Initial Environmental Examination August 2013 TIM: Road Network Upgrading Sector Project Initial Environmental Examination TIM: Road Network Upgrading Sector Project Road A-09 Manatuto– Natabora Road This environmental assessment 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. RNUSP: Manatuto – Natabora Road A-09 Page | i Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 THE SECTOR PROJECT .................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE OF IEE ................................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 Structure of the Report .............................................................................................................. 2 2. LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................. 3 2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN TIMOR-LESTE ............................................................................................ 3 2.2 SAFEGUARD POLICY STATEMENT ..................................................................................................... 5 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUB-PROJECT ............................................................................................ 6 3.1 BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE SUB-PROJECT ............................................................................. 6 3.2 LOCATION ....................................................................................................................................... 6 3.3 PROPOSED WORKS ......................................................................................................................... 7 4. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................ 12 4.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE CONDITIONS ............................................................................ 12 4.1.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................ 12 4.1.2 Meteorology and Climate ........................................................................................................ 12 4.1.3 Extreme Weather Events ........................................................................................................ 14 4.1.4 Seismicity ................................................................................................................................ 15 4.1.5 Topography ............................................................................................................................. 15 4.1.6 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................... 16 4.1.7 Hydrology and Water Resources ............................................................................................ 19 4.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE CONDITIONS ......................................................................... 20 4.2.1 Vegetation Cover and Flora .................................................................................................... 20 4.2.2 Protected Areas and Important Bird Areas ............................................................................. 20 4.2.3 Fauna ...................................................................................................................................... 21 4.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT BASELINE CONDITIONS ............................................................... 23 4.3.1 Population and Demography ................................................................................................... 23 4.3.2 Livelihoods and Poverty .......................................................................................................... 23 4.3.3 Noise ....................................................................................................................................... 24 4.3.4 Access to Social Infrastructure and Facilities ......................................................................... 24 5. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION MEASURES ................................... 26 5.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 26 5.2 PRE-CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ....................................................................................................... 26 5.2.1 Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience ........................................................................... 26 5.2.2 Vegetation Removal during Surveying and Demarcation ....................................................... 28 5.2.3 Accidental Discovery of Physical Cultural Resources ............................................................. 29 5.2.4 Restrictions on Use of Land .................................................................................................... 29 5.2.5 Mobilization of the Contractor and Construction Camp .......................................................... 29 5.3 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................... 31 5.3.1 Impacts on Air Quality ............................................................................................................. 31 5.3.2 Works in or Adjacent to Rivers and Streams .......................................................................... 32 5.3.3 Impacts from Materials Extraction ........................................................................................... 33 5.3.4 Impacts from Spoil Disposal .................................................................................................... 34 5.3.5 Impacts on Water Resources .................................................................................................. 35 5.3.6 Impacts on Water Quality ........................................................................................................ 36 RNUSP: Manatuto – Natabora Road A-09 Page | ii 5.3.7 Soil Impacts and Erosion ........................................................................................................ 37 5.3.8 Waste Management ................................................................................................................ 39 5.3.9 Hazardous Materials and Waste Disposal .............................................................................. 39 5.3.10 Emergency Response ......................................................................................................... 41 5.3.11 Effects on Existing Services and Infrastructure .................................................................. 41 5.4 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ......................................................... 42 5.4.1 Impacts on Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................... 42 5.4.2 Impacts on Protected or Sensitive Areas ................................................................................ 43 5.5 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................... 43 5.5.1 Impacts on Noise Levels ......................................................................................................... 43 5.5.2 Impacts on Access and Traffic Safety ..................................................................................... 44 5.5.3 Impacts on Worker Health and Safety .................................................................................... 45 5.5.4 Impacts on Community Health and Safety .............................................................................. 46 5.5.5 Impacts on Physical Cultural Resources ................................................................................ 48 5.6 OPERATION IMPACTS ON PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................... 48 5.6.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................ 48 5.6.2 Run-off and Soil Erosion ......................................................................................................... 49 5.6.3 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................... 49 5.6.4 Routine and Ongoing Maintenance......................................................................................... 49 5.7 OPERATION IMPACTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................ 50 5.7.1 Effects on Flora and Fauna ....................................................................................................