SFG3808 V1 Public Disclosure Authorized Ministry of Transport Egyptian National railways Egypt National Railways Restructuring Project Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study October 2017 Phase 1: Bani Sweif – Assiut Public Disclosure Authorized (Prepared in 2008 by Environmental Quality International) Phase 2: Assiut – Nag’ Hammadi (Prepared in 2017) ESIA of Bani Sweif – Assuit and additional phase of Assuit – Sohag - Nag’ Hammadi Signaling System ESIA Report TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................ 4 TABLE OF TABLES............................................................................................................ 5 TABLE OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 7 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 8 1.1 Project Objectives and Description ........................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Legal and Institutional Aspects ............................................................................................................... 10 1.2.1 Relevant Egyptian Legislations. .......................................................................................................... 12 1.2.2 Relevant World Bank Policies ............................................................................................................ 14 1.3 Analysis of Alternatives ............................................................................................................................ 15 1.4 Significant Impacts ................................................................................................................................... 17 1.4.1 Socio-economic impacts ..................................................................................................................... 17 1.4.2 Air Quality impacts ............................................................................................................................. 19 1.4.3 Noise impacts ...................................................................................................................................... 19 1.4.4 Surface Water ...................................................................................................................................... 21 1.4.5 Solid Hazardous and non-hazardous Waste Impacts ........................................................................... 22 1.4.6 Biodiversity ......................................................................................................................................... 25 1.4.7 Occupational Health & safety ............................................................................................................ 25 1.5 Environmental & Social Management Plan ........................................................................................... 26 1.6 Public Consultation ................................................................................................................................... 45 2.0 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................. 49 2.1 Relevant Egyptian Laws and Regulations ............................................................................................. 49 2.2 Relevant World Bank Policies ................................................................................................................ 50 2.3 Administrative framework ...................................................................................................................... 67 3.0 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION ..................................................... 69 3.1 Background .............................................................................................................................................. 69 3.2 Additional services, land and development requirements .................................................................... 74 4.0 BASELINE DATA ........................................................................................................ 76 4.1 Geographical scope .................................................................................................................................. 76 4.2 The Physical and Biological Setting ....................................................................................................... 79 4.2.1 Geomorphology .................................................................................................................................. 79 4.2.2 Climate ................................................................................................................................................ 79 4.2.3 Noise ................................................................................................................................................... 81 4.2.4 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 82 4.2.5 Soil and Ground Water pollution ........................................................................................................ 83 4.2.6 Biodiversity ......................................................................................................................................... 83 4.3 The Socio-economic setting ..................................................................................................................... 84 4.3.1 Socio-economic profile of the project area ......................................................................................... 85 4.3.2 Land Allocation for the CTC in Sohag ............................................................................................... 86 5.0 IDENTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS ............ 88 5.1 Data sources ............................................................................................................................................. 88 5.2 Impact Prediction .................................................................................................................................... 89 5.2.1 Identification of key impact areas ....................................................................................................... 90 5.2.2 Identification of key project activities ................................................................................................. 93 5.3 Environmental Impact Assessment methodology ................................................................................. 95 6.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE ACTIVITIES ........................... 98 6.1 Public consultation meetings ................................................................................................................... 99 Environmental Quality International 2 ESIA of Bani Sweif – Assuit and additional phase of Assuit – Sohag - Nag’ Hammadi Signaling System ESIA Report 7.0 ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS .................. 100 7.1 Air Quality Impacts .............................................................................................................................. 100 7.3 Surface Water ........................................................................................................................................ 105 7.5 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................. 110 7.6 Occupational Health & safety .............................................................................................................. 111 7.7 Land Acquisition impacts............................................................................. 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Bookmark not defined. 7.8 Socio-economic impacts ......................................................................................................................... 113 7.8.1 Local residents of communities adjacent to the train corridor .......................................................... 113 7.8.2 Train Users ........................................................................................................................................ 114 7.8.3 Level Crossing Users ........................................................................................................................ 115 8.0 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................... 118 8.1 Alternative 1: No action......................................................................................................................... 118 8.2 Alternative 2: Implementation of the proposed project. ................................................................... 118 9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ....................................................... 121 9.1 Institutional Aspects .............................................................................................................................. 121 9.2 Environmental and Social Aspects ....................................................................................................... 126 9.2.1 Construction phase impacts ............................................................................................................... 126 9.2.2 Operation and maintenance