at associated work sites vii. Sanitation and (a) Construction camps will be at least 200 m away from the FIDIC: 19.1(c) All During Contractor GEECH/GP Waste nearest habitation and water body. construction establish- CD GPCD Disposal in (b) The sewage system for construction camps will be workers ment, and GEPB, Construction properly designed, built, and operated so as not to pollute camps operation, KMNRMD Camps ground or adjacent water bodies/watercourses. Garbage and bins will be provided in the camps and regularly dismantling emptied, and the garbage disposed maintained in a of such hygienic manner in accordance with local norms, the CSE camps and GEECH. (c) Arrangements for the proper disposal of excreta must be FIDIC: 26.1 made by the contractor and should include, where possible, pickup and disposal by local people. All such arrangements will be directed by GEECH and CSE. (d) No work camp is allowed between K127 and K135. c. Air Quality i. Generation of (a) All vehicles delivering granular and/or fine materials FIDIC 19.1(c) Throughout During Contractor with GEECH/GP Dust (especially fly ash) to the site will be covered (watered down project construction monitoring CD with for fly ash) to avoid spillage and dust emissions. corridor, all assistance from assistance (b) Material storage sites will be 300 m from residential access roads, GEMS from GEPB areas and covered with canvas or sprayed with water if sites and county possible and feasible. temporarily departments (c) Water or a dust suppressant material will be used to acquired, and control fugitive dust at the construction sites and major borrow areas feeder roads twice a day during dry season. (d) All expressways and roads used by vehicles of the contractor or any subcontractor or supplier will be kept clean and clear of all dust, mud, or other extraneous materials dropped by their vehicles. Such cleaning will be immediate and complete. (e) All earthwork will be protected to minimize dust

References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Document generation. ii. Emission from (a) The discharge standards under the Environment PRC - GB: Throughout During Contractor, via GEECH/GP Construction Protection Law, 1989, will be strictly adhered to. All 14761.7-93 project construction GEMS and the CD GPCD Vehicles, vehicles, equipment, and machinery used for construction and FIDIC corridor, all GPCD’s EPO with Equipment, will be regularly maintained and correctly operated contract access roads, assistance and Machinery (including the use of dust filters or hoods) to ensure that special sites from GEPB pollution emission levels comply with PRC-GB: 14761.7-93. conditions temporarily (b) Bitumen mixing sites should be downwind of acquired, and environmentally sensitive areas. borrow areas (c) Bitumen smog should comply with PRC-GB:4915-85 (Class I). PRC- GB:4915-85 d. Noise Pollution i. Noise from (a) The equipment and machinery used in construction will FIDIC: 19.1 Throughout During Contractor with GEC/GPCD Vehicles, strictly conform to PRC and local noise standards, i.e., GB (c) project construction monitoring with Plants, and 12523-90. PRC-GB: corridor, assistance from assistance Equipment (b) At construction sites within 150 m of the nearest 12523-90 access roads, GEMS from GEPB habitation, noisy construction work will be stopped between FIDIC: 26.1 sites 2200 hours and 0600 hours. FIDIC: 19.1 temporarily (c) FIDIC: acquired, and 45.1 borrow areas ii. Noise from (a) Blasting will be carried out only with permission of the All blasting During Contractor with GEC/GPCD Blasting CCE of GEC, using a preestablished schedule. All the sites preparation, monitoring with Operations statutory laws, regulators, rules etc. pertaining to operation, assistance from assistance acquisition, transport, storage, handling, and use of and closure GEMS from GEPB explosives will be strictly followed, with blasting taking place of such sites preferably during midday hours. The timing should be made known to all the people within 200–500 m of the blasting site in all directions, depending on the total charge uses. (b) Blasting mats will be used to reduce noise levels when blasting is carried out. iii. Erection of (a) Plant trees 20 m wide at sections designated in the EIA. EIA, SEIA At nominated Before Contractor with GEC/GPCD

Noise (b) Set up noise barriers at 37 places designated in the EIA. and GB3096- sites as closure of monitoring with Appendix 3 Attenuation (c) Relocate Xigou Primary School and Huacha Primary 93 designated in the assistance from assistance Structures School. the EIA construction GEMS from GEPB (d) Double-glaze windows of the 40 households designated sites Inspection in the EIA. by GEC and GEPB. 45 e. Impact on Flora i. Loss of or (a) All works will be carried out in such a fashion that Design Entire project During Contractor. GEC/GPCD

