IEE: Lao PDR: Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project
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Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION Department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT) in Champasack province and Pakse Urban Development Administration Authority (UDAA) Updated on 12 April 2012 Prepared with assistance from ADB TA 7567-LAO i Table of Contents Abbreviations, Currency Equivalent I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 11 A. Purpose of the Report 1 B. Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project 1 C. City-wide Urban Environmental Improvements 2 D. Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures 3 E. Information Disclosure, Consultation and Participation 4 F. Grievance Redress Mechanism 5 G. Environmental Management Plan 6 H. Conclusion and Recommendation 7 II. POLICY, LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 8 A. Policy and Legal Framework 8 B. International Environmental Conventions 9 C. Administrative Framework 10 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 12 A. The Project 12 B. City-wide Urban Environmental improvements 12 C. Category and Requirements 13 D. Need for the Project 16 E. Locations and Description of Sites 16 F. Implementation Schedule 23 G. Subproject Layouts 23 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 26 A. Physical /Chemical Environment 26 1. Climate 26 2. Climate Change 27 3. Air Quality and Noise 28 4. Topography and Soils 28 5. Surface Water 29 6. Groundwater 29 7. Geology and Seismology 29 8. Other Natural Hazards 30 B. Biological Environment 30 1. Forests and National Bio-diversity Conservation Areas 30 2. Aquatic Resources 31 C. Economic Environment 31 D. Socio-economic Environment 32 1. Population 32 2. Ethnic Minorities 32 3. Income and Employment 32 4. Poverty 33 5. Health 33 6. Education 34 7. Access to Basic Infrastructure and Security of Tenure 34 E. Physical Cultural Environment 35 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION MEASURES 35 A. Potential Issues/Concerns/Impacts 35 1. Issues/Concerns Relative to Siting 35 2. Issues/Concerns Relative to Design 37 3. Issues/Concerns/Impacts During Construction 37 4. Issues/Concerns/Impacts During Operation 41 5. Positive Impacts and Benefits 41 42 ii Table of Contents B. Proposed Mitigation Measures 42 1. Mitigating Issues/Concerns Prior to Construction 42 2. Mitigating Issues/Concerns/Impacts During Construction 43 3. Mitigating Issues/Concerns/Impacts During Operation 45 VI. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION & PARTICIPATION 46 VII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM 47 A. Purpose of the Mechanism 47 B. Access to the Mechanism 47 C. The Grievance Redress Mechanism 48 D. Public Disclosure of the Mechanism 49 VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 50 A. Implementation Arrangements 50 B. Capacity development 52 C. Preliminary Costs 53 IX. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS 53 Annexes A Construction Sequence for the Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Existing Landfill 55 B Groundwater Quality monitoring Results 56 C Screening of Potential Issues/Concerns Relative to Siting 58 D Screening of Potential Issues/Concerns/Impacts During Construction 62 E Screening of Potential Issues/Concerns/Impacts During Operation 65 F Notes of Public Consultations 68 G (Draft) Environmental Management Plan for the Rehabilitation & Upgrade of Existing 85 Landfill Subproject H (Draft) Environmental Management Plan for the Drainage and Stormwater 86 Management Subproject I (Draft) Environmental Management Plan for the Riverbank Erosion Protection 87 Subproject Figures 1 Location of the Existing Landfill 18 2 Project Implementation Schedule 24 3 Layout of the Existing Landfill for Rehabilitation and Upgrade 25 4 The Proposed Drainage and Stormwater Management and Riverbank Erosion 25 Protection Subprojects 5 Greenhouse Gas Inventory in Four Sectors (1990 level) 27 6 Construction Area of Influence 36 7 Grievance Redress Mechanism 51 Tables 1 The GOL Environmental Assessment and Review Process 11 2 Summary of Works Under the Proposed Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Existing 14 Landfill Subproject 3 Summary of Works Under the Proposed Drainage and Stormwater Management 15 Subproject 4 Locations of Subprojects 17 5 Estimated Volumes of Required Aggregate Materials 23 6 Estimated Volumes of Excavated/Removed Materials for Disposal 24 7 Climate Data, Pakse Station, 1980-2009 26 8 Monthly and Annual Climate data, Pakse Station, 2009 27 9 Greenhouse Gas Inventories 1990 27 10 Some Direct Souces of Dust, Gas Emission, Odor, Noise & Vibration 39 iii Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank AP affected person CEMP contractor’s environmental management plan CEMR contractor’s environmental management report DPWT Department of Public Works and Transport EA environmental assessment ECC environmental compliance certificate EERT external emergency response