Initial Environmental Examination

October 2017

Lao PDR: Greater Mekong Subregion East-West

Economic Corridor Towns Development Project

Prepared by the Provincial Department of Public Works and Transport, Province, Lao PDR for the Asian Development Bank. This is an updated version of the document originally posted in July 2012 available on https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project- document/73477/43319-022-lao-iee-01.pdf

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CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 13 March 2017; http://www.bol.gov.la/english/index1.php) Currency unit – kip (LAK) LAK1.00 = $0.00012 $1.00 = LAK8,200

ABBREVIATIONS AH – Affected Household AP – Affected People CTDP – Corridor Towns Development Project DBTZA – Dansavanh Border Trade Zone Authority DED – Detailed Engineering Design DoF – Department of Forestry DPRA – Development Project Responsible Agency DPWT – District Public Works and Transport Office DNREO – District Natural Resource and Environment Office EA – Environmental Assessment EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment ECA – Environmental Compliance Audit ECC – Environmental Compliance Certificate ECO – Environmental Control Officer EMP – Environmental Management Plan EMMU – Environment Management and Monitoring Unit ESD – Environment and Social Division ESIA – Environment and Social Impact Assessment ESO – Environmental Site Officer EA – Executing Agency EWEC – East-West Economic Corridor FDI – Foreign Direct Investment FGD – Focus Group Discussion FS – Forest Strategy FYSEDP – Five Year Socio Economic Development Plan GDP – Gross Domestic Product GMS – Greater Mekong Subregion GoL – Government of Lao PDR IA – Implementing Agency IEE – Initial Environmental Examination IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature IWRM – Integrated Water Resource Management Lao PDR – ’s Democratic Republic LFA – Land and Forest Allocation LFNC - Lao Front for National Consolidation LWU – Lao Women Union MAF – Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry MAF – Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry MIC – Ministry of Information and Culture MIH – Ministry of Industry and Handicraft MoU – Memorandum of Understanding MoF – Ministry of Financial

MONRE – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment MPCTC – Ministry of Post, Construction, Transport and Communication MPWT – Ministry of Public Works and Transport MPI – Ministry of Planning and Investment MRF – Materials Recovery Facilities MRC – Mekong River Commission NAPA – National Adaptation Plan of Action NBSAP – National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NGOs – Non-Governmental Organization NLMA – National Land Management Authority NPA – National Protected Area NSEDP – National Socio Economic Development Plan NTA – National Tourism Authority NTFP – Non-Timber Forest Product NUSS – National Urban Sector Strategic O&M – Operation and Maintenance PAFO – Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office PCR – Physical Cultural Resources PES – Project Environment Specialist PEI – Poverty Environment Initiative PIC – Provincial Information and Cultural Office PIU – Project Implementation Unit PMU – Project Management Unit PCU – Project Coordination Unit PNREO – Provincial Natural Resource and Environment Office PLMO – Provincial Land Management Office PPI – Provincial Planning and Investment Office PPH – Provincial Public Health Office PPA – Provincial Protected Area PPP – Public Private Partnership PSA Poverty and Social Assessment PTO – Provincial Tourism Office PWREO – Provincial Water Resources and Environment Office RBC – River Basin Committee REA – Rapid Environment Assessment RoW Right of Way TSS – Total Suspended Solids SEC – Socio-Economic and Culture SSEZ Support to Infrastructure for Special Economic Zone UDAA – Urban Development and Administration Authority UXO – Unexploded Ordnance WREA