Damage to damage or disruption to flora is minimized. requirement, site construction with 46 References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Frame Implementation Supervision Contract Appendix 3 Document Damage to damage or disruption to flora is minimized. requirement, site construction GEC and with Vegetation (b) Borrowing soil from or dumping spoil outside those sites SEIA Forestry assistance designated in the construction design and ErPP is Department from the prohibited. Forestry (c) Boundaries for construction activity will be restricted to Department, the valley floor, and will include curtailing the movement of KMNRMD workers. The boundaries will be marked using yellow plastic tape, markers, and signs. Marking will be entrusted to the KMNRMD staff, working closely with the GCSO. Markings will be installed before work begins. ii. Impacts to (a) Permits will be obtained for construction in the PRC Nature Entire project During Contractor, GEC/GPCD Kongtong experimental zone of the Kongtong Mountain Provincial Reserve site, except construction GEC, and with Mountain Nature Reserve. Protection for (c) (permits: Forestry assistance Nature (b) A written code of conduct will be given to each person Regulation before Department from the Reserve when hired for work in this area. Fines, according to construction) Forestry Chinese poaching legislation, will be explained and im posed Department, for hunting, wild food harvesting, tree cutting for fuel, and Gansu EPB, wandering into off-limits areas without permission from the KMNRMD supervising engineer. All permissions and violations must be documented in writing and will be available for inspection by environmental inspectors and GEPB officials. (c) Clearing any vegetation in this area is prohibited. Exceptions will be made only for road safety considerations, and only if a clearing plan is approved by KMNRMD. GCD will retain documentation of rationale, jus tification, and approvals on file. f. Impact on Fauna Loss of or (a) Construction workers will be instructed to protect natural FIDIC: 19.1(c) Entire During Contractor CSE of Damage, to resources, fauna, and flora; no harvesting of wild food will project area construction GEECH and Fauna be allowed unless a permit is obtained from the CSE of Forestry GEECH and the county EPB. Bureau (b) No construction activity is allowed at nighttime in the Kongtong Mountain area. g. Diseases and Trafficking Transmittable There will be health clinics in construction sites; HIV/STD Social Throughout During Contractor, GEC/GPCD, Diseases and and human trafficking prevention posters and pamphlets at Development the project construction Epidemic Civil Affairs Human construction sites and service centers; HIV/STD and human Action Plan areas Disease Control Bureau Trafficking trafficking education campaign through popular media Center channels (radio and TV).

References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Document h. Disruption to User Loss of Access At all times, the contractor will provide safe and convenient As specified Project During Contractor GEC/GPCD passage for vehicles, pedestrians, and livestock to and from in RP corridor and construction Transport side roads, and property access connecting the project documents construction and Security road. FIDIC: 29.1 sites Department At times students go to/leave school, one person should be specially assigned for the safety of the students. i. Inappropriate Use of Hazardous and Toxic Materials Use of Herbicide or other toxic chemicals will be used strictly in PRC Entire During Contractor GEC/GPCD Hazardous and accordance with manufacturer instructions and according to Regulation: construction construction with Toxic Materials PRC regulations. JT3130-88 corridor assistance from GEPB j. Impact on Cultural Relics Cultural (a) Training of construction workers on cultural relic PRC cultural Entire During Contractor GEC/GPCD Heritage protection. heritage construction construction with (b) If any cultural relics sites are found, work will stop protection corridor assistance immediately until authorities have a chance to evaluate the regulation from Gansu significance and nature of such findings. cultural bureau k. Cumulative Impacts on Western Part of Ningxia i. EIA for Conduct environmental impact assessment for the EIA Law Ningxia FS stage of Ningxia SEPA, Connecting connecting road from Siqiao to Dongshanpo. For the EIA, Ningxia road Communication Ningxia EPB Road in closely consult the relevant Nature Reserve Management Department Ningxia Department. ii. EIA for Induced Conduct EIA for induced industries near the boundary with EIA Law FS stage of EA of industries SEPA or Industries Ningxia Province. For the EIA, closely consult the relevant the Gansu EPB Nature Reserve Management Department. industries iii. Management Proper officials will exchange the EIAs of the Ningxia and EIA Law Gansu and After EIA Gansu EPB and SEPA on Cumulative Gansu expressways and keep in contact with each other to Ningxia report is Ningxia EPB Impact appropriately carry out environmental management during finished construction and operation of these expressways, as well as

during the implementation of the EIA for the connecting Appendix 3 road. 3. Operation i. Maintenance Storm water should not be drained directly into tributary PRC standard Project Beginning GHHAB GHHAB with and rivers classified as Class II, but must pass through detention GB: 8978- corridor, and end of Maintenance input from Management ponds or, as a minimum, grassed pervious runoff paths. All 1996 especially the each rainy Department county EPBs 47 of Storm Water storm drains must be periodically cleared to maintain storm urban season water flow. stretches

48 References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Appendix 3 Document ii. Atmospheric (a) The EIA indicated dust levels (TSP) will increase above EIA Project Starting GHHAB with GHHAB, Pollution PRC standards. Frequent road maintenance and corridor immediately county forestry GHHAB in . enforcement of fugitive dust restrictions will help to reduce GB 14761.1- After units cooperation

