Initial Environmental Examination October 2018 Myanmar: Greater Mekong Subregion Highway Modernization Project Prepared by the Ministry of Construction for the Asian Development Bank. This is an updated version of the IEE posted in September 2017 and available on www.adb.org/projects/documents/mya-47087-003-iee CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 8 October 2018) Currency unit – Myanmar Kyat (MK) MK1.00 = $ 0.00074 $1.00 = MK 1,510 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank AP – Action Plan CEMP – Contractor Environmental Management Plan COI – Corridor of Impact CSC – Construction Supervision Consultant (also called the “Engineer”) dB(A) – A-weighted sound scale DO – dissolved oxygen EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment EMP – Environmental Management Plan EMR – Environmental Management Report ESSRSS – Environment, Social Safeguards and Road Safety Section (of DOH) GRM – Grievance Redress Mechanism IEE – Initial Environmental Examination IES – International Environmental Specialist km – kilometer m – metre or meter mm – millimeter m3 – cubic meter MIMU – Myanmar Information Management Unit MONREC – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation MOC – Ministry of Construction NES – National Environmental Specialist NPT – Nay Pyi Taw PMU – Project Management Unit PMU – Project Management Unit – Safeguards Officer PPE – personal protective equipment PY – person-years ROW – right-of-way SPS – Safeguards Policy Statement TA – Technical Assistance WB – World Bank WHO – World Health Organisation WEIGHTS AND MEASURES oC – degree Celsius dB – decibel Km – Kilometer Kph – Kilometer per hour LAeq – Equivalent Continuous Level ‘A weighting’ - ‘A’- weighting = correction by factors that weight sound to correlate with the sensitivity of the human ear to sounds at different frequencies m – meter NOTE (i) In this report, “$” refers to US dollars. 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. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .................................................20 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................20 1.2 Myanmar Environmental Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework....................20 1.2.1 Environmental Conservation Department of MONREC .............................21 1.2.2 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure (29 December 2015) .........21 1.3 ADB Safeguard Policy Statement 2009...................................................................22 1.4 Screening and Categorization .................................................................................22 1.4.1 Myanmar Requirements for Screening and Categorization .......................22 1.4.2 ADB Requirements for Screening and Categorization ...............................23 1.4.3 Environmental Categorization under the Myanmar EIA Procedure (2015) .......................................................................................................23 1.4.4 ADB Environmental Categorization ...........................................................23 1.4.5 Assessment of Environmental Safeguard Capacity of Department of Highways ..................................................................................................23 1.4.6 Environmental, Health, and Safety Standards ...........................................24 CHAPTER 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ...........................................................................25 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................25 2.2 Rehabilitation of the Bago–Thanlyin Highway .........................................................26 2.3 Existing Yangon–Mandalay Expressway Improvement ...........................................29 2.4 Sources and Transport of Construction Materials ...................................................32 2.5 Project Facilities, Borrow Pits, and Material Storage Sites ......................................33 2.6 Traffic Projections ...................................................................................................33 2.7 Alternatives .............................................................................................................35 CHAPTER 3 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................................36 3.1 Bago–Thanlyin Highway .........................................................................................36 3.1.1 Physical Environment ................................................................................36 3.1.2 Biological Environment ..............................................................................41 3.1.3 Socio-Economic Environment ...................................................................42 3.2 Yangon–Mandalay Expressway Improvements .......................................................47 3.2.1 Physical Environment ................................................................................47 3.2.2 Biological Environment ..............................................................................49 3.2.3 Socio-Economic ........................................................................................50 CHAPTER 4 INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS ..................................................................................................52 i 4.1 Rehabilitation of the Bago–Thanlyin Highway .........................................................52 4.1.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................52 4.1.2 Public Consultations – 12 and 13 December 2016 ....................................52 4.1.3 Questionnaire ............................................................................................54 4.1.4 Community Discussions: Bago–Thanlyin Highway, 24/27 April 2017 ........55 4.2 Yangon–Mandalay Expressway Improvements .......................................................61 4.3 Grievance Redress Mechanism ..............................................................................61 4.3.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................61 4.3.2 Objectives of Grievance Redress Mechanism ...........................................61 4.3.3 GRM Process and Timeframes .................................................................61 4.3.4 Responsibilities of PCO .............................................................................63 CHAPTER 5 ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .......................................................................................................65 5.1 Positive Impact and Environmental Benefits ...........................................................65 5.2 Environmental Impact Screening ............................................................................65 5.2.1 Methodology .............................................................................................65 5.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures: Design and Pre-Construction ............................69 5.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures: Project Construction Phase ...............................69 5.4.1 Water Quality ............................................................................................69 5.4.2 Soil Resources ..........................................................................................71 5.4.3 Air Quality .................................................................................................72 5.4.4 Solid Waste Management .........................................................................73 5.4.5 Construction Camps ..................................................................................74 5.4.6 Noise and Vibration ...................................................................................75 5.4.7 Visual Impacts ...........................................................................................77 5.4.8 Impacts on Aquatic Fauna .........................................................................77 5.4.9 Impacts on Flora .......................................................................................77 5.4.10 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................79 5.4.11 Occupation Health and Safety ...................................................................79 5.4.12 Community Health and Safety ...................................................................80 5.4.13 Emergency Response ...............................................................................81 5.4.14 Traffic Management ..................................................................................81 5.4.15 Utilities Relocation .....................................................................................81