Initial Environmental Examination for new SHPP schemes October 2013 Samoa Renewable Development and Power Rehabilitation Project Preparation Technical Assistance – 46044-002 Prepared by STR + P&P for the Asian Development Bank II 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. III Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank ASL Above Sea Level CEAR Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Report CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan COEP Codes of Environmental Practice DEC Division of Environment and conservation EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental management plan EPC Electric Power Corporation FD Forest Division GHG Greenhouse gas GoS Government of Samoa IEA Initial Environmental Assessment IEE Initial environmental examination KBA s Key Biodiversity Area kW Kilowatt MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries MFAT Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade MNRE Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment MOF Ministry of Finances MW Megawatt MWCSD Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development MWTI Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure NGO Non-government organisation NUS National University of Samoa PEAR Preliminary Environmental Assessment Report PMU Project management unit PSEP ADB Power Sector Expansion Project PUMA Planning and Urban Management Act 2004 SPESP Samoa Power Expansion Project Sector Project SPREP South Pacific Regional environmental Program SROS Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa USP University of South Pacific WRD Water Resources Division IV TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 1 2. Background ..................................................................................................................... 4 3. Project description ........................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Component 1: Implementation of 5 SHPP schemes ................................................ 7 3.1.1 Fuluasou ............................................................................................................ 7 3.1.2 Tiapapata .......................................................................................................... 7 3.1.3 Faleaseela ......................................................................................................... 8 3.1.4 Faleata .............................................................................................................. 8 3.1.5 Tafitoala ............................................................................................................. 9 3.1.6 Vaipu ................................................................................................................. 9 3.1.7 Vaisigano ......................................................................................................... 10 4. Institutional, Regulatory frameworks and Policies ......................................................... 12 4.1 Institutional framework ............................................................................................ 12 4.1.1 The other relevant institutions directly concerned by the project are: ............. 12 4.2 Legal framework ..................................................................................................... 14 4.2.1 Lands, Surveys and Environment Act 1989 .................................................... 14 4.2.2 Planning and Urban Management Act 2004 ................................................... 14 4.2.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2007 .................................... 14 4.2.4 Water permit and water management Act ....................................................... 16 4.2.5 Forest act ........................................................................................................ 16 4.2.6 Samoa Codes of Environmental Practice 2006 ............................................... 16 4.2.7 Security and Emergency ................................................................................. 17 4.2.8 Obtaining permit for new HPP ......................................................................... 17 4.2.9 Protection of Wildlife Regulations 2004 ........................................................... 19 4.3 Policies ................................................................................................................... 19 4.3.1 Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Policy 2004 ................................ 20 4.3.2 Planning for Climate Change Policy ................................................................ 20 4.3.3 Policy Statement on Biological Diversity ......................................................... 20 4.3.4 Statement of Economic Strategy (SES) 2000 – 2001 ..................................... 20 4.3.5 Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2008 -2012 ........................... 20 4.3.6 Energy Sector Plan 2012 - 2016 ..................................................................... 20 4.4 Relevant International Agreements ........................................................................ 21 4.5 Relevance of Legal, Policy, and Administrative Frameworks ................................. 21 4.6 ADB requirements .................................................................................................. 22 4.6.1 Environmental Requirements .......................................................................... 22 4.6.2 Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines 2002 ....................................... 22 5. Description of the environment ..................................................................................... 24 5.1 Biophysical ............................................................................................................. 24 5.1.1 Climate ............................................................................................................ 24 5.1.2 Geography ....................................................................................................... 24 5.1.3 Geology ........................................................................................................... 24 5.1.4 Ecology ............................................................................................................ 25 5.1.5 Flora ................................................................................................................ 25 5.1.6 Avifauna .......................................................................................................... 26 5.1.7 Fauna .............................................................................................................. 27 5.2 Protected Area and Key Biological Areas ............................................................... 27 5.3 Socio-economic ...................................................................................................... 28 5.3.1 Economy ......................................................................................................... 28 5.3.2 Transport ......................................................................................................... 28 5.3.3 Water Sources ................................................................................................. 29 5.3.4 Energy ............................................................................................................. 29 V 5.3.5 Landuse ........................................................................................................... 32 5.3.6 Land ownership ............................................................................................... 33 5.3.7 Cultural heritage .............................................................................................. 33 6. Environmental impacts and mitigation measures .......................................................... 35 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 35 6.2 Environmental impacts ........................................................................................... 35 6.3 Mitigation measures ............................................................................................... 36 6.4 Environmental monitoring ....................................................................................... 37 6.4.1 Monitoring program ......................................................................................... 37 6.4.2 Monitoring parameters .................................................................................... 37 6.4.3 Monitoring management .................................................................................. 37 6.4.4 Monitoring costs .............................................................................................. 37 6.5 Implementation responsibilities .............................................................................. 38 6.6 Fuluasou ................................................................................................................