Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental and Social Management Framework Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP) Phase 1 Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Dominican Republic (CARCIP Phase 1) Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized 1 6/18/2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………....2 1.1BRIEF BACKGROUND…………………………………………………………………………2 1.2 THE ESMF REPORT…………………………………………………………………………3 1.3 SCOPE OF WORK…………………………………………………………………………….3 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT……………………………………………5 2.1 Overview……………………………………………………………………………………5 2.2 Activities with potential Natural and Human Environmental Impacts………….7 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT……………………………………………………7 3.1 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………….7 3.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT……………………………………………………………………7 3.2.1 Location and Size………………………………………………………………………7 3.2.2. Geology………………………………………………………………………………….8 3.2.3 Soil………………………………………………………………………………………..9 3.2.4 Topography and Drainage………………………………………………...10 3.2.5 Climate…………………………………………………………………………………..10 3.2.6 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT………………………………………………………………11 3.2.6.1 Flora and Fauna……………………………………………………………………11 3.2.7 SOCIO-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT……………………………………………………….12 3.2.7.1 Population…………………………………………………………………………..12 3.2.7.2 Land use…………………………………………………………………………….13 3.2.7.3 Source of Livelihood……………………………………………………………… 13 3.2.7.4 Community Structure……………………………………………………………….14 3.2.7.5 Cultural Priorities ……………………………………………………………………14 3.2.7.6 Vulnerable population………………………………………………………………15 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT…………………………………………………...15 4.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW……………………………………………………………………….15 4.2 GRENADA……………………………………………………………………………………16 4.2.1 Relevant Legislation…………………………………………………………………..16 4.2.2 Relevant Institution……………………………………………………………………20 i 4.3 St. Vincent and the Grenadines………………………………………………………21 4.3.1 Relevant Legislation…………………………………………………………………..21 4.3.2 Relevant Institution……………………………………………………………………23 4.4 St. Lucia……………………………………………………………………………………25 4.4.1 Relevant Legislation…………………………………………………………………..25 4.4.2 Relevant Institution……………………………………………………………………29 4.5. Dominican Republic…………………………………………………………………… 31 4.5.1. Relevant Legislation…………………………………………………………...……. 31 4.5.2 Relevant Institution……………………………………………………………………41 4.5 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..42 4.6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES………………………………………………...42 5.0 IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS………………………………43 5.1 OVERVIEW…………………………………………………………………………………..43 5.2 WORLD BANK SAFEGUARD POLICIES TARGETED…………………………………………44 5.3 IMPACTS……………………………………………………………………………………45 5.4 POSITIVE IMPACTS………………………………………………………………………….45 5.4.1 Economic growth and development………………………………………………45 5.5 NEGATIVE IMPACTS…………………………………………………………………………46 5.5.1 Displacement of people…………………………………………………………….46 5.5.2 Occupational health and safety hazard………………………………………….46 5.5.3 Vibration and noise nuisance………………………………………………………46 5.5.4 Air pollution……………………………………………………………………………46 5.5.5 Pollution or destruction of the marine and terrestrial environment………...46 5.5.6 Soil erosion and landslip……………………………………………………………47 5.5.7 Depreciation of the natural environmental………………………………………48 5.5.8 Loss of vegetal coverage…………………………………………………………....48 6.0 MITIGATION MEASURES ……………………………………………………………..49 6.1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS…………………………………………………………….....49 6.2 SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS………………………………………………………………..49 6.2.1 Displacement of people…………………………………………………………….49 ii 6.2.2 Occupational health and safety hazard………………………………………….49 6.2.3 Vibration and noise nuisance……………………………………………………..50 6.2.4 Air pollution……………………………………………………………………………50 6.2.5 Pollution or destruction of the marine and terrestrial environment……..50 6.2.6 Soil erosion and landslip……………………………………………………………51 6.2.7 Depreciation of the Natural Environmental…………………………………..51 6.2.8 Loss of vegetal coverage………………………………………………………….51 7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN………………………….54 7.1 BRIEF BACKGROUND…………………………………………………………………………54 7.2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES………………………………………………………………54 7.2.1 Project Management…………………………………………………………………..54 7.2.3 Safeguard procedure…………………………………………………………………..56 7.2.4 Screening procedure…………………………………………………………………..56 7.2.5 Scoping and field appraisal…………………………………………………………..56 7.2.6 Assessment and classification of impacts………………………………………...57 7.2.7 Submission and approval of EIA…………………………………………………….57 Annex A: Terms of reference………………………………………………………………..58 Annex B: Description of environment …………………………………………………….67 iii Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP) Phase 1 (Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Dominican Republic) 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BRIEF BACKGROUND The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region have seen important improvements to its ICT infrastructure over the past 10 years. Through liberalization and private participation in the telecommunications sector, important investments have been promoted, most notably in the deployment of mobile telephone networks and the installation of numerous international submarine fiber optic cables that serve the region. Within LAC, the Caribbean region has also benefited from these trends, but to a lesser extent, and major gaps in access to ICT infrastructure are still prevalent. At the regional level, most countries are currently served by only one alternative international cable, and some countries such as Haiti and Guyana were only recently connected to a cable. On the national level, major infrastructure gaps also exist, with very little investment in broadband networks that venture beyond the main urban centers, especially in the form of fiber backbone networks, which are of very limited extent in the few countries that have them. The World Bank has agreed to assist the region in addressing this problem through ‘The Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP)’. this is a broad umbrella program focused on increasing access to, and reducing the cost of, ICT services, thereby facilitating the development of a wide range of ICT applications that allow for social and economic development in the region. The program will be implemented in phases, the first being Dominican Republic, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. 2 Vincent and the Grenadines. Specific components are expected to be tailored to each country on the basis of the following broad Menu of Options: Connectivity infrastructure, ICT-led innovation, E-government standards, interoperability frameworks, E-government and M-government horizontal infrastructure and E-security infrastructure. The Bank’s environmental and social safeguards policies require that the recipient country prepare an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) (consistent with national laws, any applicable treaty concerning international waters, and OP 4.01) for any cables and associated equipment that may be laid as part of Government Connectivity Program or any cable through territorial waters and onto the national shores or contiguous shores. This safeguard document will be prepared, disclosed and consulted before appraisal. Once the specific sub-projects are known, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and/or Management Plans will be prepared, as required, as part of project implementation but before the sub-project construction starts. 1.2 THE ESMF REPORT This Report constitutes the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for four of the above mentioned countries included in the first phase of the Program: Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic. The main objective is to develop options for the implementation of an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) to be used for the environmental and social screening and assessment of activities relating to the laying of cable and the construction of landing stations as well as the development of backbone and transmission telecommunications infrastructure within the area. 1.3 SCOPE OF WORK The activities being financed under the Program consist of: i) support for the development of broadband backbone and government networks; ii) expansion of national connectivity to rural areas; iii) regional links; iv) promotion of the Information Technology (IT) industry; and v) support to training programs in the use of Information 3 and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in order to increase the productivity and efficiency of public and private sectors. The potential social and environmental impacts of such activities are expected to be minor and reversible. Nevertheless, appropriate safeguard instruments must be prepared to ensure that all project activities meet the requirements of the relevant national legislation and international conventions to which the region is a signatory, as well as World Bank Group environmental and social safeguard policies. The exact locations of the backbone networks and possible regional links have not been determined, and it is therefore premature to undertake a site-specific Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Consequently, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) (consistent with national and regional laws, any applicable treaty concerning international waters, and OP 4.01) has been prepared. The purpose of the ESMF is: (i) to provide an indication of potential environmental and social impacts (including possible land acquisition