Initial Environmental Examination April 2011 VIE: Transport Connections in Northern Mountainous Provinces Project (Ha Giang Province) Prepared by the People’s Committee of Ha Giang Province for the Asian Development Bank ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank BOD – biological oxygen demand DARD – Department of Agriculture and Rural Development DCI – Department of Culture and Information DDC – detailed design consultants DMP – Drainage Management Plan DO – dissolved oxygen DONRE – Department of Natural Resources and Environment EA – executing agency ECP – erosion control plan EIA – environmental impact assessment EMP – environmental management plan ESO – environment and safety officer FPD – Provincial Forest Protection Department GRC – grievance redress committee GOV – Government of Viet Nam HIV-AIDS – human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immune deficiency syndrome IEE – initial environmental examination JCC – joint coordination committee for Transport Connections in Northern Mountainous Provinces Project: project implementation stage MARD – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MMP – materials management plan MONRE – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment MOT – Ministry of Transport NDCP – noise and dust control plan NGO – non-governmental organization NPOSF – Nui Pia Oac Special Use Forest PCC – project coordinating consultant PDOT – Provincial Department of Transport PPMU – provincial project management unit PPC – Provincial Peoples’ Committee PPE – personal protective equipment PSC – project supervision consultant REA – rapid environmental assessment ROW – right-of-way RP – resettlement plan RRP – Report and Recommendation of the President SC – steering committee for Transport Connections in Northern Mountainous Provinces Project: loan processing stage SEMP – specific environmental management plans SPS – ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) SR – sensitive receiver TA – technical assistance TCNMP – Transport Connections in Northern Mountainous Provinces TCVN and – national technical standards of Viet Nam QCVN TOR – terms of reference TRP – tree-cutting and replanting plan TSS – total suspended solids TSP – total suspended particulates TTMP – temporary transport management plan UIRP – utilities and irrigation reprovisioning plan UXO – unexploded ordnance WMSDP – waste management and spoil disposal plan WPSP – workers and public safety plan WEIGHTS AND MEASURES dB(A) – decibel (A-weighted) ha – hectare km – kilometer km/h – kilometer per hour m – meter m2 – square meter m3 – cubic meter masl – meter above sea level mg/l – milligram per liter mg/m3 – milligram per cubic meter MPN/100ml – most probable number per 100 milliliter 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. CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................... 1 A Overview .........................................................................................................1 B Policy, Legal And Administrative Framework ............................................. 1 C Description of the Project .............................................................................2 D Description of the Environment ................................................................... 2 E Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................. 3 F Information Disclosure, Consultation and Participation ............................ 4 G Grievance Redress Mechanism .................................................................... 5 H Environmental Management Plan ................................................................ 5 I Conclusion and Recommendations .............................................................6 II. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ................................................ 9 A Environmental Regulatory Compliance .......................................................9 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .................................................. 11 A Background ..................................................................................................11 B Existing Road ...............................................................................................11 C Proposed upgrading .................................................................................... 12 D Proposed bridge improvements and culverts ........................................... 13 E Implementation Schedule ........................................................................... 13 IV. DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENT ................................................. 17 A Physical Environment ................................................................................. 17 B Biological Environment ............................................................................... 21 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ...................................................................................... 32 A Design / Pre-Construction Phase ...............................................................32 B Construction Phase .....................................................................................39 C Operational Phase .......................................................................................56 D Cumulative Environmental Impact Associated with the Project Locations .......................................................................................................................57 VI. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION ............................................................................... 58 A Identification of Stakeholders ..................................................................... 58 B Consultation with Stakeholders ................................................................. 58 C Concerns Addressed ...................................................................................59 D Information disclosure and Participation .................................................. 59 VII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ............................................60 VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ...................................... 61 A Implementation Arrangements ................................................................... 61 B Environmental Mitigation ............................................................................63 C Environmental Monitoring .......................................................................... 96 D Reporting ......................................................................................................97 E Capacity Building .......................................................................................100 IX. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................... 102 FIGURES Figure I.1 Location of Project Roads for TA 7245 VIE Figure I.2 Location of Project Road the Project roads Ha Giang Figure III.1 Proposed road width & typical conditions adjacent to the Project roads Figure III.3 Typical Road Cross Sections Figure IV.1 Protected Areas in Ha Giang Province Figure IV.2 Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark Figure IV.3 Project road stretch TL176A and Du Gia Nature Reserve TABLES Table II.1 International Conventions to which Viet Nam is a Party (environmental) Table III.1 Current and proposed widths on Project roads in Ha Giang Province Table III.2 Geometric Design Standard Adopted for roads in Ha Giang Province Table III.3 Estimates of earthworks & structures for Project roads in Ha Giang Table III.4 Assessment of the Bridges and Recommendations Table IV.1 Water quality along Project roads in Ha Giang Province Table IV.2 Air quality and noise along Project roads in Ha Giang Province Table IV.3 Land Use in Ha Giang Province Table IV.4 Du Gia Nature Reserve – Location, management and resources Table V.1 Maximum allowable concentration of pollutants in surface water Table V.2 QCVN/TCVN Standards applicable to the project. Table VI.1 Summary of Main Environmental Concerns from Public Consultation Table VIII.1 Responsibilities for EMP Implementation Table VIII.2 Environmental Mitigation & Environmental Performance Monitoring Plan Table VIII.3 Summary of Estimated Costs for EMP Implementation (4.5 years) Table VIII.4 Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan for Project Roads Table VIII.5 Indicative Terms of Reference for Environmental Management Capacity Building of PMU and PDOT APPENDICES Appendix A Selected Photographs Appendix B Information Disclosure, Consultation and Participation Appendix C Letter of No Objection from Du Gia Nature Reserve Management Board Appendix D Letter of No Objection from Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark Management Board Appendix E List of Culverts I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A Overview 1. The Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (GOV) has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide financing to facilitate investments to support the upgrading of roads proposed in the technical assistance (TA) Transport Connections in Northern Mountainous Provinces Project TA 7245 – VIE (TCNMP). The TCNMP proposes a comprehensive