this. 14761.7-93 completion with police (b) New afforestation projects adjacent to the project road of GEMS and and GPCD and in the surrounding ROW will be encouraged. construction police (c) The testing target of 5% of all vehicles on the road each year will be attempted. Tests will be for CO, NO2, and TSP10. Vehicles failing the test will have licenses confiscated and compliance dates set. (d) Vehicle emission inspection program will be encouraged by GEECH and the existing vehicle certification system enhanced. (e) Boilers in service areas should be powered by oil or gas . iii. Noise Pollution (a) Noise pollution will be monitored. EIA- noise Refer to noise Throughout GEC with GEC (b) “NO HORN PERMITTED” signs will be set at road section, and pollution operational monitoring by sections near schools. environmental monitoring phase GEMS (c) At access points to the expressway, random weighing of monitoring program vehicles will be done. plan (d) No new schools, hospitals and residential buildings are SEIA allowed to be built within 200 m of the expressway. (e) Noise attenuation measures will be carried out if the monitor results show that the noise exceeds standards by 5 dB(A). iv. Accidents in (a) GEC will enforce compliance with PRC regulations. PRC Entire project GPCD, Handling and (b) In case of an accident involving hazardous substances, Regulation: corridor and GEPB, and Transport of the relevant emergency procedures team (as specified in JT3130-88 surroundings police Hazardous and the expressway operating process) will be called. A spill- Local Toxic Materials management plan will be prepared. Transportation Regulations on Hazardous Substances SEIA v. Water Pollution Road runoff must not be drained into the water head Project EIA Water source Throughout GHHAB GPCD and from Road (Dongxia Reservoir, Pingliang Yangzizhai, Jingchuan). It protection operation GEPB Runoff must be channeled to downstream of these water bodies areas after sedimentation. vi. Water Pollution (a) Domestic sewage at toll stations will be treated in septic Project EIA All service Throughout Rest area and GHHAB from Sewage tanks, and then used as fertilizer. and SEIA areas and toll operation toll station References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Contract Frame Implementation Supervision Document and Garbage (b) Solid waste (garbage) will be sorted using gates operators multicompartment collection bins, and recycled and reused wherever possible, via contract with the maintenance company. (c) Oil traps will be maintained and monitored regularly. (d) Sewage from the Kongtong Mountain service station and was terwater from car washing stations and gas stations must collected and treated to meet the Class II standard (GB: 8978-1996), and then channeled downstream of the water source protection area of Jing River. (e) Sewage from other service areas must be treated to meet the GB 8978-1996 Class II standard and then used for greening or irrigation. (f) Sewage from toll gates, administration offices, and maintenance areas must be treated in septic tanks and oxidation ponds, and then used for irrigation. vii. Cumulative (a) Through the implementation of the Gansu Kongtong SEIA Kongtong Throughout GEPB, Ningxia SEPA Impacts to Mountain National Key Scenery Spot Infrastructure Mountain operation EPB Nature Construction Project, environmental management of the Provincial Reserves nature reserve will be secured. Nature (b) The Ningxia and Gansu EPBs should exchange the Reserve, respective EIAs of the Ningxia and Gansu expressways, Liupanshan and keep in close contact with each other for appropriate Mountain environmental management during the construction and National operation of these expressways, as well as during the Nature implementation of the EIA for the connecting road. Reserve (c) The connecting road between Gansu and Ningxia expressways should avoid core and buffer zones of Liupanshan Nature Reserve. (d) ADB should have the opportunity to review the EIA for the connection road so that it can consider cumulative

impacts of a road that connects to expressways to be Appendix 3 financed by ADB. viii. Industrial (a) Total pollution emission quantity control will be Total Pollution Entire project Throughout GEPB, SEPA Development implemented. Emission corridor and operation proponents of Induced by (b) EIAs will be prepared and approved for individual Control surroundings individual Project industry projects. Policy, and industry projects 49 other environmental

50 References Responsibility Environmental Time Mitigation Measures in Law and Location Impact/Issue Frame Implementation Supervision Contract Appendix 3 Document laws and regulations in the PRC such as EIA law 4. Environmental Monitoring Environmental Monitoring will be conducted based on relevant Project EIA Monitoring Throughout GEMS, plus GEC with Monitoring specifications or standards issued by SEPA and using the and SEIA stations operational data technician technical schedule set out in EIA, SEIA, SEPP, EMAP, and MEMP selected as period as trainees from input from defined and defined GEC GEPB verified in field ADB=Asian Development Bank, CCE=chief construction engineer, CO = carbon monoxide, CSE=construction supervision engineer, dB(A)=decibels (measured in audible noise bands ),EIA=environmental impact assessment, EMAP=environmental management action plan, EPB=environmental protection bureau, ErPP=soil erosion prevention plan, FIDIC=Fédération International des Ingenieurs -conseils, GCSO=general contract supervision office, GEC=Gansu Expressway Company, GEECH=Gansu Expressway Engineering Construction Headquarters, GEMS=Gansu Environmental Monitoring Stations GEPB=Gansu Environmental Protection Bureau GPCD=Gansu Provincial Communications Department, GWRB=Gansu Water Resource Bureau, HIV/STD=Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Sexually Transmitted Disease, GHHAB=Gansu Highgrade Highway Administration Bureau, MEMP=mitigation measures execution and monitoring plan, MOC=Ministry of Communications, NO2=nitrogen dioxide, PRC=People's Republic of China, SEIA=summary environmental impact assessment, SEPA=State Environmental Protection Administration, SEPP=soil erosion protection plan, ROW=right-of-way, RP=resettlement plan. TSP=total suspended particulate matter, WRB=Water Resource Bureau, KMNRMD=Kongtong Mountain Nature Reserve Management Department.

Appendix 4 51

SUMMARY OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROGRAM

Table A4.1: Consultation to Assess Environmental Impact

Agencies Purpose(s) Date Main Issues Discussed Dingxi City Water Resource Bureau, Introduce road 15 July • Route selection of expressway within Forest Bureau, Environmental alignment, and 2003 Dingxi City Bureau, Agricultural Bureau major engineering • Major engineering indexes work and solicit • Local water and soil conservation plan comments • Vegetation distribution along the route • Agricultural land • Resettlement issue • Collection of publicized environmental information

Huining County Government, Water Introduce road 15 July • Land acquisition Resource Bureau, Forest Bureau, alignment 2003 • Resettlement Environmental Bureau, Agricultural • Impact on schools and mitigation Bureau measures • Collection of publicized environmental information

Jingning County Government, Water Introduce road 16 July • Selecting of expressway route within Resource Bureau, Forest Bureau, alignment and 2003 Jingning County Environmental Bureau, Agricultural major engineering • Impact on the master plan Bureau work and solicit • Vegetation distribution along the route comments • Impact on the water body along the alignment • Agricultural land • Resettlement • Collection of publicized environmental information

