Environmental Assessment INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION Project No. 46351 November 2016 TONGA: Climate Resilience Sector Project Ha’apai Hospital Relocation and Construction Subproject Prepared by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications and the Ministry of Finance for the Asian Development Bank 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. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Ha’apai Hospital Relocation and Construction Project Niu’ui Lifuka Island, Ha’apai Island, Kingdom of Tonga Prepared by PMU Climate Resilient Sector Project (CRSP) For Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) Project Number: ADB Grant 378 - TON November 2016 1 NOTES In this report, "$" refers to US dollars unless otherwise stated. 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. The preparation of this IEE took 2 months and included field trips to Ha’apai and laboratory analysis. Consultations were held with MOH, MOI, MET and the residents of Pangai to whom we extend our appreciation. The IEE was prepared in accordance with Tongan Government EIA Regulations 2010 and ADB SPS 2009 2 Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... 10 II. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................................... 12 A. Policy Framework ...................................................................................................................... 12 1. Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2011 - 2014 (TSDF1) ........................................ 12 2. Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 (TSDF2) .......................................... 13 3. National Infrastructure Investment Plan 2014-2018 (NIIP2) ................................................ 15 4. Joint National Action Plan Climate Change Adaptation Disaster Risk Management ...... 16 5. Climate Change Policy 2016 and JNAP2 .............................................................................. 16 6. MEIDECC Corporate Plan (2014 – 2016) ............................................................................... 19 B. Legal Framework ...................................................................................................................... 19 1. International Conventions and Protocols ............................................................................. 19 2. Paris Agreement on Climate Change 2016 ........................................................................... 19 3. Tongan Laws on Environment ............................................................................................... 20 4. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act ...................................................................... 21 C. Conservation and Protected Areas ........................................................................................... 23 D. Historical Sites........................................................................................................................... 24 E. Protection of Birds ..................................................................................................................... 24 F. Fisheries Special Management Areas (SMAs) ......................................................................... 25 III. Description of the Project ..................................................................................................................... 27 A. Location ..................................................................................................................................... 27 B. Existing Hospital ........................................................................................................................ 27 C. Damage from Cyclone Ian 2014 ............................................................................................... 28 D. Flooding from Cyclone Kofi 2014 .............................................................................................. 2 8 E. Project Justification and Alternatives ........................................................................................ 28 1. Do-Nothing Alternative ........................................................................................................... 28 2. First Adjacent Alternate Location.......................................................................................... 28 3. Second Alternate Location and Linkage with Ha’apai High School .................................. 29 F. New Hospital Proposed Site ..................................................................................................... 29 G. Land Transfer ............................................................................................................................ 30 H. Conceptual Layout and Design ................................................................................................. 3 2 I. Existing Hospital Equipment ..................................................................................................... 36 J. Utilities for New Site .................................................................................................................. 36 1. Hospital Environmental Checklist for Detailed Design Consultants ................................. 36 2. Potable Water .......................................................................................................................... 36 3. Existing Water Resources ...................................................................................................... 37 4. Power ........................................................................................................................................ 37 5. Solid Wastes ............................................................................................................................ 38 6. Medical Wastes ....................................................................................................................... 38 3 7. Incinerator ................................................................................................................................ 38 8. Liquid Wastes .......................................................................................................................... 40 IV. Description of the Environment (Baseline Data) ................................................................................. 42 A. Physical Environment ................................................................................................................ 42 1. Topography .............................................................................................................................. 4 2 2. Geology .................................................................................................................................... 42 3. Seismic Activity ....................................................................................................................... 42 4. Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 42 5. Rainfall ..................................................................................................................................... 43 6. Winds ........................................................................................................................................ 44 7. Severe Tropical Storms .......................................................................................................... 44 8. Water Resources ..................................................................................................................... 45 9. Air Quality ................................................................................................................................ 45 B. Ecological Resources ................................................................................................................ 45 1. Biodiversity .............................................................................................................................. 45 2. Birds ......................................................................................................................................... 45 3. Marine Areas ...........................................................................................................................