World Bank Financed Project E584 Volume 1 Public Disclosure Authorized

Xiaogan-Xiangfan Expressway Project

Environmental Assessment Summary Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized

Hlubei Provincial Communications l)epartment

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Environmental Assessment Summary

1 Introduction

This document is the Summary of Environmental Assessment (EA) for the World Bank financed Xiaogan to Xiangfan expressway project (the Project). It provides a general summary of the findings in the Project Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP), including legal and policy framework and applicable environmental standards, major potential adverse impacts to the physical and socio-economic environments in the Project area, analysis of alternatives, mitigation measures designed, public consultation programs, and environmental management plan for the Project. The Summary could serve as a concise environmental report to environmental administrators, Project decision makes, project-affected groups, non- government organizations and the general public, as well as to the executive board of directors of the World Bank.

1.1 Project Background

As a section of the (capital of Hubei province) to (the second largest automobile manufacturing base in P. R. China) expressway, the Project is one of the key infrastructure projects in the province and a segment in the strategic national trunk highway network. As the expressway will eventually extend to Yinchuan, the capital city of northwestern province of Ningxia, the Xiaogan to Xiangfan expressway will be a critical link of the more developed central and coastal region with northwestern China and will play an important role in the enormous Develop China's West program. Within the province, it will form part of the "automobile" corridor, alleviating transportation bottleneck between the provincial capital and the fast growing automobile manufacturing industry in northwest Hubei. Together with the connecting road and rural road components also in Hubei province, the Project will be a significant contributor in development of regional economies, improvement of standard of living and alleviation of poverty.

A feasibility study for the Project was completed in July 2001 and preliminary engineering design, in September 2001. The final detailed engineering design is expected to complete in May 2002. Over the same period, Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project has been conducted by Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute (SSSRI). An EA Terms of Reference (TOR) was compiled in December 1998 which was reviewed, revised and approved in August 2000 by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA). The first draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was prepared in October 2000 which was reviewed by SEPA and several World Bank missions through the year 2001 and was revised accordingly to the comments received from the World Bank and SEPA. The final draft of EIA, together with Environmental Management Plan were completed and submitted to SEPA in October 2001 and to the World Bank in January 2002. On November 14, 2001, SEPA's expert review panel

EA Summary I Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway approved the EIA report with minor revisions. The final official clearance of the EA reports by SEPA was received at February 7, 2002.

The Xiaogan to Xiangfan expressway is classified as a Category A project since it involves major expressway construction on new alignment, grade highway construction partially on new alignment, increased noise, motor vehicle air emission, occupation of fertile and barren land, community severance, soil erosion and resettlement.

1.2 Basis of the EA

The policy and administrative requirements for environmental assessment of development projects in China were followed during the preparation of the EA, as were the Bank' s safeguard policies. Major laws and regulations applied to the EA are as follows:

* Laws of Environmental Protection of the People' s Republic of China; * Law of Water and Soil Conservation, (c) Law of Air Pollution Control * Law of Water Pollution Control; * Law of Environmental Noise Pollution Control; * Circulation on Strengthening EIA for Construction Projects Receiving International Financing; and • Technical Specifications for Environmental Impact Assessment.

Of the ten World Bank safeguard policies, Environmental Assessment (OPIBP/GP4.01), Involuntary Resettlement (OD4.30), Cultural Property (OPNI 1.03, but soon to be OP4. 11), Forestry (OP/GP4.36), Natural Habitats (OP/BP4.04), Pest Management (OP4.09), and Indigenous People (OD4.20) are applied in the EA first as a screening and, where triggered, in the full assessment. Since there are no Project components that will involve international waterways, dams or construction in disputed areas as defined under the World Bank' s OP7.60, safeguard policies related to subjects are not applied in the EA. Relevant international environmental agreements in which China is a signing party have also been included where applicable as a basis for the EA.

2. Project Description

The Project is located in the middle of Hubei province in central China. The expressway starts from Xiaonan of Xiaogan city (municipality), extends northwest bound through municipality and ends at county of Xiangfan city (municipality) (Map 1). The Project has three major components: the main expressway, connecting roads linking key urban centers in the Project areas with the expressway and rural roads connecting villages with townships and counties in the poverty regions of the province. The connecting roads are located within the above mentioned three municipalities which are the directly impacted/serviced areas by the expressway, and the rural roads are located in Enshi Tu & Miao Autonomy Region and Shiyan municipality respectively (Map 2). The expressway will be constructed completely on new alignment, where the connecting roads will partially on new alignment and partially on the existing roads. The rural roads will be primarily on existing roads, involving hardening/pavement and widening of the existing dirt roads for usage and access in all weather conditions.

Key specifications of the components are summarized in Table 2-1.

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C,radv 1\ IFtlsm«livas !Or2K___ [_t _n !<:y V;X we j; -;7fW ~f s*ffi / | b*iow-7 i *EfsH Table 2-1 Major P oject Components Items Expressway Connecting Roads Rural Roads Road classification Expressway Grade 11,Partially Grade I Grade IV No. of piece 1 3 3 Total length (km) 243.54 30.95 259.0 Motor vehicle lane 4 2/4 2 Access Controlled Non-controlled Non-controlled Interchange (No.) 14 Design speed (km/hr.) 120 80 30 Service/parking areas 8 Alignment New (green field) Partially new Existing roads Capital cost (RMB, million) 7500 289.1

The construction of the expressway and connecting roads project is scheduled to commence in July 2002 and complete in December 2005. Rural roads are planned to commence in August 2003 and complete in July 2005.

3. Baseline Environment

Physical Setting

The Project area is located in the north semi-tropical region with a continental monsoon climate. The average annual temperature ranges from 15 to 16°C, average annual precipitation from 845 to 1200 mm, average annual no-frost period is 220 to 250 days and average annual sunlight is 1940 to 2100 hours. The terrain configuration has a general gradient from northwest to southeast crossing plain, hilly and undulate ridge areas with elevations from 50 to 165 m.

Sensitive Receptors

Along the expressway alignment, a total of 59 villages/townships, 8 schools and I hospital are identified through field investigation as sensitive or otherwise vulnerable to changes in the environment which surrounds them, such as air pollution, increased noise, construction dust, etc. These sensitive receptors are located about 30 to 150 m from expressway central line to the nearest points in these sensitive receptors. In addition, the expressway will also cross six rivers and run nearby one forest park. The location of these sensitive receptors can be seen on Map 3. Additional villages, schools and hospitals are identified as sensitive to the connecting road and rural road components, because of their proximity to these Project components. These include 27 villages and 3 schools along the three connecting roads and 15 villages and townships, 26 schools, 5 hospitals, I seniors' houses and I kindergarten.

