Draft Initial Environmental Examination September 2011 NEP: Integrated Urban Development Project- Nepalganj Municipality Prepared by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works for the Asian Development Bank. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 5 August 2011) Currency unit – Nepalese rupee (NRs/NRe) NRs1.00 = $0.01391 $1.00 = NRs 71.874 ABBREVIATIONS ADB - Asian Development Bank AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora DOR - Department of Roads DSC - Design and Supervision Consultants DSWSS - Department of Water Supply and Sewerage DUDBC - Department of Urban Development and Building Construction DWEC - District Wage Evaluation Committee EARF - Environmental Assessment and Review Framework EIA - Environmental Impact Assessments EIA - environmental impact assessment EMEP - Environmental Mitigation Execution Plan EMP - Environmental Management Plan EPA - Environment Protection Act EPR - Environment Protection Rules GRC - Grievance Redress Mechanism HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus IEE - Initial Environmental Examination MLD - Ministry of Local Development MOE - Ministry of Environment MOE - Ministry of Environment MOF - Ministry of Finance MPMC - Municipal Project Management Committee MPPW - Ministry of Physical Planning and Works NDWQS - National Drinking Water Quality Standards NGO - Non-Government Oranization NTFP - non-timber forest products NWSC - Nepal Water Supply Corporation OHS - Occupational Health and Safety PCO - project coordination office PIU - Project Implementation Unit PPE - personal protection equipment PPTA - Project Preparatory Technical Assistance REA - Rapid Environmental Assessments SPS - Safeguard Policy Statement STD - sexually transmitted disease SWM - solid waste management SWMTSC - Solid Waste Management Technical Support Center TOR - Terms of Reference WSTFC - Water Supply Tariff Fixation Commission WUA - Water User Association WEIGHTS AND MEASURES cm – centimeter cm/sec – centimeter per second dbA – decibels ha – hectare k – kilometer km – kilometer m – meter mm – millimeter NOTE In this report, "$" 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. 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 A. Purpose of the Report 1 B. Basis and extent of the IEE study 2 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 5 A. Type, and Need of the Subprojects 5 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 10 A. Physical Resources 10 IV. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 17 A. Drainage Improvements 17 B. City Roads 24 C. Sanitary Landfill 30 V. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND PARTICIPATION 39 VI. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM (GRC) .41 VII. ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) .44 A. Mitigation and monitoring 44 B. Responsibilities for Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................................59 VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 64 APPENDIXES 1. Drainage: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 65 2. Urban Development: Rehabilitation of City Roads: Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist 68 3. National Drinking Water Quality Standards (2062 B.S.) 75 4. Environment Related Acts and Regulations in Nepal 76 5. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nepal 78 6. Recommended Noise Exposure Limits for the Work Environment (adopted from Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) 79 7. Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard, 2056 (1999) 80 8. Recommended Standards for Vibration from Construction Sites 86 9. Tolerance Limits for Wastewater to be Discharged into Inland Surface Waters From Combined Wastewater Treatment Plant (Generic Standards) 87 10. Public Comments/Suggestions including Attendances during the Focus Group Discussions 88 11. Municipal Board Meeting Represented by all Political Parties 100 12. Sample Environmental Monitoring Report Template 103 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 The Government of Nepal requested a loan and grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Integrated Urban Development Project. The purpose of this Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is to examine the proposed infrastructure components in Nepalganj Municipality to ensure that they will not damage the environment, and to provide guidance for their planning, construction and operation. In the environmental assessment, potential environmental impacts are identified, their significance assessed, and strategies devised to avoid these impacts or reduce them to an acceptable level. These strategies (called ―mitigation measures‖) are then incorporated into the Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The EMP assigns responsibilities, timescales, and performance indicators/standards for each mitigation measure—to make sure that they are implemented and not ignored. An environmental monitoring plan is also added. This recommends protocols and responsibilities for monitoring the operation of the project, within a range of relevant and agreed performance indicators. The project will be implemented by the Nepalganj Municipality with support from the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works. 2 In Nepalganj Municipality, the following sub-project/components are proposed: (i) stormwater drainage; (ii) roads and lanes improvements and (iii) solid waste management. Community Development Programs will be defined during implementation in poverty pockets, and will be guided by the Environmental Assessment and Review Framework prepared for the project. The subproject will help achieve higher and more socially inclusive economic growth through effective, efficient, and reliable delivery of improved and affordable municipal services by the Municipality to its citizens. 3 The Government of Nepal’s legislation and ADB policy require that the environmental impacts of development projects are identified and assessed as part of the planning and design processes, and that action is taken to reduce those impacts to acceptable levels. This is done through the environmental assessment process, which has become an integral part of lending operations and project development and implementation worldwide. 4 Overall, the impacts of the subprojects will be very positive for the environment and the public if they are properly implemented and environmental issues duly considered. Some negative impacts are anticipated during construction but in specific areas and for short duration (dust, noise, traffic problems, etc.). It is expected that the adverse environmental impacts of the planned subprojects will in general not be significant and can be easily and reasonably mitigated and prevented through adequate mitigation measures and regular monitoring during the design, construction and operation phases. This IEE will be disclosed on ADB’s website and within the Project Implementation Units in Nepalganj and Project the Coordination Office in the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction. I. INTRODUCTION A. Purpose of the Report 1. The Government of Nepal requested a loan and grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Integrated Urban Development Project. The Project aims to improve quality of life and to help achieve higher and socially inclusive economic growth in four key municipalities in Nepal, Nepalgunj, Siddarthanagar, Janakpur and Dharan, through improved and affordable municipal services delivered effectively, efficiently and reliably by accountable local bodies. The Project will implement urban environmental improvement, on an integrated basis, in the areas of drainage, municipal roads, solid waste management, and water supply. 2. In Nepalgunj municipality, the following components are proposed: (i) stormwater drainage; (ii) roads and lanes improvements, (iii) solid waste management, and (iv) community development programs.Community Development Programs will be defined during implementation in poverty pockets, and will be guided by the Environmental Assessment and Review Framework prepared for the project. Table 1 provides a summary of the proposed components in Nepalgunj municipality. Table 1: Nepalgunj Project Components Stormwater Drainage Rehabilitation of the existing system Improvement in the cross-sectional area of the Dondra Nala (L=11 km) Improvement of 3.2 km of earthen drain from Karkanda to Dondra Nala Construction of 1.8km of lined drain up to Dondra Nala on the road to Paraspur. Lining of 1.06 km of earthen drain from Ganesh Man Chowck Downstream improvement of the main drain from Bageswori Temple (L= 0.9 km) Improvement of 3 nos. of culverts Phultekra and Water park water retaining ponds improvement (Area = 14ha) Cleaning of the existing drain (L = 16 km) Covering of the open lined drains within the city core (L=4.2 km) Ganeshpur-Bageswori natural watercourse improvement (L= 2.5 km) Improvement of Rataihiya Nala (L=5.3 km) Construction of new drains Construction of 4.1km of open lined diversion drain to Amila Khola Construction of 4.2km of diversion drain to Dundawa Nadi Construction of 2.8 km of new drains in ward no. 12 and 17 Construction