Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 48218-003 July 2017 Prepared by the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads, and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development for the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Environmental Assessment Report The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Initial Environmental Examination for Nepal Project Number: 48218-003 NEP July 2017 Nepal: Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (387.82 kms) Prepared by [Author(s)] [Firm] [City, C [Implementing Agency] Prepared by Department of Local Infrastructure and Agricultural Roads, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). ABBREVIATIONS AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic AC Asphalt Concrete CBS Central Bureau of Statistics ADB Asian Development Bank ADS Agricultural Development Strategy BoQ Bill of Quantities CBS Central Bureau of Statistics CDM Clean Development Mechanism CDR Central District Region CF Community Forest CFC Chlorofluorocarbon CFUG Community Forest User Group CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CO Carbon Monoxide CRU Climate Research Unit CSC Construction Supervision Consultant DBST Double Bituminous Surface Treatment DDC District Development Committee DFO District Forest Office DG Diesel Generating DHM Department of Hydrology and Metrology DHO District Health Office DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation DOF Department of Forest DoHM Department of Hydrology and Meteorology DoLIDAR Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads DOS Department of Statistics DTMP District Transport Master Plan EA Executing Agency EDR Easter District Region EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMG Environmental Management Guidelines EMoP Environmental Monitoring Plan EMP Environmental Management Plan EPA Environment Protection Act EPR Environment Protection Rules ES Environmental Specialist FGD Focus Group Discussion FIDIC Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs Conseils GDP Gross Domestic Product GHG Green House Gas GoN Government of Nepal GRC Grievance Redress Committee GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism GSM Global System for Mobile Communication IA Implementing Agency IEE Initial Environmental Examination IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature ILO International Labor Organization LRMP Land Resources Management Project LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas iii MCT Main Central Trust MFT Main Frontal Thrust MoFALD Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development MoPE Ministry of Population and Environment MWDR Mid-Western Disrict Region NAAQS Nepal Ambient Air Quality Standard NEP Nepal NGO Non-Governmental Organization NOx Nitrogen Oxide NRN Nepal Road Network NRS Nepal Road Standard ODS Ozone Depleting Substance PCU Project Coordination Unit PHCC Primary Health Care Center PIP Priority Investment Plan PIU Project Implementation Unit PMGSY Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana PPE Personal Protective Equipment RCIP Road Connectivity Improvement Project REA Rapid Environmental Assessment RoW Right of Way RRRSDP Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector Development Program SEMP Specific Environmental Management Plan SRES Special Report on Emission Scenario SRN Strategic Road Network SPS Safeguard Policy Statement TA Technical Assistance TMO Transport Management Office TOR Terms of Reference UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change VDC Village Development Committee WDR Western District Region This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. v WEIGHTS AND MEASURES dBA decibels A KWH Kilowatt-Hour K VA Kilo-Volt- Ampere ppb Parts Per Billion ppm Parts Per Million CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (AS OF 20 JUNE 2017) Currency Unit- Nepalese Rupee (NRs) $1=NRs 103.32 Notes: The Nepalese calendar year (B.S) runs from mid-April to mid-April. Unless otherwise stated, year ranges written in the form 2015/016 denote a single calendar year. The fiscal year (FY) of the Government ends on 15 July. FY before a calendar Year denotes the year in which the fiscal year ends (For example, FY 2015 begins on 16 July 2014 and ends on 15 July 2015). Acts and Regulations are cited under the name of the ministry from which they originate. The official version of Acts and Regulations is published in the Nepal Gazette (in Nepali). Some Acts and Regulations are published by other Government agencies in English (Unofficial translations). TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................................. III WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ................................................................................................................ VI CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (AS OF 20 JUNE 2017) ........................................................................ VI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 1 I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 7 A. Project Background ............................................................................................................. 7 B. Rural Connectivity Improvement Project (RCIP) ................................................................ 7 C. Project Objectives ............................................................................................................... 1 D. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Objectives ............................................................ 1 E. Extent of IEE ....................................................................................................................... 1 F. Study Approach and Methodology ...................................................................................... 2 G. Reconnaissance Survey and Initial Consultations .............................................................. 2 1. Primary Data Collection ......................................................................................... 2 2. Secondary Data Collection .................................................................................... 2 3. Public Consultations .............................................................................................. 3 4. Other Tools, Additional Surveys and Studies ........................................................ 3 H. Structure of IEE Report ....................................................................................................... 3 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ............................................................................................. 4 A. Project Background ............................................................................................................. 4 B. Location of the Project ........................................................................................................ 4 C. Project Category ................................................................................................................. 1 D. Characteristics of Existing Roads ....................................................................................... 1 E. Improvement/Strengthening Proposal ................................................................................ 1 F. Traffic .................................................................................................................................. 1 G. Construction Material .......................................................................................................... 2 H. Cost and Implementation Schedule .................................................................................... 2 III. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................... 1 A. International Agreements and Commitments ..................................................................... 1 B. ADB Safeguard Policy Statement, 2009 ............................................................................. 2 C. Country’s Legal Framework and Regulatory Requirements for the Project ....................... 2 D. Permissions and Clearance