Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report
Project Number: 41450 February 2012
Preparing the Ban Sok–Pleiku Power Transmission Project in the Greater Mekong Subregion (Financed by the Japan Special Fund)
Annex 3.1: Initial Environmental Examination in Lao PDR (500 KV Transmission Line and Substation)
Prepared by Électricité de France
Paris, France
For Asian Development Bank
This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents. All the views expressed herein may not be incorporated into the proposed project’s design.
Ban-sok Pleiku Project CONTRACT DOCUMENTS – TRANSMISSION LINE Package – LaoPDR
FINAL REPORT
500kV TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PROJECT
ANNEX 3.1 – 500kV TRANSMISSION LINE & SUBSTATION Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) In Lao PDR
Annex 3.1– TL & S/S IEE in Lao PDR
ADB TA 6481‐REG BAN‐SOK (HATXAN) PLEIKU POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT 500 kV TRANSMISSION LINE AND SUBSTATION – FEASIBILITY STUDY
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
For:
Ban Hatxan Substation and 59km 500kVA Double Circuit Three Phased Transmission Line from Hatxan Substation to the Vietnam Border.
Draft: Nov. 2010
Prepared by Electricite du France and Earth Systems Lao on behalf of Electricite du Lao (EDL), Ministry of Energy and Mines Lao PDR and for the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The views expressed in this IEE do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.
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Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE IEE ...... 1 1.1.1 Identification of the Project and Project Proponent ...... 4 1.2 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ...... 5 1.2.1 Legal Framework ...... 5 1.3 IEE METHODOLOGY ...... 6 1.4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...... 7 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ...... 7 2.1 TYPE OF PROJECT ...... 7 2.2 CATEGORY OF PROJECT ...... 7 2.3 NEED FOR PROJECT ...... 7 2.4 LOCATION ...... 7 2.5 SIZE OF OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE ...... 8 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ...... 9 3.1 PHYSICAL RESOURCES ...... 10 3.1.1 Climate ...... 10 3.1.2 Air Quality and Noise ...... 11 3.1.3 Drainage, Geology and Soils ...... 11 3.1.4 Surface Water and Groundwater ...... 12 3.2 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES: FOREST, WILDLIFE AND FISHES ...... 14 3.2.1 Terrestrial Wildlife ...... 15 3.2.2 Aquatic Wildlife ...... 15 3.2.3 Sensitive Habitat ...... 15 3.3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ...... 15 3.3.1 Industries and Employment ...... 16 3.3.2 Infrastructure and Facilities: Waste Management and Drainage...... 16 3.3.3 Land Use Planning ...... 17 3.3.4 Power Sources and Transmission ...... 17 3.3.5 Agricultural and Mineral Development ...... 17 3.3.6 Agricultural and Mineral Development ...... 20 3.4 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ...... 20 3.4.1 Population and Community ...... 20 3.4.2 Public Health ...... 21 3.4.3 Education Facilities ...... 21 3.4.4 Socioeconomic Conditions ...... 21 3.4.5 Human Settlement in the ROW ...... 22 3.5 INSTITUTIONS ...... 22 4 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ...... 23 4.1 OPTION 1 ALIGNMENT ...... 23 4.2 OPTION 2 ALIGNMENT ...... 24 4.3 COMPARISON OF PROPOSED ROUTES ...... 24 5 SCREENING OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATIVE MEASURES ...... 25 5.1 PRECONSTRUCTION PERIOD ...... 25 5.1.1 Concession Agreement Documents Do not Contain Environmental Safeguard Specifications as Defined in EMP of IEE ...... 25 5.1.2 Vegetation and Soil Erosion Allowed to Proceed ...... 26 5.1.3 Loss of Old Growth Forest Patches and Biodiversity ...... 27 5.1.4 Construction Compliance Monitoring and Inspection Not Applied ...... 27 5.1.5 Bird-TL Interactions ...... 28 5.1.6 Loss of Biodiversity ...... 28 5.2 CONSTRUCTION PERIOD: POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATIVE MEASURES ...... 29 5.2.1 Soil Erosion and Stream Degradation ...... 29 5.2.2 Water Quality and Public Health Degradation ...... 29 5.2.3 Insect Born Diseases Outbreaks ...... 30 5.2.4 Terrestrial Habitat Loss ...... 30 5.2.5 Degradation of Dong Amphan National Protected Area ...... 31 5.2.6 Noise Pollution ...... 32
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5.2.7 Air Pollution ...... 32 5.3 OPERATING PERIOD: POTENTIAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATIVE ACTIONS ...... 32 5.3.1 Noise and Electrical Charge from Conductors and Insulators (Corona Effect) ...... 32 5.3.2 Health Effects Related to Electric Field and Magnetic Field Emissions ...... 33 5.3.3 Spill Of Hazardous And Toxic Material ...... 35 5.3.4 Continuous Habitat Disruption in the TL Corridor ...... 35 5.4 SOCIAL ASSESSMENT...... 35 6 PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ...... 35 7 GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ...... 35 8 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN: MITIGATION AND MONITORING ...... 37 8.1 PRE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD ...... 38 8.1.1 Mitigation ...... 38 8.1.2 Monitoring ...... 38 8.2 CONSTRUCTION PERIOD ...... 39 8.2.1 Mitigation ...... 39 8.2.2 Monitoring ...... 39 8.3 OPERATING PERIOD ...... 40 8.3.1 Mitigation and Monitoring ...... 40 8.4 MITIGATION AND MONITORING COSTS...... 40 8.5 IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS ...... 43 9 INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, NEEDS AND PROPOSED STRENGTHENING ...... 43 9.1 SOUTHERN PROVINCES-REGIONAL MONITORING UNIT ...... 44 10 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 44 11 RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 45 12 REFERENCES ...... 45
List of Tables, Figures, Maps and Photos Table 1. Relevant Legislation, Decrees, Agreements, Regulations, and Standards ...... 5 Table 2. Project Area Air Temperatures: Average Values 1996-2006 ...... 10 Table 3. Annual rainfall and evaporation in Attapeu Town from 1996 to 2006 ...... 11 Table 4 Baseline water quality of the Xekhaman River (VLPC, 2009) ...... 12 Table 5 Baseline water quality of the Xe Xou River (all mg/L) ...... 13 Table 6 . Vegetation and land/water cover along the 70m TL ROW ...... 14 Table 7. Economic activities in Attapeu and Two Project Districts (NSC, 2007) ...... 16 Table 8. Land and Forest Type Along the Proposed Transmission Line Route ...... 17 Table 9. Demographic characteristics of Attapeu Province (NSC, 2009) ...... 21 Table 10. Number of Households and People within 700 m of Project Corridor (NSC, 2007) . 22 Table 11. Comparison of Three Transmission Line Options ...... 24 Table 12. Mitigation and Monitoring Cost Estimate...... 42
Figure 1. Average monthly rainfall over a 10 years period in Attapeu Town (1996-2006) ...... 10 Figure 2. Estimated EMF levels at varying distances and height from the outside conductor of a 400kV transmission line ( copied from .M. Ehtaiba et al. 2008)...... 34 Figure 3. Grievance Redress Process Related to Environmental ...... 37
Map 1 Project Area Map Showing Developments on Sekong and Xekhaman Rivers. 3 Map 2. District Boundaries, Location of Transmission Line and Substation and Associated Hydropower Plants and three Alternative Alignments. 8 Map 3 Land use planning map along proposed transmission line alignment 19
Photo 1. Example of High Voltage Line and Service Road in Lao PDR 9
Annexes Annex A: Environmental Management Plan Annex B: Newspaper Announcements of Consultation Sessions in Bukhara and Khorezm
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Annex C: Consultation Meeting Minutes and Attendance Sheets Annex D: Presentation Made
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ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND SPECIAL PHRASES
Item Units Definition µT na Micro-Tesla, a measure of electromagnetic flux: 239 µT= 1W/m2. 3 CO2 mg/cm Carbon dioxide COI Corridor of Impact ( a width over the road centerline considered the direct impact width) CSE na Construction Supervision Engineer or Chief Engineer, usually heading the PMU CSU na Construction Supervision Consultant Cyanobacteria na A group photosynthetic bacteria possessing chlorophyll, carrying out photosynthesis and capable of fixing both carbon dioxide and nitrogen dBA dBA unit A measure of audible (the ear) noise EDL na Electricite du Lao EMF µT Electromagnetic Field. EMiT na The Environmental Mitigation Table of the EMP EMoT na The Environmental Monitoring Table of the EMP EMP na Environmental Management Plan EVN na Electricite du Vietnam GIS na Geographic Information System kV/m na Kilovolt per meter Leq80 dBA dBA Sound level in the A frequency occurring for 80% of the time. MW Megawatt- A unit for measuring electrical power. 1MW = 1 million watts. 3 NO2 mg/cm Nitrate or Nitrogen Dioxide NPA na Nationally Protected Area – in Laos PMU na Program Management Unit, established to manage a single large project, such as this MFF RETA na ADB’s Regional Technical Assistance Project RoW na Right of Way; a 70m-wide corridor occupied by the Transmission Line 3 SP10 µg/m Suspended particulate matter, with particles ≥ 10 microns in size, and a danger to lungs. SPS na ADB’s 2009 Safeguard Policy Statement(SPS); or new environmental and social safeguard standards TEPCO na Tokyo Power and Electric Company TL na Transmission Line
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Executive Summary Not provided since document is incomplete at this time
1 Introduction 1. This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for the Ban Hatxan Substation and 59km 500kVA Double Circuit Three Phased Transmission Line from the Substation to the Vietnam Border (hereafter "the Project") has been prepared by Electricite du France and Earth Systems Lao, on behalf of Electricite du Lao (EDL), for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 2. This project is a regional feasibility study involving Lao PDR and Vietnam, with the objective of permitting LaoPDR and Vietnam to borrow the funds from the ADB to proceed with construction and operation of a transmission line and associated substations connecting the two countries. 3. This IEE addresses only the Lao PDR part of the project. It has been prepared as a direct requirement defined in the ADB’s environmental safeguards policy for infrastructure project planning involving ADB funds. The new Transmission Line and Substation facility in Lao PDR will be examined according to ADB guideline specifications for Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), and will include a complete consultation cycle as well as an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). 4. LaoPDR has recently enacted environmental legislation (Decree 112/PM) as well as distributed a table classifying major development projects as requiring either an IEE or EIA. The Transmission Line-Substation project falls into the full EIA category, upgraded from ADB’s ranking of IEE. ADB is fully aware of this difference and for that reason the IEE , once complete will include an EIA Terms of Reference (as an annex) complying with the first deliverable in the LaoPDR EIA process, as well as with ADB’s guidelines. This project brings to light similar problems also experienced on a number of other Electricite du Laos (EDL) projects, such as transmission lines and micro-hydro works, where now, instead of IEEs, full EIAs are required. To address this inconsistency, ADB WREA and EDL are organizing consultations1, to discuss this concern and establish a protocol to deal with the environmentally less onerous projects2 and the differences between the ADB and LaoPDR’s classification systems. 5. For the Vietnam side of the project, separate IEE documentation is being prepared on behalf of the Electricite du Vietnam (EVN)..
1.1 Purpose of the IEE 6. The IEE is an EDL document. It was prepared by the TA consultant, on behalf of the Executing Agency the Electricite du Lao (EDL) an agency within the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The IEE identifies any likely significant direct and indirect environmental effects associated with the proposed project during key period of work, the extent, duration and severity of the impacts; and then provides a set of costed mitigative and monitoring actions in the form of an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Action Plan (Annex A).
1 One such consultation took place in Vientiane at the end of Feb. 2011. 2 For the smaller less onerous projects , which under Lao PDR law require a full EIA the cost is crippling, and likely unnecessary. An assessment scoping process, identifying potential impacts and rating system to establish if EIA or IEE with special additional studies such as biodiversity or fisheries investigations are needed, should be developed. It may be the most effective use of funds while fully protecting the environment. 1 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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7. The IEE also provides an examination of the institutional and technical capacity of EDL, the Water Resources and Environment Agency (WREA) at both the central and provincial levels and other bodies at the provincial level likely involved in the implementation of the EMP. It concludes with recommendations for follow up environmental work, such as a full EIA or special technical studies.
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Map 1 Project Area Map Showing Developments on Sekong and Xekhaman Rivers.
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1.1.1 Identification of the Project and Project Proponent 8. Lao PDR is developing its hydroelectric power sources and selling the electricity to neighbouring countries, such as China, Thailand and Vietnam. This is being pursued via private sector initiatives, i.e., concessionaire agreements for 25 year operating period. Two Rivers on the south of the country, the Sekong and the Xekhaman, both tributaries of the Mekong River, are proposed for significant development led by Vietnamese interests (Map 1). To transmit the power from up to eight such power stations to Vietnam a modern large capacity transmission line-substation complex is needed. Lao PDR and Vietnam have asked ADB for a loan to build this 140 km line plus two new substations. 9. Therefore, this project, involves the construction of a new 500kV transmission line from Km 37 on NH 18, east of Attapeau in Attapeu Province (Map 2), the location of the proposed Ban Hatxan Substation, to the Lao Vietnam border some 59 km to the east. In Vietnam the project involves the continuation of the TL from the border to the Pleiku Substation in Gai Lai Province for another 75km. This IEE addresses only the Lao PDR component of the project. A separate IEE is being prepared for the Vietnamese side. 10. The proponent (executing agency) for this project is the Electricite du Lao (EDL), with the main point of contact being the EDL’s Environment Department in Vientiane. The consultant undertaking this work on behalf of EDL is also in close contact with WREA-Vientiane and Attapeu, as well as with other provincial agencies. 11. A number of hydroelectric generating stations will be supplying power to this TL. So far five have submitted environmental documentation to WREA and these have received due diligence audits by the consultant, to establish compliance with ADB policy and guidelines. All associated projects, namely any works that serve to make operational an ADB-funded project, must comply with ADB safeguards. If not brought into compliance, any non-compliant projects will jeopardize loan processing, potentially halting the development. These audits are presented in a separate due diligence report. I. The Nature, Size, Location and Importance of the Project 12. The Consultant has prepared preliminary design materials for the new 500KV transmission line and Ban Hatxan substation. Given that almost the entire TL is along or very close to existing roads, no access roads will be needed. 13. The 500kV double circuit transmission line will require a 70m wide corridor and large towers every 400m, for about 59 km to the Vietnam border (Map 2). The proposed Ban Hatxan Substation is located 37 km from Attapeu Town on NH 18. EDL and Attapeau have set aside 80 ha of land to accommodate the site. 14. With a large number of hydropower schemes scheduled to come on line over the next decade, all requiring the new substation and the transmission line, this project forms an critical component of Lao PDR’s plan to become the major supplier of “clean” power in the region. II. IEE Boundaries 15. EDL has indicated that a 70m (35 m on either side of the TL centerline) wide Right of Way (RoW) is required for the construction of a 500kV TL. 16. A 500kV power line emits electrical and magnetic fields. International good practice says that human habitation and large livestock should be at least 50m from the
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transmission line, therefore the impact corridor will be increased from 30m to 50m on either side of the TL’s outer conductor3, for a total of 144m. 17. The TL, parallels the boundary of Dong Amphan NPA ( from 5-100m) for at least 30km en route to the Vietnam border4. It must pass into the NAP for the last 9 km, passing along the border of the no-mans land between the two countries. 18. The TL does cross the Xe Xou River, a tributary of the Xekhaman, but given the span of 400m between towers, there will be no interference with the river and therefore no special boundary Some of the large trees shading the crossing point will be cut down, but this will be only directly under the power lines or a 70m-wide swath. 19. High voltage transmission lines also emit noise, generally in the 50dBA range and audible at a distance of 100m on either side of the outer boundaries of the conductors. 20. Finally there is also the interference with television and radio reception, but no specific distance can be applied here. 21. Considering all possible effects, the impact corridor studied as part of this IEE was 150 m wide centered over the middle of the TL.