team EIA environmental impact assessment EMP environmental management plan EMR environmental monitoring report ERC emergency response coordinator GPP grievance point person GOL Government of Lao PDR IEC information, education and communication IEE initial environmental examination LAK Lao kip M&R maintenance and repair MONRE Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment MPI Ministry of Planning and Investment O&M operation and maintenance O/M&R operation, maintenance and repair PCU project coordination unit PDR People’s Democratic Republic PMIS project management and implementation support PMIU project management and implementation unit ROW right-of-way SERT subproject emergency response team STUDP Secondary Towns Urban Development Project UDAA Urban Development and Administration Authority USD United States Dollar VH village head Currency Equivalent As of May 2011 Currency Unit - Lao Kip USD 1 = LAK 8,000 iv I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. Purpose of the Report 1. This report gives an account of the initial environmental examination (IEE) of the proposed Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project. The IEE was conducted as part of the subproject preparation to identify and assess potential impacts of the proposed Subproject on the environment, and to recommend measures to mitigate the potential adverse impacts arising from its implementation. The IEE was carried out following the Environmental Assessment Guidelines (2003) and Safeguard Policy Statement (June 2009) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and with reference to the Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment (No. 112/PM), dated 16 February 2010, and the Directive on the List of Projects to Undertake IEE and EIA (No. 697/WREA/PM), dated 12 March 2010, of the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (GOL). B. Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project 2. The Pakse Urban Environmental Improvement Project (or, Project) will improve priority urban and environmental infrastructure in Pakse District, 13 villages in Phonthong District and 4 villages in Bachiang, and strengthen urban management capacity. The landfill is located in 1 village in Xanasouboum district. It will deliver the following outputs, through four main components, namely: City-wide Urban Environmental Improvements: - rehabilitation and upgrade of existing landfill, (with possible landfill expansion to be indentified during project implementation), - drainage and stormwater management, - riverbank erosion protection; Community Environmental Improvement Scheme: - community-led infrastructure upgrading in villages, - household sanitation improvements; Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Development: - increased efficiency and management capacity of the relevant government agencies, - raised public awareness on environmental protection; Project Management Support: - technical assistance in project management and implementation. 3. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) will be the executing agency (EA), responsible for preparation and implementation of the Project. The Champassak Department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT) and the Pakse Urban Development Administration Authority (UDAA) will be the implementing agencies. A Project Coordination Unit (PCU) will be established in the Department of Housing and Urban Planning in MPWT. The Project Management and Implementation Unit (PMIU), comprising of staff from both DPWT and UDAA, will be housed in UDAA. A Project Steering Committee (PSC) will be established at the Champassak provincial level, with the vice provincial governor as chair and the district chief of Pakse district as vice chair. The Project will be implemented over a period of about 6 years. The implementation of Component 1 will take 2.5 years: i) commencing with detailed topographical surveys by Q3 of Year 1; ii) followed by the preparation of detailed design and bidding documents for 6 months; iii) about 6 months of procurement process; and iv) a construction period of at least 12 months to at most 21 months. 1 C. Community Environmental Improvements (CEI) Ouput 4. The CEI Output will comprise of small-scale environmental improvements in the core villages. It is expected that these could include drains, footpaths, access roads, paved public areas, village solid waste management facilities, and sanitation facilities. Other minor works could be identified through the proposed participatory planning process. The physical interventions of CEI will be supported by a community preparation and awareness program, comprising: i) raising awareness in public health and environmental management/sanitation through community-based training and media-based public campaign; and ii) building the capacity of villages, communities, and UDAA for community-based local planning, O&M, and monitoring and evaluation. Training will target the poor and women to secure their meaningful participation in the program.