The sensitive receptors are the focus of the monitoring program for the baseline environmental conditions as well as the environmental impact assessment. They are also the key areas for impact mitigation measures designed to protect or otherwise minimize the adverse impacts at these sensitive locations.

Air Quality

EA Summary 3 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway /1~

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N~~~CK 1 Existing ambient air quality was monitored during the EA to determine the baseline conditions. The monitoring was conducted near seven selected representative sensitive receptors such as villages, schools and a hospital in September 1999 and March 2000, with five consecutive day continued measurements each time. The results of the monitoring are presented in Table 3-], which also includes the representative monitoring results of connecting and rural roads.

Table 3-1 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Results Location TSP NO, NO2 Main Exressway Daily % over Daily % over Daily % over average standard average standard average standard Shengjiawan village 0.164-0.206 0 0.010-0.013 0 Taomiao school 0.139-0.188 0 0.009-0.011 0 Yandian hospital 0.166-0.250 0 0.009-0.010 0 - Zhoutaicun school 0.107-0.130 0 0.012-0.030 0 Lianhe primary school 0.110-0.140 0 0.006-0.009 0 Pangjiashan village 0.110-0.140 0 0.006-0.009 0 - Xiaowangying school 0.121-0.233 0 - 0.013-0.015 0 Connecting Roads Changhe primary school 0.189-0.224 0 - - 0.005-0.013 0 Hedian middle school 0.17-0.20 0 - 0.010-0.022 0 Erlang village 0.117-0.270 0 - 0.005-0.016 0 Rural Roads Shiyao township 0.16-0.18 0 - - 0.011-0.031 0 Bangiao township 0.162-0.174 0 - 0.020-0.036 0 Xiaogui primary school 0.08-0.10 0 0.007-0.010 0 -

The above results show that total suspended particulate (TSP), NO., and NO2 measured at these locations were all bellow applicable standards (Class II in the Air Quality Standards), indicating high existing ambient air quality at the Project areas. Similar monitoring results were also obtained from the connecting roads and rural roads. All measured air quality parameters met applicable standards, confirming the high ambient air quality of the existing environment.

Noise

Existing noise levels in nine sensitive locations within 120 m of selected existing expressway area and many locations of connecting and rural roads were measured. The representative results are presented in Table 3-2.

Table 3-2 Existing Noise Level at Selected Locations along Project Alignment

No. Monitoring spots Pile No. x v Leq (dBA) ______D avtim e l N i ht Main Expressway I Shengjiawan village K52+400 44.0 39.7 3 Taomiao primary school K69+300 42.5 38.2 4 Yandian hospital K115+050 45.5 38.4 5 Pangjiashan village K181+850 48.9 39.8 6 Donggang village K237+700 48.8 37.9 7 Lianhe primary school K270+650 46.1 38.5

EA Summary 4 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway Table 3-2 Existing Noise Level at Selected Locations along Project Alignment (Continued) No. Monitoring spots Pile No. Leq BAj Daytime Night 8 Xiaowangying village K273+500 43.6 37.0 9 Xiaowangying primary school K274+150 47.0 38.2 Connecting Roads I | Changhe primary school K5+035 51.3 39.5 2 Hedian middle school KO+250 48.8 38.7 3 Erlang village K1+600 46.1 39.0 Rural Roads I | Xintang middle school K17+000 47.0 42.2 2 Tunbao middle school KO+250 36.9 30.5 3 Longtan middle school K28+500 46.0 44.0

The above noise monitoring results show that both day and night time noise levels are below the applicable standards. If fact, the existing noise is below the most stringent noise standards. This indicates the high acoustic quality in the expressway areas. The noise monitoring at three connecting roads and four country roads also show high acoustic quality. There are no apparent noise sources in the vast countryside under the current conditions.

Water Quality

Surface water quality is monitored in the six major rivers along the expressway alignment and also the critical water bodies crossed by the connecting roads, between December 1998 to March 2000. With a few exception, all monitored data show that measured parameters (COD, Oil and SS) are within their respective applicable standards. These water quality parameters for Fu river at the Suizhou connecting road, however exceeded the applicable standards, with pollution sources from local industrial, domestic and non- point sources.

Soil Erosion

The primary type of soil erosion in the project area is water and colluvial erosion caused by a disturbance to the surface vegetation on inappropriate farming and other unreasonable activities on steep slopes. Common forms of soil erosion include movement of surficial materials, ditch failures due to the lack of vegetation, soil dissolution following intense rainfall, and landslides. The remote sensing survey shows that soil erosion area in the middle reach of Han river basin in Hubei province is 10,080.76 ki 2, with soil erosion intensity in Tongbai Mountain and Han river at 2771 and 2672 t/km 2a, respectively.

CulturalProperty

A survey by professional archeology and cultural relics institutes was conducted between August to September 2000 and again in November 2001, covering the main expressway line, the alternative alignments proposed and evaluated, and connecting roads. The survey included walk-through of the entire alignment, visual observation and sub-surface

EA Summary 5 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway investigation through drilling up to 8 m below grade. The cultural relics investigation team' s study covers all sites along the main expressway and connecting roads and in that process drilled about 250 reconnaissance holes. Local cultural relics specialists visited sites proposed for borrow pits and disposal areas to conduct cultural relics screening through primarily visual observations. A Song Dynasty tomb and a Shang Dynasty cultural relics sites were identified which would be affected by the expressway construction.

Socio-economic Baseline

The total population crossed and serviced by the expressway is approximately 6.76 million and the total serviced area is 26.38 million mu (15 mu to a hectare), including approximately 6.6 million mu of cultivated land. The major cities/urban centers along the expressway include Xiangyang county, county, Suizhou city, Xiaonan district, , and county, although the expressway will not go through the any of these urban areas directly. The project (expressway, connecting roads and rural roads) will affect directly 101 villages and townships, 37 schools, 7 hospitals, I seniors' house, I kindergarten, 6 major rivers and many more small rivers, creeks, irrigation channels, flood discharge ditches and fish/water ponds. because of their proximity to the expressway alignment or the roads. It will run adjacent to a Baizhaoshan forest park, about 1.2 km to the expressway alignment. The park is primarily a memorial park for a famous poet in the Chinese history, not a designated natural reserve, conservation areas or natural habitats for any significant wild life. There is no significant natural habitats or forest land within the connecting road and rural road affected areas.