1.2 Legal and Administrative Framework for Environmental Protection 1.2.1 Legal Framework 22. There are a number of relevant laws, regulations and policies applicable to the development of the transmission line project in Lao PDR (Table 1). The most relevant is the Ministry of Energy and Mines’ (MEM), Environmental Impact Assessment for Electricity Project (2003)5 and the WREA Decree on Environmental Assessment in Lao PDR (Decree 112/PM 2010). These two ( in addition to ADB’s Guidelines) have been followed closely in the preparation of the IEE for the Lao PDR segment of the Ban Sok (Ban Hatxan) – Pleiku Transmission Line Project. Table 1. Relevant Legislation, Decrees, Agreements, Regulations, and Standards Title Date Environmental Protection Law 1999 Decree 112/PM on Environmental Impact Assessment in Lao PDR 2010 Electricity Law 1997 Forestry Law 1996 Land Law 2003 Law on Water and Water Resources 1996 Decree to Implement the Law on Water And Water Resources 2001 Implementing Decree for the Environmental Protection Law 2001 MEM Department of Electricity Environmental Management Standard 2003 – Environmental Impact Assessment for Electricity Project MEM Department of Electricity Environmental Management Standard 2003 – Environmental Management Plans for Electricity Projects MEM Department of Electricity Environmental Management Standard 2003 – Regulation on Implementing Environmental Assessment
3 The outer conductor will be 22m from the TL centerline. 4 There are actually three optional routes, two having to pass through the NPA for about 9 km. 5 Despite the new Decree 112/PM the 2003 MEM standard is still in force. However, Article 42 of the decree states that any existing regulation and standard that conflicts with this Decree shall be null and void. 5 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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Title Date MEM Department of Electricity Environmental Management Standard 2003 – Social Impact Assessment for Electricity Project in Lao PDR Wildlife and Aquatic Animals Law 2007 Agreement on National Ambient Environmental Standards 2009 Lao Electric Power Technical Standards 2005 Decree on State Land Lease or Concession 2009 Public Involvement Guidelines 2009 Law on Property 2002 Regulation on the Management of the National Biodiversity 2001 Conservation Areas, Aquatic and Wild Animals Law on National Heritage 2005
23. The key government agency responsible for IEE is WREA, a special agency under the Prime Minister’s Office. WREA consists of the Department of Environment and the Environmental and Social Impact Unit, and is the main coordinating agency for environmental planning and management across all sectors. Its responsibilities are set out in Decree 112/PM, 2010. Several other government line agencies, e.g. the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Agriculture, have been delegated responsibility for applying Decree 112/PM for projects in their sector. 24. In 2001 the Department of Electricity (DOE), within MEM, published their environmental standard for electricity projects. This standard was updated in 2003 as the Environmental Management Standard for Electricity Project. It requires that DOE ensure that all projects seeking approval through the WREA EIA process also comply with the DOE’s Environmental Management Standards. 25. In addition to the Legislation, Decrees, Agreements, Regulations, and Standards (Table 1), Lao PDR is also a signatory to several international conventions and treaties. Those potentially relevant to this IEE are the: • Convention on Biological Diversity (1996); • Mekong River Commission Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Basin (1995); • ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (1985); • International Plant Protection Convention (1955); and, • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (2004).
26. Lao PDR has a sound environmental safeguards legislative base supported by a growing number of standards. Some important new standards are still under development. The main issue is implementation and enforcement due to a lack of resources and technical capacity.
1.3 IEE Methodology 27. The IEE information collection and analysis was based largely on two field visits (Jan. 2009 and Oct. 2010), walking sections of the TL corridor, discussion with local people and with officials in Attapeu, as well as reviewing key documents, such as the Dong Amphan survey report, defining boundaries and sensitivities. Landuse land cover data were obtained through the analysis of satellite images (2009) and aerial photos ( 2007) and applying GIS computer software. Noise and dust estimates were obtained from past similar projects and impacts associated with electric and magnetic fields was 6 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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obtained from the literature which is quite extensive; plus from discussions with EDF experts. 28. Data on animal presence and movement were obtained through consultations with local people ( based on informal discussions during the field visits) and the literature, mostly from the Dong Amphan NPA materials.
1.4 Acknowledgement 29. This IEE was prepared for ADB and EDL by the consultant Electricite Du France (EDF) and Earth Systems Lao (ESL), under an ADB Technical Assistance Contract. The ongoing cooperation of both EDL and WREA at both the national and provincial levels is acknowledged as well as the input from member of the communities of Phouvong, Xanxay and Xaysettha Districts of Attapeu Province.
2 Description of the Project
2.1 Type of Project 30. This RETA involves completing a feasibility study for a new transmission line and substation from Ban Hatxan to the Lao-Vietnam border. The project is being completed by the consultant, in behalf of EDL, to assist with the completion of all documentation needed for Lao PDR to obtain the necessary loan to build the facility. 31. The funds will be disbursed as a low interest project loan.
2.2 Category of Project 32. The ADB has classified this project as a category B. This category requires the completion of an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), including a set of consultations as well as an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The Lao PDR’s new Decree 112/PM classifies this project as Category 2, requiring a full EIA. The consultant is working to address both if these classifications by preparing the mandatory ADB-IEE as well as a Lao PDR compliant EIA Terms of Reference (or summary scoping report). The EIA TOR is a pre-requisite for the completion of a full EIA in Lao PDR.
2.3 Need for Project 33. The large hydroelectric generation capacity being developed on these rivers requires a modern high voltage line to transmit the power to neighbouring countries. This TL will be transmitting mainly to Vietnam and Thailand. The project is essential if Lao PDR hopes to distribute the power from the many stations coming on line on the Sekong and Xekhaman Rivers over the next decade. Without this project the power generated will not reach Vietnam.
2.4 Location 34. The project is located in Attapeu Province in southern Lao PDR (Map 1). The Ban Hatxan substation is located at km 37 on the North side of NH18 coming East from Attapeu. From that point on, the transmission line options are to the Northeast (TEPCO), East (1) and Southeast (2). The TEPCO and No. 1 options are not being seriously considered due to their potential greater impact on the Dong Amphan National
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Protected Area (NPA) and their cost6. Option 2 alignment closely parallels the old Ho Chi Minh Trail which passes around the southern border of Dong Amphan NPA. At the border with Cambodia the TL alignment turns north along the Lao-Cambodian border for around 9 km before connecting to the Vietnamese side of the TL (Map 2).
2.5 Size of Operation and Implementation Schedule 35. The actual area physically disturbed by the work, namely where either vegetation will be cleared, access tracks built tower foundations constructed will be a 70m by 62,000m area or roughly 434 ha, plus up to 80 ha for the substation, where roughly 14 ha will be occupied by the substation buildings and switches. The work will involve clearing under the power line alignment and constructing concrete foundations each requiring
Map 2. District Boundaries, Location of Transmission Line and Substation and Associated Hydropower Plants and three Alternative Alignments. 36. around 0.16 ha where topsoil will be removed (Photo 1). Construction is expected to take approximately two years. The work will likely be awarded to a single
6 Dong Amphan NPA is considered one of Lao PDR’s premier three protected areas, thought to be home of the globally endangered Asian Tiger, and another 11 globally endangered wildlife species. Unfortunately there has been no environmental survey of this NPA since 1998-99. For that reason options 1 and 2, including the ‘TEPCO’ 8 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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contractor. A total workforce of not more than 200 people will be involved on the transmission line construction and another 150 with the construction of the substation. 37. A service road for 4WD vehicles will be established underneath the line, but used only to maintain the towers and the conductors. In other words the road will not be maintained and remain a track, creating an ecotone between forest and a narrow open area. 38. Once operational the substation will have a staff of 30-60 people with living quarters in the vicinity. The TL will be monitored remotely and maintained continuously, primarily to check vegetation growth and encroachment by local residents.
Photo 1. Example of High Voltage Line and Service Road in Lao PDR
39. Height of clearance below the transmission line will be a minimum of 9m.
3 Description of the Environment 40. The Ban Sok (Ban Hatxan) – Plieku 500 kV Transmission Line Project is located in Attapeu Province in southern Lao PDR (Maps 1 and 2). Attapeu is the south eastern most province in Lao PDR, and is bordered by Sekong Province in the north, Champassack Province in the northwest, Cambodia to the south and Vietnam to the East. According to the latest figures from the National Statics Center (2009), the province consists of five (5) districts (Xaysettha, Sanamxay, Sanxay, Samakkhixay, and Phouvong) and covers an area of 10,320 km2 with the population of 123,824. The districts are divided into 156 villages and 22,913 households (National Statistic Center, 2009). The proposed Ban Sok (Ban Hatxan) – Plieku 500 kV Transmission Line corridor is located in Xaysettha and Phouvong Districts. As currently proposed, the corridor runs from Ban Hatxan substation in Xaysettha District to a delivery point at the Laos – Vietnam border in Phouvong District. For the most part, the corridor is expected to run parallel to the old and new NH18.
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3.1 Physical Resources 3.1.1 Climate 41. The Project area has a tropical climate and is dominated by two monsoon seasons. From the middle of October to the middle of April the northeast monsoon creates dry season conditions with low temperature, low rainfall and low humidity. From May to September, the area is dominated by the southwest monsoon which causes heavy rainfall, higher temperature and high humidity. In general, approximately 90% of the total rainfall occurs in the wet season, with the highest rainfall occurring in July and August. 42. The meteorological station at Attapeu Town is the nearest monitoring station to the Project Area; approximately 37 km west of the proposed substation in Ban Hatxan and the start of the project. According to the meteorological data compiled by the DMH from 1996 to 2006, the average mean annual temperature in Attapeu Town is 22.7 0C (Table 2), with the highest maximum temperature being observed in April and May, just before the start of the wet season. Table 2. Project Area Air Temperatures: Average Values 1996-2006 Air Temperature (0C) Ann. Para- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec meter Avg. Min 14.4 17.1 19.3 21.9 22.3 22.8 22.5 22.3 22.3 20.3 17.5 15.0 19.8 Aver 19 21 23 25 25 24 24 24 24 23 21 20 22.7 Max 22.5 24.5 26.6 26.9 26.9 26.2 25.6 25.2 25.0 24.8 24.3 24.5 25.2
43. The average monthly rainfall data for Attapeu Town, which is 37 km west of the proposed Ban Hatxan Substation. The majority of the rainfall occurs during May and September, accounting for over 80% of the total annual rainfall (Figure 1). Based on the rainfall statistic from 1996 to 2006, the average annual rainfall in Attapeu Town was 2,383 mm.
Figure 1. Average monthly rainfall over a 10 years period in Attapeu Town (1996-2006)
44. The average annual rainfall and evaporation at Attapeu Town between 1998 and 2006 were recorded at 2,382.75 mm and 1210.65 mm, respectively (Table 3). During 10 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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this period, the highest annual rainfall was observed in 2006 while the highest annual evaporation was observed in 2004. Table 3. Annual rainfall and evaporation in Attapeu Town from 1996 to 2006 Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Rainfall 1407.6 2140.7 2268.4 2609.2 2433.4 2708.7 1915.6 2549.4 2726.8 (mm) Evaporation 1177.1 1125.8 1117.5 1182.9 1333.3 1365 1484.2 1387.5 1316.9 (mm)
45. In Attapeu Town, winds comes from south to southwest direction for approximately 53% of the time. During the wet season, winds commonly come from south to southwest direction while during the dry season northeasterly winds are more common at Attapeu Town. 3.1.2 Air Quality and Noise 46. . Information on baseline air quality and noise in Lao PDR is very limited. At the time of this IEE, there was no known organization carrying out a baseline air quality and noise monitoring program. In 2009, WREA published an Environmental Standard for Lao PDR, which delegated the environmental monitoring responsibility to the Water and Environmental Research Institute. However, environmental monitoring and assessment work relating to air quality and noise has not commenced. 47. Since the economy of Attapeu Province is still mainly agricultural based and number of motor vehicles registered in the province is still low, it can be assumed that air quality in the Project Area is still of good condition, well within acceptable standards. The major source of air pollutants are likely from burning waste biomass (rice paddy waste and forest fires) in certain seasons, domestic fires used for cooking and dust emanating from unsealed roads. 48. The Project Area is remote from industry and major transport routes. The transmission line route follows the old road highway 18A that is being used mainly by a few villages located along it. Very low levels of traffic were observed during the field visit and the traffic is mostly associated with motorbikes and motorized tractors. Therefore, noise level in the Project Area is currently not an issue. 3.1.3 Drainage, Geology and Soils 49. The Transmission Line Project lies within the catchment of the Xekhaman-Xe Xou rivers, which flows southeast into the Sekong River, approximately 33 km west of the proposed Ban Hatxan Substation, located on the dry dipterocarp forested savannah. 3.1.3.1 Sekong River Catchment 50. The Sekong River has a total length and a catchment area of approximately 500 km and 28,815 km2, respectively. Approximately 78% of the Sekong Catchment lies within Lao PDR (MRCS, 2001). The Sekong Catchment represents approximately 3.6% of the total catchment area of the Mekong River, but contributes approximately 5.8 and 7.2% of average dry and wet season flows to the Mekong River, respectively (MRC, 1987). 51. The MRC (2001) classified the Sekong River catchment according to a series of elevation, slope and watershed classes. Approximately 40% of the catchment is steep and hilly with slope greater than 15%., and one-third flat with slope less than 2%. The
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highest point in the catchment is 2,174 m above mean sea level while the catchment outlet has an elevation of 46 m above mean sea level. 3.1.3.2 Xekhaman and Xe Xou Rivers 52. The Xekhaman and Xe Xou Rivers have the total length of about 185 km and 120 km respectively, have a total catchment area of 6,620 km2. This represents approximately 23 % of the total Sekong River basin. Flowing in the southwest direction, both the Xekhaman and Xexou River originate in the Annamite Mountain Range at the border of Laos and Vietnam. The Xe Xou River joins the Xekhaman River approximately 13 km upstream of its confluence with the Sekong (27 km west of the proposed Ban Hatxan Substation). The Xekhaman River joins the Sekong River just downstream of Attapeu Town. 53. The proposed transmission line follows the old 18B road (also known as the Ho Chi Minh’s Trail), which itself parallels the Xe Xou River. The route is characterized by flat to gently moderately sloping, with approximately 75% of the total route length having slopes between 0 and 11°. The average slope of the proposed transmission line route is about 8°, with a maximum slope angle of 32°. 54. Geology along the transmission route is characterized by a shallow topsoil layer over limestone, conglomerate, schist formation, Gabbro diorite, quartz diorite hornblende grandiorite and granite to name a few . 3.1.4 Surface Water and Groundwater 55. The only known water quality monitoring activities carried out in the Xekhaman River Catchment is associated with the Xekhaman 1 and Xanxay Hydropower Projects. 56. Between 2006 and 2007, the Institute of Material Science (IMS) conducted groundwater and surface water monitoring in the Xekhaman River Basin. In all, a total of 42 surface water and 27 groundwater stations were monitored by the IMS (Table 4 and Table 5). Table 4 Baseline water quality of the Xekhaman River (VLPC, 2009) Lao Water Quality Parameters Guidelines (all mg/L- Station M1 Station M29 Station M41 Drinking Ambient except pH) Water Water pH 6.5-8.5 5.0-9.0 7.8 7.4 7.25 COD - 5 6.2 2.78 2.6 SS - 14 12.6 12.4 - NO3 50 <5.0 0.47 0.26 0.27 Cu 1.0-2.0 0.1 0.001 0.001 <0.001 Fe 0.3 - <1 0.41 0.46 0.52 Pb 0.01 0.05 0.018 0.02 <0.004 As 0.01-0.05 0.01 <0.01 0.01 <0.01 - HCO3 - - 23 26 26 2- SO4 - - 0.56 0.58 0.63 Mg2+ - - 0.95 3.7 2.4 Ca2+ - 1.6 3.1 2.4 M1=Dakbou Village at head of future reservoir on Xekhaman R., M29= 2km downstream of proposed Xekhaman dam on Xekhaman R.; M41=Xekhaman confluence with Sekong near Attapeu Town
57. These data indicate that:
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• the pH values of Xekhaman and Xe Xou Rivers were near neutral with values ranged from 7.25 to 7.8. • Total suspended Solids (SS) ranged from 11.3 to 14 mg/L, giving an indication that the Xekhaman and Xe Xou Rivers were relatively clear water rivers. • nitrate-nitrogen levels for both rivers were well within the allowable guidelines for drinking and ambient water. • all metal parameters were within allowable guidelines for drinking and ambient water quality. • other than the value observed at M1 (6.2 mg/L), COD values were within the allowable guidelines for ambient surface water.
