Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 48325-001 January 2015 PHI: 150 MW Burgos Wind Farm Project Prepared by EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation for EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation and the Asian Development Bank. The 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. Your attention is directed to the “Terms of Use” section of this website. 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. 1 | P a g e 150 MW BURGOS WIND FARM PROJECT January 2015 2 | P a g e Contents A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 7 B. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 9 Background ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Overview and status of the Burgos Wind Project ............................................................................... 9 Existing wind/energy projects .............................................................................................................. 11 Project need ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Purpose and structure of the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) ........................................ 13 C. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK .......................................... 14 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 14 National Policy, Legal and Regulatory Requirements ...................................................................... 14 Asian Development Bank (ADB) Safeguard Requirements ............................................................. 15 Project Category ..................................................................................................................................... 16 D. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ............................................................................ 18 EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation ................................................................................................ 18 Project location ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Potential Impact areas ............................................................................................................................ 18 Project features ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Wind turbines........................................................................................................................................... 21 Ancillary buildings and access roads ................................................................................................. 22 Substation and transmission line ........................................................................................................ 22 Temporary construction facilities ........................................................................................................ 23 Project phases and schedule ................................................................................................................ 23 Employment ............................................................................................................................................. 25 Tourist areas ............................................................................................................................................ 25 E. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BASELINE DATA) ..................................... 26 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................... 26 Noise ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Biodiversity and Conservation ............................................................................................................. 29 Drainage and Hydrogeology ................................................................................................................. 34 Soil, Water Quality, and Geology ......................................................................................................... 37 Air Quality and Meteorology ................................................................................................................. 40 Heritage and Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 44 Traffic, Access, and Safety Assessment ............................................................................................ 46 F. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .............. 48 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................... 48 Noise ......................................................................................................................................................... 48 Biodiversity and Conservation ............................................................................................................. 51 Drainage and Hydrogeology ................................................................................................................. 53 Soil, Water Quality, and Geology ......................................................................................................... 53 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................. 56 Climate Change Assessment and Adaptation ................................................................................... 57 Heritage and Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 58 Traffic, Access, and Safety Assessment ............................................................................................ 58 Tourism ..................................................................................................................................................... 59 Visual Impact ........................................................................................................................................... 60 Shadow Flicker ........................................................................................................................................ 63 Electromagnetic Interference ................................................................................................................ 66 G. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................... 67 No project scenario ................................................................................................................................ 67 Alternative design ................................................................................................................................... 67 Alternative location ................................................................................................................................. 67 3 | P a g e H. INFORMATION, DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND PARTICIPATION .................. 69 I. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ...................................................................... 76 J. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................ 79 K. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE .......................................................................... 105 L. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 113 M. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 114 4 | P a g e LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Summary of ambient noise levels (dBA). .....................................................................27 Table 2. Slope and soil classification in some barangays in Burgos. .........................................38 Table 3. Seasonal temperature increase in Region 1. ...............................................................43 Table 4. Seasonal rainfall change in Region 1. .........................................................................44 Table 5. Seasonal frequency of extreme events in 2020 and 2050 in Region 1.........................44 Table 6. Summary Matrix of the Noise Monitoring and Mitigation Program. ..............................50 Table 7. Summary Matrix of the Visual Impact Monitoring and Mitigation Program ...................63 Table 8. Assessment criteria for shadow flicker. ........................................................................64