4. Analysis of Alternatives

Three alternative expressway corridors were first proposed, analyzed and compared. A preferred corridor alternative was selected based on the overall least environmental and socio-economic impacts. Then, six sub-alternatives which are relatively short expressway segments were analyzed within the preferred corridor alternative. The final expressway alignment, on which the expressway will be constructed, is selected among the sub- alternatives along the preferred corridor alternative based on the overall least environmental and socio-economic impacts. The three alternative expressway corridors and six sub-alternative segments are show in Map 4.

The three corridor alternatives analyzed at the first stage are:

Alternative I: starting from southern districtc of Xiaogan city and ending at the Haoying township with a total length of 242.8 km (preferred alternative). Alternative II: Altemative II diverts from Aniu, Suizhou and Zaoyang but is closer to and Jingshan counties. After passing Xiaghyang county, Alternative II merged with Alternative 1. The total length for this alternative is 252.2 km. Alternative III: Alternative III diverts from the Alternative I alignment from Xiaogan and Yunmeng, but is closer to Suizhou. After passing Suizhou, the alginmenet becomes identical to Alternative I. The total length of Alternative III is 235.2 km.

Alternative I is selected based on the least river crossing distance, least occupation of woodland, least cultural relics sites, least impacts to irrigation systems, least adverse

EA Summary 6 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway W- IAdI 2:-z- N~~DN -/

I~\A socio-economic impacts, best links to major urban and regional centers, and lowest per kilometer engineering cost, although soil erosion, noise impacts, wild life impacts and resettlement are compatible or higher compared with the other two alternatives. Alternative I also receives the widest support from the local governments which is also an important factor in the analysis of alternatives by the EA and other project teams. Mitigation measures have been proposed and included in the engineering design where appropriate as well as in the Project EMP for mitigating adverse impacts expected to be caused by Alternative I, particularly in areas where Alternative I has higher impacts than other alternatives.

Within the preferred corridor alternative, six sub-alternatives are proposed in four segments. These sub-alternatives are analyzed against the originally proposed alignment within the same segments. In the following description, the sub-alternatives on the original Alternative I is named Sub-alternative A while other sub-alternatives are named BI, B2, 83, C, D and E, respectively (see Map 6-4 to Map 6-9 in the main EIA report for details). The sub-alternatives are:

Xiaogan Segment: B1: Sub-alternative B I is proposed against Sub-alternative A to avoid to be too close to the urban area of Anlu city. However, Sub-alternative B would affect much more sensitive receptors and thus higher impacts of noise, air pollution and community severance. It also would occupy more and affect more people during resettlement and relocation B2: In order to minimize the resettlement and impacts on villages, Sub-alternative B2 was proposed. This sub-alternative however would occupy more high yield farm land as well as require higher earth work and much more borrow pits. As such, it would have higher impacts to area agriculture, and higher potential for soil erosion at the borrow pits during construction. 83: This Sub-alternative moves further away from Anlu city to achieve the same objective of avoiding effect on the city' s development. At the same time, Sub- alternative B3 has least agricultural impacts, occupy less land for borrow pits. less cultural relics site, shorter connecting road and thus less impacts caused by the connecting road, and widest support from the local governments, when compared with Sub-alternative A. Based on these merits, Sub-alternative B3 is selected. Detailed mitigation measures have been planned and included in engineering design for the higher adverse impacts than Sub-alternative A in the areas of more sensitive receptors, and affect more people in resettlement and relocation.

Suizhou Segiient C: Sub-alternative C is proposed in an attempt to reduce the work for deep cut and high fills in the original Sub-alternative A. Sub-alternative C is selected because of the less land occupation, reduced deep cuts, high fills and earth work, reduced potential of soil erosion during construction, less impact on valuable trees, and less resettlement and relocation than Sub-alternative A.

Zaoyang Segment D: Although Sub-alternative D will result in a shorter connecting road and thus the less impacts by the connecting road, cross less water bodies and has less earth work than the original Sub-alternative A, it would occupy more land particularly high yield land, occupy more land as borrow pits, more sensitive receptors,

EA Summary 7 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway higher resettlement, and poorly aligned to attract traffic compared with Sub- alternative A. Therefore, in this segment, Sub-alternative A is selected.

Xiangfan Segment E: Sub-alternative E is proposed with considerations of smaller bridges and easy design of the Shuanggou interchange. This sub-alternative is selected because it occupies less land, needs a smaller village on a major river, less vulnerable to flood, and more accessible to people from Xiangfan city than Sub-alternative A.

The connecting roads are partially on the existing roads and partially new. The selection of the road alignments is based on the need for upgrading which will significantly improve the road conditions, as well as engineering considerations. The rural roads are mostly upgrading of the existing roads which conveniently link the villages. The alternative would be to build the roads on green field which would occupy more land, and affect more people with regard to resettlement and relocation.

5. Environmental Impacts

5.1 Soil Erosion

Soil erosion will occur during the Project construction phase when surface vegetation and soil are damaged. The primary area of potentially increased soil erosion includes deep cuts, high fills, earth borrow pits, construction waste/excessive earth disposal sites, temporary construction sites, treatment of special geological conditions and other areas where surface soil will be disturbed. According to the modeling result, the soil erosion intensity will reach 6623.4 t/kMm2a during construction and for the whole construction period the total soil lost will be 622,989 t, which is 584,450 t higher than the current level of soil erosion over the same number of years if there were no project. For connecting roads and rural roads, soil erosion will increase too during construction. The increased soil erosion will also occur in the early of the operation phase in areas where vegetation planting is applied for rehabilitation of disturbed soil. According to research result of the Academy of Sciences of China, soil erosion reduction may be reduced 80-100% only after the first three years of appropriate vegetation planting. Within the first three years, the efficiency of soil holding and erosion control by the newly planted vegetation will be limited. However, the soil erosion will be fully controlled immediately in areas where disturbed soil is paved by concrete or stone.