Table 5 Baseline water quality of the Xe Xou River (all mg/L) Lao Water Quality Guidelines Xe Xou River At the Xe Xou River 1000 m Criteria confluence with upstream of the Drinking Ambient Xekhaman River Xekhaman confluence Water Water pH 6.5-8.5 5.0-9.0 7.4 7.54 COD - 5 2.25 2.4 SS - 11.3 12.45 - NO3 50 <5.0 0.46 0.52 Cu 1.0-2.0 0.1 0.001 0.001 Fe 0.3 - <1 0.48 0.4 Pb 0.01 0.05 0.024 0.026 As 0.01-0.05 0.01 <0.01 <0.01 - HCO3 - - 36 41 2- SO4 - - 0.47 0.62 Mg2+ - - 1.1 1.25 Ca2+ - 1.65 1.95 Source: VLPC Environmental Assessment, 2009 58. As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Xekhaman 1 Hydropower Project, the Institute of Material Science of Vietnam conducted groundwater quality monitoring of 27 sites between 2006 and 2007. The EIA authors concluded that groundwater in the Xekhaman 1 Project area was of good quality. Specifically, the following parameters were highlighted in the EIA report (VLPC, 2009): • pH levels were near neutral with values ranged from 7 to 7.5; • Hardness values were observed to range from 160 to 220 mg/L; • Total solid values ranged from 200 to 600 mg/L; • Cu levels ranged from 0.1 to 0.89 mg/L (Lao PDR allowable guidelines for groundwater is ≤1 mg/L for both potable and non-potable groundwater quality) • Pb values were less than 0.012 mg/L (slightly exceeding the Lao PDR allowable guideline for groundwater quality (0 mg/L for potable groundwater and 0.01 mg/L for other groundwater); and, • Nitrate levels ranged from 12 to 39 mg/L while ammonium levels ranged from 0.08 to 0.1 mg/L.
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3.2 Ecological Resources: Forest, Wildlife and Fishes 59. Southern Lao PDR is divided into two principal ecosystems: the Lower Mekong River Plain with its dry dipterocarp forest sub-regions to the West, and the Annamite Mountains and foothills to the East. The former is characterized by open dry forests, small ponds, seasonally wet grassland, and semi-evergreen forest which is predominated by Dipterocarpacea. The latter is characterized by low mountains with height between 500 to 2,000m and evergreen forests which are of every high biodiversity value due to species endemism. 60. According to the WCS (1997), there are a number of habitat and forest types found in the Dong Amphan NPA and Phou Kathong, including: • Lowland evergreen, semi-evergreen mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forests; • Hill evergreen, semi-evergreen and fagaceous (tropical fig tree)forests; • Dry, temperate-like upland coniferous and broadleaf woodlands; • Mature submontane and montane evergreen forests; • A mosaic of secondary forest habitats; and • Riparian forests, resulting from Xekhaman and Xe Xou rivers flow through the area, fed by a dense network of tributaries streams. 61. Vegetation mapping of the proposed transmission line ROW was conducted based using 2008 satellite imagery and ground truthing (Map 3). The classification of forest types was primarily based on the classifications used by the GOL (FIPD, 2002). 62. About 418.4 ha of land area is expected to be disturbed by the project corridor with 70 m ROW (Table 6). Approximately 43 % of this land is covered by lower dry evergreen forest (181.5 ha), 15% by upper mixed deciduous forest and 7% is gallery forest.
Table 6 . Vegetation and land/water cover along the 70m TL ROW
Percent Composition of Land Cover Type Area (ha) Land Cover Type Bamboo 60.7 14.5 Dry Dipterocarp ( heavily cut-over) 26.7 6.4 Gallery Forest 30.3 7.2 Lower Dry Evergreen Forest 181.5 43.4 Regeneration Forest 10.0 2.4 River 0.3 0.1 Road 3.3 0.8 Savannah 24.7 5.9 Swidden Land 2.3 0.5 Un-stocked Forest 10.1 2.4 Upper Mixed Deciduous 62.4 14.9 Village Settlement 3.7 0.9 Others 2.5 0.6 Total Area Disturbed 418.4
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3.2.1 Terrestrial Wildlife 63. A survey conducted by WCS in 1997 (<14 years prior to this IEE) revealed that the Dong Amphan NPA had at least 84 mammal species. Of these at least 30 species are listed as threatened, including six primates (including populations the Douc langur and buff-cheeked gibbon), four cats (fishing cat, golden cat, clouded leopard, and tiger), eight ungulates (including small numbers of gaur and populations of two recently discovered deer – the giant Muntjac and small dark muntjac in the process of being described, and a small population of Asian elephants. 64. In the Project Area, bird fauna is also very diverse, with at least 280 bird species identified in the NPA by the WCS (1997). Of these 37 species were identified to have conservation concern, including siamese fireback, crested argus, masked finfoot, fish eagle, red-collared and pale-headed woodpecker, bar-bellied and blue-rumped pittas, woolly-necked stork, and great hornbills. 65. Since the 1997, no known wildlife and habitat survey has been carried out in the Don Amphan NPA, however it known that large-scale poaching has taken place; and almost no resources available for Lao PDR officials to control it. 3.2.2 Aquatic Wildlife 66. The aquatic environment in the vicinity of the transmission line, particularly in the first few kilometres, has become less pristine in the past few years, a consequence of increased fishing pressure and land clearance for rubber plantation and other agricultural activities. The aquatic biodiversity of the catchment has also been impacted in recent years by large infrastructure development, such as hydropower projects and rubber tree planting. Despite these impacts, the aquatic environment in the Xekhaman catchment area surrounding the transmission line route is still rich in biodiversity. 67. The results of a biological study of the Xekhaman and Xe Xou Rivers in 1994 and 1995 revealed that these two rivers support a very high diversity of fish, namely 300 to 400 species, including several threatened taxa. In 1995 there were three species on the IUCN ‘Endangered’ or ‘Near Threatened’ list. 3.2.3 Sensitive Habitat 68. The NPA closest to the proposed transmission line is the Dong Amphan NPA. About 9 km of the TL are expected to cut through the NPA where the alignment runs parallel to the Cambodian and Vietnam borders. 69. Dong Amphan National Protected Area is one of the 20 designated NPAs in Laos. It has a total area of 200,000 ha (2000 km2) and located in eastern Attapeu and Sekong Provinces, where it borders Vietnam to the East. In 1997, a survey on wildlife and habitat of Dong Amphan NPA and Phou Kathong, which includes Xekhaman and Xe Xou Rivers, was conducted by the Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management (CPAWM) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The survey revealed that there are a number of important habitats and wildlife species in the Dong Amphan NPA and Phou Kathong Area. 70. Based on a review of the aerial photos of the TL corridor, the section of the alignment through the NPA along the border with Cambodia and Vietnam is heavily degraded, and will result in only a minor impact, so long as the access road is kept closed to all but maintenance crews.
3.3 Economic Development 71. In recent years GDP growth in Lao PDR was one of the highest in South East Asia, surpassing 6% throughout the 1990s. In 2008, the National Statistic Center 15 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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estimated the GDP to be about US$5,280 million with per capita GDP of US$875. The economy has changed from being dominated by the agricultural sector to service sector, which contributed approximately 37.4% of the GDP. The agricultural sector still contributed 30.1% to the GDP while the industrial sector contributed 25.9% (NSC, 2009). 3.3.1 Industries and Employment 72. The proposed transmission line is located in Attapeu Province, one of the poorest provinces in Lao PDR. The economy of Attapeu Province is still highly agricultural based. Based on the information obtained from the National Statistic Center (2007), a summary of the main economic activities in Attapeu Province is provided in Table 7. As presented in the table, the main economic activity in the province is farming, with approximately 83.6% of the total working population taking part in the farming activities as their main occupation. Only a small percentage of the working population has non- farming activities as their main occupation (14.4%). None of the working population identified fishing as their main occupation and only small numbers identified livestock farming as their main occupation (0.1%). 73. The economic activities in Phouvong and Xaysettha Districts follow the trend observed at the provincial level, where majority of the working population identify farming as their main occupation (91.8% for Phouvong District and 91.1% for Xaysettha District). It is unclear if the farming activity includes tending rubber plantations.
Table 7. Economic activities in Attapeu and Two Project Districts (NSC, 2007)
Livestock Mix Non-farm Total Working Farmer Fisherman Sex Farmer Farmer Activities Population (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Attapeu Province Female 28,484 87.2 0 0.1 2.1 10.6 Male 25,936 79.7 0 0.1 1.7 18.5 Total 54,420 83.6 0 0.1 1.9 14.4 Phouvong District Female 3,098.0 94.6 0 0 0 5.4 Male 2,670.0 88.6 0 0 0 11.4 Total 5,768.0 91.8 0 0 0 8.2 Xaysettha District Female 7,773 92.6 0 0.1 1.8 5.5 Male 6,628 89.3 0 0.1 1.8 8.8 Total 14,401 91.1 0 0.1 1.8 7
3.3.2 Infrastructure and Facilities: Waste Management and Drainage 74. The transmission line route is located in a remote area with no major infrastructure and facilities. No piped potable water is available and indoor toilet facilities are only available in a few households. In Phouvong and Xaysettha District, water comes from wells and rivers. Open defecation is the norm for most households. 75. For villages along the old 18B Road, majority of the houses have wooden wall, tin roofs, and elevated wooden floors. Some houses are even simpler; made of bamboo wall, grass roof and elevated bamboo floor. Indoor toilet facilities are only available in a
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few households. Water for drinking, washing and bathing is sourced from wells or nearby streams. 3.3.3 Land Use Planning 76. Since 1996, a nation-wide program on land and forest allocation has been carried out, under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), with an aim of improving the management of land use and forest types at village, district and provincial levels. In most cases, nine land use categories are applied including five forest categories, three agricultural categories, and one for the site of village settlement. Land use and forest allocation are roughly mapped and often permanently displayed in a central place in village or kept at the district and provincial agriculture and forestry offices. 77. Based on the provincial land use and forest allocation plan, presented in Map 3, several land use types exist in the vicinity of the proposed transmission line, including National Protected Area, Protection Forest, Production Forest, and non-designated production forest (Table 8). Approximately 20.5 km of the transmission line route passes through provincial protection forest while approximately 9 km passes through the National Protection Area (Dong Amphan).
Table 8. Land and Forest Type Along the Proposed Transmission Line Route
Non- Producti Dong Protecti DFAO Land designated on Amphan on Total Allocation Type Production Forest NPA Forest Forest Km of Transmission Line Through 5.02 20.50 9.08 23.70 60.25 Landuse Types
3.3.4 Power Sources and Transmission 78. Approximately 90% of power used to electrify Attapeu Province is sourced from Xeset 1 Hydropower Project in Saravan Province. The power is supplied through a 115 kV transmission line from the Xeset 1 Power Station to Sophathong Substation in Attapeu Pronvince via Ba Na Substation in Champassack Province. This power source is also used by villagers in Xaysettha and Phovong Districts. 79. The other 10% of power used in the province is sourced from Houay Hor Hydropower Project in Xaysettha District. Only villages located in the vicinity of the Houay Hor Hydropower Project are using the power supplied from the Houay Hor Hydropower Project. 3.3.5 Agricultural and Mineral Development 80. There are several mining activities and mining concession areas in Attapeu Province. The two major planned mining activities for the province are the two bauxite mining projects, SLACO and SINOMA Bauxite Mining Projects, around 75km from the substation site. The processing plants of these two projects are located in Samakkhixay and Sanamxay Districts in Attapeu Province. Their mining concession areas are located in Bolevan Plateau in Paksong District, Champassack Province. 81. There is no known mining activity or mining concession area in the proposed transmission line corridor. However, a gold mining concession area exists in the Dong 17 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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Amphan NPA, less than 10 km from the proposed transmission line route. The concession area belongs to the Exploitation Mine Company (owned by the Lao Army). As currently proposed, the transmission corridor is not expected to disturb this mining concession area. 82. Primary agriculture activities observed along the transmission line route is swidden agriculture, practiced by villages living along the old road 18A. Based on the assessment of the 2008 satellite imagery, approximately 2.3 ha of the swidden agricultural land is expected to be disturbed by the transmission line ROW. Additionally, some area of paddy field exists in the vicinity of the proposed substation. However, this area is not expected to be impacted by the substation. 83. Another key development observed in the vicinity of the project area is rubber plantation. In the past few years, a number of hectares of rubber plantation have been developed along the new Road 18A. The plantations are mainly owned by a Vietnamese investor, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, which owns a concession area of 10,000 ha in Attapeu Province.
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Map 3 Land use planning map along 19 proposed transmission line alignment BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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84. Approximately 90% of power used to electrify Attapeu Province is sourced from Xeset 1 Hydropower Project in Saravan Province. The power is supplied through a 115 kV transmission line from the Xeset 1 Power Station to Sophathong Substation in Attapeu Pronvince via Ba Na Substation in Champassack Province. This power source is also used by villagers in Xaysettha and Phovong Districts. 85. The other 10% of power used in the province is sourced from Houay Hor Hydropower Project in Xaysettha District. Only villages located in the vicinity of the Houay Hor Hydropower Project are using the power supplied from the Houay Hor Hydropower Project. 3.3.6 Agricultural and Mineral Development 86. There are several mining activities and mining concession areas in Attapeu Province. The two major planned mining activities for the province are the two bauxite mining projects, SLACO and SINOMA Bauxite Mining Projects. The processing plants of these two projects are located in Samakkhixay and Sanamxay Districts in Attapeu Province. Their mining concession areas are located in Bolevan Plateau in Paksong District, Champassack Province. 87. There is no known mining activity or mining concession area in the proposed transmission line corridor. However, a gold mining concession area exists in the Dong Amphan NPA7, less than 10 km from the proposed transmission line route. The concession area belongs to the Exploitation Mine Company (owned by the Lao Army). As currently proposed, the transmission corridor is not expected to disturb this mining concession area. 88. Primary agriculture activities observed along the transmission line route is swidden agriculture, practiced by villages living along the old road 18A. Based on the assessment of the 2008 satellite imagery, approximately 2.3 ha of the swidden agricultural land is expected to be disturbed by the transmission line ROW. Additionally, some area of paddy field exists in the vicinity of the proposed substation. However, this area is not expected to be impacted by the substation. 89. Another key development observed in the vicinity of the project area is rubber plantation. In the past few years, a number of hectares of rubber plantation have been developed along the new Road 18A. The plantations are mainly owned by a Vietnamese investor, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, which owns a concession area of 10,000 ha in Attapeu Province.
3.4 Social and Cultural Resources 3.4.1 Population and Community 90. Attapeu Province has a total land area of 10,320 km2 and a total population of 123,816, making it one of the least populated provinces in Lao PDR (12 persons per km2). The province is divided into five (5) districts as shown in Table 9. There are a total of 151 villages in Attapeu Province. The male to female sex ratio is 88.8%, a figure that is significantly lower than the national average of 96.8% (NSC, 2009). 91. In Phouvong and Xaysettha Districts, where the transmission line located, population densities are reported to be 3.2 and 37.4 persons per km2, respectively. With population density of 3.2 persons per km2, Phouvong District is one of the least
7 It seems a contradiction that a mining concession is granted in a nationally protected area. If that concession is developed a transmission line will become a trivial effect. 20 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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populated districts in Lao PDR. Male to female sex ratios were observed to be 65% and 98%, respectively for Xaysettha and Phouvong Districts.
Table 9. Demographic characteristics of Attapeu Province (NSC, 2009) Sex Popula- Area Population No of District Ratio tion (km2) Village Female Male Total (M/F) Density Xaysettha 852 19,324 12,559 31,883 65.0% 37.4 21 Samakkhixay 460 16,102 16,373 32,475 101.7% 70.6 27 Sanamxay 1,809 15,058 14,345 29,403 95.3% 16.2 45 Xanxay 3,682 9,434 9,389 18,823 99.5% 5.1 44 Phouvong 3,517 5,664 5,568 11,232 98.3% 3.2 14 Total 10,320 65,582 58,234 123,816 88.8% 12.0 151
3.4.2 Public Health 92. There is one provincial hospital in Attapeu Province. The hospital is located in Attapeu Town in Samakkhixay District with 70 beds, the and 94 medical doctors, practitioners and nurses are employed in the hospital. 93. In addition to the provincial hospital, Phouvong and Xaysettha Districts also have one district hospital each. There are 36 and 38 medical doctors, practitioners and nurses currently being employed at Phouvong and Xaysettha District hospitals, respectively. 94. The most prevalent diseases, as reported by the Attapeu Provincial Department of Health, are cold, diarrhea, malaria, dysentery, and lung disease. 3.4.3 Education Facilities 95. Literacy rate in Attapeu Province was reported at 64% for population age 15 years old and up. The literacy rate for men and women were reported to be 77 and 52%, respectively. Among the five districts in Attapeu Province, the district with highest literacy rate was Samakkhxay District (79%) while the district with the lowest literacy rate was Phouvong District (45%). Xaysettha District has a literacy rate of approximately 45 to 51% (NSC, 2007). 96. The Ministry of Education reported that there are 39 schools in the province (18 primary and 21 secondary schools). 440 teachers were reported to be employed by the province (62 at the primary and 378 at the secondary levels) (MOE, 2009). 3.4.4 Socioeconomic Conditions 97. The GDP growth in Attapeu Province, as reported by the Attapeu Province Department of Planning and Investment, was -6.11% in 2009. The negative growth was due to the devastation of Typhoon Ketsana that impacted both agricultural and industrial sectors. In 2009, the GDP growth for agriculture sector was -15% while the GDP growth for industry sector was -7%. The growth for service sector was reported to be 9% in 2009.