Pingliang City Construction Bureau, Introduce road 17 July • Selecting of expressway route within Environmental Protection Bureau, alignment and 2003 Pingliang City Kongtong District EPB major engineering • Impact on Pingliang master plan work and solicit • Forest and wildlife resource and comments protection • Impact on water body • Protection of the water resource • Agricultural land • Resettlement • Collection of publicized environmental information • Relevant wildlife resources and protection • Collection of information on Kongtong Nature Reserve

Jingchuan County Government, Introduce road 18 July • Selection of expressway route within Water Resource Bureau, Forest alignment and 2003 Jingchuan County Bureau, Environmental Bureau, major engineering • Impact on Jingchuan master plan Agricultural Bureau work and solicit • Impact on Queen Mother's Palace comments • Impact on water resource • Impact on vegetation • Impact on agricultural land • Resettlement • Impact on schools • Collection of publicized environmental information

52 Appendix 4

Agencies Purpose(s) Date Main Issues Discussed SEPA, MO,; and Gansu Discuss EIA TOR 19–20 • Evaluation of EIA TOR Environmental Protection Bureau, and site July • Site investigation EIA units, and various experts investigation 2003 • Soliciting comments on the EIA TOR

Gansu Provincial Communication Discuss road • Selection of road alignment Department, Design Institutes alignment and • Social Impact major engineering • Engineering issue issues • Environmental protection issue • Economic issue

Gansu Environmental Protection Introduce road 15 • Soliciting comments on EIA preparation Bureau alignment and April • Collecting existing environmental major engineering 2004 information works • Major environmental sensitive areas

Qinglan Township Government Introduce road 15 • Land acquisition alignment April • Resettlement 2004 • Impact on schools

Xigongyi Township Government Introduce road 15 • Land acquisition alignment April • Resettlement 2004

Huining County Government, Water Introduce new FS 16 • Land acquisition Resource Bureau, Forest Bureau, road alignment and April • Resettlement Environmental Bureau, Agricultural solicit comments 2004 • Impact on schools and mitigation Bureau measures

Taipingdian Township Government Introduce new FS 4 April • Land acquisition road alignment 2004 • Resettlement • Impact on schools Jingchuan County Government, Introduce new FS 17 • Selection of expressway route within Water Resource Bureau, Forest road alignment and April Jingchuan County Bureau, Environmental Bureau, solicit comments 2004 • Impact on Jingchuan Master Plan Agricultural Bureau • Impact on Queen Mother's Palace • Impact on water resource • Impact on vegetation • Impact on agricultural land • Resettlement • Impact on schools

Pingliang Construction Bureau, Introduce new FS 18 • Selection of expressway route within Environmental Protection Bureau, road alignment and April Pingliang City Kongtong District EPB solicit comments 2004 • Impact on Pingliang master plan • Forest and wildlife resource and protection • Impact on water body • Protection of water resource • Agricultural land • Resettlement • Relevant wildlife resources and protection

Kongtong Township Government Introduce new FS 18 • Protection of Kongtong Nature Reserve road alignment and April • Impact on agricultural land solicit comments 2004 • Resettlement • Impact on schools

Sishilipu Town Government Introduce road 18 • Impact on local economic development alignment and April plan solicit comments 2004 • Impact on agricultural land Appendix 4 53

Agencies Purpose(s) Date Main Issues Discussed • Resettlement Baishui Township Government Introduce road 19 • Protection of Kongtong Nature Reserve alignment and April • Impact on agricultural land solicit comments 2004 • Resettlement

Huasuo Township Government Introduce road 19 • Location of street crossings alignment and April • Impact on agricultural land solicit comments 2004 • Resettlement

Jingchuan County Government, Introduce new FS 20 • Selection of expressway route within Water Resource Bureau, Forest road alignment, April Jingchuan County Bureau, Environmental Bureau, major engineering 2004 • Impact on Jingchuan master plan Agricultural Bureau works; and solicit • Impact on Queen Mother's Palace comments • Impact on water resource • Impact on vegetation • Impact on agricultural land • Resettlement • Impact on schools

Luohandong Township Government Introduce road 20 • Land taken alignment and April • Location of street crossings solicit comments 2004 • Resettlement • Impact on schools Jingning Township Government Introduce road 20 • Resettlement alignment and April • Land acquisition solicit comments 2004

Dingxi Water Resource Bureau, Introduce 10 May • Soil erosion control Forest Bureau, Environmental environmental 2004 • Reduce impact on vegetables Bureau, and Agricultural Bureau mitigation • Reduce impact on agricultural land measures, • Resettlement issue monitoring plan and • Comments on environmental mitigation solicit comments measures and monitoring plan

Qinglan Township Government, Introduce 10 May • Reduce impact on agricultural land Xigongyi Township Government environmental 2004 • Resettlement issue mitigation • Comments on environmental mitigation measures, measures and monitoring plan monitoring plan and solicit comments

Huining County Government, Water Introduce 11 May • Route selection Resource Bureau, Forest Bureau, environmental 2004 • Impact on master development plan Environmental Protection Bureau, mitigation • Comments on environmental mitigation Agricultural Bureau measures, measures and monitoring plan monitoring plan and Taipingdian Township Government solicit comments

Jingning County Government, Introduce 12 May • Route selection Environmental Protection Bureau, environmental 2004 • Impact on master development plan Forest Bureau, Water Resource mitigation • Comments on environmental mitigation Bureau, Agricultural Bureau measures, measures and monitoring plan monitoring plan and solicit comments