5.2 Impact on land uses and vegetation

The Project (expressway component) will permanently occupy 19.471 mw (15 mu to a hectare) of farmland, 4521 mu of woodland including tea and fruit orchards, and 1814 mu of other land. In addition, a total of 104 borrow pits will temporary occupy 7425.4 mu of land and the five permanent disposal sites will occupy 730.2 mu of land. The construction, borrow pits and disposal sites for the connecting roads and rural roads components will occupy more land, permanently or temporarily. The connecting roads will occupy 1324.5 mu and upgrading rural roads will involve little land acquisition.

The vegetation, including crops, trees and other vegetation on the occupied farmland and woodland will be lost to the Project. However, compared with the total cultivated land in the Project areas, that occupied by the Project and thus the impacts to agriculture is relatively small (0.032%). Except in the expressway pavement area itself, impacts on

EA Summary 8 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway vegetation in other portion of the expressway areas will be short termed as the slopes, central separation media, open space of the interchange areas, borrow pits, disposal sites and other temporary occupied areas will be landscaped and rehabilitated with lawns, trees bushes and other vegetation.

The proposed expressway alignment is 6 km away from the Anlu ancient ginkgo conservation areas and about 1.2 km from the Baizhaoshan Natural Forest Park at its nearest point. Because of the distances and the different ecological systems between the conservation areas/forest park and the expressway area, there is no significant direct impacts to the conservation areas and the forest park.

5.3 Impacts on Water Environment

Construction Phase

Impacts on the water environment during the construction phase include primarily discharge of sanitary sewage from construction camps and bridge construction activities. Each construction camp, with an estimated 200 to 300 workers, will generate about 2 to 3 t of sanitary sewage per day which, if not treated properly, would affect the water quality of the receiving environment. In addition, municipal solid waste generated from the camps, if not handled properly could also affect water quality through contaminated surface runoff.

Bridge construction could result in suspension of river sediments. The construction machines operating in or near the river could also be a risk for oil contamination from potential leaks or spills. The area affected will generally be a short distance downstream from the bridge construction sites.

(eration Phas

Wastewater sources from the operation phase will include sanitary sewage from service stations and parking lots, car washing effluents and pavement runoff of the first flush in a rainfall event. The wastewater from point sources will be treated to the appliable standards before discharge so the impacts will be limited. The surface runoff are very small compared with the receiving river flows and as such the impact is expected to be insignificant, based on modeling result.

The transportation of hazardous materials could pose a risk of water contamination from traffic accidents occurring near the rivers and Qingshuihe reservoir which involve vehicles loaded hazardous materials and result in major spills. Based on the frequencies of occurrence of such severe accidents, the prediction results indicate that there exist a very small probability of water contamination from this source. If they do happen. serious consequence may result to water quality, aquatic life and eco-system, health and safety of the people living downstream from the accident locations.

5.4 Noise Impacts

Construction Phase

Construction noise will be primarily from construction machinery. Based on the noise intensity and compounded effect of simultaneous operation of multiple machines, an

EA Summary 9 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway noise attenuation model predicts that at 55 m from construction machines, the noise levels will be reduced to below the applicable day time noise standards. It will take about 250 m for the noise to meet the standards at night. There are only a very small number of residents who live within 55 m from the construction sites so the impacts will be very limited. There are, however, a large number of people within the 250 m area from the construction sites. There would be a significant noise impacts if construction machines operate at night. In addition, residents living on both sides of access roads will be impacted by the higher noise levels from increased traffic of construction transportation vehicles.

Op2eration Phase

Noise levels for the 86 villages and 12 schools which are located near the proposed expressway and the connecting roads are predicted for the years 2006, 2013 and 2020. Using analogous method, noise levels of sensitive receptors along the rural roads are also projected. The results show that noise at the majority of villages will be within the applicable standards. Noise in a small number of villages will exceed the standards in 2013 particularly at night and more villages will have noise levels higher than the standards in 2020. In the eight schools and one hospital as well as schools and hospitals along the rural roads, however, the noise will exceed the standards from 2006 (except one) and become worse over the longer terms. The initial exceedance will be modest by about 1. I to 3.4 dB(A) but can go up to 9.1 dB(A) over the standards by year 2020.

5.5 Air Impact

Construction Phase

Airborne dust will be a primary air contaminant during the construction phase. The sources of the dust will be unpaved access roads, Disposal areas, materials storage areas and transportation. The factors affected dust airborne will include climate conditions and type of construction activities. The impact area can be 150 m from the source of dust. Another source of air emission is asphalt and concrete mixing stations. The impacted area can be up to 300 m leeward from the source.

Operation Phase

Using an analogy approach, it is predicted that NOx concentrations are expected not to exceed the standards in the year 2020 under the normal weather conditions but exceed the standards under the unfavorable weather conditions. Compared with the without Project scenario, it is expected that more NOx (by 42%) but less CO (by 53%) and THC (by 56) will be generated because the significantly increased motor vehicle speeds on the expressway over the speeds on the existing NH316.

5.6 Socio-economic Impact

Community Severance

Because the expressway will be fully fenced with limited access, it will separate farmland and rural communities from one another in both sides of the expressway. In total, 59 villages including two townships will be affected for access to farmland, services, schools, markets, and/or other parts of the communities.

EA Summary 10 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway Cultural Relics

According to the report prepared by of Hubei Provincial Relics and Archaeological Research Institute during the Project EA, the proposed expressway will go through two cultural relics sites: the Huangjinshan tomb (total area: 6000 m2 ) and the Shaojiapeng relics site (total area: 6400 m2). The expressway will occupy approximately 1200 m2 of area in the Song Dynasty (1000 AD) Huangjinshan tomb and about 1000 m2 of the New Stone Age (3000 to 5000 AD) Shaojiapeng site. The connecting roads will go through five common ancient tomb sites. Preservative excavation will be conducted at these sites prior to the start of the construction. Based on the site investigation, including preliminary sub-surface investigation, drilling, literature search, and consultation with relevant agencies and institutions, these cultural relic sites do not have significant archaeological and historical values. These sites are not included in any of the state, provincial and county level cultural relic sites. The site investigation (a walk through of the site i.e. the existing road, by cultural relics professionals of HPRARI and local cultural institutes) showed no cultural property observed or discovered along the three existing rural roads.

Health and Safet

Health risks are primarily related to increased transit population during construction (construction workers) and operation (visitors) in the regions. The increased mobile population could potentially bring and spread infectious diseases in the Project area. The in-hygiene and un-healthy life style of the workers could spread diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS to local residents as well as among themselves.