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3.4.5 Human Settlement in the ROW 98. The transmission line ROW will traverse through two districts within Attapeu Province: Xaysettha and Phouvong Districts. The substation is located in Xaysettha District while the alignment is mainly located within Phouvong District. 99. There is no human settlement in the ROW of the proposed transmission line. However, the transmission line route is expected to disturb land area of five (5) villages, one in Xaysettha District and four in Phouvong District (Table 10). Table 10. Number of Households and People within 700 m of Project Corridor (NSC, 2007) Estimated Distance of Location settlement Along from 70 m Average the TL wide TL Village No. of Person Village Name District (Km) corridor Population HH per HH Ban Hat San Xaysettha 0.0 13.5 km 1298 243 5.3 Ban Etom (Ban Somboun)* Phouvong 18.7 1.1 km Ban Houay Keo (Ban 1217 204 6.0 Somboun)* Phouvong 22.5 100 m Ban Namxoune (include 322 56 5.8 Ban Houay Let) Phouvong 29.1 750 m Ban Phouyang Phouvong 50 700 m 123 21 5.9
3.5 Institutions 100. The Department of Environment (DOE) within EDL handles environmental and social aspects of hydropower projects owned by EDL. In 2007, a capacity assessment of the DOE was carried out and found that it lacked human resources, technical capacity, equipments, and financial resources to effectively carry out its roles and responsibilities. Since the assessment, more personnel were added to the DOE. However, these staff were either transferred from other non-environmental department within EDL or newly graduated with no environmental background and/or experience. Therefore, a project environmental management office was proposed. This unit was proposed to be funded by the Xekhaman 1 Hydropower Project. Currently, this unit has not been established. 101. The Department of Electricity, within which EDL operates, has an Environment and Social Division that oversees environmental and social aspect of the hydropower projects. The Division employs approximately 5 persons. Of the total people employed, three have technical training in environmental audit and monitoring and social aspect of the hydropower project. Additionally, the English skills of these staff are minimal for them to adequately review various international documents on hydropower projects. 102. WREA has two departments (one is referred to as unit) handling the environmental and social aspects of a development projects. The first is the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Unit, responsible for reviewing projects’ safeguard documents. The unit also provides recommendations to WREA on whether environmental certification should be given to a development project. The second unit is the Department of Environmental which is responsible for monitoring environmental and social compliance of a development project. There are numbers of people working for both units. However, majority of these people are newly graduated with no experience.
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103. The Attapeu Provincial Water Resource and Environmental Office (PWREO) is responsible for environmental and social compliance of a development project located in the province. There are approximately 20 people working in Attapeu PWREO. Of these, 6 are employed in the environmental unit which is responsible for implementing environmental monitoring program. A visit to the Attapeu PWREO on 12 October 2010 revealed that the PWREO environmental unit has very limited environmental capacity to effectively implement its roles and responsibilities. In addition, the PWREO also has no monitoring equipment, vehicle and budget to carry out environmental monitoring program. As a consequent, an environmental management unit was proposed in the Xekhaman 1 Hydropower Project complex EMP. This unit was proposed to be funded by the Xekhaman 1 Hydropower Project complex. However, to this day this unit has not been established. Consequently, environmental monitoring of the Xekhaman 1 Hydropower Project complex has not been carried out by the government. 104. To conclude, all environmental institutions responsible for implementation of Lao PDR’s environmental safeguards are under staffed and have very limited technical capacity, or compliance monitoring equipment.
4 Analysis of Alternatives 105. Alternatives to the project were not examined as the operation of the power stations being planned for the Sekong and Xekhaman Rivers required a transmission line and substation to deliver the power to Vietnam and Thailand. Without it the power stations were not feasible. 106. Overhead transmission was the only economically feasible option since subsurface and wireless transmission of such large voltages over long distances was uneconomical and likely impossible. 107. Two alignment options were proposed by EDL, one being based on the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) proposal completed as part of ADB TA 6147-REG in 2005. The second follows the TEPCO alignment along NH 18A until it crosses into the NPA at which point it turns sound and joins option B. The third option is B and for the first 6-8 km travels south until it crosses the Xe Xou River then parallels it to the NPA border, then heads south along the NPA border following the old HCM Trail, until reaching the Cambodian border. At that point it turns north and travels inside the NPA border until the Vietnam TL connection (Map 2). 108. The TEPCO option was eliminated with no further analysis since it crossed directly through the Dong Amphang NPA (See Sect. 5.2.4. and 5.2.5), one of the three most important NPAs in the country and home to 11 globally endangered species. Since the relocation of the SS combined the A and TEPCO alignments for the first 10km, the 1st option was called A-TEPCO.
4.1 Option 1 Alignment 109. The proposed Ban Hatxan (formerly referred to as Ban Sok) Substation is located at KM37 along the new national road 18A. From the proposed substation, alignment option A runs parallel to the new national road 18A in the northeast direction for 10 km, through production forest (8.5 km) and non-designated production forest and agricultural land (1.5 km) where the land progressively rises to a maximum elevation of about 400m before falling to 240m (Map 2). From this point [KM10], the route heads southeast and crosses road 18A about 250m-400m west of the Don Amphan National Protected Area (NPA) border, and runs for about 12km parallel to the NPA border through non-designated production forest (upper-mixed deciduous forest and bamboo) along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This section rises to about 330m elevation before dropping
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down to 180m where it crosses the Xe Xou River (into Phouvong District) [KM18] and then heads south-east for a further 9km before entering GOL designated Protection Forest [KM28]. 110. From this point, Option 1 meets the second section of Option 2 and continues east-south-east for about 23km (Map 2), roughly parallel to and between 100m and 1.8km from, the old route 18A (HCM Trail) and the Dong Amphan NPA Border. For the first 11km of this section, the topography is flat-to-gently undulating between 330 and 400m elevation, before it steadily rises to about 630m. Designated as Protection Forest, land cover in this section of the route comprises degraded secondary mixed-deciduous and bamboo forest and landuse is mostly swidden agricultural permanent rain-fed rice paddies, teak plantations and banana stands. 111. The transmission line crosses a number of streams (including the Nam Xouan and Houay Lay – both tributaries of the Nam Pouang river) around which much of the local communities’ agricultural land is centered. About 1.5km west of the Lao-Viet Nam border, the route then turns and heads north-east just inside the border of the Dong Amphan NPA at around KM51. Ascending to a maximum 900m elevation and running parallel to the Lao border in a NE direction the 9.5 km section crosses NH18A into Sanxay District, and then runs a further 1.5km to the Vietnam border [KM59].
4.2 Option 2 Alignment 112. From the Ban Hatxan Substation at KM37, this alignment crosses south across the NH 18A, and immediately follows the old he Ho Chi Minh Trail road. The route runs parallel to the HCM-Trail, an unsealed track, for about 7.0 km, through non-designated production forest, and then crosses the Xe Xou River into Phouvong District [KM7]. The route continues due east for 3km, after which it heads north-east for a further 6.5km parallel to the HCM Trail-Road and the Xe Xou river over undulating topography (between 200 and 390m elevation) through mixture of degraded and primary deciduous forest, before crossing the HCM-Trail Road [KM15] and heading south-east (about 1km west of the Don Amphan NPA) where [at KM16] the transmission line continues east- south-east for about 23km (this is the joint options 1-2 alignment segment), roughly parallel to and between 100m and 1.8km from, the old route 18B-Dong Amphan NPA Border. 113. For the first 11km of this section, the topography is flat-to-gently undulating, between 330 and 400m elevation, before it steadily rises to about 630m. Designated as Protection Forest, land cover in this section of the route is degraded secondary mixed- deciduous and bamboo forest, and landuse is swidden agriculture, permanent rain-fed rice paddies, teak plantations and banana stands. The transmission line crosses a number of streams (including the Nam Xouan and Houay Lay – both tributaries of the Nam Pouang River) around which much of the local communities’ agricultural land is centered. About 1.5km west of the Lao-Viet Nam border, the alignment turns north-east and crosses into the Dong Amphan NPA [KM51] for about 9.5 km. It rises to a maximum of 900m elevation and runs parallel to the Lao border for about 9.5km. The alignment then crosses the new 18B road into Sanxay District, and then for a further 1.5km, ending at the Vietnam [KM59] border.
4.3 Comparison of proposed routes
Table 11. Comparison of Three Transmission Line Options Factor/Alignment Options TEPCO 1 2 Total length (km) 53.97 67.2 59 Km in protection Forest traversed - 23.7 23.7 24 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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Km through Dong Amphan NPA 43.97 9.08 9.08 No. known stream crossings (estimated) 2 5 3 Total No of Towers ( towers every 400-500,--use 450m) 120 138 131 Total APs ------Agric /Plantation Land lost ( Ha) ------Total No. HH relocated 0 0 0 Total Cost ------= data pending 114. Based on this analysis, alignment Option 2 is the preferred option (Table 11). The predominant reason for selection option 2 is that it minimally encroaches into the NPA and is slightly less expensive than option 1 as it has fewer tower installations.
5 Screening of Potential Impacts and Mitigative Measures 115. While reference to all three proposed alignment options is made throughout the IEE, the focus from Section 5 onward is the preferred option No. 2. Potential Impacts were grouped into the periods of the project cycle when they are most likely to occur, i.e. the pre-construction, construction and operating periods, and are discussed in the following three subsections.
5.1 Preconstruction Period 116. During this period most of the impacts can be avoided through careful planning and environmentally friendly design considerations. The four impacts8 identified in this IEE are discussed in Sections 5.1.1 through 5.1.3. 5.1.1 Concession Agreement Documents Do not Contain Environmental Safeguard Specifications as Defined in EMP of IEE I. No administrative Support for Implementing EMP Tasks 117. Environmental Assessments, environmental clauses, compliance monitoring and enforcement depend in large measure on how strongly senior agency officials support enforcement of environmental safeguards. These agencies include primarily the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Min. of Foreign Affairs, WREA and the Governor’s Office. The prospects of rapid economic gains, fuelled by lucrative development deals from neighbouring countries, make supporting environmental protection, which may slow down the pace of the economic returns, difficult to support. To build environmental awareness, EDL’s Environment Department proposes to conduct as part of the 3-day training workshop described in Para. 129, a ½ day awareness raising seminar to show the economic benefit cost relationship of good versus bad environmental stewardship. Excellent examples exist in Lao PDR and such agencies as the Mekong River Commission (MRC) may be invited to participate. II. IEE and EMP not Distributed or Translated into Lao Language 118. Field audits conducted by the consultant in many countries and on many projects reveal time and again that EIA documents are not distributed and often not even translated from English to the local language. This is true in Lao PDR. Without EAs, EMPs in hand local officials and contractors cannot implement needed mitigative measure and a project proceeds without any environmental safeguards, despite having an approved environmental assessment document.
8 Strictly speaking Preconstruction ‘impacts’ are actually a set of in-actions that trigger impacts during the construction and operating periods, but a essential to address as part of the EMP. 25 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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119. To avoid this problem, EDL will ensure that the approved IEE and its EMP will be translated into Lao and that these documents plus the originals in English will be provided in both hard (13-14 sets) and soft copies (4 CDs) to the following agencies: • WREA , Vientiane; 3 hard copy sets and one CD with English and Lao • EDL, Vientiane all originals • EDL Attapeu : 3 hard copy sets and one CD with English and Lao • WREA Attapeu : 3 hard copy sets and one CD with English andLao • Xaisettha District Office: one hard copy set Lao Language • Phouvong District Office: one hard copy set Lao Language • Xanxay District Office: one hard copy set Lao language • Lao PDR Contractor: one hard copy in Lao and one complete CD set. 120. Delivery of these documents will be followed up by a member of EDL-Attapeu visiting the recipients to ensure that material was received and that any additional comments would be welcome. 5.1.2 Vegetation and Soil Erosion Allowed to Proceed 121. For this project, tightly controlling the work area boundaries will be key to keeping unnecessary removal and clearing to a minimum. To address this EDL will specify in the contract specifications that an area no larger than 80m x 80m can be cleared and used for tower construction. Tracks created for bringing in the tower components will also remain tracks, just wide enough to accommodate the machinery used to erect the towers and to maintain them. 122. Contract specifications will also include a set of steps the contractor must follow to rehabilitate each tower construction site. These will be : i. Where possible, all construction site preparation works will be scheduled during the dry season (low rainfall). ii. When opening the site, be sure to remove topsoil first and store for reuse. iii. Keep all work within an 80m radius circle around each tower. This boundary will be clearly marked prior to site preparation works. Sensitive habitats and important NTFP areas close to construction areas will be identified and designated as ‘no go’ areas. iv. At each site all garbage brought in must be taken out and disposed of properly, that includes waste plastic bags, tin cans, plastic bottles, paper, etc. v. Remove all waste and left over construction materials such as metal, rock and level any soil mounds around the tower, and fill any depressions water could pool and stagnate. vi. Replace the topsoil, permitting the natural revegetation process to proceed. vii. Make sure that any access tracks are stable, namely that with rain erosion will be minimized. This will be done by ensuring that drainage control structures are installed at suitable locations, laterite is compacted and that aggregate is placed on erosion prone slopes and that bioengineering techniques such as shrub planting and brush layering and palisades in steep sloped areas (Howell, John, 1999, Roadside Bioengineering; Reference Book and Site Manual9).
9 Howell, John. 1999. Roadside Bioengineering Site Manual and Reference Manual. Published by Government of Nepal and UK Dept. of International Development (DFID), available from : http://nzdl.sadl.uleth.ca/cgi- 26 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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5.1.3 Loss of Old Growth Forest Patches and Biodiversity 123. Given the large scale clearing going on in Attapeu, removal of additional old growth forest for the TL needs to be carefully examined to establish if there are important biodiverse forest patches in the path of the TL. Therefore, the survey team locating the TL towers will be required to include a qualified biodiversity specialist who will identify any large or old growth forest patches in the way of the TL. These data will then be evaluated by EDL, WREA and Forest Department, to identify if a biodiversity survey is warranted and if TL diversions are needed. 5.1.4 Construction Compliance Monitoring and Inspection Not Applied 124. While the EMP and the environmental covenants can be very clear and specific, if there is no one knowledgeable to undertake compliance monitoring, inspection and regular reporting, little of the EMP will be implemented or completed. This is based on very solid past project experience. Neither EDL-Attapeu, PWREO or the contractors have the skills in environmental compliance inspection/monitoring and reporting, or the necessary resources to implement such monitoring. 125. During the field visit, the consultant observed that for the other major projects such as the Xekhaman 1, the EIA for a 490MW power station, no copies of the EIA documentation were available, despite the fact that the project was >20% into the construction period. 126. To avoid this situation EDL will ensure that the IEE and its EMP are translated into Lao language and made available as both hard and soft copies to the Attapeu PWREO and EDL offices and to the successful contractor. EDL-Vientiane will require that all those receiving the documents confirm receipt and understand the material. 127. Given that the province has no monitoring equipment, the following materials will be provided as part of the ADB loan to Attapeu WREA for use in the monitoring of this project: • 4WD crew-cab truck for use during compliance monitoring activities • Portable noise meter • Portable water quality testing kit • Templates for environmental monitoring reports and data tables • Digital camera with GPS (Samsung WB 650 or similar) • High speed internet subscription for monitoring unit of office via a portable 3-G modem. • Two µT or Gauss meters e.g., TECPEL Gauss Meter EMF-701 • Boat and motor ( aluminum 3.5m) for working and collecting samples 128. These items will be purchase prior to the award of contract for the work 129. With the assistance of WREA, EDL will organize a 3-day workshop for Attapeu- PWREO, EDL, any interested district representatives and the successful contractor, focusing on:
• Understanding and applying Environmental Management Plans; • Design and Implementation of Compliance Monitoring: • Compliance monitoring methods., using the equipment provided • Compliance monitoring information analysis and reporting • Enforcement of environmental safeguards bin/library?e=d-00000-00---off-0cdl--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00- 0-0-11-1-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&cl=CL4.41&d=HASH0159039aacbc99c7a28d3f11.fc and another manual http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/fulltext/Roadside/SoilBioEng.pdf 27 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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130. The workshop will be intended for not just technical staff but managers and administrators (at least for the first day). Costs for this workshop were estimated and are identified in Section 8.4 of this IEE and will be provided from the loan and Lao PDR’s national treasury. 131. By taking these four important mitigative actions, the EMP should be credibly implemented and impacts will be avoided/prevented instead of repaired. 5.1.5 Bird-TL Interactions 132. Historically, bird and power line interactions are of three types a) electrocution when the bird shorts out a conductor and b) when birds, particularly large, migrating birds, collide with conductors at night since bird navigation, highly dependent on magnetic fields, is disrupted by high voltage transmission lines. 133. Based on the consultants extensive database on this issue going back 30 years, bird electrocution is rare for high voltage lines since the corona effect is strong and will frighten off almost all birds attempting to land on a conductor or insulator. Birds will land on the towers but this with no negative side effects. Bird-TL mortality is very difficult to quantify since any dead birds fall to the ground and are often eaten by predators within hours of being killed or wounded. Past estimates in Europe and NA put bird electrocution in the 10s of thousands per year, but mostly for TLs were voltage is less than 115kV. Without 24h/day a day monitoring it is impossible to establish accurate mortality figures. 134. The project area, particularly the NPA is home to a number of large migrating birds such as the giant ibis, black ibis, sarus crane and several large vultures and their travel routes would take them across the TL, leading to possible bird-TL collisions, especially at night (although none of these species are known to fly at night). 135. The TL and in fact all TLs in Sekong, Attapeu and Champasak cut across the East Asian-Australasian flyway used by long range migrants, certainly boreal migrants which nest in Siberia such as the Sarus Crane, and overwinter in the Mekong basin and wetlands, including some of the area of Dong Amphan. These species could be involved in collisions with conductors. 136. A 4 week bird movement and migration survey focusing on the large birds such as ibis, cranes and vultures (most sensitive to bird-TL mortality) plus other rare and endangered migrating species, will be conducted to determine which species migrate across the TL, when and where10. Based on these data (if necessary) a mitigation action plan will be implemented, consisting of possibly installing beacons to warn birds of approaching wires, etc. (a procedure successfully used in France for many years). The work will include two components, a literature review to establish the state of knowledge and the latest preventative measures applied and secondly Indigenous knowledge surveys of local communities to identify flyway locations, key species and migration patterns. No action will be taken until the first analysis reveals if there is an issue. 5.1.6 Loss of Biodiversity 137. Based on the joint recommendations of WREA and Forest Department specialists, a rapid biodiversity survey of the significant forest patches (if there are any) in the way of the TL, and selected from the ones identified by a qualified biodiversity specialist included in the TL tower survey team, will be commissioned by EDL. Based on the results, TL diversions around these areas may be needed.