Pingliang City Construction Bureau, Introduce 13 May • Route selection Environmental Protection Bureau, environmental 2004 • Impact on master development plan Kongtong District Environmental mitigation • Location of the street crossings Protection Bureau measures, • Comments on environmental mitigation

54 Appendix 4

Agencies Purpose(s) Date Main Issues Discussed Kongtong Township Government monitoring plan and measures and monitoring plan Sishilipu Township Government solicit comments Baishui Township Government Huasuo Township Government Jingchuan County Government, Introduce 14 May • Route selection Environmental Protection Bureau, environmental 2004 • Impact on master development plan Forest Bureau, Water Resource mitigation • Impact on Queen Mother’s Palace Bureau, Agricultural Bureau measures, • Impact on Water Resources monitoring plan and • Comments on environmental mitigation Luohandong Township Government solicit comments measures and monitoring plan Jingning Township Government

Gansu Environmental Protection Introduce 20 May • Comments on environmental mitigation Bureau environmental 2004 measures and monitoring plan mitigation • Vehicle emission control issue measures, • Trans-province environmental monitoring plan, management issue and solicit comments

Ningxia Environmental Protection Introduce road 24 May • Major environmental concern on the Bureau alignment, major 2004 route selection environmental • Induced and cumulative environmental impacts, and solicit impact comments • Comments on trans -provincial environmental management

Gansu Wildlife Management Office Introduce road 24 May • Kongtong Nature Reserve Protection alignment 2004 and project approval issue

Table A4.2: Consultation to Assess Social Impact

Agencies Purpose(s) Date Main Issues Discussed

Provincial Poverty Alleviation and Update introduction of 22 • Role of the proposed project in poverty Development office proposed project, March reduction County and prefecture generate comments to 2004 • Existing poverty reduction project and poverty alleviation and maximize the poverty its impacts development offices (11) in reduction impact 9–25 • Comments and suggestions on the Pingliang municipality and April proposed project to maximize its poverty Huining, Kongtong, Jingchuan, 2004 reduction impact Jingning, Huating, Lingtai, Chongxin, Ningxian, Zhengyuan, Anding and Longde counties

303 households interviewed in 16 Gather data for 9–25 • Roads and transport service availability villages of 5 expressway household socio- April and problem faced traversed counties. economic and 2004 • Villagers use of road and transport transport survey service exploring agriculture, • Positive and negative impact of the access to roads and proposed project and measures to deal transport, income with that levels • HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention strategies

16 Villages in Jingchuan, Introduce progress 20–25 • Local road network availability and its Kongtong, Longde, Jingning, and route of the April relationship with the proposed project Huining and Anding counties for proposed project. 2004 • Impacts of the proposed expressway PRA focus group discussions. Generate comments • Land saving and compensation Appendix 4 55

Agencies Purpose(s) Date Main Issues Discussed The villages include Gaobao, and suggestions on • Local roads status and improvement Guwan, Gaowan, Dazai, the proposed priorities from villagers’ perspective Mijiawan, Kangzhuang, Shangjia, expressway and local • Income source and its implication in Hepan, Ershilipu, Niuping, road improvement relation to proposed project Zhangchengbao, Duntai, priorities. Explore • Comments and suggestions to Wangjiagou, Wushan and Zhulin. measures to maximize the positive impact and Total of 214 villagers participated: maximize the positive minimize the negative impacts 113 male and 101 female. impact of the project • Suggestions on road safety issues and minimize the • Road development as a priority need negative impacts.

30 village leaders in Huining, Introduce route of 9–25 • Local road network availability and its Kongtong, Jingchuan, Jingning, proposed project, April relationship with the proposed project Huating, Lintai, Chongxin, consultation with 2004 • Impacts of the proposed expressway Ningxian, Zhengyuan, Anding and village leaders • Land saving and compensation Longde counties interviewed. The regarding the impact • Local roads status and improvement villages include Gaobao, Guwan, (include positive and priorities from villagers’ perspective Gaowan, Dazai, Mijiawan, negative) of the • Income source and its implication in Kangzhuang, Shangjia, Hepan, project. Generate relation to proposed project Ershilipu, Niuping, Zhangjiabao, comments and • Comments and suggestions to Duntai, Wangjiagou, Wus han, suggestions on the maximize the positive impact and Zhulin, Lichua, Dashanding, proposed project minimize the negative impacts Gaoliu, Zhaoyuan, • Suggestions on road safety issues Liangshuiquan, Youfuzhuan, • Road development as a priority need Huaishuyuan, Yaojiawan, Caotan, Pangtang, Liubao, Xili, Shangliu and Wenwa.

11 communication bureaus in the Update the progress 9–25 • Local road networks needs counties of Huining, Kongtong, of proposed project. April • Prioritize local roads with greatest Jingchuan, Huating, Lingtai, Generate local road 2004 poverty reduction impacts Chongxin, Longde, Jingning, priority options • Process of public consultation on Ningxian, Zhengyuan, and Anding proposed project • Other comments and suggestions on local road improvement

3 public affairs bureaus in the Update introduction of 20–25 • Urban poverty line, urban poverty counties of Kongtong, Jingchuan proposed project, April incidence and its main causes and Anding. generate comments to 2004 • Urban poverty reduction policy and maximize the poverty efforts reduction impacts on • Comments and suggestions urban poverty

2 health institutes in the counties Update information on 20 and • Availability of health care facilities in of Anding and Kongtong the proposed project 22 both urban and rural areas Generate comments April • HIV/AIDS situation and prevention on prevention of 2004 efforts epidemic diseases • Comments and suggestions on epidemic diseases, including HIV/AIDS spread

