Draft Initial Environmental Examination September 2011 NEP: Integrated Urban Development Project- Siddharthanagar Municipality Prepared by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 5 August 2011) Currency unit – Nepalese rupee (NRs/NRe) NRs1.00 = $0.01391 $1.00 = NRs 71.874 ABBREVIATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank CBO - community building organization CLC - City Level Committees CPHEEO - Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization CTE - Consent to Establish CTO - Consent to Operate DSMC - Design Supervision Management Consultant EAC - Expert Appraisal Committee EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EMP - Environmental Management Plan GRC - Grievance Redress Committee H&S - health and safety IEE - initial environmental examination IPCC - Investment Program Coordination Cell lpcd - liters per capita per day MFF - Multitranche Financing Facility MSW - municipal solid waste NEA - national-level Executing Agency NGO - nongovernmental organization NSC - National level Steering Committee O&M - operation and maintenance PMIU - Project Management and Implementation Unit PSP - private sector participation SEA - State-level Executing Agency SEIAA - State Environment Impact Assessment Authority SIPMIU - State-level Investment Program Management and Implementation Units SPS - Safeguard Policy Statement TOR - terms of reference UD&PAD - Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department UDD - Urban Development Department ULB - urban local body WEIGHTS AND MEASURES dbA – decibels ha – hectare km – kilometer km2 – square kilometer l – liter m – meter m2 – square meter M3 – cubic meter MT – metric tons MTD – metric tons per day NOTE In this report, "$" refers to US dollars. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 A. Purpose of the Report 1 B. Basis and extent of the IEE study 2 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 6 A. Type and Need of the Subprojects 6 B. Description of the Subprojects 6 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 10 A. Physical Resources 10 B. Ecological Resources 11 C. Infrastructure 12 D. Economic Development 16 IV. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONEMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 18 A. Drainage Improvements 25 B. City Roads 25 C. Sanitary Landfill 31 D. Potential Environmental Enhancement Measures 40 E. Trans-boundary and Cumulative Impacts 40 V. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND PARTICIPATION 40 VI. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 42 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 45 A. Environmental Monitoring 45 B. Implementation Arrangements 61 C. Cost Estimates 63 D. Implementation Schedule 64 VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 66 APPENDIXES 1. Urban Development- Drainage Improvements: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 67 2. Urban Development- Rehabilitation of City Roads: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 71 3. Solid Waste Management: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 75 4. National Drinking Water Quality Standards (2062 B.S.) 79 5. Environment Related Acts and Regulations in Nepal 80 6. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nepal 82 7. Recommended Noise Exposure Limits for the Work Environment (Adopted from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 83 8. Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard, 2056 (1999) 84 9. Recommended Standards for Vibration from Construction Sites 90 10. Tolerance Limits for Wastewater to be Discharged into Inland Surface Waters from Combined Wastewater Treatment Plant (Generic Standards) 91 11. Public Comments/Suggestions including Attendances during the Focus Group Discussions 92 12. Municipal Board Meeting Represented by all Political Parties 104 13. Sample Environmental Monitoring Report Template 107 14. EIA Government’s Requirements Gaps to be fulfilled and Resources Needed 108 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 The Government of Nepal requested a loan and grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Integrated Urban Development Project. The purpose of this Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is to examine the proposed infrastructure components in Nepalganj Municipality to ensure that they will not damage the environment, and to provide guidance for their planning, construction and operation. In the environmental assessment, potential environmental impacts are identified, their significance assessed, and strategies devised to avoid these impacts or reduce them to an acceptable level. These strategies (called ―mitigation measures‖) are then incorporated into the Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The EMP assigns responsibilities, timescales, and performance indicators/standards for each mitigation measure—to make sure that they are implemented and not ignored. An environmental monitoring plan is also added. This recommends protocols and responsibilities for monitoring the operation of the project, within a range of relevant and agreed performance indicators. The project will be implemented by the Siddharthanagar Municipality with support from the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works. 2 In Siddharthanagar municipality, the following sub-project/components are proposed: (i) stormwater drainage; (ii) roads and lanes improvements and (iii) solid waste management. Community Development Programs will be defined during implementation in poverty pockets, and will be guided by the Environmental Assessment and Review Framework prepared for the project. The subproject will help achieve higher and more socially inclusive economic growth through effective, efficient, and reliable delivery of improved and affordable municipal services by the Municipality to its citizens. 3 Located at the terai in the Western Development Region, Siddharthanagar is one of the prominent border towns and is considered as second largest entry point for the transport of goods and people to and from India due to its proximity to the Indian city of Gorakhpur and railway connectivity all over India. The dry port at the border facilitates import of large volume of goods from India. 4 The Government of Nepal’s legislation and ADB policy require that the environmental impacts of development projects are identified and assessed as part of the planning and design processes, and that action is taken to reduce those impacts to acceptable levels. This is done through the environmental assessment process, which has become an integral part of lending operations and project development and implementation worldwide. 5 Overall, the impacts of the subprojects will be very positive for the environment and the public if they are properly implemented and environmental issues duly considered. Some negative impacts are anticipated during construction but in specific areas and for short duration (dust, noise, traffic problems, etc.). It is expected that the adverse environmental impacts of the planned subprojects will in general not be significant and can be easily and reasonably mitigated and prevented through adequate mitigation measures and regular monitoring during the design, construction and operation phases. This IEE will be disclosed on ADB’s website and within the Project Implementation Units in Siddharthanagar and Project the Coordination Office in the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction. 1 I. INTRODUCTION A. Purpose of the Report 1. The Government of Nepal requested a loan and grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Integrated Urban Development Project. The Project aims to improve quality of life and to help achieve higher and socially inclusive economic growth in f our key municipalities in Nepal, Nepalgunj, Siddarthanagar, Janakpur and Dharan, through improved and affordable municipal services delivered effectively, efficiently and reliably by accountable local bodies. The Project will implement urban environmental improvement, on an integrated basis, in the areas of drainage, municipal roads, solid waste management, and water supply. 2. In Siddharthanagar municipality, the following sub-project/components are proposed: (i) stormwater drainage; (ii) roads and lanes improvements and (iii) solid waste management. Community Development Programs will be defined during implementation in poverty pockets, and will be guided by the Environmental Assessment and Review Framework prepared for the project. The subproject will help achieve higher and more socially inclusive economic growth through effective, efficient, and reliable delivery of improved and affordable municipal services by the Municipality to its citizens. Table 1 provides a summary of the proposed components in Siddharthanagar municipality. Table 1: Siddharthanagar Project Components Stormwater Drainage Rehabilitation of the existing system Extension of the main drain at Khajuriya (L=0.15 km) Lining of 2.8 km of earthen drain in ward no. 6 Improvement of 3 km of watercourse in ward no. 4 Improvement of 5.95 km of north-south watercourse running though ward nos. 12, 13, 3 and 1 Extension of the drain behind the stadium (L=0.2km) Improvement