10 Given the 1000s of km of TL being proposed for Saravan, Sekong, Attapeu and Champasak provinces by 2015, this study should have broad value for EDL and Lao PDR 28 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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5.2 Construction Period: Potential Environmental Effects and Mitigative Measures 138. Identified construction period Impacts focus on soil erosion, water quality, air quality, noise and health effects. 5.2.1 Soil Erosion and Stream Degradation 139. Most of the soil along the TL alignment is thin topsoil over a laterite clayey subsoil, which when vegetation removal occurs is easily eroded and when dried without compaction can create very dusty conditions. Erosion will be possible at the access tracks to the towers and at the foundation construction sites, which will require backhoes and a crane to erect each tower. 140. Unless carefully monitored contractors could decide to skip proper surface draining repair and management during construction, leading to potentially chronic but small-scale erosion along the access tracks to the towers and at the tower foundation construction site. To prevent such erosion the contractor(s) will be required to: • Where possible, schedule construction activities during the dry season (low rainfall). • Minimise the area of land cleared for Project construction work, and retain vegetation in riparian and other suitable locations to maximise filtration of sediment from turbid runoff, during and post construction • Install erosion and sediment control structures such as silt fences and sediment ponds at suitable locations to filter or collect eroded sediments from turbid runoff, where necessary • make each tower access erosion-proof by compacting the laterite and placing gravel or similar material along the tracks and • Progressively revegetate disturbed land surfaces at the Project site as soon as practicable, to facilitate long term stabilization, particularly areas that were temporarily cleared to erect the towers. • Construction compliance monitors will be required to inspect each tower as it is completed and report on the rehabilitation carried out. 141. The TL passes through and area with many stream and small rivers. Aggregate for the concrete foundations for the TL towers must come from approved sources and none can be mined from nearby streams or floodplains. The contractor caught mining streams will be fined the equivalent of having the same amount of material trucked into the tower site and the area degraded rehabilitated.
5.2.2 Water Quality and Public Health Degradation I. Sewage and Garbage 142. Failure by contractors to adhere to good housekeeping practices as defined in the contract Terms and Conditions and Contract Specifications and a lack of enforcement by the Attapeu WREA inspectors will lead to longer term contamination at construction camp sites all along the ROW, leaving behind a generally unattractive corridor of impact, with dissatisfied, sceptical and disappointed local people. The WREA inspectors will be expected to ‘undertake regular environmental compliance monitoring, using the EMP as their guide11. A monitoring checklist will be prepared as part of each monitoring cycle and a monitoring report will be submitted to EDL’s PMU at the end of
11 For sewage pit privies at worksites are suggested ; biodegradable trash can be buried , and all plastics and non-biodegradable materials disposed of at an approved landfill site. 29 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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the construction period. Sewage and garbage must be properly disposed of and any such materials found in water courses will lead to an immediate fine of no less than Kip 1.6 million and double that amount for each additional day that such materials appear in the water course near the work areas. Packaging waste will be recycled or disposed of in the local landfill. II. Oil and Heavy Metal Contamination 143. Contractors have a habit of driving their vehicles into any open stream and proceeding to wash them with complete disregard to the pollutants entering the water such as waste oil and grease, hydraulic and brake fluid and heavy metal dust from brake linings, etc. EDL will inform Attapeau WREA that washing vehicles in streams is to be strictly forbidden, will specify this in the contract specifications and monitors will be required to report such violations to the EDL project engineer when it occurs. 144. Secondly waste oil products must be accounted for and disposed of through a legitimate recycling firm. The contractor will be required to prove that a waste oil contract or letter of agreement was signed and the waste oils were picked up and recycled. Proof required will be copies of official receipts submitted to the PMU monthly. Volumes of these wastes on site will usually not exceed 500L and not more than 1000L at the contractor’s staging yard. 145. Further requirements will be to: • store liquid hydrocarbons (fuels, oils and lubricants) in leak-proof containers within suitably designed bunded areas. • store absorbent material in hydrocarbon storage areas. • conduct regular maintenance of vehicles and equipment to prevent hydrocarbon leaks. • conduct vehicle / equipment maintenance in designated areas where contaminated runoff can be contained; and,. • park vehicles and equipment on sealed surfaces or with drip pans such that contaminated runoff can be contained when possible.
5.2.3 Insect Born Diseases Outbreaks 146. Construction sites in the tropics, where malaria and yellow fever occurs, can become sources of outbreaks by providing stagnant water areas, either as depressions at the constructions site or via used construction equipment or materials such as old tires, which collect water after a rain. One discarded tire collecting rainwater is enough to cause a serious malaria outbreak within 7 days. To prevent this the contractor’s worksite chief will be required to inspect every site ,as part of the completion checklist to make sure that no areas where water can pool is left behind and that all waste construction materials such as tires are removed from the site as construction takes place. 5.2.4 Terrestrial Habitat Loss 147. The clearing of an 80-80m rectangle around each tower, is of little consequence in the first 15.0km of the TL corridor, but as the TL alignment crosses the Xe Xou River and along the old Ho Chi Minh Trail, large trees and patches of tropical lowland jungle will be removed and any large trees within and bordering the 70m-wide corridor will also have to be removed.. These removals will create a new ecotone located between open areas and tropical forest. This is also not expected to be overly serious since the area outside and extending 200m into the Dong Amphan NPA has been significantly logged and much of the growth, aside from small patches of large old growth trees is second growth. The alignment 2, just before and after it crosses the Xe Xou River, appears to 30 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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have the highest density of first growth trees, which may be impacted. Beyond that areas along the Xe Xou River are a number of small tribal farming communities, mostly subsistence rice and livestock farmers. At the point where Alignment 1 meets the Dong Amphan NPA and then travelling South along the NPA border, 4-5 small communities have been established, mostly resettled people, who have utilized the boundary area of the NPA, logged it cleared it and planted food crops for their families. There are sections along NH18A, between km 37-47 where additional numbers of large trees will need to be cleared. The 28km section for option 2, which turns south at the Xe Xou River, has resettled communities living along a newly widened unsealed, dusty road. The location for the TL would be on the SW side of the road—opposite the NPA border, on a bench, already cleared of most large trees. 148. To try and minimize this impact, the team surveying the towers will, while surveying in the towers, be required to mark any large primary growth forest patches on the survey maps and indicate any that will be within the 70m-wide corridor. These patches will then be investigated via a biodiversity inventory (recommended as a special technical study) following this IEE. EDL will consult with Ministry of Agriculture and WREA officials to determine the significance of these, if the TL needs to be realigned to protect these patches ( if these prove to be significant).
5.2.5 Degradation of Dong Amphan National Protected Area 149. The TEPCO TL option would pass directly through the southern part of the NPA, paralleling NH 18A, creating an approximately 150m wide (Map 2) open/disturbed corridor. This would present effective barrier for some species like the gibbon and even mammals.. Coupled with a two-year construction period in the heart of the NPA and the barrier effect, the TEPCO option was eliminated from further consideration. 150. The work associated with Option 1 and 2 will impact the NPA for the last 9.2 km of the TL. For the rest of the distance it will not encroach into the NPA, but will be close enough that a protocol for construction workers needs to be defined. While the first 300-400 m of land inside the NPA boundary has been badly degraded by illegal occupation and farming, noise and construction activity will result in low level impacts. However, construction workers entering the NPA to harvest wildlife, edible wild plants, fish and aquatic insects for food and for sale could become a real problem, particularly in the more remote areas near the Xe Xou River and its tributaries. 151. At the start of construction, workers will be warned that when near the Dong Amphan NPA, which will be around km 47 of option 1 and for 2 starting at Ban Somboune of the TL (Map 2), or when working on the last 9.2 km of the TL, entrance into the NPA away from the construction areas will be strictly forbidden and a zero tolerance policy will be in place; namely one illegal entry and the employee will terminated. The contractor will also be fined the equivalent of that persons weekly wage, due to non-performance. • No materials such as wood and aggregate can be removed from within the NPA boundary or used during the construction in the NPA, unless it is material that must be removed anyway. • Maintain forest cover as close as possible to the edge of the Project components. • Progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas. Only use local, non-invasive plant species in revegetation work. • Carefully monitor land clearance activities throughout the construction phase to ensure that vegetation is not cleared beyond pre-defined project boundaries.
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• Ensure that ground vegetation and shrubs are not disturbed in the ROW below the required clearance height. • Ensure appropriate design of infrastructure to minimise erosion and potential disturbance to drainage lines • Prohibit staff and contractors from fishing, hunting and trading wild animals. • Prohibit the collection of firewood and other forest products. 152. Consultation with the MAF will be required to discuss potential impacts on the NPA and proposed management measures to ensure that there is agreement. Given the potentially significant impacts on the NPA, additional management measures may be proposed such as providing signage indicating the NPA boundaries in the vicinity of the TL or conducting biodiversity education in local villages. 5.2.6 Noise Pollution 153. Noise will be an overall minor construction period impact, since most of the work will be in uninhabited or very sparsely populated terrain, with any known habitation more than 500m from the edge of the RoW. To minimise noise emissions, work will only take place between 0800 and 1700. 5.2.7 Air Pollution 154. Construction period air pollution will be dust and emissions from operating machinery. This however will be a very minor impact. 155. Despite the work taking place in areas devoid of settlements, controls on vehicle idling and equipment maintenance will be imposed through construction inspection and regular reporting by PWREO monitors. Equipment and vehicles will be shut off if not in use more than 3 minutes and all will be maintained according to manufacturers’ specifications. Dust will be carefully and continuously managed. Dust control will be particularly stringent along any unpaved roads used to access the transmission tower sites and passing within 50 m of a settlement. Any such road through a settlement area will be watered according to a written schedule agreed to between the contractor and the Project Management Unit (PMU). 156. Nuisance dust will also be minimised through disturbing only the minimum area necessary and conducting progressive rehabilitation. Ground vegetation, such as grasses and shrubs, will also be left undisturbed under the line within the ROW below the required clearance height.
5.3 Operating Period: Potential Effects and Mitigative Actions 157. Operating the TL involves little human activity but the high voltage passing through the conductors has a number of effects that need to be defined and mitigated. 5.3.1 Noise and Electrical Charge from Conductors and Insulators (Corona Effect) 158. When under and near high voltage power lines ( 400-500 kVA) one often hears a hissing or popping sound and there is a smell of ozone (as after a strong rain when there has been lightning). This can be quite loud and there is the potential for nuisance impacts on both people and animals by this phenomenon. It is not directly harmful to health, but long term exposure must be avoided. It can also be felt as a static electricity effect; a tingling on the skin or static electricity in the clothes. 159. Given that this TL runs through wet, warm tropical climatic conditions and that at their lowest point, conductors will be just 10m from the ground, the corona effect will be pronounced and disconcerting for most. The corona effect can emit a steady noise
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measured as high as 50dBA, exceeding permissible levels for rural residential night time. 160. For that reason a 100m human use exclusion boundary will be recommended for either side of the outside conductor, and will be posted by EDL Attapeu and the District officials through warning signs and information along the alignment. Warning signs will be placed on the towers and midway between each tower along the corridor warning of the electrical discharge, crackling and hissing and danger-stay away signs (See Sect. 5.3.2). 161. To address this impact, a portable noise meter will be purchase and used by EDL-Attapeu to monitor noise levels at varying distances from the TL tower centerline. A survey design is suggested in Task 3.2 of the EMoT. 5.3.2 Health Effects Related to Electric Field and Magnetic Field Emissions 162. Beginning in the 1970s and continuing into today the debate continues over the potential health dangers of electric and magnetic fields created by high voltage transmission lines. The two measurements that are usually referred to are the electric field effect, measured as kV/m and the magnetic field effect, measured as micro Teslas or (µT). Most recent publications refer to these two as the electromagnetic field effect (EMF). In the face of overwhelming evidence (Henshaw, 2010, Calif. Dept. of Health Science, 2002; EU SCENIHR Report, 2009; A. Huss et al. 2008; NIEHS(US), 2007, and O’Carrol and Henshaw, 1999) suggesting otherwise, power companies continue to use the 100µT as the limit for human and animal exposure. This limit dates back to pre 1998 and is considered inadequate in the literature and by the consultant. The studies referenced and others provide adequate proof that levels of 1.0 µT can double or triple the risk of such disease as childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer and Alzheimer’s. 163. EDF data on EMF under 400kVA power lines suggest that at 30m distance from the axis (the centerline of the Tower) µT levels average 12 µT ,and at 100m it is 2 µT; measurements taken at 1m above the ground. 164. For this TL the outer conductors will be 19m apart, except for 3-4 ‘transposition’ towers where the outer conductors will be 38m apart.. 165. Ehtaiba et al (2008) completed a comprehensive study to establish EMF levels at varying distance from the TL axis for a new 400kV line in Lybia. They produced a number of informative diagrams (Figure 2), based on modelling and field measurements, that indicated that for a double circuit 400kVA line measured at 1 m above ground and with a line current at 1000 amps, the uT levels at 30m from the TL axis (and about 23m from the outside conductor of the TL) would likely be between 3-6.5 µT, more or less in line with EDF’s data. 166. Increasing the measurement height to 1.5 m and the voltage to 500kVA, and the distance between outside conductors to 20m the µT levels are estimated to be 24 µT at 30m and 4 µT at 100m from TL axis.
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Figure 2. Estimated EMF levels at varying distances and height from the outside conductor of a 400kV transmission line ( copied from .M. Ehtaiba et al. 2008). 167. IN 2009 the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in California reviewed the seven major reports on EMF. Six of the seven indicated that exposure of > 0.4 µT from high voltage power lines was dangerous to health, particularly children. 168. Using the date compiled by Henshaw (2008), including knowledge that Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and Tasmania Australia have moved to increase the distance of high voltage lines from settlement and are enforcing a no- agriculture zone as well as the EPRI review, the following limits will be set for this 500kV TL: • Minimum recommended distance from the outer conductor to any human use of the corridor will be 50 m or a total of 75-80 m on either side of the Tower axis; • Livestock operation, including cattle and poultry will be recommended outside the 75m distance from the outside conductor • No crop-based agriculture activity will be recommended within the 30m boundary from the outer conductors; and, • These limits and restrictions will be posted on signs on each tower and one between each tower along the alignment and in District Offices conductors where the line is crossing a road or river. 169. EDL will conduct regular (every two months) surveys, measuring uT levels at 30m, 50m 75m and 100m at 1 and 2m above ground at sites within 400m of settlements and inside the closest residences to the outer conductor and any area used for agriculture. Reading will be used to adjust the boundaries as needed. Two sets of meters such as the Tecpel EMF Tester (Gauss Meter)-Product ID: EMF-701A [http://www.allproducts.com/ee/tecpel/Product-20041123145642.html ] will be purchased for that survey. The measurement results will be posted at District Offices and the survey results will be communicated directly to local residents so that they are aware and can make an informed decision.
