Afghanistan: Northern Flood Damaged Infrastructure Emergency Rehabilitation Project (N-FIER)
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Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Project Number: 48326-001 17 October 2017 Afghanistan: Northern Flood Damaged Infrastructure Emergency Rehabilitation Project (N-FIER) Prepared by Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development (MRRD) for the Ministry of Finance and the Asian Development Bank This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 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. 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. ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank CDC – Community Development Council DNA – Damage and Need Assessment EARF – Environmental Assessment and Review Framework EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMMP – Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan EMP – Environmental Management Plan GoIRA – Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan IA – Implementing Agency IEE – Initial Environmental Examination MEW _Ministry of Energy and Water MoF – Ministry of Finance MRRD – Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development NEPA – National Environmental Protection Agency N-FIER – Northern Flood Damaged Infrastructure Emergency Rehabilitation Project NGO - Nongovernmental Organization PIU – Provincial Implementation Unit PMO – Project Management Office REA – Rapid Environmental Assessment RP – Regional Programs RoW - Right of Way SPS – Safeguard Policy Statement ToR – Terms of Reference UNEP – United Nations Environment Program WHO – World Health Organization 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 7 Environmental Characteristics ............................................................................................................ 7 Major Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................. 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Background 9 Purpose 9 Northern Flood - Damaged Infrastructure Emergency Rehabilitation (N-FIER): .................................. 9 tangi tashqurghan road rehabilitation and reconstruction of RCC retaining Wall ............................... 12 Location of the project ...................................................................................................................... 12 Methodology 15 Executing Agency ............................................................................................................................. 17 POLICY, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................... 18 Environmental Law: Official Gazette No.912, 25 January 2007 ........................................................ 18 Regulations and Guidelines for EIA .................................................................................................. 18 Asian Development Bank Safeguard Policies ................................................................................... 19 Description of the Project ..................................................................................................................... 22 Type of the Project ........................................................................................................................... 22 A. Need for the project .................................................................................................. 22 Retaining Wall:22 Stone Masonry Canal ....................................................................................................................... 24 Road Rehabilitation Works: .............................................................................................................. 25 Borrow and Quarry Materials Sourcing ............................................................................................. 25 Water for Construction ...................................................................................................................... 25 Construction Camps ......................................................................................................................... 26 Construction Schedule ..................................................................................................................... 26 Description of the Environment ............................................................................................................ 27 Introduction 27 Physical Resources .......................................................................................................................... 27 Ecological Resources ....................................................................................................................... 32 Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................................................... 34 Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................................... 37 Analysis of Project Impacts ............................................................................................................... 37 ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET ........................................................................................................... 38 Pre-Construction Phase: .................................................................................................................. 38 Construction Phase: Construction of Retaining Wall and Rehabilitation of Road .............................. 39 5 Post Construction Phase (Operational Phase) .................................................................................. 43 Analysis of Alternatives ........................................................................................................................ 45 Information ........................................................................................................................................... 45 Disclosure, Consultation, and Participation .......................................................................................... 45 Introduction 45 Objectives of Public Consultation ..................................................................................................... 45 Findings of the Public Consultations ................................................................................................. 46 People’s Cooperation ....................................................................................................................... 46 Conclusion 46 Grievance Redress Mechanism ........................................................................................................... 46 Environmental Management Plan ........................................................................................................ 48 Organizational Chart for Environmental Management and Monitoring .............................................. 70 Institutional Setting and Proposed Implementation Arrangement ...................................................... 70 MRRD/PIU Responsibilities .............................................................................................................. 70 Conclusion and RecommendationS ..................................................................................................... 72 Findings: 72 Recommendations............................................................................................................................ 72 Conclusions 72 Appendix 1: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist .......................................................... 74 Appendix 2: Minutes of Public Consultation ......................................................................................... 80 Appendix 3. Redlist Book in Afghanistan .............................................................................................. 83 Appendix. 4 .......................................................................................................................................... 86 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) addresses the environmental safeguard concerns associated with the 401m long Tangi Tashqurghan RCC Retaining wall and road rehabilitation project, which shall be financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and to be implemented by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) under the Northern Flood-Damaged Infrastructure Emergency Rehabilitation Program (N-FIER). The project is intended to rehabilitate the portion of existing Kabul – Mazar highway located in Tangi Tashqurghan valley of Khulm district and will also construct a 401m long RCC retaining wall which will help to re-link the provinces with northern parts and will reduce travel times and transport costs for the people traveling through and the communities living around the project area, it will therefore support inclusive economic growth. ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS 2. The topography of the project area is characterized as hilly and mountainous terrain. The geological formations in the project area mainly consist of pebbles, conglomerates, sandstone, siltstones,