2 education bureaus in the Update introduction 20 and • Relationship between transport counties of Jingning and on the proposed 24 availability and students involvement Jingchuan project. Generate April • Factors affecting students going to comments on 2004 school proposed project • Impact of the proposed project on impact on education education development

2 All China Women’s Federation Update introduction of 20 and • Road development and women 56 Appendix 4

Agencies Purpose(s) Date Main Issues Discussed offices in the counties of the proposed project. 24 development relationships Jingchuan, and Jingning Generate comments April • Women’s participation in the whole and suggestions to 2004 project process ensure women’s • Pro-women measures in the proposed participation and project, such as skilled and unskilled labor benefit from the service in the project project

I Ethnic Minority Affairs Bureau in Update introduction of 20 • Gaps in practical existing policies and Kongtong District the proposed project. April programs Generate comments 2004 • Cultural differences among nationalities and suggestions to and their implications for road ensure the proposed development measures project is minority sensitive.

4 manufacturers: Longde Cement Update introduction of 20 and • Comparison of advantages and Co. Ltd., Pingliang Cement the proposed project. 22–23 disadvantages of using proposed Factory, Yongxiang Lili Root Generate comments April expressway and the existing NH312 Processing Company, Huining and suggestions on 2004 • Comments and suggestions on the Yilong Grain Processing and the proposed project proposed project, especially the local Trading Company, Zongxing Zinc toward better service road improvement Processing and Trading Company

5 wholesale traders: Huining Sanli Introduce proposed 21–22 • Comparison of advantages and Trade Co. Ltd., Anding Potato project. Generate April disadvantages of toll gate and non-toll Trade Association, Pingliang comments and 2004 gate roads Eastern Suburb Vegetable Trade suggestions on the • Factors affecting transport costs of Market, Lanzhou proposed project trade and implications for the proposed toward providing project better service to traders and market management

6 bus and freight companies: Update introduction of 21–25 • Transport demands and service Anding Transport Company, the proposed project. April between rural and urban area Lanzhou Fourth Bus Transport Generate comments 2004 • Advantages and disadvantages of using Company, Eastern Transport and suggestions on toll and non-toll roads Corporation Pingliang Branch, the proposed • Epidemic diseases includes HIV/AIDS Lanzhou Transport Co.Ltd., expressway spread and prevention Eastern Transport Corporation development and • Opinions on local road improvement or Pingliang Freight Branch. Anding management development, including priorities and Transport Station. reasons

Appendix 5 57

SUMMARY RESETTLEMENT PLAN

A. Status of the Resettlement Plan

1. The proposed Gansu Road Development Project will finance the construction of an expressway between Luohandong and Dingxi and related connecting roads, as well as complementary local roads. The resettlement plan (RP) covers all three components, but only the first two components are based on a detailed survey of the project impacts and resettlement measures. For the local road program, upgrading roads from class IV to class III will involve a limited amount of land acquisition and resettlement. The scope of such impact has been estimated in the RP. The Gansu provincial government assured that the affected people will receive the same compensation and other assistance provided in the RP.

2. The Gansu Provincial Communication Department (GPCD) is the Executing Agency. GPCD, assisted by ADB consultants, has prepared a draft RP based on the detailed impact survey completed during preliminary design, and the socioeconomic survey of affected villages.

B. Scope of Land Acquisition and Resettlement

3. The proposed Luoding expressway (including connecting roads) will affect 23 townships, 93 administrative villages, and 374 village groups in 5 counties, namely, Jingchuan County, Kongtong District, and Jingning County in Pingliang municipality: Huining County in Baiyin Municipality and Anding District in Dingxi Municipality. According to the detailed impact survey, about 1,150 ha will be acquired, about 63% of which is farmland, comprising 16 paddy (16%) and dryland (47%) fields. The remaining 37% is forestland, housing plot, and wasteland. Approximately 100 ha will be occupied temporarily during the construction phase. Based on per capita farmland in the affected villages, farmland acquisition will affect 4,285 persons (losing all their farmland). Assuming each person will lose one third of his/her farmland, land acquisition will directly affect an estimated 2,830 households with 13,150 persons. On average, each affected household will lose 0.25 ha of farmland, which represents 30% loss of its current farmland.

4. Along with land acquisition, about 55,612 square meters (m2) of houses will be demolished, necessitating relocation of 520 households and 2,350 persons. About 85% of houses are brick-wood and earth-wood structures, with earth-wood houses accounting for 37% of the total demolished. Relocation will provide an opportunity to improve current housing condition for relocated households. Most of these households will be moved a short distance to another site in their original village.

5. Other affected assets include telecommunications and electrical infrastructure, ponds for fish and lotus cultivation, sheds, walls, graves, and economic trees. All land, housing, and other assets will be compensated at replacement value.

