Environmental and Social Impact Assessments for Belmopan Sanitary Transfer Station Draft Report on the Environmental and Social Impact Study Ministry of Natural Resources Belmopan December 4, 2015 Environmental and Social Impact Assessments for Belmopan Sanitary Transfer Station Draft Report on the Environmental and Social Impact Study Contacts: Ismael Fabro M.Sc., Managing Director and Environmental Specialist Belize Environmental Technologies Ltd 2216 Juliet Soberanis Street Belama Phase I, Belize City Tel: 501-223-1819 Cell: 615-1957 Cover Design and Photographs: Juan R. Rancharan – Waste Picker on his way to recover a metal rim Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: PROJECT DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Consultancy ....................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 Scope of Services ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Property Description And Access ....................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 General Location and Description............................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Description of the Dump Site ...................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Operation of the Site ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Waste Pickers .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Proposed Transfer Station ............................................................................................................... 11 1.6.1 Basic Design Criteria ................................................................................................................. 11 1.6.2 Transfer Station Specifications ................................................................................................. 17 CHAPTER 2: SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ROAD SAFETY BACKGROUND .......................................................... 19 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 19 2.2 Belize Road Safety ........................................................................................................................... 20 2.3 Waste Generated and Disposal ....................................................................................................... 22 2.4 Population Affected ......................................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 3: POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................................................... 26 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2 National Environmental Institutional Framework ........................................................................... 26 3.3 National Environmental Legislative Framework .............................................................................. 29 3.4 Summary of Most Pertinent Legislations ......................................................................................... 33 3.4.1 The Environmental Protection Act ............................................................................................ 33 3.4.2 Solid Waste Management Authority Act .................................................................................. 48 3.4.3 The Public Health Act, Cap. 40 Rev. 2000 ................................................................................. 49 3.4.4 Town Council Act Chapter 87 Revised Edition 2000 ................................................................. 49 3.4.5 Village Councils Act Chapter 88 Revised Edition 2000 .............................................................. 50 3.4.6 Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act (Chapter 98) Revised Edition 2003. .................................. 51 3.5 Socio-Economic Legislation ............................................................................................................. 51 3.5.1 The Labour Act .......................................................................................................................... 51 3.5.2 Workmen Compensation Act .................................................................................................... 51 3.5.3 International Labour Organization Conventions Act ................................................................. 51 3.5.4 Social Security Act ..................................................................................................................... 52 3.5.5 National Occupational Safety and Health Bill ........................................................................... 52 3.5.6 Dangerous Goods Act ............................................................................................................... 52 3.5.7 Public Health Act ...................................................................................................................... 52 3.5.8 National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) Act ................................................................ 52 3.5.9 Public Roads Act ....................................................................................................................... 53 3.5.10 Land Acquisition (Public Purposes) Act ................................................................................... 53 3.6 National Advisory Policies and Strategic Plans ................................................................................ 54 3.6.1 National Environmental Policy .................................................................................................. 54 3.6.2 National Solid Waste Management Policy ................................................................................ 55 3.6.3 National Culture Policy (Draft) .................................................................................................. 55 3.6.4 National Gender Policy ............................................................................................................. 55 3.6.5 Belize Horizon 2030 .................................................................................................................. 55 3.6.6 National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan for Belize 2030 ...................................................... 55 3.6.7 Government of Belize Policy on Adaptation to Climate Change ............................................... 56 3.7 Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies of the IDB .................................................................. 56 3.7.1 Environmental and Social Safeguard Compliance Policy .......................................................... 56 3.7.2 Disaster Risk Management Policy ............................................................................................. 56 3.7.3 Involuntary Resettlement Policy ............................................................................................... 56 3.7.4 Gender Equality in Development Policy.................................................................................... 57 3.7.5 Access to Information Policy ..................................................................................................... 57 3.8 Multilateral Environmental Agreements ......................................................................................... 57 3.9 Permits and Licenses ....................................................................................................................... 58 CHAPTER 4: ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS .................................................................................................. 59 4.1 Geology of Study Area ..................................................................................................................... 59 4.1.1 General Geology ....................................................................................................................... 59 4.1.2 Tectonics ................................................................................................................................... 61 4.1.3 Topography and Drainage Patterns .......................................................................................... 61 4.2 Land Use .......................................................................................................................................... 64 4.3 Soils of Project Area ......................................................................................................................... 65 4.4 Overview of the Hydrology of the Project Area ............................................................................... 66 4.4.1 The Greater Belize River Basin .................................................................................................. 66 4.4.2 Barton &Roaring Creeks Sub-catchment of Belize River ..........................................................