Initial Environmental Examination November 2014 SAM: Renewable Energy Development and Power Sector Rehabilitation Project Prepared by MWH New Zealand Ltd on behalf of the Electric Power Corporation and the Government of Samoa for the Asian Development Bank. ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank CEAR Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Report CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan COEP Code of Environmental Practice CPP Consultation and Participation Plan EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan ENSO El Niño Southern Oscillation EO Environment Officer EPC Electric Power Corporation EHSG Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines (World Bank) EU European Union GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism HSP Health and Safety Plan IEE Initial Environmental Examination IES international environmental specialist IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature KBA Key Biodiversity Area MAF Mean Annual Flow MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries MALF Mean Annual Low Flow MFAT Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade MSMP Materials and Spoil Management Plan MNRE Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment MWCSD Ministry of Women, Culture and Social Development MWTI Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure NWAP National Water Allocation Policy PEAR Preliminary Environmental Assessment Report PMC Project Management Consultant PMU Project Management Unit PPE Personnel Protective Equipment PUMA Planning and Urban Management Agency RP Resettlement Plan SHP Small Hydropower Plant SPREP Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme SWA Samoa Water Authority TPH Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons TSS Total Suspended Solids VMS Village Managed Schemes WMP Waste Management Plan This report is a document of the recipient. 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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 6 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 8 1.1. Project Background ..................................................................................................................... 8 1.2. Report Purpose and Scope ......................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Methodology ................................................................................................................................ 9 2. INSTITUTIONAL, POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ..........................................................11 2.1. Institutional Framework ..............................................................................................................11 2.1.1. Executing and Implementing Agency ............................................................................ 11 2.1.2. Environmental Agency ................................................................................................... 11 2.1.3. Other Agencies .............................................................................................................. 11 2.2. Legal and Policy Framework .....................................................................................................11 2.2.1. Environment Law and Regulations ................................................................................ 12 2.2.2. Permits Required ........................................................................................................... 12 2.3. Samoa Codes of Environmental Practice ..................................................................................13 2.4. ADB Safeguard Policy ...............................................................................................................13 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................14 3.1. Site Location ..............................................................................................................................14 3.2. Fuluasou SHP ............................................................................................................................15 3.3. Tiapapata SHP ..........................................................................................................................17 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................19 4.1. Overview of Samoa’s Socio-Economic Environment ................................................................19 4.1.1. Population ...................................................................................................................... 19 4.1.2. Economy and Infrastructure .......................................................................................... 20 4.1.3. Land Use ....................................................................................................................... 21 4.1.4. Land Ownership............................................................................................................. 21 4.1.5. Cultural Heritage and Resources .................................................................................. 22 4.2. Overview of Samoa’s Physical and Biological Environment .....................................................23 4.2.1. Climate ........................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.2. Geography ..................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.3. Geology ......................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.4. Biodiversity .................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.5. Protected Areas ............................................................................................................. 25 4.3. Fuluasou SHP Site ....................................................................................................................26 4.3.1. Protected Areas ............................................................................................................. 26 4.3.2. Catchment and Hydrology ............................................................................................. 26 4.3.3. Fish and Aquatic Macroinvertebrates ............................................................................ 27 4.3.4. Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.5. Avifauna ......................................................................................................................... 31 4.3.6. Other Fauna ................................................................................................................... 32 4.4. Tiapapata SHP Site ...................................................................................................................33 4.4.1. Protected Areas ............................................................................................................. 33 4.4.2. Catchment and Hydrology ............................................................................................. 34 4.4.3. Fish and Aquatic Macroinvertebrates ............................................................................ 36 4.4.4. Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 37 4.4.5. Avifauna ......................................................................................................................... 42 4.4.6. Other Fauna ................................................................................................................... 45 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ..............................................47 5.1. Screening and Categorisation ...................................................................................................47 5.2. Issues Addressed During Design and/or Pre-Construction .......................................................48 5.2.1. Obtaining Consents and Disclosure .............................................................................. 48 5.2.2. Climate Change Adaptation ........................................................................................... 48 5.2.3. Environmental Flows ..................................................................................................... 51 5.2.4. Fish Passage ................................................................................................................. 53 5.3. Construction Impacts on Physical Environment ........................................................................54 5.3.1. Noise .............................................................................................................................. 54 5.3.2.