The safety risk is primarily in the construction phase with the local residents, particularly children who have little awareness of construction site safety in a linear construction sites with virtually no access control along the expressway alignment. The explosion operation for deep cut and materials borrowing and the resulting flying stones, as well as explosive handling, will be among the most dangerous activities on the construction sites which pose risks to residents. The explosive operation could also affect the safety and structure integrity of houses in a 500 m radius area through strong vibration of the explosion as well as damaging roof tiles and windows from flying stone from explosion.

Tourism

The proposed expressway will greatly improve the accessibility to the Project areas including local tourist attractions and as a result, more visitors are expected to visit local parks and conservation areas, such as the Baijzhaoshan Forest Park. The increased tourists and motor vehicle traffic will bring higher loads to the environment and eco- system in the park, including air emission, sewage, and solid waste generation.

5.7 Resettlement and Relocation

The resettlement and relocation of the proposed expressway and connecting roads will occupy permanently 25,806 mu of land and 192,489 m2 buildings, affect seven urban districts, 32 townships, and 178 villages. The total directly affected families who either lost land, houses or both will be 4096 with 17,800 people. The Project will also occupy yards, water wells, walls, tombs, trees, irrigation systems, country roads and utilities

EA Summary I I Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway within the affected area. The impacts will also include mis-management of land and house compensation funds, unsatisfactory with land re-assignment and insufficient compensation for house replacement. However, in general, the new houses following the relocation are expected to be better and bigger than the houses they replace with using the resettlement and relocation compensation funds, representing an improvement of housing conditions and the standards of living. The rural roads upgrading will be carried out entirely on the existing road alignment and as such there is no resettlement and relocation issues.

The total cost of resettlement and relocation, including compensation to all affected, is estimated to be RMB618.5 million.

5.8 Safeguards Policies Assurance

The EA team conducted a screening for ten safeguard policies of the World Bank and, when triggered by the Project conditions, full assessment. The safeguard policies which are incorporated in the EA include Environmental Assessment (OP4.0 1), Cultural Property (OP4.1 1), Involuntary Resettlement (OP4.12) and Public Disclosure (BP 17.50). Those safeguards which have gone through the initial screening but found not warrant a full assessment include Natural Habitat (OP4.04), Pest Management (OP4.09), Indigenous Peoples (4.20) and Forest (OP4.36). There remainder safeguards are not applicable because the Project does not have any components involved these safeguards issues. These include Safety of Dam (OP4.37), International Waterways (OP7.50) and Disputed Areas (OP 7.60).

6. Mitigation

For the adverse environmental impacts of the Project, the EA has developed a series of measures to avoid, minimize, mitigate or otherwise compensate the adverse impact from the project. These mitigation measures are summarized below:

6.1 Design Phase

Soil Erosion

To control soil erosion, permanent engineering works such as concrete and stone pavement on deep slopes and other cut and fills areas are included in the design completely stabilize the soil surface. Other works include interception ditches and landscaping. The borrow pits will be rehabilitated through conversion all 104 borrow pits into ponds or landscaping following completion of earth borrowing operation. For the 33 excessive construction waste disposal sites, retaining walls, settling ponds, and drainage systems will be built. The stockpiles of the waste will be finally covered with soil and landscaped. The same measures will be taken at all borrow pits and disposal sties used for the connecting and rural roads.

Noise

A number of measures to minimize noise have been incorporated into the design for sensitive receptors including the expressway, connecting roads and rural road

EA Summary 12 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway components at which the noise level is predicted to exceed the applicable standards. These measures, and the proposed implementation time, are summarized in Table 6-1.

Table 6-1 Noise Mitigation Measures Mitigation Measures Implementation Places Implementation Times Estimated cost (year) (RMB xlOO) Sound Insulation 7 villages, 2 schools, 5 2005 228 windows townships, 3 hospitals 13 villages 2013 1248 Noise barrier I village During construction 550 2 schools 2005 660 Tree planting 6 schools During construction 442.5 Increased perimeter I hospital, 2 schools During construction 195 wall 5 school 2005 187 I school 2013 35 Relocation I school Already moved j

In addition, in several villages where no mitigation measures are planned because the predicted noise levels are below the applicable standards, increased noise monitoring will be implemented to ensure the actual noise levels after expressway operation comply with the predictions. Mitigation measures will be taken if the monitored data show noise levels exceed the standards.

Noise insulation windows will be installed to the first row of impacted houses. The implementation time is determined based on the noise prediction results. Basically the measures will be implemented prior to the noise levels exceeding the standards at the application locations. Similar measures and application principles will also be taken at sensitive receptors along the connecting roads and rural roads where noise level is predicted to exceed the applicable standards.

Water

To minimize the impact on water quality, wastewater treatment facilities will be designed and built at the service areas, including motor vehicle maintenance and repair shops, car washing operations, as well as other domestic facilities at the service areas along the expressway. Aerobic biological wastewater treatment process has been selected and incorporated into the design which is capable of removing COD and suspended solid to meet the applicable discharge standards. The car washing wastewater will first go through a pre-treatment for oil removal before enter into the biological wastewater treatment unit.

Community Severance

To minimize the impacts of community and farmland severance, a total of 454 underpasses, 147 overpasses and 30 grade separate crossings have been included in the expressway design. On average, there will be 2.59 crossings for each kilometer of the expressway or the rural residents will need to walk a maximum of 386 meters on average to cross the expressway to the other side. The provisions in the crossing design have been provided to allow various farm vehicles to use as well as for future expansion.

EA Summary 13 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway Cultural Relics

Preservative excavation at the cultural relics sites will be conducted and completed prior to the commencement of the construction. During this process, all valuable archaeological and cultural artfacts from the sites will be uncovered, studies and preserved by county museums. The excavated sites will be photographed, measured, documented and modeled if necessary before handed over to contractors for expressway or connecting roads construction. Contractors will be trained to strictly follow the procedures in case there is any chance find during construction. The procedure calls for immediate halt of construction activities and reporting to relevant authorities. Contractors may resume work at the site if so instructed by authorities and cultural relics specialists following their on site investigation.

Forest Park

Because of the distance to the expressway, the impacts to Baizhaoshan Forest Park will be insignificant. However, the Project will result in indirect impacts to the park through better access to the park and attraction to more tourists. To mitigate the indirect impacts, an environmental management plan for the park will be prepared. The specific measures will include locating motor vehicle parking lot at 300 m away from the park area, and providing sufficient garbage bins and washroom facilities. In absence of a firm agreement with the local government at the time of the EA, a provisional budget of RMB 60,000 has been set aside. This will ensure that in any event, adequate funding will be available for the necessary environmental measures.