1. Policy Framework and Entitlements

6. For people unavoidably affected, the resettlement objective is to achieve equal or better income and living standards in line with the PRC Land Administration Law (1998) of the project resettlement office (PRO) and ADB’s policy on involuntary resettlement. GPCD will ensure that any people losing land, housing, other assets or income source will be assisted to fully restore their income and living standards. The Gansu provincial government in 2001 issued a Land Administration Decree to implement the 1998 Land Administration Law, which stipulates the 58 Appendix 5 regulations for land compensation, resettlement subsidies, young crop compensation, house compensation, and other measures to carry out resettlement. According to the policy, the total compensation (land compensation, resettlement subsidy, and young crop) will be set at CNY12,000/mu for irrigated farmland, CNY6,000/mu for dryland and housing plot, and CNY1,900/mu for forestland. People losing land temporarily during construction will be paid the equivalent of production value forgone for the period of loss, which is expected to be 3 years. The land used temporarily will be restored by the contractor to the original condition, or else the owner will receive additional funds with which to restore the land. For structures to be demolished, replacement value will be given to the affected households based on compensation rates adopted in three cities: CNY350–CNY460/m2 for brick-concrete structures, CNY200– 300/m2 for brick-wood structures, and CNY200/ m2 for earth-wood structures. Those losing housing will be provided with funds to purchase a new housing site serviced by a road, and with electricity and water within the current village group or administrative village. There will be no reduction in house compensation for depreciation, and people will be allowed to salvage materials from their old houses.

2. Resettlement Strategy

7. Efforts to minimize resettlement effects have been made after consultations with local officials when the alignment was being set in the initial feasibility study. The change in alignment during preliminary design has resulted in a 40% reduction of irrigated farmland to be acquired to 2,793 mu, and reduction of houses to be demolished by 46%. The number of relocated households was kept to only 520, averaging 2 households/ km. For those unavoidably affected, the resettlement strategy is to replace losses of housing, land, other assets, infrastructure, and income.

8. Almost all affected persons will lose agricultural land. However, since the impacts are widely dispersed among affected villages and per capita landholding is relatively high in Gansu than in other parts of the country, the actual losses will not be significant and land loss impacts can be mitigated. All affected people will remain in agriculture. Among 93 affected villages, the impact survey identified only 2 villages that will lose more than 10% of their farmland, and 10 villages that will lose 5–10% of their landholding. Detailed economic rehabilitation plans have been developed for these moderately affected villages after consultation with each affected village and individuals, which are included in the RP. According to the RP, all affected persons will be either compensated directly or their land replaced through village land readjustment and new farmland development to ensure that all village members have sufficient land to farm. Villages that adopted land readjustment will utilize the compensation funds to improve farm conditions, develop cash crops, and undertake various nonfarm activities. The decision to restore and improve the agricultural economy was based on consultation and expressed the opinion of the affected people. It was also recognized that new employment and income- generating opportunities will arise once the expressway and connectors are constructed. The people generally felt confident that this strategy will lead to faster economic growth, higher incomes, and better living conditions.

9 GPCD will ensure that the resettlement entitlements are given to the affected people before ground leveling and demolition start. Land compensation and resettlement subsidy will be paid to the affected village groups or individuals. Housing compensation and compensation for young crops and other assets will be given directly to people losing those assets. Compensation for restoration of infrastructure such as electrical and communication fixtures will be paid to the concerned government departments.

Appendix 5 59

10 The resettlement regulations have standard provisions for moving allowances to assist the affected people during the transition phase. Also, GPCD will request expressway contractors to give priority to resettlement affected households in the allocation of unskilled jobs during construction. This issue will be handled through consultation with the township and village leaders.

3. Institutional Arrangements

11. The Gansu provincial government will assume overall responsibility for implementing resettlement according to the approved RP. A Project Resettlement Office (PRO) within GPCD will directly coordinate the planning, implementing, financing, and reporting of land acquisition and resettlement for the expressway, connector roads, and local poverty roads. Both leading groups and resettlement offices, each comprising 6–8 staff, will be established in all three cities and five affected counties (districts). The county resettlement offices will have the primary responsibility for resettlement consultation, implementation, and timely delivery of entitlements, assisted by concerned township and villages.

4. Vulnerable Group

12. Among the total affected people, only 557 of Hui nationality are affected accounting for 4.2% affected persons. Among 93 affected villages, only 3 have over 10% of Hui minority population. Since Hui people have been closely integrated in the current social system with no distinctive isolation or barriers, the compensation and rehabilitation adopted for them will be the same as those for Han people. To respect their cultural custom and maintain their social relationship, all affected minority populations will not be resettled together within the same villages and village groups.

13. For economically vulnerable people, including the elderly living alone, the disabled women heads of households, and extremely poor households with income below CNY625, the Project will provide additional financial and physical support. According to the survey and statistics provided by affected villages and townships, there are 14.4% extremely poor and vulnerable people in project-affected villages. Based on the same ratio, it is estimated that about 407 households and 1,893 persons belong to this economically vulnerable group among affected persons. Under the RP, this vulnerable group will receive the following additional assistance: (i) physical help in housing construction and relocation free of charge, and (ii) a special subsidy to enable them to maintain their living standards while constructing their houses. The specific amount to such assistance will be determined according to the actual condition and their needs. For this purpose, GPCD agreed to set aside a special fund with 1% of total resettlement cost, which will be used to provide direct and needed help for vulnerable people.

5. Consultation and Grievance Redress

14. The 1998 Land Law requires disclosure and consultation with affected people. The affected people have been notified about the key elements of the RP during meetings and interviews. Before implementation, further consultations will be arranged by township and village officials to discuss specific impacts in each village and how they will be addressed. The people losing housing will be offered a choice of housing sites; those losing agricultural land will have the opportunity to consider suitable income-replacement alternatives. All villagers will also have input in decisions on how to use the collective compensation funds.

60 Appendix 5

15. By the middle of August 2004, GPCD and relevant county resettlement offices will distribute a resettlement information booklet to all affected townships, villages, and households. The booklet contains the resettlement scope, expected time frame, compensation rates for land and other assets, other assistance to replace assets, relocation and economic rehabilitation strategies, and grievance redress mechanisms. The county, township, and village officials will ensure that any concerns raised by the affected people are quickly addressed.