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5.3.3 Spill Of Hazardous And Toxic Material 170. There are no hazardous materials used for maintenance of the towers and conductors. 171. The SS however does have batteries and cooling oil which must be filled into the large step-up and step-down transformers used to vary the voltage being sent to various customers. This oil is highly refined mineral oil or vegetable oil, with a fire retardant added. The retardants used to be PCBs and are now mostly fluorocarbons, which do not contain dioxins or PCBs. However, due to the chemical reactions in the transformer and the heating and cooling the oil becomes contaminated and needs replacement and reprocessing. The used oil is toxic, containing heavy metals and other materials from the transformer windings and must be treated as a toxic substance. Large transformers must be serviced every six months to two years. EDL operators will be required to follow strict international practices as defined in the operating guidelines for transformer maintenance, provided as part of this project. EDL will ensure that these guidelines are fully understood by SS operators. 172. As a precaution, EDL will require that all transformer coolant oil received at the Ban Hatxan SS be certified in writing as dioxin and PCB free. EDL will require that any coolant oil received will include chemical composition data, as with any hazardous material. Volumes shipped and stored will be relatively small. Used oil will be assumed to be toxic and disposed/reprocessed according to international best practice, and a shipping record logs kept up to date. 5.3.4 Continuous Habitat Disruption in the TL Corridor 173. The towers, conductors, access tracks and the area underneath the TL , i.e. the 70m wide operating corridor will be disturbed on a regular based, likely every 6 months and every time vegetation reaches >3m in height , when it will need trimming but wil be left on site. Therefore, the area will remain chronically disturbed. Since the ground cover will not be disturbed, unless a tower foundation must be replaced, this impact will be insignificant. In fact this action will likely attract bird, mammal and herptiles species that thrive in ecotones. 174. When working close to the NPA repair crews will be made fully aware of the proximity of the NPA and the no-entry rule (as specified in Section 5.2.5.).
5.4 Social Assessment These data are still pending-
6 Public Consultation and Information Disclosure
7 Grievance Redress Mechanism 175. ADB requires that EDL establish and maintain a grievance redress mechanism to receive, facilitate and resolve grievances of affected people concerning the delivery of environmental safeguards at the project level, as defined in the assessment documents (primarily the EMP). The grievance redress mechanism has been scaled to the risks and impacts of the project (Figure 3). 176. During consultations held as part of this IEE, EDL consultants explained the grievance redress process to the village, district and provincial participants. A well, EDL will post the procedures and relevant telephone numbers in the three district offices and in Attapeu Town.
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177. After the completion of the IEE and prior to the start of the construction, EDL will establish a Grievance Redress committee, comprising one representative from each District and one from the provincial government, preferably from the Governor’s Office, making for minimum 4 member Grievance Committee (Figure 3). At least two members will be women. The committee will be chaired by the provincial representative. If a resident sees a problem and identifies it as a non-compliant of suspicious activity he/she can lodge a complaint with the Village Committee member. In most cases issues can be resolved by mediation and discussion at this level. The committee must evaluate the complaint within 7 days and reply in writing or via a meeting with the complainant. If there is no reply the Complainant’ s grievance is deemed accepted and action must be taken within 14 days. If the committee challenges the grievance , it can be submitted directly to WREA-Attapeu (either by the Complainant or by the Village Committee on their behalf) who will have a further 14 days to respond. If there is no satisfaction and there is a further challange the complainant must notify WREA-Vientiane for action and resolution of the issue, within another 14 days. After that period, if there is no response or a favourable resolution, the complainant must be granted the actions and the GC chair must notify the complainant that compensation will be provided by a specific date. 178. If the grievance can still not be resolved, or the Complainant is not yet satisfied with the findings, the fourth and final step is that the claimant has the right to present the case at national Court. Access to the courts is obviously a last resort. 179. Complainant are not liable for the costs of taking their complaints to the level of WREA-Vientiane in cases where a complaint cannot be resolved at the lower levels as described above. However, if the Complainant chooses to take a complaint further, i.e. they are not satisfied with the result or finding and pursue the matter either to Provincial or National Court; they will be liable for the costs associated with those hearings. 180.
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Figure 3. Grievance Redress Process Related to Environmental and Social Safeguards
8 Environmental Management Plan: Mitigation and Monitoring 181. In the EMP EDL has identified the mitigation and compliance monitoring requirements, including specifying how, when, where and by whom, the mitigation and monitoring is to be carried out (Annex A, Table 1-2) during the three key phases of the project (the preconstruction or planning and design period, the construction period and the operating period). They will be implemented by construction contractors, EDL or its consultant and are presented in detail in the EMP’s mitigation (EMiT) and monitoring ( EMoT) table. Both tables are self explanatory and have been prepared such that they can be used as environmental clauses in the contract documentation and as monitoring checklists. They are fully cross referenced to each other and with the IEE report. The EMP’s implementation will be monitoring by the Attapeu WREA and EDL’s Project Management Unit (PMU). 182. An important overarching mitigative action is the need for the completion of three technical surveys i) a biodiversity survey of the patches of old growth forest to be cleared as a result of the TL construction and ii) a bird-TL mortality literature review and mitigation action proposal (if needed). These two surveys should be completed prior to the start of construction. 183. A third survey is to be conducted during the operating period when the corona discharge noise and EMF measurements are to be taken. These data will be used to 37 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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assess the recommended habitation exclusion corridor and make adjustments based on these readings. 184. The overall responsibility for both mitigation and monitoring will be EDL, ensuring that mitigative and monitoring measures will be implemented, and that pre construction and construction period EMP completion checklists will be prepared.
8.1 Pre Construction Period 8.1.1 Mitigation 185. The EMiT (Annex Table A-1) lists seven mitigative actions for the pre- construction period. The first three do not exactly address impacts but rather possible failure of EDL to translate, distribute and use the IEE’s EMP fully, making sure that the information is read and incorporated into contract specifications, etc. These in effect are preventative measures. 186. The fifth mitigative measure is in direct response to requests from Attapeu PWREO and EDL concerning the need for more technical capacity and monitoring equipment to undertake compliance monitoring. EDL will organize a training workshop in Attapeu focusing on: • Understanding and applying Environmental Management Plans; • Design and Implementation of Compliance Monitoring: • Compliance monitoring methods., using the equipment provided • Compliance monitoring information analysis and reporting • Enforcement of environmental safeguards 187. The workshop will be developed not just for technical staff but managers and administrators (at least for the half day), with a focus on the economic cost benefit of the application of environmental safeguards for power projects. 188. Prior to the workshop the basic monitoring equipment listed in the EMiT (ANNEX A) will be purchased and stored in Attapeu EDL office, then used during the workshop. 189. The 6th measure will attempt to assemble more credible information on the bird- high voltage TL mortality issue, to prepare a short literature review, make any relevant recommendations, initiating a discussion between EDL and WREA in an future mitigative action(s). 190. The last measure is a biodiversity survey of old growth forest patches to establish if they are significant enough to warrant TL diversion; to be based on the data coming from Task 1.2 8.1.2 Monitoring 191. Each mitigative action has a matching monitoring task defined in the EMoT. The first four mitigative actions will require submission by EDL of documented evidence that the actions defined were implemented. These reports and notes will be made available for future inspection by WREA and/or ADB. 192. The bird-TL survey will require the production of the report defining if and to what level a effect is likely. If there are likely effects a monitoring plan will be include in the survey report. It will be implemented. 193. Results of Task 1.2 (as defined in the EMiT) will be the basis of whether Task 1.5 is implemented and rapid biodiversity survey, costed in Table 12, is to be undertaken.
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8.2 Construction Period 8.2.1 Mitigation 194. The eight construction period mitigative measures concentrate on making sure that the contractor follows good housekeeping procedures and is fully aware of the restrictions regarding working in and near an NPA and about sourcing of materials, e.g. no aggregate mining in nearby stream and rivers, such as the Xe Xou River. 195. There is some concern that old growth forest patches containing significant biodiversity could be lost as part of the clearing work and therefore one mitigative measure will be for the team surveying the TL to identify any old growth forest patches encountered, map them and submit this to EDL for discussion with WREA and the Forest Department. A biodiversity survey may be conducted if the patches are significant and the parties agree to such a survey. 196. Given that for the preferred option No. 2, 9 km of TL will pass just inside the border of the Dong Amphan NPA at the Lao-Vietnam border, a simple protocol of no harvesting of any living or dead matter in the NPA will be enforced by the contractor. Fines will be handed out to the contractor for any non compliance and contractors will be instructed to terminate any workers found violating these rules12. 197. While the workforce will be small, there will be ample opportunity for sewage and garbage pollution. The contractor will be required to define waste management procedures acceptable to WREA for all sewage and garbage generated by the project. 198. The contractor will also have to comply with strict rules regarding the management of waste oils, lubricants and the handling and storage of fuel—as defined by Lao PDR law. Other than the contractors main staging area, less than 1000L of fuel and oil will be stored anywhere along the corridor, 199. While surveyors are identifying the exact locations of the towers, the location of any old growth forest patches in and directly beside the TL RoW must be identified on a map and these data transferred to EDL on a monthly basis. 8.2.2 Monitoring 200. Each mitigative action will require a monitoring task and provision of regular monitoring reports or checklists verifying that the mitigative actions have been implements in a technically credible manner. 201. The work will be performed by WREA or EDL monitors using the equipment and training provided at the workshop. 202. Construction period monitoring will involve regular site visits and the preparation of completion checklists for each tower construction site to be sure that rehabilitation has taken place and no areas were water can pond and act as a mosquito breeding area is left behind. The contractor will also be expected to submit any forest patch information and monitor will undertake a bi annual spot check to insure that the contractor actually undertook the work.
12 This may be tempered if the mining concession in the center of the NPA is used and exploration in the NPA begins. 39 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
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8.3 Operating Period 8.3.1 Mitigation and Monitoring 203. Four mitigation and monitoring actions are defined in the EMP. Operating period mitigation focuses on obtaining proper reporting on the mitigative actions taken during the construction period, such that any follow on actions are easily implemented. 204. The operation of the substation also involves the handling of transformer cooling oils, changing these oils from every 6 months to 2 years and sending them for disposal and/or reprocessing. The used cooling oil is considered a hazardous material and needs to be handled according the hazardous materials best practices. WREA monitoring will be invited to inspect the SS to obtain the documentation certifying that the cooling oil is of free of PCBs and that used oil has been properly managed. Such inspections will be undertaken 2X/year. 205. Two surveys are proposed, one to address the corona effect and noise issue and a second survey the measure EMF levels at varying horizontal distances from the conductors. To complete this work , EDL will purchase a portable noise meter as well as two Gauss meters capable of measuring µT to the 0.1 µT level. A survey design has been presented in the EMP’s EMiT and EMoT tables, under task numbers 3.2 and 3.3. 206. The monitoring results will be used to re-evaluate the recommended exclusion corridor boundary and post new suggested limits and provide new data for villages in the area.
8.4 Mitigation and Monitoring Costs 207. Costs have been allocated into preconstruction, construction and operating periods of the project (Table 12). Each period also has estimate expenses added. Also the preconstruction period is limited to 12 months, the construction period to two years and the operating period mitigation and monitoring time limited to three years. Land compensation costs have not been included at this stage. 208. Prior the start of construction, EDL intends to hold a training workshop in Attapeu on mitigation and monitoring safeguards methods, implementation, reporting and enforcement. In addition technical surveys on bird-TL interactions and electromagnetic field (EMF) impacts on people and livestock, will be initiated. Since Attapeu has no monitoring equipment of any kind a basic set (as listed in Section 5.1.3) will be provided. 209. Since the TL passes through patches of old growth forest, costs for a biodiversity survey of these areas has been set aside. During the tower survey, technicians will be required to mark any old growth forest patches on the map. Specialist will then inspect them to determine if further work is needed. EDL, in consultation with WREA and Forest Department specialists, will then decide if the biodiversity survey is needed. 210. Since the workshop, the bird-TL impact analysis and the equipment purchase all take place during the preconstruction period, its cost is estimated to be USD 101,385. However, the biodiversity survey of any significant old growth forest patches encountered (an additional US$35,840) will not be undertaken automatically, but rather based on the work of the tower survey team, followed by a consultation among EDL. WREA. PWREO and the Forest Department. Therefore that amount is being held in contingency. 211. The construction period monitoring focuses almost exclusively in good housekeeping of the contractor, making sure that erosion control, dust suppression and waste management takes place. A number of construction-period costs shown in Table 12, namely items 2.1, 2.2.1 and 2.6, while environmental costs are usually included in
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the engineering costs, and therefore have not been added to the total amount. These three items alone equal USD 178,400, and deal with erosion control measures and sewage and waste management in the TL corridor during the two construction years. 212. Operating period mitigation and monitoring costs relate to completion of surveys initiated during the pre-construction period addressing the bird-TL impact, the noise associated with the corona effect and field measurements of the EMF levels at varying distances from the TL conductors. These costs were estimated at USD 72,680. 213. An essential mitigation and monitoring action will be the inspection of the SS in order to insure that operators are aware of the handling and management of used transformer cooling oil. The used oil is considered a toxic substance and must be managed according to relevant Lao PDR protocol and International best practices. If needed, the best practices established for Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project will be used as a basis for any instruction on how to make SS operations compliant. 214. The project contingency has been set at 7% of the total, since there are a number of unknowns, e.g. the need for bird diversion devices on the conductors or other mitigative actions to reduce the impact of the corona effect or EMF. When including the biodiversity survey costs, the total contingency comes to USD 51,819. 215. Total project mitigation and monitoring costs, minus the contingency and the environmental engineering items was estimated at USD 101,684.00. With the contingency the amount was USD 153,498. Averaged over 6 years this is USD 25,583/year, with much of the cost yielding long term benefits such as increased technical capacity, better understanding of the corona and EMF effect from high voltage and a full set of monitoring equipment.
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Table 12. Mitigation and Monitoring Cost Estimate.