Resettlement and Relocation

The project will require occupation of 25,805.5 unu of land, the relocation of a total of 192,489 m2 of primarily residential houses involving 17,800 people in 4096 households. All relocated residents will be properly compensated and received training for new employment. Special consideration will be given to the elderly, illiterate and farmners in terms of compensation. For people whose sources of well water will be disrupted by the construction by the construction of tunnels, additional water wells and other water supply sources will be developed.

6.2 Construction Phase

Temporary Land Occupation

The construction workspace will be minimized to reduce the impact of land occupation. Areas which must be occupied will be re-vegetated after the completion of construction. Workers will be educated to protect trees and other vegetation as much as possible during construction. Temporary settling ponds will be built where necessary. To minimize soil erosion on disturbed soil, temporary protection measures such as grass mats will be applied in places where permanent protection works cannot be complete in time for the draining season.

Construction Noise

Large and noisy construction activities will kept away from populated areas (150 m minimum). Operation of loud construction machinery and major construction activities

EA Summary 14 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway will strictly restricted to the day time. Temporary noise barriers will be constructed to protect the sensitive receptors from the impact of construction noise. Construction traffic will be directed to avoid sensitive locations and completely banned at night time.

Wate

To minimize adverse impacts to surface water during construction, cofferdam techniques will be used in bridge column construction with complete isolation of work areas. River crossing construction activities will be scheduled to the extent possible during the low flow periods. The discharge from construction camps will be a potential source water contamination. To mitigate the potential impact, no sewage from construction camps will be allowed to discharge without treatment. The sewage will be either held at the site and empties to treatment facilities regularly or through on site treatment such as septic tank to meet the irrigation discharge standards.

Air

Unpaved access road and construction sites will be water prayed twice a day (once in the morning and once in the afternoon), or more on dry and windy days to suppress airborne dust. The mixing stations and other point sources of air emissions will be located leeward far enough from sensitive receptors (300 m minimum). Trucks loaded with soil and other dusty materials, as well as materials stockpiles will be covered with canvas.

Construction Camps

Construction camps will be appropriately located to minimize the disturbance to the surrounding communities. Solid and liquid waste will be stored with proper protection and removed from the sites regularly with qualified vendors for disposal. The camps will be maintained in sanitary, hygiene, orderly and good housekeeping conditions to minimize the health hazards to the workers and adverse impacts to the surrounding environment.

Worker will be educated for hygiene and healthy lifestyle at the construction sites to control infectious diseases and protect the workers and the local communities. Warning signs, public education, necessary barriers, etc. will be provided to protect public safety at the construction sites, especially during explosion operations.

CulturaLlRelJic

Two cultural relics which are right on the project alignment will undertake protective excavation prior to the commencement of construction. The result of excavation will be moved to provincial museums for permanent protection and displays. A procedure for handling "chance finds" will be prepared and provided to the contractors, who will be requested to halt construction until the chance finds have been studied by professional archaeologists and instructed to resume construction.

Contractor Management

Experience with previous World Bank financed expressway project in Hubei province has indicated that high awareness and full participation of contractors in environmental management at construction are critically important to ensure environmental performance.

EA Summary 15 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway Environmental protection will start from pre-qualification of contractors when environmental awareness and management systems will be an evaluation criterion. The environmental mitigation measures, management and monitoring plans will be incorporated into bid documents to ensure there will be sufficient funding for these activities and the environmental management will be contractual obligations to the contractors. Finally, short course training will be provided to all winning contractors and construction supervision on environmental policies and regulations, potential impacts, mitigation measures, daily monitoring and reporting, and emergency handling.

Rural Roads Construction

Rural roads will be constructed at remote and mountainous areas. As the construction will be done by local contractors with unskilled labor and supervised by local government, environmental management is expected to be weak. To mitigate, local communications bureau and contractors staff will be provided with a project tailored training program for environmental management and supervision. This program, to be delivered by specialists from HPCD and its consultants, will cover the issues of traffic management, daily construction safety, noise and dust, construction camp management, borrow pits rehabilitation, waste disposal, etc. In addition, environmental management and impact mitigation will be included in the bid documents for contractors. HPCD and its environmental consultants including monitoring specialists will also provide environmental supervision during construction of the rural roads.

6.3 Operation Phase

Noise

No new school, hospital or other sensitive facilities will be allowed to build within 250 m from the central line of the expressway or 37 to 50 m from the central line of the connecting roads to prevent noise impacts to these facilities in the future. Traffic management will be enforced and motor vehicles will not be allowed for speedy which generate excessive noise as well as safety concerns.

AiLr emission

Motor vehicle air emissions control requires integrated approach from numerous government agencies as well as private sector stakeholders. The province will enforce applicable standards for motor vehicles and fuels and implement the motor vehicle inspection programs to minimize the air emissions from the increased motor vehicle traffic on the expressway.

Transportation of hazardous materials

Hubei province will set up a leading group to handle transportation of hazardous materials and emergency response in an event of a traffic accident involving trucks located with hazardous materials, particularly in sensitive locations such as bridges or other places near surface water bodies. Licensing and permitting procedures will be strictly enforced to control the traffic involving hazardous materials on provincial expressway, connecting road and rural roads network.

Monitoriny

E;A Summary 16 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway Extensive environmental monitoring programs will be implemented during both construction and operation phases (details below) to ensure that adverse environmental impacts are as projected during the EA and the mitigation measures proposed will be implemented and effective. In adequate mitigation or new adverse impacts emerged beyond the EA prediction will be detected by the monitoring programs promptl) and appropriate new actions will be taken to address them.

7. Environmental Management Plan

An environmental management plan (EMP) has been developed in a separate and stand alone document. The EMP includes policies basis and applicable environmental standards, environmental management system, mitigation measures and monitoring plans for both the construction and operation phases.

7.1 Objectives

The EMP provides a framework for the implementation of mitigation measures and environmental management and monitoring during the Project implementation. As such, it represents the commitment of Project proponent as well as the governments of the Project area for environmental protection, pollution control and impact minimization. More specifically, the EMP is to: * Set out the legal and policy framework as well as applicable environmental standards with which the Project will be compliance; • Identify and design with sufficient details and specifics of mitigation measures for adverse impacts of the Project; * Specify institutional roles and responsibilities for mitigation measures implementation and environmental management during Project; * Outlines the requirements for environmental monitoring and reporting needs; and * Provides a stand alone document which may be used during Project implementation for Project supervision.