16. In case of grievance, affected people will submit their oral or written complaint first to the village committee or the township resettlement office. If their complaint is not settled in 2 weeks, they can seek redress at the county resettlement office, within 1 month. If the complaint is still unresolved in 2 weeks, the PRO of GPCD will try to achieve a solution. The final redress will be sought, if necessary, in the civil courts, in accordance with the Civil Procedures Act.

6. Monitoring and Reporting

17. The RP includes a detailed plan for internal and external monitoring and evaluation. GPCD will engage a qualified monitoring agency to carry out independent resettlement monitoring and evaluation. The independent monitoring agency will ascertain the extent to which the affected people have (i) received their full entitlements on time; and (ii) fully restored their livelihoods, income levels, and living standards. It will also conduct a baseline survey before resettlement, semiannual investigations during resettlement, and annual survey updates for 2 years after resettlement is completed. The household survey will include a representative number of those severely affected by loss of land, those losing housing, and those classified as minority and economically vulnerable.

18. A quarterly reporting system is being established in PRO in GPCD. GPCD will inform ADB of the progress of land acquisition and resettlement through resettlement progress reports. GPCD will also guve ADB copies of the independent monitoring and evaluation reports to be prepared twice a year during resettlement implementation and once a year after resettlement completion. After land acquisition and resettlement are completed, GPCD will prepare a resettlement completion report and submit it to ADB.

7. Finance and Implementation Schedule

19. The RP budget estimate is CNY206 million for all costs including compensation, resettlement subsidy, payments for other assets such as housing, moving allowances, subsidy to vulnerable groups, fees for resettlement administration, and monitoring and evaluation. GPCD will supplement the resettlement budget, if necessary, to meet any shortfall that occurs in achieving the resettlement objectives.

20. The resettlement implementation schedule has been prepared based on the project construction timetable agreed upon by GPCD and ADB. Land acquisition is planned to start in April 2005 and be completed by February 2006. Housing will be relocated between April 2005, and May 2006. This schedule allows for time to develop and readjust farmland during 2005, and to fully restore livelihoods and living conditions by early 2006. Table A5 gives the supervision milestones for the expressway component.

Appendix 5 61

Table A5: Resettlement Supervision Milestones

Responsible No. Resettlement Tasks Target Agency Deadline Status 1. Disclosure · Information Booklet 93 villages, 374 PRO 15 Aug 04 Distribution groups, 2,829 AF · Resettlement Plan Circulation 5 counties / PRO 25 Jun 04 Draft provided districts · RP Placed on ADB Web Site PRO and 31 Aug 04 ADB 2. Resettlement Plan and Budget Approval of RP and Budget $30 million GCD 15 Jul 04 (including compensation rates ) · Revised RP Based on DMS PRO 15 Jun 05 · Revised RP impacts for Local GCD 31 Dec 04 Roads 3. Compensation Agreements · Village Agreements 93 villages 5 CROs 30 Apr 04 · Household Agreements 520 AF for 23 TRWGs 31 May 05 house; 2829 AF for land 4. Detailed Measurement Survey 5 CROs 30 Apr 05 3 months (DMS)

5. Detailed Resettlement Plans · Village Rehabilitation Plans 32 groups 5 CROs 30 Jun 05 12 initiated · Land Reclamation Plans 5 counties 5 CROs 31 Dec 04 · Plan for Vulnerable Groups CNY1.2 million PRO 15 Jun 05 Fund · Technical Training Plan for AF 2,800 AF PRO 30 Jun 05

6. Implementation Capacity · 5 CROs and 3 PRO 50 staff PRO 31 Oct 04 · Staff 23 Township Offices 70 staff 5 CROs 30 Nov 04 · Designate Village 180 villagers 23 TRWGs 31 Dec 04 Representatives 6.4 · Training of Staff 300 people PRO/CROs 15 Jan 05

7. Monitoring and Evaluation · Baseline Survey (additional As per RP Monitor 30Apr 05 surveys) · Set Up Internal Supervision As per RP PRO/CROs 28 Feb 05 · Contract External Monitor As per RP PRO 28 Feb 05 · Internal Monitoring Reports Quarterly PRO 30 Jun 05 1st Report due · External monitoring Reports Semiannual Monitor 31 Dec 05 1st Report due · Annual Evaluation Reports Annual Monitor 31 Dec 06

· Resettlement Completion PRO 30 Dec 08 1st Report due Report 8. Documentation of As per RP PRO/CROs Ongoing Consultation 9. Documentation of Grievances As required PRO/TRWGs To be recorded 10. Flow of Funds / Compensation As per RP · To CROs 30% of funds PRO 31 May 05 62 Appendix 5

Responsible No. Resettlement Tasks Target Agency Deadline Status · To Affected Villages As per RP 5 CROs 30 Jun 05 · To Affected Households As per RP 5 CROs 31 Jul 05 11. Commence Land Acquisition · Main Alignment 231 km PRO 31 May 05 · Intercounty Road 340 km PRO 31 Mar 05 12. Commence Civil Works Contractors Jun 05 AF=affected families, CRO=county (District) resettlement office, GCD=Gansu Communications Department, ML&R=Ministry of Land and Resources, PRO=project resettlement office, RIB=resettlement information booklet, RP=resettlement plan, TRWG=township resettlement working groups, VC=village committee.