Non Reoccuring Reoccuring Note: P=People 1 2 3456 7891011121314 No No. Day s No. P. No. P Unit Unit Total Cost No No No. No. No. Unit Unit Total Cost Cycles /cycle Lao Int'l. cost Cos t (USD) Cy c les Yrs Day s P. P cost Cost (USD) Mitigation and Monitoring Items or No. Int'l Lao /Yr. /cycle Lao Int. Int'l Lao 1. Pre-Construction Period: 12 mnth 1.1.1 No Administrative Support for EMP Implementation--1st half day of w orkshop devoted 00 00720200- to managers (see below ) 1.1.2 No EIA or EMP docs available, translated or distributed, requiring document hard copy production 1 3 2 0 720 200 1,200.00 and CD production plus distribution. Document Production and Distribution: 15 sets Hard 500.00 copy, 6-10 CDs 1.1.3 No clear boundaries & no specified site 1 1 1 0 720 200 200.00 rehabilitation steps- leading to soil a veg, loss 1.2. Construction Monitoring Cannot Start due to lack 0 0 0 0 0 0 - of equipment and technical capacity. Monitoring Equipment: 4WD, noise meter, database,digital camera,HS internet connection via 30,000.00 modem (3 years),2 Gauss meters Workshop Costs (Prep. and delivery); 1 10 5 1 720 300 22,200.00 Air fare ( related to Workshop) 4 1 3500 240 4,460.00 Ground Transport 1,200.00 Workshop Logistics and M aterials Provided by Province Payment for workshop attendance 25 25 625.00 Survey No. P. No. P Total Cost Technical Surveys and Studies Dura- No. Sites Int'l Ntn'l tion Lao Int'l. (USD) I. Bird-Transmission Line Mortality: Technical 50 1 0.5 1 720 200 41,000.00 Study II. Mitigating biodiversity losses; Identification US$35,849 to be of Old grow th forest patches by Tow er Survey used if tower team & Biodiversity Survey of Old Growth 84 21720200 survey finds significant old Forest Patches growth forest Pre-construction Period Total 101,385.00 $0.00 2. Construction Period 24 months minimum 2.1 Soil Erosion and Stream Degradation; Site 000000 rehabilitation, revagatation and protection against - erosion 1 2 240 2 0 720 150 $144,000.0 2.2.1 Sewage and Garbage contamination due to 000000 poor contractor housekeeping practices: undertake sewage and solid waste collection and disposal system - 1 2 40 2 0 720 150 $24,000.0 2.2.2 Water quality degradation due to vehicle w ashing in w ater courses: Provide contractor briefing on this restriction 1 3 1 0 720 200 600.00 1 2 1 1 0 720 200 $400.0 2.3 Insect Born Disease Outbreak, due to poor site management 1 2 60 1 0 720 200 $24,000.0 2.4 Terrestrial Habitat Loss; mostly old grow th forest patches. Protection measures w here necessary ( briefing on protection and reporting process) 12510720200$2,000.0 2.5 Degradation to Dong Ampham NPA: Enforcement of no-use rule in NPA 1 4 1 1 0 720 200 $800.0 2.6 Air Pollution; dust and vehicle emission: Dust supression in vicinity of settlements, and limiting vehicle idling 26 2 1 1 0 0 200 $10,400.0 Transportation 4,000.00 $6,000.0 Other Expenses 4,000.00 $2,000.0 Construction Period Total 8,600.00 $45,600.0 3. Operating Period Min. 3-Yrs 3.1 No. Mitigation Completion report and Operating stage mitigation timetable; EDL assists w ith completion of report and delivery to EDL 1 10 1 0.5 720 200 5,600.00 3.2 Corona Effect: Conduct Noise measurements establishing field noise levels for corona discharges 0.00 3 2 10 1 0.2 720 200 $20,640.0 3.3 Electromagnetic Field & health Degradation; Field measurements, reporting & revision of recommended exclusion zone 3 2 10 1 0.2 720 200 $20,640.0 3.4 Water quality and health degradation due to spill of haz. and toxic materials from SS Transformers: Undertake regular inspection and reporting of cooling oil management 5,000.00 3 2 4 1 0 720 200 $4,800.0 3.5 Bird-TL Mortality Technical Study; Implementation of any mitigative actions--needed, based on Pre Cost based Construction Survey on Study Output Transportation 2,000.00 $6,000.0 Expenses 4,000.00 $4,000.00 Operation Period Total 16,600.00 $56,080.00 Totals: Non Reoccuring and Reoccuring 126,585.00 101,680.00 M ITIGATION AND M ONITORING Totals Pre Construction Period $101,385 Construction ( 2 years) $54,200 Operating Period (Yrs. 1-3) $72,680 Total $228,265 Contingency Costs @ 7% of total plus $51,819 Biodiversity survey cost (US$ 35,840) 42 BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE Total Costs minus stnd. environmental engineering costs (italics); Total including Contingency $280,084 $101,684 i.e., usually included in engineering cost estimates: 2.1, 2.2.1, and 2.6 LAO PDR / VIETNAM Asian Development Bank CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR PREPARING THE BAN-SOK PLEIKU POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT 500 kV OHL_TA 6481-REG
8.5 Implementation Arrangements 216. The mitigation and monitoring plan will be implemented according to the timetable defined by the project development stages, namely during planning, construction and operations. The Environmental Management Plan’s EMiT and EMoT specify a set of actions, more or less when and where they are needed, forming the framework for the implementation schedule. The critical deadlines to be followed will be that all mitigation and monitoring actions listed in the EMP as being required in the pre- construction stage will be fully implemented before the start of the next stage, i.e., all preconstruction mitigation and monitoring will be completed before construction begins. EDL’s Project Management Unit will implement these measures. 217. The specifics of when individual actions are to take place during construction will be defined in a Construction Environmental Action Schedule (CEAS) prepared by the contractor working closely with the EDL’s Project Management Unit (PMU). The CEAS will be comprised of a table showing the mitigative and monitoring actions beside a timetable. This will be made available to EDL and ADB for examination within the first 4 weeks of the start of the construction period. 218. During the operating period EDL’s Attapeu office will be directly responsible for implementing the EMP’s mitigative and monitoring measures, but will have assistance from the Attapeu WREA Environment Department. 219. Overseeing the implementation will be as EDL’s Environment Department in Vientiane, and well as the WREA monitors in Attapeu who will be in communication with the EDL Attapeu as well. 220. The workshop being planned to take place before the start of the construction period will include training in the organization and implementation of safeguard measures, compliance monitoring as well as record keeping and environmental reporting.
9 Institutional Capacity, Needs and Proposed Strengthening 221. Aside from EDL and WREA in Vientiane there is only a marginal technical capacity in safeguards mitigation, monitoring and enforcement in Attapeu. The problem is compounded by a lack even the most basic monitoring equipment. Through this loan, EDL hopes to fill this gap. As defined in Section 5.1.3, EDL-Attapeu, with help from Vientiane, will organize a technical capacity and environmental awareness raising workshop in Attapeu, designed for managers as well as monitoring technicians. The workshop will provide training with monitoring equipment and will include the following topics: • Understanding and applying Environmental Management Plans; • Design and Implementation of Compliance Monitoring: • Compliance monitoring methods., using the equipment provided • Compliance monitoring information analysis and reporting • Enforcement of environmental safeguards 222. The workshop will involve not only the government but also the successful contractor as well as two to three district representatives. 223. The estimate budget allows for one international specialist to help with material preparation and delivery for 10 days. EDL may also ask assistance from locally based international organizations such as MRC and IUCN.
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9.1 Southern Provinces-Regional Monitoring Unit 224. Monitoring capacity in Saravan, Sekong, Attapeu and Champasak Province is minimal, in terms of technical capacity, human resources and equipment. There are at least 20 large hydropower project planned for this area and are already at the prefeasibility and feasibility study stage. WREA and EDL office both at the national and provincial level are overwhelmed and not equipped to handle this workload. 225. EDL is aware of the ADB’s new regional TA aimed at providing assistance with safeguards implementation. To that end, a regional safeguards monitoring unit, located in Attapeu, is proposed and its development to be considered under a project funded by this new TA. 226. Further, by using the environmental deposits required of each power project investor, operational funding for such a unit may be possible, since at present these funds go directly into the national treasury. An annual fee from concessionaires could be an optional source of operating funds. 227. EDL urges that a meeting among EDL, WREA, Min. of Finance and ADB be convened and this possible solution to the growing lack of monitoring and oversight of project impacting not only the 4 provinces but the entire lower Mekong basin, thoroughly discussed and hopefully resolved.
10 Findings and Conclusions 228. In this IEE EDL has shown that the likely impacts are not severe and nearly all are mitigateable. Seven preconstruction and construction period impacts and four operating period impacts were identified. To address these impacts, well known and proven mitigative and monitoring actions ( Annex A-EMP) were described. 229. Issues dealing with TL-corona effect, electromagnetic field emissions and bird- transmission line mortality need further investigations and rapid technical surveys are planned. The Bird-Tl impact survey will establish the approximate scale of the problem and best actions to take. 230. The vegetation and habitat within the areas to be disturbed by the proposed alignment have generally been degraded by human activities, however some patches of primary forest may still remain on the alignment. Should significant old growth forest within the ROW be identified during further surveys, a rapid biodiversity survey may be implemented if any sites suggest important biodiversity. It is expected that if the current alignment will impact areas of high biodiversity value modifications will be made to avoid these areas where possible. 231. Construction impacts will be almost totally related to contractor operations and the application of good housekeeping practices at the worksite and contractor staging areas. 232. Operating period will see the conduct of field monitoring for a 3-year period to establish noise related to the corona effect, as well as EMF levels at verying distances from the outside conductor and in the nearest dwellings. These data will be used to reassess the recommended human exclusion distance of 230m. 233. The operating of the substation requires that cooling oils be filled into the large transformers and every 6 months to two years replaced and/or reprocessed. Since the used oil is considered a toxic material it must be handled according to MEM regulations and international best practices. To insure that EDL will provde SS operators with specif guideline on receiving and managing new and use transformer cooling oils.
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234. The total cost of the mitigation and monitoring actions over an six year period was around USD 155,000.00, including a large contingency. The cost estimate included environmental engineering costs which were assumed to be included in the project costing so were not added to the safeguard total but were shown in left column of the cost estimate.
235. With adequate provision of compensation and effective implementation of management and mitigation measures outlined in the EMP, the residual environmental and social impacts of the Project are expected to be minor. 236. The technical surveys recommended to be conducted as part of the EIA and project operations will provide value long after the completion of this IEE. The Bird-TL mortality study will provide information for the many other transmission lines being planned for Attapeu and the EMF measurements will define the optimal distance for settlements from high voltage transmission lines.
11 Recommendations 237. EDL recommends that the mitigation and monitoring measures outlined in this IEE be implement in credible and timely manner. 238. At least 15 new large hydroelectric project are planned for the southern provinces between 2010 and 2016. Technical resources to address safeguard issues and to conduct monitoring are largely non-existent. EDL recommends that urgent discussions be held with ADB concerning the use of the new TA funds (TA 7566-REG) for the design and creation of a Regional Safeguards Monitoring Unit to be located in Attapeu. This Unit will greatly assist in the implementation and monitoring of safeguard measures. 239. Based on the findings of this IEE, EDL recommends that beyond the technical surveys planned, no additional environmental analysis is needed, and that with credible and consistent reporting making information on mitigation and monitoring results available as needed and as defined in the IEE, environmental safeguards will be well maintained.
12 References ADB. 2006. Country Synthesis Report on Urban Air Quality Management – Lao PDR: Discussion Draft.
Bioinitiative Report. 2007: A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELS and RF) Authors: Sage, Xu, Chen, Lai, Blank, Johansson, Hardell, Mild, Kundi, Davanipour, Sobel, Blackman, Gee and Carpenter. http://www.bioinitiative.org/index.htm
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). 2009. EMF-Health Risk Evaluation (Review of Seven Major Studies). 4pgs EPRI 3420 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California : http://emf.epri.com/EMF_Health_Risk_Evaluations_Updated_2_%207-09.pdf
Forestry Inventory and Planning Department. 2002. Land Use and Land Cover Classification. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR.
Henshaw. D.L. 2009. Brief to Poland’s Minister of Environment Regarding EMF Exposure Health Risks from 400kVA high Voltage Transmission Lines. Bristol Unv. UK, Dept of Physics. Weblink: www.kamionki.net/minister_of_environment_%20poland_%203rd_aug_09.pdf
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Huss A, Spoerri A, Egger M, Martin R__sli M. 2008. Residence Near Power Lines and Mortality From Neurodegenerative Diseases: Longitudinal Study of the Swiss Population. Am J Epidem 169(2), 167 -175.
Ministry of Education .2009. Annual School Census 2008 – 2009. Education Statistic and Technology Centre, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
MRCS. 2001. Watershed Directory of the Lower Mekong Basin – Watershed Classification Project (WSCP). Mekong River Commission Secretariat.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), 1999, NIEHS Report on Health Effects from Exposure to Power-Line Frequency Electric and Magnetic fields. NIH Publication No. 99-4493, P. O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
National Statistic Centre .2009. Annual Population Census. Lao-Swedish Statistics Programme, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
National Statistic Centre.2007.. Population and Habitat Survey Attapeu Province. Lao – Swedish Statistics Programme, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
O’Carroll, M. J. and Henshaw, D. L., 2008. Aggregating epidemiological evidence: comparing two seminal EMF reviews. Risk Analysis, 28(1), 225-234
SCENIHR. 2009 update: Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks: Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health. Published by the European Commission, Health & Consumer Protection DG, Directorate C: Public Health and Risk Assessment, Unit C7 – risk Assessment, Office: B232, B-1049 Brussels; weblink: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_022.pdf
Vietnam Institute of Material Sciences. 2009. Xekaman 1 Hydropower Project Environmental Impact Assessment (318 pages). Available from WREA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Unit.
Wildlife Conservation Society .1997. A Wildlife and Habitat Survey of Dong Ampham NBCA and Phou Kathong Proposed NBCA, Attapu Province, Lao PDR. CPAWM/WCS Cooperative Program, Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR.
WREA .2009. Agreement on National Environmental Standard. Water Resource and Environmental Agency. Document No. 2734/PMO-WREA. Prime Minister Office. Vientiane, Lao PDR.
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Annexes
Annex A: Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Table A-1: Environmental Mitigation Table (EMiT) Table A-2: Environmental Monitoring Table (EMoT)
Annex B: Newspaper Announcements Published in ______
Annex C: Consultation Meeting Minutes and Attendance Sheets
Annex D: Presentation Material and PP Presentation Given in______
A-1
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ANNEX A: THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) Table A-1: Environmental Mitigation Table (EMiT).
Environmental Mitigative Measures Location2 Time Frame Responsibility Impact/Issue Implementation Supervision 1. PRE-CONSTRUCTION PERIOD 1.1 EIA and EMP not Applied Attapeu Town; As part of the training workshop organized by EDL, the first 1.1.1 No Administrative involving Once Contractis half day will be devoted to awareness raising for EDL’s Support for EMP management from selected, but EDL management, focusing on economic cost benefit of Consultant Implementation the Governor’s Office before mobilization application of environmental safeguards down Before the 1.1.2 No EIA or EMP EDL will insure that 13-14 hardcopy sets of the documents preparation of EDL’s docs available, are distributed and each of the 8 key agencies receives a NA EDL contract Consultant translated or distributed CD with all soft copies in both languages. documents 1.1.3 Worksite EDL will specify the work areas as 80x80m for each tower boundaries not defined construction site and a TL corridor of 70 in total, plus Prior to the Specified for the & no specified site necessary access tracks from an existing road to the center preparation of EDL’s entire TL construction EDL rehabilitation steps of the TL. contract Consultant corridor leading to soil a veg, EDL has also defined a six-step method for rehabilitating specifications loss the construction site ( See Sect. 5.1.1 9-iii)). 1.2 Loss of Old Growth As part of the tower survey, crews will be required to Forest Patches due to identify and mark in map an patches or mature/.old growth Along the entire EDL and RoW clearing forest encountered in and around the RoW. These Patches Prior to start of corridor as towers are Implementing EDL will be subject to possible biodiversity survey and possible tower construction surveyed in Consultant diversion of TL if needed. This will depend on consultation between EDL, WREA and Forestry Dept. 1.3. Construction IEE and its EMP will be reproduced and distributed. NA, but equipment Monitoring Cannot Start Secondly , basic equipment needed for compliance will be placed in care due to lack of equipment monitoring will be purchased and distributed to the Attapeu of WREA-Attapeu and technical Capacity WREA monitoring office. These items are listed in para.127 EDL and consultant of the IEE. Secondly a 3-day workshop will be organized will deliver a 3.5 day by EDL to take place in Attapeu. Details are provided in workshop in Attapeu, Prior to the start of EDL and WREA EDL para.129 and 130 of the IEE. addressing the workshop implementation of Env. Safeguards, and focusing in the 5 themes defined in para 130 of the IEE 1.4 Bird-Transmission The project area, particularly the NPA is home to a number During the detailed Prior to the Specialist EDL Line Mortality of large migrating birds such as the giant ibis, black ibis, design period completion of the Consultant—or sarus crane and several large vultures and their travel undertake a a short detailed design, in NGO like routes would take them across the TL, leading to possible technical survey and order to permit any BIRDLIFE-LAO bird-TL collisions, especially at night (although none of literature review and alignment working with these species are known to fly at night. prepare a set of modifications—(if EDL and WREA A 4-week bird movement migration study, preceded by a recommendations needed) focused literature review,, focusing on the large birds such and the need for any as ibis, cranes and vultures will be conducted to determine further action which species migrate across the TL, when and where, Then, based on these data a mitigation action plan will be implemented, consisting of possibly installing beacons to warn birds of approaching wires, etc. 1.5 Loss of Biodiversity Based in the data obtained from task 1.2, and consultation Along the entire TL Prior to start of EDL and EDL due to cutting of old among the three key agencies, a rapid biodiversity survey corridor construction and specialist growth forest patches will be undertaken of any significant old growth areas to after initial tower consultant along TL establish the biodiversity and if these areas need location survey protection—leading to possible TL diversion 2. CONSTRUCTION PERIOD 2.1 Soil Erosion and The contractor(s) will be required to make each tower At each tower Throughout the Contractor Monitor Stream Degradation access erosion-proof by compacting the laterite and placing construction site as construction period gravel or similar material along the tracks and revegetating well as for the the tower construction site, particularly areas that were access/service track cleared to erect the towers. Construction compliance to be built monitors will be required to inspect each tower as it is completed and report on the rehabilitation carried out. Further, aggregate for the concrete foundations for the TL towers must come from approved sources and none can be mined from nearby streams or floodplains. The contractor caught mining streams will be fined the equivalent of amount having material trucked into the tower site and the river area that was mined rehabilitated 2.2 Water Quality and Public Health Degradation 2.2.1 Sewage and Contractors will adhere to standard good housekeeping Any construction site Throughout the Contractor EDL and Garbage contamination practices as defined in the contract Terms & Conditions or activity which is construction period Contractor due to poor contractor and Conditions of Particular Application. Special the responsibility of housekeeping practices considerations will be given to management of construction the contractor waste and water, equipment lubricants and fuel. This will be done in accordance with Lao PDR and EDL regulations A-2
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Environmental Mitigative Measures Location2 Time Frame Responsibility Impact/Issue Implementation Supervision and standards; which the contractor will be expected to know 2.2.2 Water quality EDL will specify in contract specifications and washing of Any construction area Throughout the EDl and EDL degradation due to vehicle or construction equipment is prohibited on an construction period Contractor vehicle washing in water natural stream or water body which connects to a stream. courses Fines will be applied 2.3 Insect Born Disease Construction sites in the tropics, where malaria and yellow At all construction During regular Contractor and EDL’s PMU or Outbreak, due to poor fever occurs, can become sources of outbreaks by sites inspection inspector safeguards site management providing stagnant water areas, either as depressions at cycles—likely monitor the constructions site or via used construction equipment or monthly materials such as old tires, which collect water after a rain. One old tire is enough to cause a serious malaria outbreak within 7 days. To prevent this the contractor’s worksite chief will be required to inspect every site ,as part of the completion checklist to make sure that no areas were water can pool is left behind and that all waste construction materials such as tires are removed from the site.