7.2 Management and Supervision Organizations

There will be two layers of organizations who will be responsible for environmental performance of the Project. The first is environmental management organizations including the Environmental Office of the Ministry of Communications, the Hubei Provincial Communications Department (HPCD), the Project Management Office (PMO) whicil is the Project proponent, the expressway company to be established Which Will be responsible for the expressway operation and various technical groups for environmental monitoring and design. The other group is the environmental supervisory organizations which include SEPA and Environmental Protection Bureaus of different levels of government in the Project region.

7.3 Environmental Monitoring

The EMP also includes environmental monitoring programs for both construction and operation phases. The parameters to be monitored include relocation and resettlement, soil erosion, noise, dust, degradation of water quality, stream sedimentation, solid waste

EA Summary 17 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway disposal, and electromagnetic radiation. During the construction phase, environmental monitoring will be conducted in two approaches: daily and routine monitoring consisting of mainly visual observations and limited equipment measurements such as hand-hold noise meters; and periodic monitoring by professionals using standard methods recognized by regulatory authorities. Monitoring reports will be compiled at intervals of once every three to four months, summarizing the findings of the monitoring. The reports will be submitted to project proponent as well as relevant agencies and the World Bank. During the operation phase, noise levels will be monitored once a month for the first six months and once every six months thereafter. Soil erosion will be monitored once every six months, while air and water quality will be monitored once a year.

The specific monitoring programs for air, noise and water are summarized in Table 7-1 through Table 7-4.

Table 7-1 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program Phase Monitoring Sites Items Frequency Lasting time Sampling time Asphalt mixing TSP One time in the stations asphalt Once a week One day morning and in the Construction smog afternoon Lime and earth Sampling The sahme as mixing sites TSP randomly One day above Unpaved roads Tianjiawan village, Taomiao primary school, Jiuligang Twice a year Five Operation primary school, No, (January and consecutive Successive 18 Zhoutaicun primary TSP July) days hours each day school, Donggang village.

Table 7-2 Ambient Noise Monitoring Program Phase Monitoring Sites Items Frequency Last time Sampling time Tianjiawan village, Weihuangwan village, Dongwan village, Xiaowangying village, Construction Taomiao primary school, Leq. A Once a One day Twice a day Yandian hospital, Changsong week primary school, Jiuligang primary school, Zhoutaicun primary school. Tianjiawan village, Beixiang village, Shangzhouwan village, Once in Operation Lujiaqiao village, Liujiagang Leq, A Four times One day daytime one village, Huangjiahouwan village, a Once at night Xiaowangying primary school.,

EA Summary 18 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway Table 7-3 Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program Phase Sites Items Frequency Last time Sampling time I-luan river, Fu river, One time in the Construction YunYu'ie,Sarvr river, Sha river, CODO, Once a One day momning one phastrcto LTangbairiver, week time in the phase Qingshuihe reservoir, Mineral oil afternoon All near Project bridges Sewage disposal facilities COD, Once a Consecutive

Operation of Service zones, cr a day Huan. Fu, Yun rivers near Mineral oil year three days the bridges

Table 7-4 Monitoring Program of Connecting Roads Phase Sites Items I Frequency Last time Sampling time Ambient Air Qualitv CosruoThree Connecting Roads: . One time in the Construction Mixing station and unpaved TSP Sampling One day morning one phase roads randomly time in the ______I ______~~ ~~~aftemnoon Ambient Noise Yunmeng Connecting Road: Changhe Primary School, Fengjiaxiangzi village. Fulianggiao village. Suizhou Connecting Road: Once in Construction Hedian Mid. School Qianjin LA e One day daytime one School. Changling village. wee Once at night

Zaoyang Connecting Road: Erlang village, Zhouzhuang village, Huiwan village. Vunmeng Connecting Road: Changhe Primary School, Fengjiaxiangzi village, Fulianggiao village. Oprao Suizhou Connecting Road: Four times Once in Operation ...... LA One day daytime one Hedian Mid. School, Qianjin eq a year Once at night School Zaoyang Connecting Road: Erlang village, Zhouzhuang village, Huiwan village. Surface Water Quality Construction | Suizhou Connecting Road: CODcr, Once a Consecutive One a da lonsreFu river [ Fuel oil week Jthree days

7.4 Institutional Strengthening and Training

To ensure the environmental performance of the Project, the EMP emphasizes the institutional building and strengthening. Besides an organizational structure involving various management and supervision organizations for environmental decision making,

EA Sumn ar' 19 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway monitoring, reporting and further mitigation planning and implementation, the EMP includes detailed programs for personnel training. The programs involve training aboard and domestically for professional, managerial and technical personnel from the governments, project proponent and operation units, environmental institutions and contractors and construction supervisions.

The environmental training for contractors and construction supervisions will be held prior to the commencement of construction. The objective is to ensure that each contractor and construction supervision unit will have staff on site full time for environmental monitoring on a daily basis. The training will cover the basic knowledge of environmental protection and pollution control, the result of EIA and requirements of EMP, methodology of site environmental management and monitoring, and reporting requirements. The training for HPCD, PMO, the expressway company, and environmental institutions will cover environmental management, regulatory framework, applicable environmental standards and their implications to the Project, mitigation planning, environmental decision making and pollution control technologies. Some of this training will be carried out overseas.

7.5 Estimated Cost for Environmental Management

The cost for environmental management and mitigation measures have been estimated and included in the Project budget. The estimated cost is summarized in Table 7-5.

Table 7-5 Summary of Estimated Cost for Environmental Management Items Stages Estimated Cost (RMB xlOOO) EIA and Environmental Studies Project preparation/design 1,400 Mitigation measures Construction/operation 27,303 Environmental Monitoring Construction/operation 5,700 Environmental Monitoring Equipment Construction/operation 2,530 Staff training Preparation/construction 510 Engineering work Construction 61,600 (landscaping/soil erosion control) Environmental supervision Construction 258 Connecting road EMP Preparation/construction/operation 5,997 Rural road EMP Preparation/construction/operation 8,320

8. Public Consultation and Information Disclosure

Two rounds of public consultation have been carried out during the EA: the first round at the preparation of EA terms of reference (TOR) between August to September 2000 and the second round at draft EA reports between March to May 2001. Various techniques have been used in public consultation, including public opinion surveys through questioniniaires, public meetings at villages and with local people' s representatives, and interviews with affected groups and individuals. The people consulted included mainly those who will be affected directly by the project. Relevant government and non- government organizations and experts on various environmental and socio-economic issues have also be consulted.

