Environmental Assessment Report Summary Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 39419 July 2008 SRI: Clean Energy and Access Improvement Project (formerly Sustainable Power Sector Development Project) Prepared byby [Author(s)]Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited for the Asian Development Bank [(ADB).Firm] The draft summary 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. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESMENT REPORT Summary Initial Environmental Examination Report (Revised) July 2008 SUSTAINABLE POWER SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Prepared by Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited Colombo, Sri Lanka Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 ABBREVATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment EMP - Environmental Management Plan IEE - Initial Environmental Examination PIU - Project Implementation Unit EA - Executing Agency Page 1 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 CONTENTS ABBREVATIONS 1 CONTENTS 2 INTRODUCTION 3 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 4 1.1. PROJECT LOCATIONS 5 1.2. TYPE OF PROJECT AND THE CATEGORY 6 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 7 2.1. PHYSICAL RESOURCES 7 2.2. ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES 8 2.3. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE PROJECT AREA 9 3. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES 10 3.1. PROJECT SITING 10 3.2. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PSS AND MITIGATORY MEASURES 10 3.3. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT MEASURES 13 4. INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 14 4.1. PUBLIC COMPLAINS HANDLING PROCEDURE. 15 4.2. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN 15 5. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 24 6. STREET LIGHTING DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT SUB PROJECT 25 7. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 26 8. CONCLUSIONS 27 List of Tables Table 2.1 Scope of the proposed PSS 4 Table 3.1 Existing flora on the site 9 Table 4.1 Environmental Monitoring Plan 23 List of Figures Table 2.1 Scope of the proposed PSS 4 Table 3.1 Existing flora on the site 9 Table 4.1 Environmental Monitoring Plan 23 Page 2 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 Introduction Lanka Electricity Company was set-up in 1983 to take-over badly maintained local authority distribution networks in view of enhancing power quality. ADB funded this mission from the out set funding 4 projects by which the LECO network is developed. At present LECO is engaged in power distribution mainly in the western coastal areas of Sri Lanka. The franchised area is divided geographically into seven branches which includes the prime economic zone of Sri Lanka The requirement of enhanced capacity is in need to supply the load growth in these areas. The last substations project in LECO area was implemented 8 years ago. After this project, no capacity expansion has taken place and this has severely affected the LECO distribution capacity. LECO wishes to propose two new 33/11kV, 2X5MVA substations in Katunayake, Kotikawatta and two 33/11kV, 2X10MVA Primary Substations in Kiribathgoda and Nawala. The project is formulated based on LECO five year load forecast and load flow study. The land area required is approximately 1000 sq.m. The plots of land are identified as close as possible to the load centre and be purchased at commercial rates. During purchase of land it is ensured that those are environmentally suitable for a primary substation. This is the summery of the initial environmental examination report which was produced in the initial phases of the project preparations envisaging submission for ADB funding. Page 3 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 1. Description of the Project Table 2.1 summarise the planned capacity enhancements by the proposed primary substations. PROPOSED LAND EXTENT GRID SUBSTATION CAPACITY PURCHASED Katunayaka 2×5 MVA 1000m2 Kiribathgoda 2×10 MVA 1000m2 Nawala 2×10 MVA 1000m2 Kotikawatta 2×5 MVA 1000m2 Table 1.1 Scope of the proposed PSS The proposed substations will relieve the existing over-load substations in the areas of Katunayake, Seeduwa, Dalugama, Dalupitiya, Ethulkotte and Nugegoda. Page 4 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 1.1. Project Locations Figure 1.1 Map of new PSS locations Katunayaka Facing the by road Sarath Mawath, off to the land side between 18th and 19th kilometre post on A3 (Colombo, Negambo) road, 700m along the Sarath Mawatha, Negambo road junction. Kiribathgoda Facing the New Hunupitiya road, left turn between 8th and 9th kilometre post on A1 (Colombo, Kandy) road, 400m along the New Hunupitiya Road, Kandy Road junction. Nawala Facing the 4th lane (by road of Nawala Road), right turn between Koswatte Junction and Nawala Junction on Nawala road, 100m away from the 4th lane and Nawala Road junction. Page 5 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 Kotikawatta Facing the road from IDH junction to Kotikawatta, off to the land right side, 750m along the Kotikkawatta Road. 1.2. Type of Project and the Category This project consists of building four new Primary Substations in small land extents of 1000m2 approximately. According to the clause 142 of Environmental Assessment Guidelines, Asian Development Bank, 2003, this project can be classified as follows due to minimal environmental impact associated with the project: Project Type: Power Transmission Category: B Page 6 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 2. Description of the Environment 2.1. Physical Resources Geology and soils The project sites are located in the Colombo (Nawala and Kotikawatta PSS) and Gampaha (Katunayaka and Kiribathgoda PSS) districts. The geology of these sites is described below. (i). Kiribathgoda The area is consisted with compressible alluvial depositions. The soil is generally blackish, silty - clayey –fine sand. Part of the land is filled with latrotic soil. The approximate depth of ground water level is at one meter depth from existing ground level. (ii). Katunayake The area is consisted with lagoonal depositions of white medium to coarse sand with traces of silt. The approximate depth of ground water level is at three meters depth from existing ground level. (iii). Kotikawatte The area is consisted with compressible organic depositions. The soil is generally blackish, silty - clayey –fine sand. Majority of the land is filled with latrotic soil. The approximate depth of ground water level is at two meters depth from existing ground level. (iv). Nawala The area is consisted with organic debris of blackish silty fine sand with some clay. The approximate depth of ground water level is at two meters depth from existing ground level. Page 7 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 Climate Weather in the project areas stays evenly hot and humid throughout the year, with no distinct seasons apart from two rainy seasons. Heavy monsoon rains occur between May and July (South West Monsoon), and again between October and December, (North East Monsoon) resulting in a mean annual precipitation of 2345 mm approximate. The average annual air temperature in the project area is ranged between 220 Celsius(C) and 310C.The air quality of the project areas tends to deviate from site to site and time. All the air pollutants in the four project areas are well within the range of standards. Hydrology and water resources Water resources in the project area are represented by surface water (rivers and lakes) and ground water. The ground water in the project area is classified as shallow aquifers on costal sand as shown on the aquifer diagram below. The water supply system in the project area mainly comprised of surface water distribution. 2.2. Ecological Resources Flora The flora existing in the proposed sites are predominantly home garden vegetation common in the area. No endangered flora exists in these sites. The results of the audit carried out of the existing flora of the sites are presented bellow given table. Site Plant (Scientific name) Kiribathgoda Cocos nucifera ‘king’ Cocos nucifera Mangifera zeylanica Musa st. Alocasia st. Cyterus st. Katunayake Artocarpus zeylanica carica papaya Azadiractus indica caryota urans aegle marmilos Sesdenia grandislora Musa st. Page 8 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 Kotikawatte Alocasia st. Nawala Artocarpus nobilis Zizitus st. Anacardium st. Psidium st. Cocos nucifera Musa st. Artocarpus zeylanica Table 3.1 Existing flora on the site Fauna The protect sites are limited to a land space approximately 1000 square meters. Thus the audit of fauna is not possible to be carried out in this space and such activity is not practical. 2.3. Social and Cultural Resources of the Project Area The population of the Colombo and Gampaha districts account for about 25% of the national population. The population densities of the districts are 3330 per square kilometre and 1539 per square kilometre respectively. Page 9 Summary Initial Environmental Examination report of New Primary Substation Project (Revised) July 2008 3.