RISE) for Railway Corridor Alexandria - Nag Hammadi Project Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA

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RISE) for Railway Corridor Alexandria - Nag Hammadi Project Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA Public Disclosure Authorized Railway Improvement and Safety for Egypt Project (RISE) for Railway Corridor Alexandria - Nag Hammadi Project Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA) Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared by: Integral Consult© Cairo Office: 2075 El Mearaj City, Ring Road, Maadi – Cairo – Egypt Phone +202 2 25204515 Fax +202 2 25204514 A Member of Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental Alliance December, 2020 Contributors to the Study Dr. Amr Osama, Integral Consult President Dr. Yasmine Kamal, Technical and Operations Manager Dr. Nermin Eltouny, Technical Team Lead Dr. Anan Mohamed, Social Development Expert Eng. Mai Ibrahim, Technical Team Lead Eng. Basma Sobhi, MSc., Senior Environmental Specialist Railway Improvement and Safety for Egypt Project (RISE) for Railway Corridor Alexandria - Nag Hammadi Project Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) ii CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS .........................................................................................................x EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................1 Study Approach ..................................................................................................... 2 Project overview .................................................................................................................2 Components of the Proposed Project................................................................. 3 Project Description .............................................................................................. 3 Legal and Regulatory Framework .................................................................................4 Environmental and Social Baseline ...............................................................................5 Potential Environmental and Social Impacts and Mitigation ................................6 Main Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts of Construction ........... 6 Main Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts of Operation ................ 6 Project Alternatives ..........................................................................................................7 No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 7 Implementation of RISE Project Component 1................................................ 7 Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) .............................................7 Public Consultation and Engagement ......................................................................... 24 Existing Grievance Mechanism .........................................................................25 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 26 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 28 Project Rationale .......................................................................................................... 28 Project Scope ............................................................................................................... 29 Purpose of ESA.........................................................................................30 Railway Improvement and Safety for Egypt Project (RISE) for Railway Corridor Alexandria - Nag Hammadi Project Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) iii 2 Project Description ............................................................................................................ 32 Project Objectives ........................................................................................................ 32 Project Location ........................................................................................33 Project Responsibilities .............................................................................33 Component 1 Activities.............................................................................33 Current Status of works in the Segments ...................................................................... 44 Segment 1 : Alexandria – Arab El Raml ....................................................44 Segment 2: Cairo/Benha ...........................................................................45 Segment 3: Cairo/Beni Suef Segment ........................................................46 Segment 4: Beni Suef/Assiut (BSA) ..........................................................48 Segment 5: Assiut/Nag’ Hammadi (ANH) ................................................49 Assocapacityciated facilities ......................................................................................... 50 Resources and Auxiliary Components .......................................................................... 51 Expected amount of waste .........................................................................51 Expected amount of used materials and water ...........................................52 Ballast needed for Track upgrades.............................................................53 Number of workers ...................................................................................53 Contractors on-site ....................................................................................54 3 Legal and Institutional Framework...................................................................................... 55 National Legal Framework ........................................................................................... 55 Egyptian Law Enforcement Authorities.....................................................59 The Relevant International Treaties Signed by Egypt ................................60 Penalties ...................................................................................................60 International Standards and Guidelines ......................................................................... 62 World Bank Requirements ........................................................................62 Railway Improvement and Safety for Egypt Project (RISE) for Railway Corridor Alexandria - Nag Hammadi Project Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) iv World Bank Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines .............67 World Bank Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines for Railways ...69 Gap Analysis for Key Egyptian and WB Environmental and Social Standards ............. 71 Gap Analysis for ESSs and National Laws ................................................71 Gap Analysis for Key Egyptian and WB Environmental Quality Limits ....75 Institutional Framework ............................................................................................... 81 Institutional and Organizational Arrangement of ENR ..............................81 Other support entities ................................................................................83 4 Environmental and Social Baseline ..................................................................................... 85 Project Site Location .................................................................................................... 85 Segment (1): 165 Km Alexandria – Arab El Raml .....................................85 Segment (2): 45 Km Cairo - Benha ...........................................................87 Segment (3): 120 Km Cairo - Giza – Beni Suef .........................................88 Segment (4): 250 Km Beni Suef – Asyut ...................................................89 Segment (5): 180 Km Asyut – Nag Hammadi ...........................................90 Climate ........................................................................................................................ 92 Temperature & Rainfall ............................................................................92 Wind .........................................................................................................93 Biodiversity .................................................................................................................. 94 Current Status of The Stations & Signaling Towers ...................................................... 95 Status of Signaling Tower Buildings and Stations .....................................95 Community Health & Safety ................................................................... 100 Waste Management and General Housekeeping ...................................... 103 Noise .......................................................................................................................... 104 Air Quality ................................................................................................................. 106 Railway Improvement and Safety for Egypt Project (RISE) for Railway Corridor Alexandria - Nag Hammadi Project Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) v Soil and Ground Water pollution ................................................................................ 106 Socio-Economic Baseline ........................................................................................... 108 Socio-Economic Profile .......................................................................... 108 Demographic characteristics ..................................................................
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