EA Sun,mar.i 20 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway In total. 3990 copies of a public opinion questionnaire were distributed and 3923 were returned. Most people surveyed are well aware of the Project (69.2%or have some knowledge of it (28.9%). The vast majority of the people (95.5%) felt the expressway, as well as the connecting roads and rural roads, necessary and wish to see the construction start as soon as possible. Of the environmental concerns, 77% of people surveyed cited noise and 49.2% concerned about dust during construction. Most of the affected people (87.6%) would like to see landscaping and tree planting as a measure to mitigate adverse impacts of the project.

In total, 116 villages, nine schools, one hospital, seven local government agencies and seven related groups were visited in both rounds of the public consultation. These visits involved 22 public meetings and 1 17 group interviews. The agencies and groups consulted include local EPBs, conservation, water supply and irrigation, agricultural, forestry, transportation, people' s congress and people' s political consultative groups. The public concerns include appropriate compensation for land acquisition and resettlement and relocation, disturbance to irrigation systems, noise at schools, and community severance. For the connecting roads and rural roads components, besides the concerns similar to those listed above, the public is also concerned about student safety at the schools as connecting roads are not fenced, and convenient links with and access to the expressway. Similar concerns were also raised for the connecting roads and rural roads components.

The EA team has responded the public concerns including setting up land acquisition and resettlement offices under HPCD to develop, supervise and implement resettlement action plan (RAP), constructing 454 underpasses and 147 over-crossings with provisions for farm vehicles and future expansion to mitigate community severance impacts, constructing 54 small bridges and 524 culverts to ensure the disturbance to irrigation systems will be minimized, install fences at the sensitive sections of the connecting roads to provide safety protection to students, residents and livestock, install noise insulation windows and tree planting to minimize the impacts of noise from the expressway and connecting roads, and provide full consideration to local economy and transportation needs such as appropriately locating access ramps/interchanges, employment opportunities during construction, etc.

In compliance with EIA process requirements of Chinese government and the World Bank, the completed draft EIA and EMP reports as well as part of the public consultation records were distributed in public places along the expressway, such as libraries, book centers, etc. The concerned public can have the access to and review of the reports at these places. In addition, the Project information and availability of the reports were advertised in Hubei Daily, the provincial wide newspaper and two of the most popular interilet web sites in the province (one of which is a nation wide website). The public consultation and information disclosure are summarized in the tables below. HPCD has disclosed the final EA reports in public places to the general public and the news of this release will soon (expected in early April 2002) be advertised in province and state wide newspaper and web-sites.

Public consultation activities and information disclosure for this Project is summarized in Table 8-1, Table 8-2 and Map 5, respectively.

EA Summarv 21 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway ,---~~ <~, . -C-\1

f\J//, - -:c:: Table 8-1 Public Consultation Substance By whom, with When Where Bank' s whom requirement EA TOR, using By SSSRI with August - Villages, schools and OP4.01 public opinion affected people and September agencies along the questionnaires local agencies 2000 expressway Draft EA TOR By SSSRI with August- 246 individuals from 19 OP4.01 Public meetings affected rural residents September villages, 5 schools along and interviews 2000 the expressway Draft EA reports, By SSSRI, with March to 3677 individuals from 97 OP4.01 public meetings affected rural residents May 2001 villages, 4 schools I and interviews and local agencies hospital and 7 local I______agencies Draft EA TOR By SSSR1, with August Villages, schools and OP4.01 using public affected rural residents 2000 organizations along the opinion connecting roads and questionnaires rural roads. public meetings and interviews Draft EA reports, By SSSR1, with March to Villages and schools and OP4.01 using public affected rural residents May local agencies along the meetings and 2001 connecting and rural interviews I roads l

Table 8-2 Information Disclosure Document Date of disclosure Location Bank' s requirement Draft EA reports November 2001 Book centers, Libraries, OP4.01 Final EA reports March 2002 Cultural Centers, in Xiaonan, Yunmeng, Anlu, Yandian, Luoyangdian, Hedian, Junchuan, Zendu, Anju Huantan, Wangcheng, Zaoyang, Fancheng cities, counties and townships Draft EA reports November 2001 Government offices OP4.01 Final EA reports March 2002 inLiangji, Juwan, Shungguo, Gaoying counties and townships Newspaper Advertising December 31, 2001 Hubei Daily OP4.0 1 World wide web sites December 31, 2001 www.people.corn.cn __www.cnhubei.corn

9 Conclusions

The Xiaogan to Xiangfan expressway will play an important role in alleviating transportation bottleneck between provincial capital Wuhan and automobile manufacturing base of Shiyan, promoting regional economic development, improving access to market and services, and the standard of living, and assisting in poverty alleviation. As a segment of a major transportation trunk road to northwest China, the expressway will also contribute to the Develop China' s West program. The connecting roads provide a better link between some major urban areas in the Project regions to the expressway. The rural roads significantly improve the access of remote rural areas to market, services and townships and counties in all weather conditions.

EA Summary 22 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway The construction and operation of the expressway will result in a number of adverse impacts to the physical and socio-economic environment in the Project regions. These impacts include permanent occupation of land, vegetation and agriculture, increased soil erosion, increased noise and air emissions along the expressway alignment, particularly in the environmentally sensitive receptors, community severance, health and safety of local residents, water quality and irrigation systems, and resettlement and relocations. Some of these impacts can be significant.

However, with the mitigation measures designed specifically for the adverse impacts, the impacts will be prevented, reduced, minimized or otherwise compensated. Furthermore, an environmental management systems involving environmental management and supervision organizations, environmental monitoring, institutional strengthening and personnel training will be established to ensure the environmental performance of the Project. The appropriate implementation of the mitigation measures, as well as the environmental systems, the adverse impacts will be reduced to acceptable levels. The Project is environmentally acceptable and feasible when mitigation measures and EMP are implemented effectively.

EA Summary 23 Xiaogan to Xiangfan Expressway