2.4 Terrestrial Habitat To minimize this impact, the team surveying the towers will, Within the 70m RoW During the Contractor and PMU Loss; mostly old growth while locating the towers, be required to mark large trees and anywhere were construction period monitor forest patches and old growth forest patches on the survey maps and larg trees outside the indicate any that will be within the 70m-wide corridor. RoW need to be cut These patches may then be investigated via a biodiversity to meet TL tree fall inventory (recommended as a special technical study). The limits initial work will be done during Per-construction Period. During Construction actions will be to realign TL based on findings. 2.5 Degradation to Dong A considerable amount of tower construction will be very Any work area within Briefing and short Contractor and EDL and Amphan NPA close to the Dong Amphan NPA. At the start of 400m of or inside the leaflet distributed monitor Monitor construction, workers will be warned that when near the NPA at the start of the Dong Amphan NPA, which will be around km 47 of option A constriction period and for B starting at Ban Somboune of the TL at km___ , entrance into the NPA will be strictly forbidden and a zero tolerance policy will be in place namely one illegal entry and the employee will terminated, plus the contractor fined the equivalent of that persons weekly wage, for no performance. No harvesting of any materials from inside the NPA will be permitted. 2.6 Air Pollution; dust Controls on vehicle idling and equipment maintenance will Any work area where Throughout the Contractor and EDL and and vehicle emission be imposed through construction inspection and regular there is a settlement construction period monitor Monitor reporting by WREA monitors. Equipment and vehicles will within 500m be shut off if not in use more than 3 minutes and all will be maintained according to manufacturers’ specifications. Dust will be carefully and continuously managed. Dust control will be particularly stringent along any unpaved roads used to access the transmission tower sites and passing within 50 m of a settlement. Any such road through a settlement area will be watered according to a written schedule agreed to between the contractor and the Project Management Unit (PMU). 3. OPERATIONAL STAGE 3.1 Contractors do not The contractor is required to prepare a NA Mitigation report Contractor with EDL prepare Mitigation Mitigation/Monitoring Completion Report, which must be completed before help from EDL Completion report and submitted to EDL’s PMU for transfer to the Operator of the contractor received and Any PMU fails to provide a TL, in order that they can follow up with mitigative final payment and Supervising Operating stage measures such as revegetation, initiated by the implementation Consultant mitigation timetable for contractors. Should this not take place, the entire EMP and schedule when EDL’s operating unit to monitoring program is in jeopardy. EDL is committed to operations begin follow making certain that the contractor carries out this task and will provide guidance Measures to continue into the operating period will be the maintenance of revegetation areas and confirmation of the record of the decommissioning of any work areas, work camp sites including waste dumps, etc and the sealing/securing of wells newly dug for use during the construction period. As well as the monitoring of EMF 3.2 Conductor Noise To minimize the annoyance caused by this noise, Any section of the TL Throughout the EDL –TL EDL (Corona Effect) sometimes a steady 50dBA, EDL will restrict habitation where there are operating period— operator within 100m of either side of the outer conductor of the settlements within to become a transmission line. ,i.e. a corridor about 230m wide. ( see 400 m of the standard operating parallel monitoring activity in EMoT) alignment procedure for EDL 3.3 Electromagnetic Using the data compiled by Henshaw (2009 and 2008), Along the TL within 1 To be completed EDL and EDL Field exposure and including knowledge that Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and km of any as part of the contractor health Degradation Tasmania Australia have moved to increase the distance of settlement—posted installation of high voltage lines from settlement and are enforcing a no- at the edge of the 70 towers and service agriculture zone, the following limits will be set for this m RoW and on all road preparation 500kV TL. towers. • Minimum distance from the outer conductor to any human habitation will be 100m; • Livestock operation, including cattle and poultry A-3
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Environmental Mitigative Measures Location2 Time Frame Responsibility Impact/Issue Implementation Supervision will be permitted outside the 75m distance from the outside conductor, but only if no alternative exists for maintaining the 100m distance • No agriculture activity will be permitted within the 30m boundary from the outer conductors; • Crop production will be permitted at distances of >30m • These limits and restrictions will be posted on signs at 500m along the alignment and in District Offices. EDL will conduct regular ( every two months) surveys , measuring uT levels at 30m, 50m 75m and 100m at 1 and 2m above ground at sites within 200m of settlements and any area used for agriculture. Reading will be used to adjust the boundaries as needed. Owo sets of meters such as the Tecpel EMF Tester (Gauss Meter)-Product ID: EMF- 701A [ http://www.allproducts.com/ee/tecpel/Product- 20041123145642.html ] will be purchased for that survey. The measurement results will be posted at District Offices and announced so that local residents are aware. ( see monitoring activity in EMoT) 3.4 Water quality and The SS uses batteries and cooling oil which must be filled At Ban Hatxan For the life of SS operator EDL health degradation due into the large step-up and step-down transformers used to Substation substation to spill of haz. and toxic vary the voltage being sent to various customers. This oil materials from is highly refined mineral oil or vegetable oil, with a fire Substation Transformers retardant added. This used to be PCBs and is now mostly fluorocarbons, which do not contain dioxins or PCBs. However, due to the chemical reactions in the transformer and the heating and cooling, the oil becomes contaminated and needs replacement and reprocessing. The used oil is toxic, containing heavy metals and other materials from the transformer windings and must be treated as a toxic substance. Large transformers must be service from every 6 months to every 2 years. EDL operators will be required to follow strict international practices as defined in the operating guidelines for transformer maintenance, provided as part of this project.
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Table A-2: The Environmental Monitoring Table (EMoT)
ITEM Monitoring Details Timing Executing Reporting Unit Responsibility 1. PRE-CONSTRUCTION (DESIGN) PERIOD: all written confirmation and reports submitted to EDL for the record and available to ADB for compliance check. 1.1 IEE and EMP Outputs not Applied EDL will provide a list of attendees of the workshop and During the Consultant and EDL and its 1.1.1 No Administrative and the workshop material will be available for workshop to be EDL consultants Support for EMP inspection at the EDL, Vientiane and Attapeu offices. conducted prior Implementation The material used to provide awareness for managers to the start of during the 1st ½ day will be highlighted construction EDL will provide a list and receipts from the 8 agencies Min. 2 months EDL EDL to follow up receiving the materials, indicating that Lao and English before start of with thos receiving 1.1.2 No EIA or EMP docs translations are on site. construction materials available, translated or period and after distributed successful contractor chosen 1.1.3 Worksite boundaries EDL will specify to the consultant the exact boundaries In time for EDL EDL not defined & no specified for the work area, which will be more or less 80m inclusion in site rehabilitation steps centered over the TL centerline. Contract leading to soild a veg, loss Specifications 1.2 Loss of Old Growth EDL to confirm that survey team include location of old Before EDL and tower EDL Forest Patches due to RoW growth forest patches along alignment. Secondly, EDL construction survey team clearing will lead consultation with WREA and Forest Dept. re begins any needed follow up actions –such as biodiversity survey, should significant old growth forest areas be impacted 1.3. Construction Monitoring EDL will provide a list of all equipment provided as show In time for EDL EDL Cannot Start due to lack of in para. 123 and as follows: workshop equipment and technical capacity • 4WD crew-cab truck for use during compliance monitoring activities • Portable noise meter • Portable water quality testing kit • Templates for environmental monitoring reports and data tables • Digital camera with GPS (Samsung WB 650 or similar) • High speed internet subscription for monitoring unit of office via a portable 3-G modem. • Two µT or Gauss meters e.g., TECPEL Gauss Meter EMF-701 1.4 Bird-Transmission Line A completed technical literature review and survey of Will be EDL Specialist Mortality the bird-TL interaction will be completed and mitigation completed prior Consultant on measures proposed in a short (4 week) technical study. to the final Behalf of EDL; but survey of the TL, EDL to distribute since the work the documentation my require some relocation 1.5 Biodiversity Survey If, based on the old growth forest patch ID and Before the end EDL and Specialist consultation, significant areas are identified biodiversity of pre- Specialist Consultant on surveys and plans for TL diversion will be undertaken construction Consultant Behalf of EDL; but and report of these changes filed with EDL. It is Period EDL to distribute estimated that there may be up to 4 significant old the documentation growth forest patches. CONSTRUCTION PERIOD1 -prepare and use a monitoring checklist 2.1 Soil Erosion and Each tower construction site will have a rehabilitation Throughout the Contractor Contractor and Stream Degradation checklist prepared by the inspector, noting that all construction Inspectors ( likely revegetation and that no river aggregate mining tooK period WREA) place 2.2 Water Quality and Public Health Degradation 2.2.1 Sewage and Garbage EDL will provide written evidence of proper sewage Throughout the Contractor Contractor and contamination due to poor disposal and solid waste management according to Lao construction Inspectors ( likely contractor housekeeping PDR regulations. Evidence will be receipts for volume period WREA), with practices processed from licensed sewage and garbage receipts from waste management companies management agencies 2.2.2 Water quality Auditor will indicate any violations and contractor will be Throughout the Contractor Contractor and degradation due to vehicle asked to verify that no such washing occurred—to the construction Inspectors ( likely washing in water courses best of their knowledge period WREA), with receipts from waste management agencies A-5
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ITEM Monitoring Details Timing Executing Reporting Unit Responsibility 2.3 Insect born disease Regular inspection to include examination for stagnant Throughout the Safeguards Safeguard outbreak, due to poor site water and discarded equipment that could provide a construction Inspector inspector and EDL management breeding ground for insects—If found a note that these period working under areas have been repaired and no longer potential WREA-Attapeu breeding grounds. 2.4 Terrestrial habitat A listing of old growth patches encountered along the Throughout the Contractor and Safeguard loss; mostly old growth alignment by the survey team will be marked on a map construction inspector Inspector, and forest patches and based on discussion with Forestry Dept. and period, with contractor WREA , mitigation steps will be identified, e.g. reports filed realignment or removal and replacement planting. monthly—plus During this period any specific realignments will be inspection report planned and executed- and maps filed with EDL and by monitor every Forest Dept. 6 months 2.5 Degradation to Dong EDL will , at the start of the construction period instruct During EDL and EDL Amphan NPA the contractor to inform all workers of the rules when construction contractor working near/in the NPA. A sample of the written period with work instructions provide, should be placed with EDL. will take place near or in Dong Amphan NPA Confirm use of manual clearing methods. Use of herbicides to control vegetation along the ROW will be avoided wherever possible. If required, appropriate herbicides will be selected and the MSDS will be carefully followed. Burning will be avoided where possible. If required, fires will be carefully controlled to ensure they do not impact areas outside if the ROW. 2.6 Air Pollution; dust and Inspectors will include written comments on dust control Throughout the Contractor Safeguard and vehicle emission and vehicle emissions, in terms of observed idling and construction engineering smoke from construction vehicles and types of period inspectors warnings given. Secondly the schedule for road watering in the area of 5-7 villages along the preferred corridor will filed with EDL for review. OPERATIONAL PERIOD 3.1 Contractors do not EDL to proactively remind contractor of the need for his At start of EDL and EDL prepare Mitigation end of work report, for use by EDL operators of the TL Operating period Contractor Completion report and PMU and SS. fails to provide a Operating stage mitigation timetable for EDL’s operating unit to follow 3.2 TL Conductor Noise Using the noise meter provided as part of the During the WREA nr EDL Technical with (Corona Effect) monitoring equipment kit, EDL monitor to measure operating period trained advice from EDL corono discharge noise level at 1.5m from ground at Technician and/or WREA distances of 10, 30 and 50m from the center line of the Attapeu. TL 4x/year at stations within 400m of habitation, twice during the wet season and twice during the dry season—for 4 years including at least two years with the full 500kV voltage is being passed through this TL. These data will be used to reassess the exclusion zone 3.3 Electromagnetic Field Using the Gauss meters, a survey consisting of bi- During the Specialist Specialist exposure and health monthly sampling at sites within 500 m of the TL, over operating period consultant consultatnt degradation two days ( one cycle each day) at two heights 2 and 4m and 10,30, 50 and 70m from the outside conductor 3.4 Water quality and Every 6 months , monitors will inspect the SS, to Every 6 months EDL inspector EDL health degradation due to determine if used cooling oil management procedures from start of the spill of haz. and toxic and handling of any other hazardous material, are being operating period materials from Substation adhered to and and prepare an inspection report for for 3 years, Transformers EDL and WREA. including reporting 3.5 Bird-TL Mortality Operators to keep track of any bird mortalities found in Ongoing , as part EDP –inspectors EDL TL corridor, and an incident report should be completed of the operating working with for all mortalities found. period inspection village chiefs. installation of repellent beacons to be considered, plus other deterrents, based on results and recommendations coming from Technical Survey/Study. EDL will investigate a possible reward program with villages to find any such dead or injured birds and a payment for each one turned into EDL TL operators 1. At the end of the construction period and before the final payment is approved, it is critical that an inspection of high use areas, such as waste facilities, machinery service areas, waste disposal sites, quarries, be made to confirm that proper decommissioning has taken place
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Annex B: Newspaper Announcements Published in
English Translation of Newspaper Announcement
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ANNEX C: MINUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION SESSION ON ADB TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT AND ATTENDANCE SHEET: Ban Sounbone Technical Assistance Project ADB 6489-REG
1. Meeting location: .
2 Meeting date:
3. Project:
Technical Assistance Project ADB 6489-REG
4 List of Special Government of LaoPRD Participants:
5 Presentation given by, and with input from:
6 Environmental consultant presentation content:
7 Comments of participants (this can be a summary or individual comments-see example).
• Erkin Sharipov the Director of Romitan Road Organization articulated the importance of addressing drifting sand sections and sand ups and establishing the adequate protection against this as it likely being a negative factor. Another issue was the watering (influxes of water) on project sections that may happen during the road reconstruction which also should be coped with.
• Safarova Rubiya, the Deputy Hokim on Women Affairs stressed the need to establish medical ambulances to medical treatment of population in the subject areas, especially against the sector-specific infections and illnesses.
• Indicating that education is an important factor of either development the first deputy khokim F.Khokimoiv pointed the need to educate local specialists for efficient using the machinery and equipment as well as practices of cement and concrete paving as
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LAO PDR / VIETNAM Asian Development Bank CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR PREPARING THE BAN-SOK PLEIKU POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT 500 kV OHL_TA 6481-REG
the country has never applied this materials for pavement under the project implementation.
• There were also some individual comments and suggestions on stimulating wide involvement of local contractors to compete with foreign ones in bidding process by promoting capacity building for local entrepreneurs’ development.
8 Follow Up Actions.
Issue Raised: including Approach to Addressing the Issue Agreed to Action real and perceived as suggested at Session; including environmental issues how, when and by whom
9 Complete List of Attendees (including Name, home village/town and Occupation):
A total of ___ people participated in this sessions. A complete, with-signatures, attendant sheet is attached to this record. A summary of the organizations represented indicates that ___ segments of the local economy were represented. Of the ___people, ___were women and ___ were from tribal and other minority groups.
Name and the Location of Organization Attending Number of people
Other 8
The list of attendees has not been translated, but is presented in its original form with signatures
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BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
LAO PDR / VIETNAM Asian Development Bank CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR PREPARING THE BAN-SOK PLEIKU POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT 500 kV OHL_TA 6481-REG
Meeting Attendance Sheet for Consultation and Information Session Held in ______on ______2010 from____ to ____
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BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE
LAO PDR / VIETNAM Asian Development Bank CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR PREPARING THE BAN-SOK PLEIKU POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT 500 kV OHL_TA 6481-REG
Annex D: Presentation Given in…………………………………….: NOTE: This presentation was translated was presented as an MS PowerPoint Presentation in Lao language.
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BAN SOK – PLEIKU DRAFT FINAL REPORT_IEE_LAO PDR SIDE